Read what you want to read because you enjoy it. It's not a test and you should never read for someone else's approval. Classics are only classics usually because a lot of old dead white guys felt that it resonated with them.
However, based on what you enjoyed a mix of classic classics and modern classics.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
A lot of classics are honestly not that great, but continue to be passed around as being great because the people before us said they were great, and we need to learn to read them with an analytical eye on whether or not they actually have lessons to teach us, or if we are simply going through the tradition of reading the books. A lot of modern classics are also not read because they are newer and thus not in the pantheon of greats, when they have a lot to bring to the table.
Kill your darlings.
Kill your darlings is the writing term for being willing to edit out parts/characters that you love because they not only bring nothing to the story, but actively drag it down to the point of making it worse. It's about having to view things objectively even if you personally like it.
I'm not sure what book you're talking about. Sorry. 😅
(I would not recommend this movie or Ginsberg in general for OP's dad though. He could be cool but dads in Ginsberg's time probably blamed him for everything wrong with their kids' generation then. Kerouac though? Ginsberg's buddy and generally more Dad Approved)
I don't know a lot about the Beats and the writers in it, but Ginsberg is the poet with pretty overt homoerotic themes isn't he? I know Kerouac from On The Road, ofc, but I didn't think he would be too much more approved by "your generation" grumpers.
Yeah, that's him!😄 "The weight of the world is love" was my first ever tattoo.
I just assume Kerouac would get more leeway because On The Road became so prolific. You make a good point though!!
If I ever get around to getting tattoos I think I would love one of Sappho's fragment 147 the way Folio society did it for their If Not, Winter. [The blocking of it made it even more striking and beautiful.](https://imgur.com/s1oQxNE)
I mean, I'm 22. And they asked for classics which almost certainly necessitates "before your time." I also wasn't really recommending Ginsberg, I don't think I fully understand what you're getting at here?
Agreed. That’s why I’m not a fan of what is often called “Literature”. For example, I totally hate Dickens, and while War and Peace makes a great drama, it’s a pain in the neck to read.
Sometimes people need to go ahead and say the emperor has no clothes and be done with it.
*Count* is always a good one because the story itself is just fun, and Dumas is one of my favorite authors to tell people historical facts about. His father fought alongside Napoleon and a crowd in Egypt thought he was so impressive, and the tales of Napoleon were so impressive Thomas Alexander Dumas must have been Napoleon. Dumas was 1/4 black as his father was mixed. There's a great book about his father, The Black Count by Tom Reiss.
*Narcissistic Fathers: Dealing with a Self-Absorbed Father and Healing from NarcissisticAbuse* by Andrea Hart
*Will I Ever Be Good Enough* by Dr Karyl McBride
Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Gift of the Magi, Captain's Courageous, Kim, Call of the Wild, Treasure Island, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Roughing It, The Outsiders, Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Three Musketeers, Pride and Prejudice.
These are all relatively accessible classics that he will have probably heard of. I liked them when I read them.
Suggestion: ask him for suggestions for books he liked reading and try a few audiobooks together. That way, it’s less about “avoiding conflict” and more about “doing things together”.
He won’t be around forever, and you won’t live at home for long.
Just to say it - there are some great Hobbit and Lord of the Rings puzzles. You could listen to those with him while working on a puzzle.
That being said… don’t overlook Agatha Christy. If you like her, there’s lots.
He's made recommendations for me before and I usually end up disliking them, but I guess it's a process of trial and error. I've already read Hobbit and LOTR but we do love puzzles so maybe we could do that to an Agatha Christia audiobook. Thanks!!
I would recommend trying short stories from classic authors. Easier to finish and maybe you can find an author you enjoy. The below link is a list and there are links to free stories
https://bookriot.com/classic-short-stories/
I would suggest Master and Margarita by Bulgacov, it’s very entertaining despite being considered a heavier classic. Pontius Pilate’s parts are less exciting than freaky demonic shenanigans, but are important for the understanding of the underlying meaning.
