Genre Starter List: Classics

Have you been meaning to brush up on the classics? I think a lot of us have been perpetually, if we’re honest with ourselves. Here are some books that come to mind when it comes to refreshing or expanding one’s classic literature readership!

*All descriptions written by Darius Mullin.

Treasure Island

Perhaps the most iconic pirate story ever written, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic coming-of-age story filled with buccaneers and buried gold.

Jane Eyre

In this story of intrigue and passion, the eponymous governess of Thornfield Hall finds herself more than interested in the brooding Mr. Rochester… but what secret is he hiding?

The Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

Dive into the adventures of the world’s greatest detective and his faithful companion, Dr. Watson, in this collection of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories that have regaled generations of readers.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

It’s never too soon to reread the classic C.S. Lewis novel that kicked off the Chronicles of Narnia series, and it’s never too late to read it for the first time!

The Lord of the Rings

Considered by many to be the definitive fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings is a must-read. The trilogy may be daunting in length, but it’s worth it!

At the Back of the North Wind

Meet the author who C.S. Lewis famously said influenced everything he wrote. At the Back of the North Wind is just one of the worthwhile stories penned by George MacDonald.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Even if you’re not a sci-fi aficionado, chances are you’ve heard of this classic. Journey to the Center of the Earth is a fantastical tale of wonder and discovery by one of the fathers of science fiction, Jules Verne.

The Time Machine

Continuing with books by sci-fi legends, The Time Machine was the first novel by H.G. Wells. An immediate success, the book—which seems to have a bland title, until you realize that Wells invented the idea of a machine for traveling through time—remains a fascinating read today.

The Metamorphosis

In this short and bizarre novella, a young man wakes up in the morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a person-sized bug. A great read if you’ve been wondering what everyone means when they keep saying “Kafkaesque.”

Pride and Prejudice

The timeless classic by Jane Austen—Pride and Prejudice is a witty, comedic, and romantic story of Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Mr. Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner.

The Moon is Down

You’ve probably heard of John Steinbeck’s works Of Mice and Men or East of Eden. This lesser-known classic by one of the greatest American authors follows the plight of a small town that suddenly finds itself occupied by an enemy force.

Richard III

One of Shakespeare’s histories, Richard III follows the meteoric rise and fall of the cunning and devious titular character. Prefer to watch Shakespeare plays? The Hollow Crown rendition of Richard III features Benedict Cumberbatch at his absolute best in the lead role.

A Tale of Two Cities

One of Dickens’ most revered works, A Tale of Two Cities presents believable characters and social criticism against the backdrop of the chaotic French Revolution.

These are just some of the many worthwhile classic books that are available at the Union University Library. Craving more suggestions? Find more classic literature reading lists here and here. Happy reading!

Darius Mullin’s reviews reflect his personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Genre Starter List: Disney Movies

We all age, but it becomes even more clear when younger friends refer to Monsters Inc. as a Disney classic. GASP… I (Amber) saw that in theaters with my cousin when in 4^th grade. Even bigger GASP, many of our students weren’t even born then. Alas, we all age and I’m sure people older than me will feel “old” when they see this list of Disney classics. I must admit this is not an exhaustive list and I did choose Disney movies that we have here in our library. It’s a start, so without further ado cue the Disney intro music and let’s start our Disney movication (movie education).

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago. Disney was the creator of the Mickey Mouse cartoon, Disneyland, and Walt Disney World. Walt began selling cartoons to neighbors when he was just seven years old. He started his first job as an advertising cartoonist at age 20. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 and made his first screen debut in Steamboat Willie, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon.  Walt Disney and his staff won over 950 honors, including 48 Academy Awards and 7 Emmy’s, during his lifetime. (Information about Walt Disney was found in Walt Disney Archives).

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was created in 1937 and was the first full-length animated musical feature.

Over the next five years, Walt Disney created other feature-length films including Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi. These true Disney classics show the broad range of Disney’s imagination using known stories, as well as creating his own.

In 1945, at the request of the State Department, Disney released The Three Caballeros which combined live-action and cartoon mediums. In total, 81 films were created during Walt Disney’s lifetime.

In 1950, Walt Disney Studios released its first live action film, Treasure Island, which is also the basis of a closed Disney World area. Cinderella was also created at this time.

The Mickey Mouse Club House made its television debut in 1955.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Shaggy Dog, and Mary Poppins round out the list of movie titles created during Walt Disney’s lifetime.

However, other classics created from the dreams and plans of Walt Disney include The Jungle Book(1967), The Aristocats(1970), andThe Love Bug(1969).

Other Disney animation classics include:

The Little Mermaid(1991)

Beauty and the Beast(1991)

Aladdin(1992)

The Lion King(1994)

Pocahantas (1995)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)

Hercules(1997)

Mulan(1998)

Tarzan(1999)

Fantasia/2000 (2000)

And now I must stop there as we have passed the point of movies that don’t make me feel old, but that I fondly remember watching as a child. Walt Disney Studios and its other sub companies continue to delight the nations with their animated and live action television and movies. You can find many Disney classics and recent movies in the library’s DVD collection.

*Please note: this list is based on information from D23 and Walt Disney Archives and does not reflect the views of the university.