Tuesday, March 11, 2014

[Top Ten Tuesday: All Time Favorite Books in Classic-ish Lit]

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly linkup hosted by The Broke And The Bookish!
One thing I love almost as much as YA lit, is the classic stuff.  I used to force myself to read one classic every summer when I was younger.  I have to admit that it took me a whole summer to actually make it through all 1,000 or however many pages of Gone With the Wind.  Thing is, it was totally worth it in the end.  You might also notice that there isn't any Jane Austen on this list.  You might think I'm crazy, but I'm not a huge fan of her writing style, even though I'm a big fan of her stories.  It's weird, but it's reality.  So here are my top classic-ish lit picks!
The Books!
 
 
 "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott:  I don't think I've ever read a character I relate to more than Joe March.  She has a best guy friend, doesn't understand girls like she should, wants to write and she doesn't mind doing what she wants, even if it's frowned upon.  I can't tell you how many times I've read this one.
"Jubilee Trail" by Gwen Bristow:  Seriously, has anyone else read this book, because it's amazing!  It's about this girl who gets married and goes with a wagon caravan to California where her life gets all sorts of crazy.  Plus she makes friends with an old timey hooker and they become besties.  It's really magical and there are Indian attacks and dying cattle and things!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee:  I can't say enough wonderful things about this book.  I love all of the characters and the message and everything else.  Let's just say that I'm a big fan.  Plus, the names are amazing.  Atticus, Scout, Boo... you get the picture!   
"The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde", by Oscar Wilde:  Oh Oscar, you're like my magical unicorn of an author spirit animal!  Really though, I can't get enough of this man's plays.  He wasn't afraid to be snarky.  Honestly, I think he was the early king of snark.  I even went to his grave site in Paris, because we totally would have been besties if we would have been alive at the same time! 

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte:  Of course there had to be a creepy love story on this list and Jane Eyre takes the cake.  (At least out of all the classic lit I've read)  I just love the love story and the chills that you get as the secrets unfold.  I think this is Gothic lit at it's best!  So many secrets, so many!

"Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell:  Scarlet and Rhett are perfect for each other, meaning that they are both really really messed up.  Seriously, they really can't get their shit together, but I think that's why I like them so much.  Plus, there is war in this book and explosions, who doesn't love the mixture of messed up characters, explosions and love?

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald:  Talking about characters that can't get their shit together, this book should win a prize!  Almost everyone in this book doesn't know what to do with themselves and it causes all the drama.  Daisy, how I loath you.  And Gatsby, give me a call, I promise I'll return it.  (too soon?)  I have to admit that I'm a fan of Fitzgerald's writing and the 1920's in general!

"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton:  Yes, I know this one isn't as old as the others on this list, but I feel like I need at least one classic YA novel and this one wins out!  I just love this story about two best friends who get in all sorts of trouble.  Cause everyone knows that's what best friends do!

"The Sun Also Rises" by Earnest Hemingway:  Okay, this one isn't really a favorite.  I can't stand Jake.  I just can't.  The thing is, I really like Brett and think she's a character worth reading.  My best friend made me read this one for Brett and I dig her really flawed character.

"Wilderness" by Jim Morrison:  I'm pretty sure this one wins for least classic, but as a music junky, it was bound to happen.  This series of poems is great and weird and totally off kilter.  Morrison's mind was wack and I love diving into these poems every once in awhile.

Well there's my list!  What's on yours?  I wanna know.  Leave your link below or tell me in the comments!  

8 comments:

Christina / Book Addict said...

I love this list and agree with most of your choices. TKAM is one of my favorites as well as The Sun Also Rises, Gone with the Wind, Little Women and The Great Gatsby. Sometimes you just need to read a really good classic! :)

Nicole said...

I have only read To Kill a Mockingbird on this list and only because it was required reading. I don't read a lot of classics. Although Gone With the Wind is one of my favorite movies so I should probably read the book!

Lori @ Writing My Own Fairy Tale said...

Well, I've seen a lot of the movies for these books. Does that count for anything? Lol I'm not a big fan of classics but I will say that I do love To Kill a Mockingbird. It has a great message. And I love Katharine Hepburn as Jo. I watched that movie so many times when I was a kid!

Nobody said...

I'm not really a fan of classics but I do love The Outsiders! Stay gold.

Rachel said...

I'm a fan of THE GREAT GATSBY, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of my favorites. I really want to read GONE WITH THE WIND, but it's HUGE! Have you read HAMLET, 1984, or GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING? Those are great, too! Thanks for stopping by!

Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf

Lili said...

Huge confession time...I have not read many of these because my school system is stupid.

GREAT GATSBY is one of my favorite all time stories though <3

Katherine P said...

I've read most of these and completely agree with this list! I haven't read Jubilee Trail but that's going to have to change! It sounds great.

Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm said...

I have a confession... I don't really read classics. I have loads on my TBR list but haven't got to them yet. I did read and love The Great Gatsby though. I really want to read Little Women because I adored the film as a kid. Nice list and thanks for stopping by my post :)