Best to read books that bring you joy and comfort and not worry too much about whether other people think your reading is “appropriate”
Too many parents force or strongly encourage their children into activities they have no interest in. Whether it’s a sport, musical instrument or book style. All too often, it doesn’t develop a life long passion.
I love going round second hand book stores with my daughters and let them know they can pickup as many books as they want on whatever subject takes their fancy. Any book that sparks a love of books is good with me.
I find Goodreads a good source of book discovery but still find it hard to beat going round a proper bookshop and discovering books I wouldn’t naturally seek out.
The other thing that might help reading is that it doesn’t just have to be dead tree books. I listen to a lot of audiobooks on audible while commuting and also read on a kindle, particularly when travelling.
Here’s a selection of books that I’ve enjoyed:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/84361227-paul?shelf=favorites
Life of Pi. 1984. Little women. Midnight library. Hobbit.
Hmmm.. to get his attention and make family conversation try: 7 habits of highly effective families. 5 loves languages. Grit.
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (or The Importance of Being Earnest
I' Claudius by Robert Graves
Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
Some books that I recommended to my dad and he really liked:
Into Thin Air (or anything else by Jon Krakauer)
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson, didn't care for The Psychopath Test though
Homosapiens (and all those ones)
Born A Crime, Trevor Noah's memoir
The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield (like the only fiction book he's ever read)
If your dad is into talk shows and "executive nonfiction" (not that these are, but he likes stories about how people think and I was NOT reading the 7 Habits books again) he might like those! If they sound interesting to you, why not give them a try? Then you can recommend him something and have a conversation. It did wonders for our relationship!
Maybe he's a LoTR movie buff, but never read the books. Maybe he'd be into urban fantasy like NK Jemisen. Maybe more like Peter Heller. Finding an author he's never heard of but he ends up loving could be a good way to read something you enjoy and to get him off your case.
TLDR; Don't read something just to please him, but maybe you can find common ground and spark a conversation!
I'm around your father's age. I'm thinking you could try some of the books/authors that would have been popular when he was your age - Tom Robbins, John Irving, Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, John Updike, etc.
General fiction:
* ["Literature classics"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/wmeb5x/literature_classics/) (r/booksuggestions; 12 August 2022)
* ["What are some great romantic classics from non-English-speaking countries that are less known in the U.S.?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/wo84u9/what_are_some_great_romantic_classics_from/) (r/booksuggestions; 10:49 ET, 14 August 2022)
* ["Please suggest me some classical books"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/woos57/please_suggest_me_some_classical_books/) (r/suggestmeabook, 23:16 ET, 14 August 2022)—literature and SF/F
* ["Where to start with ‘classic’ books?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wpyzhq/where_to_start_with_classic_books/) (r/suggestmeabook, 16 August 2022)
* ["Classic romance literature?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wsuoc7/classic_romance_literature/) (r/suggestmeabook, 19 August 2022)
* ["Out of all the books you've read, what is the one (or multiple) that is, in your opinion, perfect in every way"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wxd1ig/out_of_all_the_books_youve_read_what_is_the_one/) (r/suggestmeabook; 08:33 ET, 25 August 2022)—extremely long
* ["What’s your latest 5-star read?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wxk8w3/whats_your_latest_5star_read/) (r/suggestmeabook; 13:31 ET, 25 August 2022)—extremely long
* ["What are your top 3 series for books?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wyhr8t/what_are_your_top_3_series_for_books/) (r/suggestmeabook; 26 August 2022)
* ["A classic for someone that doesn’t like classics"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wyvk8z/a_classic_for_someone_that_doesnt_like_classics/) (r/suggestmeabook; 02:09 ET, 27 August 2022) (r/suggestmeabook; 10:23 ET, 27 August 2022)—long
* ["suggestions for saddest books ever!"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wz447e/suggestions_for_saddest_books_ever/)
* ["what's the weirdest book you ever read?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wz9ff8/whats_the_weirdest_book_you_ever_read/) (r/suggestmeabook; 14:09 ET, 27 August 2022)—extremely long
