30 Books That
Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives
The
greatest books are defined as classics for a reason. Written by the
greatest literary minds of their time, they have universal themes, characters,
experiences, emotions, and perspectives that are still relevant today.
Some of them are the very inspiration from which entire modern genres of
literary fiction have sprung up from.
If you love reading, here are 30 books that
that we feel are defining milestones in our literary tradition. Some are
well known classics, others are modern giants. All are well worth reading
at least once in your life!
To Kill a
Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Published in 1960, this timeless classic
explores human behaviour and the collective conscience of The Deep South
in the early 20th century. Humour entwines the delicate strands of prejudice,
hatred, hypocrisy, love and innocence to create one of the best novels ever
written.
1984
by George Orwell
Although 1984 has passed us by, George
Orwell’s dystopian, totalitarian world of control, fear and
lies has never been more relevant. Delve into the life of Winston
Smith as he struggles with his developing human nature in a world
where individuality, freewill and love are forbidden.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
by J.K. Rowling
I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of Harry
Potter, but have you read the books? Join Harry Potter as he begins his journey
into the world of magic, where he is the celebrated Boy Who Lived. Visit
Hogwarts, meet your favourite characters and watch Harry grow into the one of
the most famous literary characters in the world.
The
Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Middle Earth is a wonderful, expansive
fantasy world filled with turmoil, heroes, evil and innocence. Although our
protagonist Frodo Baggins’ quest seems impossible to complete, this trilogy is
a tale of triumph in the most impossible circumstances.
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, Fitzgerald’s The
Great Gatsby explores the decadence of the Jazz Age, and
one man’s introduction into a world where even those with the most indulgent
lives cannot earn love.
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
One of the most famous novels of all time,
Pride And Prejudice details the courtship of two opposed characters in a
world where manners and courtesy are of the utmost importance.
The Diary Of A Young Girl
by Anne Frank
Unforgettable and deeply influential, Anne
Frank’s diary is a raw account of a young girl’s life as she hides from the
Nazis. Despite her circumstances, Anne believes that people are still good at
heart and that the world is full of beauty: she will change your life.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Set in Germany during 1939, The Book Thief
follows Liesel as she rescues books from the tyranny of Nazi rule.
Meanwhile, her family has hidden a Jewish fighter in their basement and death
looks down on the family, narrating our tale. Experience bravery that is rarely
found in the world, and friendship that is formed in the most unlikely of
situations.
The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Although the movies are inexplicably long,
The Hobbit was originally written as a short children’s book. Meet your
favourite characters for the first time as the unforgettable Bilbo Baggins
traverses the harsh landscapes of Middle Earth to challenge a dragon.
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
Join four sisters, each with their own
prominent personality, as they come of age in charming 19th
Century New England. Experience their struggles and revel in their flaws, as
these girls become strong women.
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
Books are forbidden, and it is our main
character Guy Montag’s job to burn any books he comes across. Often compared
to George Orwell’s 1984, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian world is an unsettling
commentary on Western societies’ addiction and dependence on the media and
conformity.
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte
Arguably one of the most influential
fictional heroines of all time, Jane Eyre is a strong, unbroken women despite
her troubled childhood and repressed Victorian society.
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
This famous 1945 satire, examines the
realistic risks of revolution and the dynamics animals will inevitably give in
to.
Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
Set in The South during The Civil War,
chances are if you love the movie you’ll love the book. Although the main
character and the world she lives in is loathsome, readers’ opinions are
twisted as this novel dishes out a fated justice when both Scarlett and
The South lose their wars.
cATCHER in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
Starring the original cynical adolescent, The
Catcher In The Rye explores the challenges and isolation of adolescence.
Decipher your own message as you follow sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield,
in this novel that has split audiences for decades.
Charlotte’s
Web
by E.B. White
Team up with Charlotte, a loving and generous
spider, and Fern, a farmers daughter as they try to save Wilbur the piglet from
becoming breakfast. Charlotte’s Web is a compelling reminder to bask in the
simplistic wonders of everyday life, and to be kind to all living creatures.
The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis
Another renowned fantasy world, Narnia is the
home of hundreds of magnificent creatures each with their own origins, morals
and ideals. Let you imagination run wild as you enter the wardrobe and meet
some of the most famous literary characters in history.
The Grapes of
Wrath
by John Steinbeck
Published in 1939, this novel set during The
Great Depression follows one Oklahoma family as they are forced to travel to
California. Experience America in a tale where it’s people are divided
into the haves and have-nots, the powerful and the powerless.
Lord of
the Flies
by William Golding
This classic novel follows the lives of boys
marooned on an island as they regress into savages; and their beautiful,
enjoyable island existence collapses into a primitive and cruel nightmare.
The
Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
A story of true friendship, The Kite Runner
follows Amir as he tries to find the only true friend he’s ever had – despite
abandoning him due to ethnic and religious differences that were prominent in
Kabul, Afghanistan.
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Of Mice And Men is a complex story of a
friendship between two migrant workers: George Milton and Lennie Small, in
California. Watch their friendship develop as the pair work towards their
modest dreams of owning their own land and pets.
A Tale of Two
Cities
by Charles Dickens
Following eighteen years as a political
prisoner, Dr Manette is released and returns to England with his daughter
Lucie. There, two very different men fall in love with Lucie and become
entwined in a tale of love and sacrifice.
Romeo and
Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Perhaps the most famous love story ever
written, Romeo and Juliet is an epic tragedy that explores the euphoria of
desire and the tragedy of revenge.
The
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
Grab a towel and accompany human Arthur Dent
on a fantastic adventure across the galaxy. Learn not to take the universe so
seriously and forget any meaning you’ve applied to anything in your life,
because we all know the real meaning of life is 42.
Wuthering
Heights
by Emily Bronte
Published in 1847, this passionate and
harrowing story of love, rivalry and revenge follows Catherine Earnshaw and her
father’s adopted foundling Heathcliff as they grow into very different adults.
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
Winner of multiple awards, The Color Purple
is a devastating tale that tackles the lives of colored women in 1930s USA.
Censored and challenged, the harsh reality displayed in The Color Purple will
leave you shaken.
Alice in
Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
Bizarre and curious, Alice In Wonderland
explores the potential of imagination and the reality of fiction. If you’re a
fan of escaping the real world, this is definitely the book for you.
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
A combination of gothic thriller, cautionary
tale and romance novel, Frankenstein is a story like no other. Written by Mary
Shelley when she was just eighteen, Frankenstein prompts readers to ask
themselves some truly shattering questions: what makes us human? What do we owe
to one another as living creatures? How far can science push the boundaries of
nature?
The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
Often titled The Great American Novel, The
Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn is a deep and complex tale of friendship,
adolescence and shifting societal norms.
Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut
Although Vonnegut himself admits there are
few characters or confrontations in this book, the impact of his novel is
undeniable. We travel through life with our protagonist Billy Pilgrim as he
experiences World War II from a rather unique perspective – that is, he’s been
abducted from his home planet of Tralfamadore. Rich and deeply funny, this
tale aims to discourage us from war and murder that the authorities force the
public into.
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