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.

Reading List: Authors with April Birthdays

April begins with April Fool’s Day, but there’s no joking when I tell you that we’ve got some great authors to feature this month.

Hans Christian Andersen was born April 2, 1805. He is well-known for writing fairy tales. Amber started the month by reading “The Princess and the Pea,” which is featured in Tales and Stories. La Princesa and the Pea gives us a modern take on the classic story, and it gives young readers a chance to be introduced to Spanish words and phrases.  For a more complete look at his work, I recommend  The Complete Illustrated Stories of Hans Christian Anderson.

April 5th brought us a double celebration. Anthony Horowitz was born in 1955. Magpie Murders is the only book we have by him, but it has two mysteries wrapped inside one book. Will you be able to solve them? Deborah Harkness was born ten years later in 1965. She is well-known for the All Souls Trilogy which includes A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life. Even if you haven’t read these books, you may be familiar with the show starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode.

Beverly Cleary, a beloved children’s author, was born on April 12, 1916. I (Rachel) read a portion from The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Some of her other books include Henry Huggins, Ramona the Brave, and Dear Mr. Henshaw.

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. In honor of National Poetry Month, Darius read “Sonnet 73” from The Plays and Sonnets of William Shakespeare.

Our month will end with another double celebration. Harper Lee (1926) and Terry Pratchett (1948) were both born on April 28. Lee is best known for To Kill a Mockingbird. If you’d like to look at this story in a different light, I recommend To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel. You may not be as familiar with Pratchett, but reading a book like Dodger could make you a fan. Our library catalog describes it like this: “In an alternative version of Victorian London, a seventeen-year-old Dodger, a cunning and cheeky street urchin, unexpectedly rises in life when he saves a mysterious girl, meets Charles Dickens, and unintentionally puts a stop to the murders of Sweeney Todd.”

Hope you’ve enjoyed another edition of our Author Birthday Read Alouds series. Come back next month to learn more about authors born in the month of May.