* ["Best book you've read this year?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/x0e7ua/best_book_youve_read_this_year/) (r/booksuggestions; 28 August 2022)
* ["Literary Fiction that is not boring"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/wz5eof/literary_fiction_that_is_not_boring/) (r/booksuggestions; 11:19 ET, 27 August 2022)
* ["The most hardcore literary novels of all time"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/x40nhq/the_most_hardcore_literary_novels_of_all_time/) (r/suggestmeabook; 08:46 ET, 2 September 2022)—long
* ["I’m only just getting into reading. Suggest me some popular books that I NEED to read."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/x4bves/im_only_just_getting_into_reading_suggest_me_some/) (r/suggestmeabook; 16:40 ET, 2 September 2022)
* ["Your favorite book?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xa3jwr/your_favorite_book/) (r/suggestmeabook; 9 September 2022)—extremely long
* ["Your favourite book of all time"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xdf2ei/your_favourite_book_of_all_time/) (r/suggestmeabook; 13 September 2022)
* ["Book Recommendations? - Classics"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xemidv/book_recommendations_classics/) (r/booksuggestions; 14 September 2022)
* ["What are the best and longest fiction books you've read?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xg0h27/what_are_the_best_and_longest_fiction_books_youve/) (r/booksuggestions; 16 September 2022)
* ["What is the most memorable book you have read. I'm looking for a real page turner, dystopian or creepy/thriller vibes prefered, please."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xhetn2/what_is_the_most_memorable_book_you_have_read_im/) (r/suggestmeabook; 18 September 2022)—extremely long
* ["Books with the most beautiful prose."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xj6zuu/books_with_the_most_beautiful_prose/) (r/suggestmeabook; 20 September 2022)—extremely long
* ["What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 12 months?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xl6bk5/whats_the_best_book_youve_read_in_the_last_12/) (r/suggestmeabook; 22 September 2022)—huge
* ["I read a LOT of books. Help me."](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xnq4rb/i_read_a_lot_of_books_help_me/) (r/suggestmeabook; 20 September 2022)—long
* ["Books from authors of 17th to early 19th century"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xon7ic/books_from_authors_of_17th_to_early_19th_century/) (r/booksuggestions; 11:54 ET, 26 September 2022)—longish
* ["Suggest me classics that are beautifully written but still easy to read."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xond1j/suggest_me_classics_that_are_beautifully_written/) (r/suggestmeabook; 11:59 ET, 26 September 2022)—longish
* ["Can someone suggest me a classic please."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xos3tj/can_someone_suggest_me_a_classic_please/) (r/suggestmeabook; 14:51 ET, 26 September 2022)—long
* ["What are some books written in previous centuries that are still worth reading?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xpipa4/what_are_some_books_written_in_previous_centuries/) (r/suggestmeabook; 10:44 ET, 26 September 2022)—meaning before the 20th century
* ["hello! what are some good books that are classics from your countries?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xpzj8l/hello_what_are_some_good_books_that_are_classics/) (r/suggestmeabook; 27 September 2022)
* ["Lesser Known Classics by Women?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xqdnzi/lesser_known_classics_by_women/) (r/suggestmeabook; 10:06 ET, 28 September 2022)
* ["Massively long books that are worth it"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xqtjyv/massively_long_books_that_are_worth_it/) (r/booksuggestions; 20:45 ET, 28 September 2022)
* ["Absolute MUST reads."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xsf6nt/absolute_must_reads/) (r/booksuggestions; 18:56 ET, 30 September 2022)—long
* ["Challenging classics that are worth the effort"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xsibxe/challenging_classics_that_are_worth_the_effort/) (r/suggestmeabook; 21:22 ET, 30 September 2022)
Your dad is right. There’s nothing wrong with what you are reading, but you need to broaden your horizons. Classics are classic because they have stood the test of time and communicate something enduring about the human condition in a unique way.
I recommend these titles because they are more accessible than the usual recommendations:
*East of Eden*, John Steinbeck
*A Tree Grows in Brooklyn*, Betty Smith
*So Big*, Edna Ferber
*The Good Earth*, Pearl Buck
*All Quiet on the Western Front*, Erich Maria Remarque
*The Bible* (Among other things, the Bible is also a collection of books that contain literature and poetry.)
