Making time to read and enjoy books when you’re an adult can be hard. But making time to read classic books is way harder.
Reading feels like something one can do only if they have a lot of time to kill. And in today’s day and age adults don’t have the luxury to spend their leisure reading, certainly not enough time to read and finish the daunting classics.
But in my opinion, the classics are called classics for a reason. And every once in a while, we should take a much-needed break and give one a try.
When we think about classic books, we think of difficult language and dense subject matters. These books can feel very tough to wrap our brains around. And reading them can feel like a strenuous chore. Especially when you’re an adult.
But there are certainly some that go against this mindset. These classic pieces are the ones that you can read when you don’t have much free time and just want a book to enjoy.
Here are some of the classic books that you can enjoy despite not really liking classics:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animal Farm is about the animals on Manor Farm who decide to rebel against their cruel owner Mr. Jones. Once they overthrow the owner, the initially established democratic system spirals into a ruthless dictatorship.
This book is a masterpiece when it comes to its allegories. Everything happening during the Bolshevik Revolution is represented in this novel masterfully. The more of it you crack the more it adds to the enjoyment of the book.
It presents a commentary on our tendency to maintain and reestablish class structures even in societies that preach equality for all. It also shows us the corrupted socialist ideas in the Soviet Union.
Animal Farm is also a great book to read for anyone because of how simple it is. You can grasp the message of the book without any difficulty whatsoever. The book is very straightforward in its approach and very economical. It is especially a delightful read for adults because of its size.
Animal Farm is definitely a classic choice that is easy to get through but packs a lot of punch in its limited page count.
The Phantom of The Opera by Gaston Leroux
The Phantom of the opera is a classic that is overlooked a lot of the time because of its million adaptations. People might think they know the story without even reading the source material but that’s far from the truth. There is much more to be learned from reading the novel.
The story is about a girl, Christine, who has a gifted voice and a strange man named Erik, who has a secret.
The story deals with themes of darkness, love vs jealousy, beauty and ugliness, & what truly makes someone a monster.
The Phantom of the Opera is a classic through multiple POVs. It is an atmospheric tale that delves into the ins and outs of the Opera during the mysterious events of the “Ghost.” If you want to enjoy a dark romance story you can get it from this book and if you want to enjoy a supernatural mystery you can also get it from this book.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is another shorter classic to get through when you don’t have enough time.
This classic piece of literature is a story about Jay Gatsby’s rags-to-riches account of success and the unhappy fallout. It’s a look into the ultimate American dream.
The Great Gatsby is a cautionary tale about money, corruption, desire and deception that’s just as relevant now as it was in 1925. It gives an insight into human nature and how it never changes.
It is also a great reminder to this generation that money can’t always buy happiness.
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Even though Austen novels aren’t short in any way, they are easy as a breeze to get through.
Pride & Prejudice might just be one of the most iconic classic books out there. And even in today’s day and age, it remains relevant.
It is a love story that is unromantic through and through.
The novel’s protagonist Elizabeth Bennett defines a strong independent young woman who doesn’t need a man by her side. Although in the end, she does end up getting her man, Mr. Darcy.
This novel is a reflection of Austen’s witty and intelligent writing which is full of irony, wicked humour and mockery. It is her personal take on the society of that time.
All the characters in this book are either so adorably detestable or so wickedly charming, and there is no in-between. Pride & Prejudice is one of the first books that focus on the female perspective and how they view society.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about an eccentric scientist who creates a grotesque creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment.
Frankenstein is one of the most acclaimed gothic literature out there. It delves into themes of birth and creation, the downside of ambition, revenge & the god complex of humans.
The characters of the Monster, and his creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, expose the capacity for good or evil. The treatment of the monster by Frankenstein and others demonstrates the impacts of nature and nurture.
It’s also a great book to read for anyone who likes exploring the cost of scientific progress going too far.
Reading is a great way to get inspired. It helps your understanding of complex problems and grows you intellectually no matter what age you are. And reading classic literature helps you strengthen your social skills. It helps with your emotional intelligence and even gives you a better outlook on life.
But it should never be made to feel like a chore that needs to be done. It should be fun and relaxing.
These aforementioned books are a great place to start with classic literature, especially when you have a busy schedule.
So, don’t put off reading the classics anymore. Just grab one of these suggested books and dive into another world.
I would also like to give a special thanks to the group “Book Recommendations” on Facebook for all their lovely suggestions.
