Easy To Read Books If You’ve Never Read Classics Before
by Selma Dizdarevic
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Selma Dizdarevic. Find her on Instagram at @_s3lma. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you’ve never read classic books before, or have tried but struggled to find your groove with them, you might think that they’re boring or just too difficult.
Well, allow me, the honorary English major here, to try and change your mind. I admit, getting into classic novels can be tough because of the language and how old most of them are, but reading the right ones can be just as enjoyable as reading your favorite contemporary books. So, go ahead and prepare your bookmarks because we’ve got five easy to read classics to help ease you into the genre (and maybe even get you to fall in love with it, too!)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Hey, a little party never hurt anybody, right? That’s why we’re kicking off this list with the classic of all classics, The Great Gatsby. There’s partying, there’s love (though unrequited) and a lot of drama. It’s a short book, coming in at about 200 pages, and is such a fun ride from beginning to end. Plus, the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio is great so you can watch it while you read to get the full, crazy and extravagant picture of this classic novel.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
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For fans of gothic elements and brooding main characters, I have just the recommendation for you. Frankenstein is one of my favorite classics because the language is simple enough to get through, but the story itself is crazy good and entertaining. Basically, this guy creates a monster who goes out killing people, and so the guy really feels bad about it. It’s definitely one of those rare classics that will be hard to bore you simply because of the sheer chaos that unfolds from start to finish.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
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For fans of enemies to lovers (Wattpad readers I’m looking at you), Pride and Prejudice is the perfect classic novel to read. It’s packed with both love and lust and has a headstrong female character that rejects multiple marriage proposals, so you already know it’s juicy. Austen’s writing flows beautifully and keeps you hooked, so you’ll be bound to enjoy this classic even as a beginner.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
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This is more of a modern classic book since it was published in 1985, but it’s one of my favorite classic novels out there. It’s a pretty dark dystopian book all about what would happen if women no longer had rights in society, which seems super glum but is actually really interesting and mind-opening. If you enjoy books that have to do with politics, society and feminism, you’ll probably enjoy this. It’s easy to read language-wise but deals with some heavy topics, so be sure to check for trigger warnings before you dive into this one.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
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You probably already know this classic story of forbidden love and how it goes, which will help you better understand the book as you read it. The language is a little tough (damn Shakespeare and his artistic choices) but so many editions of the book, like this low-cost one from Amazon, come with reading guides and translations to help get you through it. This Shakespearean staple is a classic you’ll want to mark off your reading list at least once in your lifetime.
Did you like these easy to read classics? Do you have any other classic recommendations? Let us know in the comments below.