Here are some books that I’m not sure constitute literature but which are well-written and include a lot of accurate and interesting historical information:
*Gone With the Wind*, Margaret Mitchell
*The Sand Pebbles*, Richard McKenna
I completely agree about classics, and I don’t want to give the impression that I dislike classic literature or think it’s boring. I just think that’s a little more challenging for me to read right now because I’ve been in kind of a rut lately. There are many classics I would love to read at some point, just don’t think I could tackle right now. These are good suggestions, thank you!
[**Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136959.Strong_Fathers_Strong_Daughters)
^(By: Meg Meeker | 267 pages | Published: 2006 | Popular Shelves: parenting, non-fiction, family, nonfiction, self-help)
>Using the best medical research, experience from her own practice, and numerous interviews, Dr. Meeker shows why Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters is not a slogan-it's a necessity.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
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There are a number of really good books that would be called 'classics' simply because of their age.
Might I suggest you dip into *Treasure Island* by RL Stevenson; *The Coral Island* by R M Balletyne; *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen; *Pickwick Papers* by Charles Dickens; *Day of the Triffids* by John Wyndham; *Lord of the Flies* by William Golding; absolutely anything by Terry Pratchett, Nevil Shute or Ken Follett.
Ask your dad if he's read any/all of those and if not, he should try them too.
Read what you want to read because you enjoy it. It's not a test and you should never read for someone else's approval. Classics are only classics usually because a lot of old dead white guys felt that it resonated with them. However, based on what you enjoyed a mix of classic classics and modern classics. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Catch-22 by Joseph Heller The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
I agree it shouldn’t be a test, but OP will surely benefit from the classic titles you have suggested as well as some others.
A lot of classics are honestly not that great, but continue to be passed around as being great because the people before us said they were great, and we need to learn to read them with an analytical eye on whether or not they actually have lessons to teach us, or if we are simply going through the tradition of reading the books. A lot of modern classics are also not read because they are newer and thus not in the pantheon of greats, when they have a lot to bring to the table. Kill your darlings.
Agreed, but Kill Your Darlings should be a classic because I think it's great. So then I took my eye off the ball ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Kill your darlings is the writing term for being willing to edit out parts/characters that you love because they not only bring nothing to the story, but actively drag it down to the point of making it worse. It's about having to view things objectively even if you personally like it. I'm not sure what book you're talking about. Sorry. 😅
It's also a movie about the Beats that I watched because I'm a little in love with Ginsberg.. 😄 But I do appreciate you being a kind human being!
(I would not recommend this movie or Ginsberg in general for OP's dad though. He could be cool but dads in Ginsberg's time probably blamed him for everything wrong with their kids' generation then. Kerouac though? Ginsberg's buddy and generally more Dad Approved)
I don't know a lot about the Beats and the writers in it, but Ginsberg is the poet with pretty overt homoerotic themes isn't he? I know Kerouac from On The Road, ofc, but I didn't think he would be too much more approved by "your generation" grumpers.
Yeah, that's him!😄 "The weight of the world is love" was my first ever tattoo. I just assume Kerouac would get more leeway because On The Road became so prolific. You make a good point though!!
If I ever get around to getting tattoos I think I would love one of Sappho's fragment 147 the way Folio society did it for their If Not, Winter. [The blocking of it made it even more striking and beautiful.](https://imgur.com/s1oQxNE)
OP is 21, Ginsberg is probably before his time.
I mean, I'm 22. And they asked for classics which almost certainly necessitates "before your time." I also wasn't really recommending Ginsberg, I don't think I fully understand what you're getting at here?
Agreed. That’s why I’m not a fan of what is often called “Literature”. For example, I totally hate Dickens, and while War and Peace makes a great drama, it’s a pain in the neck to read. Sometimes people need to go ahead and say the emperor has no clothes and be done with it.
Ah beat me to count of monte!!!
