Hi all, have just stumbled onto this sub and figured why not ask.
I used to read fairly voraciously through my late 20s/early 30s, most of my spare time was consumed with reading novel after novel, but over the last 5 years I’ve gradually fallen further into depression, and essentially lost my passion for life in general.
I’m currently on a self improvement kick, I’ve been exercising and picked up a real book again after a few years since my last. I’m loving it which is positive. I went into a book store again earlier this week but became a bit overwhelmed at where to start.
I’m currently interested in reading some the classics – I have Count of Monte Cristo sitting here on my shelf but I’m feeling overwhelmed at starting it. I haven’t read many of the classics, and currently this is where I’d like to start again.
Can anyone recommend something that is engaging, fairly accessible, hopeful, sad, joyous, interesting – fairly broad I know, but I think I just crave a good story right now that I can get lost in.
Thanks!
by rhinestoneBones
5 Comments
My favorite classics are Frankenstein, Rebecca, Beloved and The Picture of Dorian Gray, all of which I would say are fairly accessible as far as classics go! I will say, I have not read any of these since middle school so take this with a grain of salt. All decently short too!
In terms of non-classics, *which honestly I think are a better step into reading*, I would suggest On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong; The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer; The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. The first is definitely the least accessible, but I would say that even though it is flowery it is not OVERLY so, and it is so beautiful.
I read anywhere from 30-50 books a year and I often struggle with the classics.
My favourite book is incredibly blasphemous if you’re a Christian type person. Lamb- Christopher Moore.
It is told from the perspective of biff, Christ’s childhood pal.
It seemed to be anyway to be a very plausible take on what Christ’s early life would be like and his journey to find the three wise men and seek answers from them.
It honestly helped repair my image of Jesus. I gave my mom (was Christian but is agnostic now) a leather bound “bible” copy signed by the author. She thought it was funny but had to put it down a couple of times because she was worried about being struck by lightning
Still Life by Sarah Winman is the book you are looking for.
I don’t really read a ton of classics and tend to lean more fantasy but I have two recommendations
Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck. I don’t remember much of it anymore because I read it so long ago, but I remember it being pretty chill and a nice read. Basically, it’s about Steinbeck and his dog traveling around the country
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. It’s a pretty fun little story. It plays around with a few fairy tale tropes and has a bit of action, some romance, and a curse
Easy classic that hits all your emotions: Persuasion by Jane Austen. It’s about grief and depression and growing into your own person and dealing with difficult family and people.