Best Classic Book Recommendations

What is a classic book? In our opinion, it’s any work that proves a good story will endure. Classic books tend to populate high school reading lists, lists of books everyone should read, and more. 

There are books that are considered classics within specific genres, such as classic science fiction books, classic gothic horror novels and classic romance novels. There are classics that distill the voices of certain times and places, such as books from Lost Generation writers or from the Harlem Renaissance

Classic books also have the tendency to become cultural touchstones—everyone knows what it means to tilt at windmills; to chase a white whale; to ask “to be or not to be” (and if you don’t; it’s high time you cross these classic books off your TBR). They’ve also been turned into iconic films, sparked some of the most hated characters known to man, and invented fantastic places we can only dream of visiting

While many books that we consider classics were written long ago, the best ones are truly timeless, telling tales that resonate with people around the world and across generations. If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, it's time to see for yourself.

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The Best Jane Austen Movies

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A Dog Returns to His Fierce Nature in The Call of the Wild

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The Family That Inspired J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan

The Peter Pan author based his characters in real life.

5 Little Women Quotes We Still Love Today

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13 Books for Fans of Little Women

"I like good strong words that mean something..." —Louisa May Alcott

Gloria Steinem on The Color Purple

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Getting to Know Anna and the King of Siam

Understand the story like never before with an excerpt from Margaret Landon’s novel.

10 Alice Walker Quotes That Amaze and Inspire

Powerful wisdom from the author of The Color Purple.

35 Must-Read Modern Classics

These reads from the last century all deserve a place on your bookshelf.

20 of Our Favorite Famous First Lines in Literature

From Melville to Didion, these first sentences created lasting and notable impressions.

A Guide to All 9 George Orwell Books

Dive deeper into dystopia, satire and more.

10 Most Popular Books of All Time

From the 17th century to the late 90's, we've covered the classics.

13 Must-Read Graham Greene Books

From literary fiction to thrillers, there’s a Graham Greene book for everyone.

Remembering Photographer Robert Frank, 1924-2019

In 'On the Road to Florida,' Jack Kerouac described what it was like to take a road trip with Robert Frank.

8 Books We Wish We Read in High School

If we could do it all over again, we'd make time for these stories.

8 Romantic Books to Read If You Love Jane Austen

This one's for all the Mr. Darcy lovers out there.

6 Rachel Carson Books That Will Make You See the World With New Eyes

Through writing and research, the legendary conservationist shaped our modern perspective of the environment.

Delve into the Mystery of Nancy Drew’s Legacy with Girl Sleuth 

This book dives into the true story behind every girl’s favorite detective.