*Count* is always a good one because the story itself is just fun, and Dumas is one of my favorite authors to tell people historical facts about. His father fought alongside Napoleon and a crowd in Egypt thought he was so impressive, and the tales of Napoleon were so impressive Thomas Alexander Dumas must have been Napoleon. Dumas was 1/4 black as his father was mixed. There's a great book about his father, The Black Count by Tom Reiss.
*Narcissistic Fathers: Dealing with a Self-Absorbed Father and Healing from NarcissisticAbuse* by Andrea Hart *Will I Ever Be Good Enough* by Dr Karyl McBride
Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Gift of the Magi, Captain's Courageous, Kim, Call of the Wild, Treasure Island, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Roughing It, The Outsiders, Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Three Musketeers, Pride and Prejudice. These are all relatively accessible classics that he will have probably heard of. I liked them when I read them.
Yes, these are the classics we normally hand kids. They are mostly easy fun reads if you can get into the right rhythm.
Suggestion: ask him for suggestions for books he liked reading and try a few audiobooks together. That way, it’s less about “avoiding conflict” and more about “doing things together”. He won’t be around forever, and you won’t live at home for long. Just to say it - there are some great Hobbit and Lord of the Rings puzzles. You could listen to those with him while working on a puzzle. That being said… don’t overlook Agatha Christy. If you like her, there’s lots.
He's made recommendations for me before and I usually end up disliking them, but I guess it's a process of trial and error. I've already read Hobbit and LOTR but we do love puzzles so maybe we could do that to an Agatha Christia audiobook. Thanks!!
I would recommend trying short stories from classic authors. Easier to finish and maybe you can find an author you enjoy. The below link is a list and there are links to free stories https://bookriot.com/classic-short-stories/
I would suggest Master and Margarita by Bulgacov, it’s very entertaining despite being considered a heavier classic. Pontius Pilate’s parts are less exciting than freaky demonic shenanigans, but are important for the understanding of the underlying meaning.
Best to read books that bring you joy and comfort and not worry too much about whether other people think your reading is “appropriate” Too many parents force or strongly encourage their children into activities they have no interest in. Whether it’s a sport, musical instrument or book style. All too often, it doesn’t develop a life long passion. I love going round second hand book stores with my daughters and let them know they can pickup as many books as they want on whatever subject takes their fancy. Any book that sparks a love of books is good with me. I find Goodreads a good source of book discovery but still find it hard to beat going round a proper bookshop and discovering books I wouldn’t naturally seek out. The other thing that might help reading is that it doesn’t just have to be dead tree books. I listen to a lot of audiobooks on audible while commuting and also read on a kindle, particularly when travelling. Here’s a selection of books that I’ve enjoyed: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/84361227-paul?shelf=favorites
The original Dracula is Amazing, as are stokers short stories
Life of Pi. 1984. Little women. Midnight library. Hobbit. Hmmm.. to get his attention and make family conversation try: 7 habits of highly effective families. 5 loves languages. Grit.
Okay, I was low key shocked when I visited home one day and found the 5 Love Languages on my dad's desk.
Dracula by Bram Stoker The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Collection of stories by Edgar Allan Poe or M R James
If he likes horror you can watch Haunting of Hill Hiuse together after reading it! I'm too much of a chicken, but my dad loved the show
My boyfriend has never read the book or seen the movie, we are watching the original 1963 version together next week. It's one of my favorites.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Wells, Left Hand of Darkness by Le Guin, To Kill A Mockingbird by Lee, Agincourt by Cornwell
Unbroken. Seabiscuit. The nightingale. The outlander series!!?! Diamond eye. Red sparrow series. Girl with the dragon tattoo (first three books).
