20 books to read in your 20's: Classics Edition

In this age of digitization, one often tends to get lost and overwhelmed without a sense of center. Every bibliophile out there will agree that books often come as a warm and comforting rescue in this scenario because they let you escape from the reality into a world of your own and gives you a sense of belonging, of a ‘Home’. If you are old school like me and still cannot get over the comfort of the page beneath your hand or the fresh smell of new books, if hardcovers get your heart pounding and collecting books is your passion, then this article belongs to you. For those who are new to the world of reading and are waiting to get started somewhere, this article is also for you.

Be it a rainy day and a cup of coffee or a long journey you have been dreading, there’s nothing better than a good book to keep you company. Thus, here I bring to you some of the classics of English literature chosen specifically from my personal collection for all my friends in their 20s. But to be honest, for everyone out there who ever saw the face of the earth, this collection is a must-read at least once in their lifetime. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

1. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen

“Children love Christian Grey, but Legends love Darcy”, agree? Darcy is one of the most lovable romantic heroes of all times that fall in love with our protagonist Elizabeth aka Lizzy and they live happily ever after. But what leads to marriage is a twisted plot full of up-downs. While there are definite sparks between our spirited young heroine and our silent, strong hero, their journey towards the discovery of feelings is not very smooth and also enfold some universal concepts about love, society, relationships on its way. Thus, a must-read for everyone who hasn’t grabbed a copy yet.

2. 1984 by George Orwell

George Orwell's 1984 is a spine-chilling dystopian novel that is presently more relevant than ever where we live in a society governed by technology that is omnipresent and keeps tabs on our every move. The novel revolves around Big Brother, an omnipresent governing body that has taken the charge of the world and what enfolds then is humanity’s worst nightmare. Even while reading the text one can feel eyes everywhere around him/her which is highly discomforting and disorienting, an exact experience that the book strives to offer.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

A classic renowned for its humor, warmth and relatability, this novel discusses some deep issues which when told from a perspective of a young girl add an interesting touch to the novel. The book talks about some serious themes like racial inequality, prejudice, sexual abuse and corruption in our society.

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of the greatest contributions of American literature to the world, the book is celebrated and loved masterpiece that has transcended all boundaries and times to stand relevant for people of all ages, groups and nationalities. The novel finds Fitzgerlad in his best elements where he deals with the hollowness of the “American Dream” and how it has eaten away our society along with the parallel themes of betrayal, love and desires.

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

A classic love story between Catherine and Heathcliff, the text is one of the greatest novels ever written which revolutionized the face of Gothic literature and has never failed to inspire aspiring writers throughout the world. A gripping read from the first to the last page, this passion-filled novel has you turning pages with confusion where you cannot decide whose side you are on.

6. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

One of the other masterpieces in the list of Gothic literature, this book raises some frightening questions and makes you implore the blurring boundaries between good and bad, humans and monsters which no longer seem so rigid. Mary Shelley wrote the novel at the age of only 18 at a time when women were forbidden to write. Grab your copy of this book today and be ready to instantly fall in love with this classic like many others before you.

7. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

While it is highly difficult to choose one of Dickens’ novels over his other works, Great Expectations without a doubt is one of the literary masterpieces that the world has witnessed. Some magnificent range of characters, universal appeal and relatability of suffering that the protagonist “Pip” goes through is what makes this lengthy novel a favorite among readers.

8. The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

One of my personal favorites, Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray '' is a philosophical, gothic novel that is centered around a handsome, young man Dorian Gray who is heavily blinded by his vanity. In his desire to stay young and beautiful, Gray crosses all limits and does not even resist selling his soul. The novel deals with the hedonistic school of ideology that prioritizes pleasure and avoidance of suffering as the 2 components of well-being.

9. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

A Spanish classic that introduced the world to the spectacular theme of “Magical Realism”, this magnum opus narrates a multi-generational fictional story of the Buendía family who founded the town of Macondo. The novel deals with the repeated pattern of history that define the presence of its characters and makes one reflect upon concepts like fate and predestined while simultaneously maintaining its humorous streak

10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

A novel way ahead of its time for a plethora of reasons, Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ has given us one of the most celebrated heroines of all times who undergoes a traumatic childhood but ends up becoming independent, strong steely women that have inspired the generations to come. A feminist, ground-breaking text written in the first-person narrative, the novel is indeed a must-read for all the millennials out there.

11. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Capturing some serious themes of Russian nihilism, utilitarianism and rationalism, the novel is a captivating read by Fyodor Dostoyevsky that narrates the story of its protagonist going through some serious mental unraveling. Raskolnikov's inner conflict between his moral psychological traits where on one hand we have goodness and kindness and the other is overpowered by egoism and pride is a conflict that every human at some time goes through and this makes it a compelling, relatable narrative you cannot put down once started.

12. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

While the book is often regarded as children's fiction, it is a text everyone should at least read once in their lifetime. A novella by French writer and aristocrat, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the classic captures the experiences of a little prince who speaks of his visits to various planets, including earth. The book captures some amazing observations about life and human nature that sound so obvious but being talked about fills you with a sudden warmth and wonder. It also addresses themes like loneliness, friendship, love, loss, among others.

13. Beloved by Toni Morrison

A Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction in 1988, Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’ is a spine-chilling, haunting story of a mother and the extent to which she can go for the protection of her family. It shares some traumatic experiences of slavery that make you cry, cringe, relate and empathizes, all the while making you fall in love with this classic.

14. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Woolf has always been a groundbreaker when it comes to her novels and to the lighthouse is yet another piece of evidence for it. The novel uses the theme of “stream of consciousness”, has no omniscient narrator, and investigates the complexity of human relationships and experiences. With no plot or narrator, the book disregards all rules every step of the way and leaves the reader with a mesmerizing experience.

15. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

From magic, hobbits, elves and dwarves to serious themes like companionship, heroism, romance and sacrifice, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the greatest and epic stories of all time.

16. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

A simple story of adventure on the surface, Huckleberry Finn captures some very strong themes underneath that range between slavery, corruption and abuse and takes you on a roller coatser ride which is sometimes sweet, sad, funny, painful yet all the time imploring in nature. It discusses how a young lad grows up to think and decide for himself while simultaneously using the reader to do the same.

17. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

A 20th century masterpiece centrally dealing with the theme of Indian partition, Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children is a Booker prize winner and is also honored in the list of Great Books of the 20th Century by Penguin. The novel is set amidst real historical events and discusses themes like postcolonial, postmodern and magical realism.

18. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri’s debutorial novel “The Namesake” is a Pulitzer prize-winning classic that revolves around events set in Calcutta, Boston, and New York City. The novel discusses conflicts that arise due to starkly different ideologies and backgrounds that frame the relationship of a young Bengali couple and later their son.

19. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

An all-time beauty by Louisa May Alcott, ‘Little Women’ revolves around the story of 4 sisters with different personalities on their journey of growing up. The novel is a mesmerizing narrative that holds the attention of the reader like no other and deals with some important themes like relationships, sisterly bond, war and peace, family, freedom and identity, among others.

20. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Any list of classics is incomplete without a mention of the book by legendary ‘William Shakespeare’. While every text of this great playwright is a masterpiece, one of the lesser-known yet equally magnificent books is the ‘Twelfth Night’. One of my personal favorites, the play is a romantic comedy that deals with the themes of love, separation, gender and metatheatre. It will make you wonder with happiness and excitement yet simultaneously make you laugh because of all the chaos in the plot to finally restore your peace and belief in the one true love.

On the concluding part, while there is a finite time but an infinite number of great reads out there, it is always better to start somewhere and this is definitely the list you won’t regret trying. Whether you are a literature enthusiast or a young adult waiting to explore the magnificent world of books and bibliophiles, this list of classics won’t disappoint. So wait no more and order your copy from Amazon today!