Hello, night owls! Of all the things I said I'd cover on this blog, literature hasn't come up yet...until today. Now, I'm going to present to you a Top 10 list of personal favorite books to discover that fall under classic literature. Why classics? Well, they make up the majority of my favorite books. I got hooked on them before I was even required to read any for school and they make up a good chunk of my personal library. So without further ado, here's the Top 10 Night Owl Classic Reads!
NOTE: These books are not listed in order of most to least favorite. I'm excluding plays from this list for another time (sorry, Shakespeare and Wilde!)
1. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
One of the most famous early works of science fiction, this story follows Griffin, an albino college scientist turned invisible man, and the chaos he leaves in his wake. Written in 1897, it's surprisingly gripping and detailed in its science, and it presents a startling "careful what you wish for" tale. For though Griffin succeeds at becoming invisible, he doesn't think about the dire consequences that come with it until he steps out of his lab. This book is also a novella, so it's a very fast read and ideal for anyone's summer reading list. This was my first classic read and I highly recommend it to anyone!
2. The Trial by Franz Kafka
Ever heard of the term Kafkaesque and wondered what it meant? You need look no further for an ideal description than his novel The Trial, published in 1925. This is the surreal story of a man named Josef K. who is arrested on the morning of his 30th birthday for an unknown crime by unknown authorities. You get transported into a shadowy world that defies rationality and seems to serve no other purpose than to defeat the protagonist in his struggle for justice and understanding. This might be a tougher read, since Kafka's writing is incredibly different from any other author, but if you can hang in there, you'd be surprised at some of the prophetic elements of this story. The Trial was my first introduction to Kafka, and even though I didn't quite understand it the first time, it led me on a journey to discovering one of the most intriguing men and one of my top favorite writers ever.
3. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
You've heard of the Broadway hit by Andrew Lloyd Webber, but did you know that the legend of the deformed Phantom was a book first? Published in 1909, it started out as a serialization in a magazine and then grew to such popularity that it was all put together into the novel that it is today. Because it was written for a magazine, this is a powerhouse of a thriller. The story, as many of you know, is about the opera ingenue Christine Daae, her teacher - the mysterious and menacing Opera Ghost, and the havoc they bring to the Paris Opera House. However, this story is filled with more danger, more urgency, and more backstory than Webber's musical adaptation has. Through the eyes of Raoul (who is a more involved character), we see just how powerful the Phantom really is with his traps, tricks, and shocking appearances. I won't go too much further into the details of this book, since a comparison with the musical is definitely going to be a future post, but if you're looking for something exciting to read, don't hesitate to look for this in the nearest bookstore.
4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
This book is not for the faint of heart. Focusing on a group of boys who are stranded on an island during World War II, there is terror, blood, and murder all throughout. It's a nightmarish tale that shows the darkest parts of humanity when all semblance of civilization is stripped away. Any fans of the hit TV series Lost will feel very at home with the sunlit beaches, the wild jungles, the harsh mountains, and the hallucinations in this very short novel. If you have the courage to pick up this book, I suggest you do. It's dark, for sure, but if you're willing to make it through all that, you're bound to find a gripping story that will keep you turning the pages, dying to know what will happen next.
5. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
I was surprised by how good this one was. Created originally as a pulp magazine story, it tells the famous story of Tarzan, the man who survives against all odds and becomes lord of the jungle. However, there's more to his story than simply being left to the apes' care and rescuing Jane. In the beginning, you get to read about his parents, how they survived, and how they met their ends. After that, you get a good long look at how Tarzan was raised by apes and how he became the fierce and truly incredible warrior that he is. And of course, you get to see the integral romance between him and Jane Porter. However, Tarzan's heritage as a Greystoke - a lordly family thought to have completely perished while sailing by Africa - comes into play and makes the story get very interesting towards the end. I would highly recommend this if you're looking for an exciting adventure story.
6. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
This is the story of England's most infamous, swashbuckling rescuer of French aristocrats during the Reign of Terror. One of the most popular heroes of classic literature (popular enough to get a Broadway musical adaptation), there are few like him who dare as greatly to do what many considered hopelessly impossible. It's told mainly through the eyes of Marguerite, a French lady married to the foppish Percy Blakeney, whose brother is caught up in the league of the Scarlet Pimpernel. When her old friend, the fiendish Chauvelin, threatens her brother's life, she must find out the identity of the mysterious man who leaves the tiny red flower as a calling card. It's a tale of great intrigue and suspense, but it's also surprisingly a good romance. I don't want to give too much more away, in case you're interested. I strongly recommend this one if you want something exciting!
7. Dracula by Bram Stoker
One of the most famous and classic tales of horror, this is the story of the most terrifying supernatural being ever. Told ingeniously through diaries, letters, and newspaper articles, the story flies by like a thriller and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. If you've lost faith in vampires because of the terrible Twilight saga, you need to read this. Count Dracula is one of the most powerful, nearly unstoppable villains you'll ever meet and he easily puts all other vampires to shame (he can teleport by moonlight and control wolves, for crying out loud!). If you're looking for true paranormal fiction, you can't get much better than this.
8. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
I've never read a book that has made me laugh out loud as much as this one has. This classic started out as a genuine travel guide, but as it got filled with more and more hilarious anecdotes, it eventually turned into a small novel. The title pretty much sums up the overall plot. After deciding they've been overworked, three men decide to go for a boating trip up the Thames on a raft along with a dog. What ensues is a merry little adventure filled with gut-busting stories and accidents that will leave you crying with laughter. It's the perfect summer read and it's a very small book, too, so definitely include this on your book list!
9. The Virginian by Owen Wister
Ever wanted a good story about cowboys before the days of the Wild West were over? Look no further than The Virginian, a tale of adventure, humor, and romance that was lauded by President Theodore Roosevelt himself. You never learn the name of our smooth, wise-cracking hero, the Virginian, but by the time you've finished the book, the name doesn't really matter. Narrated by a city slicker who comes to Wyoming, we follow the mysterious yet amazing cowboy as he navigates his way through life on the frontier. He faces a hot-headed rival, a stuck-up preacher, an abusive horseman, cheap low-life scum, and a fierce school teacher with a cold heart (a heart he manages to steal) with as much calm and grace as a tiger. It's a classic you won't want to miss out on, especially if you'd like a window into life before the golden age of cowboys was over.
10. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
One of the loveliest novels you'll ever have the pleasure of reading, The Secret Garden follows the disagreeable Mary Lennox who finds beauty and hope in the moors of Yorkshire. With her parents killed by a disease in India, she comes to live with her estranged uncle at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire. There, she slowly learns about the secrets surrounding the Gothic gloom of the manor and she discovers an overrun, abandoned garden on the grounds that provides comfort and growth for her. It's a wonderful story filled with hints of the darker qualities of the Bronte sisters, but with a much more hopeful message and outcome and definitely more lovable characters. Fans of Downton Abbey will love the Edwardian setting and atmosphere. Give this one a shot - you'll be surprised at how good it is.
~Maud,
Official Night Owl
P.S. I apologize for the lateness of this post and I thank you all for waiting patiently!!
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