I've run out of good books to read over the summer, and I'm looking for advice on what to read. I loathe contemporary novels, because they serve only as profitable entertainment with very little literary merit. I want to read some good classics, but don't give me a list of the most popular ones that everyone already knows (i.e. Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, etc.) Give me a list of good classics that are perhaps lesser known or simply your favorites. Thanks!
2007-07-22 15:21:40 · 9 answers · asked by Floyd 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Crime and Punishment
2007-07-22 15:24:20 · answer #1 · answered by Marmeladov 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, without knowing genres I can only give you a list of my personal favourites.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Frankenstein's Monster by Mary Shelly
The Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Brave New World by aldous Huxley
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Naked Lunch by William Burroughs
That should give you a good start :)
2007-07-22 15:31:28 · answer #2 · answered by lilykdesign 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
East of Eden by John Steinbeck is spectacular. Also, if you have a REALLY large attention span, try Les Miserables by Victor Hugo...if not just read the abridged version. Same goes for Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo.
2007-07-22 15:26:31 · answer #3 · answered by booda2009 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm reading The Fountainhead right now, and it's a little odd, but engrossing. I also really enjoyed Pride & Prejudice and The Three Musketeers. When I'm hard up for a good read, it usually helps to re-visit some of my old favorites to see if I can find anything new to appreciate.
2007-07-22 15:31:17 · answer #4 · answered by naytopia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon" and "A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker" (aka "The Knickerbocker Tales") by Washington Irving
"The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara
"Gods and Generals," "The Last Full Measure," "Gone for Soldiers," "The Glorious Cause," "Rise to Rebellion." and "To the Last Man" by Jeff Shaara
"Victory" by Stephen Coonts (actually it a short story collection by Coonts and other authors)
"The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" by L. Frank Baum (don't laugh, Baum wrote a very good book and one that is rather well thought out when it comes to explaining certain questions)
"The Time Machine" by H.G. Welles
"The Oddyssey" by Homer
2007-07-22 15:37:59 · answer #5 · answered by knight1192a 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever read Thomas Hardy? It's pretty dark stuff. I would start with Tess or Far From the Madding Crowd.
You have to like British stuff though.
2007-07-22 15:27:22 · answer #6 · answered by yyyyyy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt you could call it a classic, but, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is a spectacular book.
2007-07-22 15:30:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Amelia's daughter
2007-07-22 15:26:37 · answer #8 · answered by justcause89060 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fountainhead! best book
East of eden is very good as well.
2007-07-22 15:24:44 · answer #9 · answered by Yayaysbdjfbdjbdhd 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