In classic English Lit student style, I am deeply obsessed with what would be considered ‘classics’. In English as a degree, classics are often seen as high-brow, must reads in the literary canon - think Dickens, Austen, Dostoyevsky, Fitzgerald, Wilde - the list goes on. But really, school and studying sets us up to think of classics as boring; long and dull, far too difficult to read for the average reader.
However, there is also some strange idea that only by reading ‘classics’ - I say very loosely because anything can be a classic if you want it to be - can you be a ‘proper’ reader. It’s all very deep, and unnecessarily so. I may be biassed, but I think classics and old literature are great, but only if you’re introduced to them properly.
There are many authors who would be considered pillars of classic literature that I absolutely hate - I’m looking at you, Dickens, and every other Victorian author to ever exist. Anyway, aside from my personal vendetta against Dickens, you don’t have to hate classics, or think they’re stuffy and pointless. Classics can be such great reads if you’re picking the right ones and reading them because you really want to, not because you feel like you must. And on that note, this blog post gathers up some less common, more exciting, and most importantly very quick and easy enough classics for those of you who are looking for an entirely un-scary introduction!
A Moveable Feast by Earnest Hemmingway (1964)
This one I read only recently, and is my first Hemmingway, but I really loved it. It is biographical (ish) and tells about Hemmingway’s time living in Paris. If you’ve perhaps dabbled in modernist literature before (think Woolf, Joyce, D.H. Lawrence, Fitzgerald), this one might be of particular intrigue. It reads almost like a little gossip-column, diary entry type book about all the prominent modernists!
I particularly loved reading it to hear about Hemmingway’s relationship with Fitzgerald as, though he’s an author I love, I knew very little about him before reading this. Even if you don’t find a particular interest in modernism, A Moveable Feast is the perfect read if you’re pining for a bottle of wine and a trip to Paris!
A Certain Smile by Francoise Sagan (1956)
Once again, I am raving about Sagan to anyone who will listen, but she is just brilliant. A Certain Smile gives me major French holiday envy, as in, ‘get me my bikini I am going away this second’ level envy, but it’s also just a great story. It’s about a love affair, but also about loyalty, and boredom and hedonism all in one; for such a short book, it really packs a punch.
Magnetism by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1928)
This short story collection is the perfect introduction to Fitzgerald, who is easily one of the most beautiful writers I’ve ever read. Short stories are great because they allow you to capture an author really quickly and easily, and dip into something you might not otherwise experience. This collection has something for everyone & I particularly loved ‘Bernice Bobs Her Hair’.
Passing by Nella Larsen (1929)
When you talk about accessible classics, ‘Passing’ seems to pop up a lot nowadays on bookstagram. Netflix even produced a film of it recently which I am very eager to watch. It’s been one of my favourite classics for a while, namely because it is easily devoured in one sitting, but also because it has a fantastic twist which really keeps you hooked. It is about Irene and Clare, who are both black women and old friends, though when they meet later in life, Irene realises Clare is passing as a white woman, and her husband and all those around her are entirely unaware of her true identity. I love the way it explores the confusion of identity, and what it truly means to be yourself. Definitely a thought provoking read, but the language is easy to consume, so it isn’t a chore to read whatsoever.
If you’re wanting to delve deeper into the world of classics this month, then take a look at Francesca’s blog post, where she discusses the history of classics!
Sophie
@sophsbookss
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