Wow, it has been forever since I have done one of these Top Ten Tuesday posts (hosted by the great blog The Broke and the Bookish, as usual). Today's prompt is on favorite classics. I think the challenge for me will be narrowing it down to ten this week -- I love the classics.
1. East of Eden by John Steinbeck -- I think this one goes without saying -- my son is named after a character in this book. I love it because of John Steinbeck's amazing writing, the fascinating characters, and the powerful message that our lives are what we choose, not what destiny chooses for us.
2. Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery -- I love the simplicity and goodness of these eight books. I have read them so many times, at so many different phases of my life, and they never fail to touch and enlighten me.
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott -- I feel similarly about Little Women as I do about Anne of Green Gables -- there is so much purity, simplicity, and wholesomeness in these books. I know they are not popular values, but I love them anyway.
4. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton -- Not a happy book, but the emotional gut-punch this left me with was so powerful even though it was so bittersweet.
5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo -- When a book is so much work to read, I always appreciate some kind of payback. Les Miserables definitely delivers that for me -- there is so much to think about, so much beauty (and ugliness) of the human spirit.
6. Emma by Jane Austen -- I love all of Austen's books, but I had to highlight this one because I never liked it growing up. However, when I reread it a few months ago, I fell in love with it, I think because I learned to see the humor in the title character. While she isn't perfect and is at times annoying, she really does have everyone's best interests at heart, and I loved seeing her grow (and laughing at her, good-naturedly of course).
7. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald -- And really all of his books (except The Beautiful and the Damned, which I haven't read yet). I think I like this for the same reasons I like The Age of Innocence -- I just feel so much when I read it (and the writing is beautiful in the most satisfying way).
8. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham -- I related to Philip so much it was ridiculous, down to having a club foot at birth. His constant career changes, going to Paris, eventually settling on a medical career -- I felt like I had a kindred spirit in this book.
9. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy -- Such a good adventure story and romance.
10. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas -- Again, all the adventure and romance.
What are your favorite classics?
I've got Les Mis and Little Women on my list, too :) And I LOVE Of Human Bondage as well (if it had have been a Top 20 that certainly would have been on!).
ReplyDeleteNot read East of Eden yet, but looking forward to it :)
Great list! I actually haven't read a lot of the ones you mention but I have always wanted to read Count of Monte Cristo. I do love Emma. I think everyone should read Emma, for Mr. Knightly! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Lovely list. I also love East of Eden & Little Women. ♥
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorites, some that somehow passed me by. I'm seeing so much love for F. Scott Fitzgerald in these lists, I must give him another list. For my TTT I tried to focus on Classics You Might Not Have Heard Of. It was fun!
ReplyDeleteLorren, I love your blog and this is a great list! I reread Little Women this year and appreciated it even more than when my mom read it to my sister and me when I was little. So many interesting themes and good life lessons.
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