So, do you know? Do you know what is even better than National Eat Dessert First month?
That’s right–National Book Month. And, my friend, the glorious thing about this month is unless you eat a gallon of caramel corn every time you read, you don’t need to worry about putting on the pounds that my other favorite month encourages.
If you follow my blog, you already know these things: I am a writer and a certified bibliophile, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. It just means I’m a voracious reader.
And, you also know that historical fiction is my TOP category. (Check out my posts about my fave historical fiction novels here and here. Oh, and here!)
But I like almost everything else, too. The only exception I can think of is the erotic genre. Not my thing.
Kickin’ It Off With Classics
So, to kick this fabulous month off I’m starting with something that will make me look smart. (Wink-wink.) Classics.
My favorite classic novels include a range of literature, everything from fantasy to 18th Century
What makes a novel a classic? Well, that’s debatable. A simple definition eludes even the most scholarly.
Let’s say, “It’s complicated.”
But, with that said, here are some common virtues of classic novels:
- The writing has a high artistic quality for the period when it was written. Take any of Shakespeare’s writing. Its language doesn’t equate with today’s standards, but the works’ structure and prose still inform, inspire, and express concepts artistically.
- Its value remains high across time. Here’s one reason why the genre is debatable – scholars don’t agree on the amount of time that needs to pass after a book is penned before it can be considered “classic.” Some argue that it has to have been written before WWII. Some suggest even more time elapse before it can be properly classified. It needs to prove it has lasting merit through several generations.
- The book has universal and intergenerational appeal. Because classics address common themes like love, forgiveness, and sorrow, most who read it are emotionally moved by the book’s themes. The era in which it was written doesn’t matter, and how old the reader is doesn’t matter. Every age across time can relate to the main character.
My Favorite Classic Novels:
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. If I’m honest I had a kind of “war and peace” relationship with this book. I battled the epic, fantastic, crazy-insightful tomb over the course of a summer. I frequently visited a cheat sheet with all 559 characters’ names identified. No way I could keep all those Dimitris and Natashas straight without it! But, even though it was a struggle, I am so, so glad I read it. There is absolutely nothing else like it.
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. This jewel of a coming-of-age story balances out the weighty W&P. I’m nothing if not balanced. Wait, does that mean I’m unbalanced? Words! So confusing. But not this dear book. Oh, how I love its tenderness and honesty.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. If you have only seen the movie, please rush right out to your nearest bookstore and GET THIS. There should be a physical copy of it in every household in America. Although it deals with racial injustice and rape, it is warm and even humorous.
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. A satire. A romance. Enough said.
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Jo, Beth, Amy, and Meg illustrate various aspects of women’s lives and choices in the mid-1800s. Yet, it’s timeless.
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Setting is everything in this gothic tragedy of star-crossed lovers living in “wuthering” moors. Oooo…so moody and delicious!
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Another moody one…ghosts, mystery, wind-swept landscapes (I seem to be drawn to these), and murder. That’s all.
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. I mean, if you haven’t read this book that addresses slavery, loss of innocence, exploration, satire, and humor, well–I don’t know–are you even an American?
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. A young orphan. A cruel, wealthy aunt. And that’s just the beginning. It’s the conflict of what a woman wants versus what she should do.
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Have you ever wondered what Satan thinks? Well then, here you go.
- The Chronicles of Narnia (technically seven books) by C.S. Lewis. Kent (a.k.a. my husband) read these rich fantasy adventures to our boys when they were young. Now our son is reading them to his boys.
- The Lord of the Rings (a trilogy of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King) by J.R.R. Tolkien. It doesn’t get much more imaginative than Hobbits and Middle Earth, now, does it? My fabulous middle school teacher, Pat Render, turned me on to these books. I loved them in seventh grade and I love them still.
Alas…
I could go on and on. I’ve included nothing from Dostoevsky, Dickens, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald…I included books that I loved and have treasured over the years. They may not necessarily be the most erudite, but then, neither am I.
Still, I know I’m overlooking something stupendous, and one of you is going to point it out to me. All I can say to that is:
Please do! What’s your favorite classic?
Jane Sykes
Tracey I accidently met your lovely parents while exiting their unfinished garage. Why you ask was I in their garage long story short – I was prepared to buy some G Pittman plates. Oviously in the wrong house the correct one being down the hill on other side of the street. I just wanted to tell you how kind they were to me and how excited they were to be living next to their daughter.❤
Tracey Buchanan
Thanks, Jane! I think they’re pretty special!
Doris Martin
I’ve read 5 of those (that I remember). One of my favorites is still Gone With the Wind. It took me over a month of polish that off the summer I turned 13. That’s been many moons ago! I cheated in high school in did a book report on it 3 years later since I was too busy to read another book (what 16 year old isn’t). Do they still do book reports?
Tracey Buchanan
I read Gone with the Wind when I was 13, too!