7 of My Favorite Fiction Classics
As fall hits, I always find myself wanting to read more classics. Something about the season just makes me want to return to older, (often) richer literature. Whether you feel the same way about fall or you’re just looking for classics to expand your horizons or strengthen your writing, here are seven of my favorite fiction classics (by order of how many times I’ve reread them).
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
A must-read for any fantasy fan, The Lord of the Rings makes the top of the list because I’ve read it… four times or so? Each time, I find new highlights of theme, writing, character, etc. This story is so rich, not only in the worldbuilding it’s praised for (though that is, obviously, a highlight), but in every facet of its writing and the values that Tolkien wove into it (both intentionally and innately). I also find it’s a very encouraging read, especially in times of cultural degradation, and it always helps me find a bit more optimism and hope in the ultimate triumph of light and truth over darkness and falsehood–which may also be a reason it appeals to me during the cold, dark months of the year.
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Around the World in 80 Days was my first introduction to Jules Verne, and I’ve read it twice so far (in addition to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, since then). I love the adventure of this one, as well as the characterization–especially of Fogg himself–and the setting descriptions (even though some of them are a bit… stereotyped). Verne seems to have loved to explore the world through research and writing, and thus far Around the World in 80 Days is the best example of this, in my opinion. In 20,000 Leagues he gets a bit carried away with all of his research into oceanic mechanics and wildlife… but Around the World in 80 Days keeps the focus on the adventure and wonder of world-hopping, and it’s a very fun book to read and reread!
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I can’t remember if I’ve read Fahrenheit 451 twice or only once; in either case, I’m overdue for a reread and my recollection of the specifics of this book have grown hazy from the last time I read it. However, I greatly appreciate this book’s focus on the power of books and ideas, the worldview shift we get to watch within the main character over the course of the book, and the hopeful ending. The book is a bit slow to get started, if I recall correctly, but the core of the story is well worth the time spent.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter was among the first classics I read (Tom Sawyer, too) and played an instrumental role in helping me realize that I didn’t really hate classics as much as I thought I did. I’ve still only read it the one time (this one is also overdue for a reread), but the symbolism and thematic emphasis fascinated me when I read it and I actually had fun writing a book report on it. I’ve heard reports from people who’ve read it more recently and remember it more clearly that it’s anti-Puritan; while I don’t remember this being the case (I thought it was fairly balanced in that respect), I can’t report on that reliably until I reread it and refresh my memory!
The Space trilogy by C.S. Lewis
I first picked up the Space trilogy (or Ransom trilogy; call it what you will) after reading much of The Surprising Imagination of C.S. Lewis (another book on my to-reread list) and finding the themes mentioned from That Hideous Strength interesting. The book had previously explored either Perelandra or Out of the Silent Planet (or possibly both), and having that bit of context… I was surprised to realize that That Hideous Strength came from the same series. In that respect, I think I probably had an advantage in reading this series because I expected from the outset that That Hideous Strength would be quite different from the other two. I found, ultimately, that all three books are fairly different from each other, and each has its own distinct strengths. Out of the Silent Planet is absolutely fascinating from a worldbuilding perspective and is largely a philosophical/theological adventure story. Perelandra really hones in on the theological themes, including an entire debate that takes up a good chunk of the middle of the book. (Does this slow down the story? Sort of. But it’s also kind of the point of the book, so…) That Hideous Strength is very different, taking an astute look at the natural downward inclinations of society and how people are sucked into that downward spiral–as well as how they’re saved from it. All in all, an excellent series that I definitely recommend to sci-fi and dystopian readers.
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The most recent addition to this list, Pride & Prejudice is a fun period piece with clever writing and highly distinguished characters (in the literal sense if not the societal sense). The writing sucked me in much more than I expected, going into it, and I found the emphasis on family responsibility and societal structure quite interesting, besides finding the ridiculous characters entertaining. Plus, it’s basically the original enemies-to-lovers story, and the relationship plot line is excellently done. It’s also interesting to see the different characters’ approaches to love and romance contrasted against one another throughout!
Phantastes by George MacDonald
Phantastes is another highly thematic read, and one I need to revisit because I’m confident it’s one that offers new insights upon each reading–and it’s a little weird in terms of the way the story flows (there’s a new setting with new characters in every or nearly every scene), so it’s quick to become fuzzy in my memory. That said, I do remember strong themes of what beauty is and means throughout the story (as well as how love and beauty relate to one another, if I’m not mistaken?), and the fairytale-esque settings and characters are captivating alongside the emphasis on theme.
There’s a quick summary of my seven favorite fiction classics! Have you read these? What did you think? What are your favorite fiction classics? Comment below!
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