You’ve probably all trudged through the literary likes of William Shakespeare. One painful line at a time. Now don’t get me wrong, his works are undeniably a masterpiece. But they are certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. What’s more, they are oftentimes students’ first exposure to the so called “classics”. They make reading classic books into a chore and something that should only be done by English Lit students. Wading through the heavy, convoluted syntax, to glean any sort of meaning. Well I am here to tell you; these books are for everyone and span many genres.
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Watership Down is without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite books of all time. If you’ve ever read the back of the book you might struggle to conceive how a book about a warren of rabbits could ever become as successful as it has.
It’s a story about a warren of rabbits who make a vast migration to Watership Down due to a prophetic vision by one of the youngest rabbits, Fiver. Along the way they encounter a vast sea of obstacles, including things we would never think about (like crossing a road). It is a story about adventure, and in many ways it is a story about storytelling.
Adams has said, “It was just meant to be a story, and it remains that.” This book is not one to be read for its deeper meaning (although it parallels the state of British politics). It is meant to be read for the sheer enjoyment of the tale. And if you are someone who enjoys action and adventure I have no doubt you will fall in love with Watership Down.
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan
The Yearling follows the friendship between a 12-year old boy, Jody, and an abandoned fawn, Flag. Throughout the novel we see the two of them grow up together, in the Floridian backcountry, all the while struggling with the cusp between adulthood and childhood. As their connection blossoms Jody is continuously faced with the darkness of the world his father has tried to shield him from.
The only Children’s book to have won a Pulitzer Prize, this poignant commentary on the journey through adolescent is definitely worth a read.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
And now we have arrived at the father of science fiction. There’s something quite strange about this book, it seems most people have heard of it but can’t remember if they’ve read it or not – but I can say I certainly have, and it has remained one of my all-time favourites.
We think that many of the classic books involve petticoats and fine china (many of them do), but this one certainly doesn’t. Following the journey of Aronnax, it all starts off with a bang. Or rather a splash, as he and his servant are thrown out of a ship (not on purpose). They wind up, not at the bottom of the sea, but inexplicably on the deck of another. They soon find out they are not on a ship at all, but a submarine captained by the bizarre Captain Nemo. It soon follows Nemo is an outcast of society, and has be consigned to live out his days exploring the surface of the sea floor.
For a time the two survivors join him on his whimsical exploration diving for pearls beneath the ocean, encountering cannibals, and ultimately getting stuck in a Maelstrom. Once again this is definitely one for the adrenaline junkies out there, as this is non-stop fantastical action from start to finish.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
It all begins on a farm. A relatively normal farm run by a Mr. Jones, albeit a rather cruel one. The animals are driven to exhaustion, which ultimately results in a rebellion instigated by Old Major, a pig.
When Old Major passed away, Snowball and Napoleon, the new leaders, launch a new coup to overthrow him – with which they are ultimately successful. The remainder of the short novel follows the evolution of Snowball and the propaganda he instigates to satiate the rest of the animals.
Ultimately it tells the story of Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky at the start of the Soviet Union. It is a fantastically written book, and one of the most interesting political commentaries I have read. Even if this is not your usual area of interest, the way in which this story is told makes me believe it can be enjoyed by anyone.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
According to the third law of thermodynamics entropy (disorder) is always increasing, so it stands to reason that’s where we’re headed.
This is definitely the most disturbing entry on my list, with the title itself being a reference to Beelzebub, the devil. In a nutshell it follows the events that follow a plane crash resulting in a group of young British schoolboys having to survive on a desert island. What follows is an examination into the potential for evil in everyone.
Done in a powerful way, the ending ultimately shows society fails to recognize this potential – especially when it comes to children. We see them as the picture of innocence as so struggle to understand, under the right circumstances, they too can fall into its dark clutches. I would not recommend this particular book for falling asleep to.
Written by Sophie Z.