By: Jasmine Bautista
When someone says, “classic literature,” your brain probably jumps straight to some 1700s guy writing five paragraphs just to say a word like “austere.” (Which literally just means “strict,” like… calm down, Shakespeare.) And yeah, classics might look like giant books filled with fancy vocab and drama. But in all honesty, they don’t have to be scary. Think of classics as older stories that are still relevant today. Love, chaos, rebellion, trying to figure out who you are… all are the universal feelings we still feel. You do not need an English degree to get into them. You just need the right start.
Why Even Read Classics?
Classics aren’t automatically superior to modern books just because they’re old. But they do give you iconic characters (Scrooge basically walked so the Grinch could run), a look into what people back then were dealing with, writing that literally shaped the books and movies we love now, and bragging rights (like casually dropping, “Oh yeah, Pride and prejudice? Read it like 20 times.”)
Where Do I start?
You could start off with “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Super readable story about justice, courage and childhood. Emotional but not confusing. 10/10 beginner pick. Another great and known classic is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Short. Dramatic. Glamourous. It’s basically “rich people being messy” story. Plus, it’s only around 150 pages. Another great one is “Pride and Prejudice” (obviously) by Jane Austen. Romance + humor + elite one-liners = perfection. If you love messy drama and sarcasm, Elizabeth Bennet is your girl. But let’s say that you want something fast-paced and modern-feeling. A great one for you would be ‘Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. Bonus: the movie has Michael B. Jordan. Enough said.
Tips So You Don’t Spiral into a Reading Slump.
Start with short books. No one is asking you to open Moby-Dick on day one (or ever, if you don’t want to. We don’t judge.) Use editions with notes. Footnotes = lifesavers. Try side-by-side translations. Old text on the left, modern text on the right. It’s like subtitles for books. One last tip is to reread if needed. The books were written before most people’s times. It’s normal to slow down.
What If I’m A Vibe Person?
Sometimes it is easier to start based on what you already like.
- Romance- Emma or Jane Eyre
- Fantasy- The Hobbit
- Thrillers- Dracula
- Drama- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Social commentary- 1984 or Brave New World (And no. We’re not talking about the Captain America movie.)
Final Thoughts?
Classics aren’t about checking off some “smart person” list. They’re about finding storied that speak to you. Start with something that fits your vibe, read at whatever pace feels right, and explore from there.
Not Sure What to Read Next?
Swing by the bookstore, we would love to help you find a classic you’ll actually enjoy. We don’t gatekeep.
Our Future Reads 