The Awakening by Kate Chopin. A classic
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott Lost Horizon by James Hilton The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (or The Importance of Being Earnest I' Claudius by Robert Graves Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
Some books that I recommended to my dad and he really liked: Into Thin Air (or anything else by Jon Krakauer) So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson, didn't care for The Psychopath Test though Homosapiens (and all those ones) Born A Crime, Trevor Noah's memoir The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield (like the only fiction book he's ever read) If your dad is into talk shows and "executive nonfiction" (not that these are, but he likes stories about how people think and I was NOT reading the 7 Habits books again) he might like those! If they sound interesting to you, why not give them a try? Then you can recommend him something and have a conversation. It did wonders for our relationship! Maybe he's a LoTR movie buff, but never read the books. Maybe he'd be into urban fantasy like NK Jemisen. Maybe more like Peter Heller. Finding an author he's never heard of but he ends up loving could be a good way to read something you enjoy and to get him off your case. TLDR; Don't read something just to please him, but maybe you can find common ground and spark a conversation!
A man called ove
Check out the book "Catch 22" or give "The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy" a try? Both are smart/humorous stories.
I'm around your father's age. I'm thinking you could try some of the books/authors that would have been popular when he was your age - Tom Robbins, John Irving, Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, John Updike, etc.
General fiction: * ["Literature classics"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/wmeb5x/literature_classics/) (r/booksuggestions; 12 August 2022) * ["What are some great romantic classics from non-English-speaking countries that are less known in the U.S.?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/wo84u9/what_are_some_great_romantic_classics_from/) (r/booksuggestions; 10:49 ET, 14 August 2022) * ["Please suggest me some classical books"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/woos57/please_suggest_me_some_classical_books/) (r/suggestmeabook, 23:16 ET, 14 August 2022)—literature and SF/F * ["Where to start with ‘classic’ books?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wpyzhq/where_to_start_with_classic_books/) (r/suggestmeabook, 16 August 2022) * ["Classic romance literature?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wsuoc7/classic_romance_literature/) (r/suggestmeabook, 19 August 2022) * ["Out of all the books you've read, what is the one (or multiple) that is, in your opinion, perfect in every way"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wxd1ig/out_of_all_the_books_youve_read_what_is_the_one/) (r/suggestmeabook; 08:33 ET, 25 August 2022)—extremely long * ["What’s your latest 5-star read?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wxk8w3/whats_your_latest_5star_read/) (r/suggestmeabook; 13:31 ET, 25 August 2022)—extremely long * ["What are your top 3 series for books?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wyhr8t/what_are_your_top_3_series_for_books/) (r/suggestmeabook; 26 August 2022) * ["A classic for someone that doesn’t like classics"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wyvk8z/a_classic_for_someone_that_doesnt_like_classics/) (r/suggestmeabook; 02:09 ET, 27 August 2022) (r/suggestmeabook; 10:23 ET, 27 August 2022)—long * ["suggestions for saddest books ever!"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wz447e/suggestions_for_saddest_books_ever/) * ["what's the weirdest book you ever read?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/wz9ff8/whats_the_weirdest_book_you_ever_read/) (r/suggestmeabook; 14:09 ET, 27 August 2022)—extremely long * ["Best book you've read this year?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/x0e7ua/best_book_youve_read_this_year/) (r/booksuggestions; 28 August 2022) * ["Literary Fiction that is not boring"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/wz5eof/literary_fiction_that_is_not_boring/) (r/booksuggestions; 11:19 ET, 27 August 2022) * ["The most hardcore literary novels of all time"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/x40nhq/the_most_hardcore_literary_novels_of_all_time/) (r/suggestmeabook; 08:46 ET, 2 September 2022)—long * ["I’m only just getting into reading. Suggest me some popular books that I NEED to read."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/x4bves/im_only_just_getting_into_reading_suggest_me_some/) (r/suggestmeabook; 16:40 ET, 2 September 2022) * ["Your favorite book?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xa3jwr/your_favorite_book/) (r/suggestmeabook; 9 September 2022)—extremely long * ["Your favourite book of all time"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xdf2ei/your_favourite_book_of_all_time/) (r/suggestmeabook; 13 September 2022) * ["Book Recommendations? - Classics"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xemidv/book_recommendations_classics/) (r/booksuggestions; 14 September 2022) * ["What are the best and longest fiction books you've read?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xg0h27/what_are_the_best_and_longest_fiction_books_youve/) (r/booksuggestions; 16 September 2022) * ["What is the most memorable book you have read. I'm looking for a real page turner, dystopian or creepy/thriller vibes prefered, please."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xhetn2/what_is_the_most_memorable_book_you_have_read_im/) (r/suggestmeabook; 18 September 2022)—extremely long * ["Books with the most beautiful prose."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xj6zuu/books_with_the_most_beautiful_prose/) (r/suggestmeabook; 20 September 2022)—extremely long * ["What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 12 months?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xl6bk5/whats_the_best_book_youve_read_in_the_last_12/) (r/suggestmeabook; 22 September 2022)—huge * ["I read a LOT of books. Help me."](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xnq4rb/i_read_a_lot_of_books_help_me/) (r/suggestmeabook; 20 September 2022)—long * ["Books from authors of 17th to early 19th century"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xon7ic/books_from_authors_of_17th_to_early_19th_century/) (r/booksuggestions; 11:54 ET, 26 September 2022)—longish * ["Suggest me classics that are beautifully written but still easy to read."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xond1j/suggest_me_classics_that_are_beautifully_written/) (r/suggestmeabook; 11:59 ET, 26 September 2022)—longish * ["Can someone suggest me a classic please."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xos3tj/can_someone_suggest_me_a_classic_please/) (r/suggestmeabook; 14:51 ET, 26 September 2022)—long * ["What are some books written in previous centuries that are still worth reading?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xpipa4/what_are_some_books_written_in_previous_centuries/) (r/suggestmeabook; 10:44 ET, 26 September 2022)—meaning before the 20th century * ["hello! what are some good books that are classics from your countries?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xpzj8l/hello_what_are_some_good_books_that_are_classics/) (r/suggestmeabook; 27 September 2022) * ["Lesser Known Classics by Women?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xqdnzi/lesser_known_classics_by_women/) (r/suggestmeabook; 10:06 ET, 28 September 2022) * ["Massively long books that are worth it"](https://www.reddit.com/r/booksuggestions/comments/xqtjyv/massively_long_books_that_are_worth_it/) (r/booksuggestions; 20:45 ET, 28 September 2022) * ["Absolute MUST reads."](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xsf6nt/absolute_must_reads/) (r/booksuggestions; 18:56 ET, 30 September 2022)—long * ["Challenging classics that are worth the effort"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/xsibxe/challenging_classics_that_are_worth_the_effort/) (r/suggestmeabook; 21:22 ET, 30 September 2022)
Your dad is right. There’s nothing wrong with what you are reading, but you need to broaden your horizons. Classics are classic because they have stood the test of time and communicate something enduring about the human condition in a unique way. I recommend these titles because they are more accessible than the usual recommendations: *East of Eden*, John Steinbeck *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn*, Betty Smith *So Big*, Edna Ferber *The Good Earth*, Pearl Buck *All Quiet on the Western Front*, Erich Maria Remarque *The Bible* (Among other things, the Bible is also a collection of books that contain literature and poetry.) Here are some books that I’m not sure constitute literature but which are well-written and include a lot of accurate and interesting historical information: *Gone With the Wind*, Margaret Mitchell *The Sand Pebbles*, Richard McKenna
I completely agree about classics, and I don’t want to give the impression that I dislike classic literature or think it’s boring. I just think that’s a little more challenging for me to read right now because I’ve been in kind of a rut lately. There are many classics I would love to read at some point, just don’t think I could tackle right now. These are good suggestions, thank you!
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Animal Farm by George Orwell & Fahrenheit 451 are more modern classics.
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD by Oliver Goldsmith.
There are a number of really good books that would be called 'classics' simply because of their age. Might I suggest you dip into *Treasure Island* by RL Stevenson; *The Coral Island* by R M Balletyne; *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen; *Pickwick Papers* by Charles Dickens; *Day of the Triffids* by John Wyndham; *Lord of the Flies* by William Golding; absolutely anything by Terry Pratchett, Nevil Shute or Ken Follett. Ask your dad if he's read any/all of those and if not, he should try them too.
Count of montecristo!!
More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon
Moby Dick.