I think a more accurate title of this blog post would be “5 classics that have been on my shelves for years that I have yet to read,” but that would be a bit too long, wouldn’t it? Anyhow, I’ve selected 5 classics on my TBR that I’m hoping to get around to this year!!
American Classics
East of Eden is up first. I have yet to read any Steinbeck (shock), and as this book has been in my house for years, I want to start here. Here’s an excerpt from the Goodreads synopsis: Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an American classic. I started reading this ages ago, but I never finished, so it’s time to properly give it another go. The tale of one woman’s punishment for adultery, with themes of revenge, guilt, redemption, and the supernatural, is very appealing, and I can’t wait to get back into this story.
My Antonia will be a good start for reading Willa Cather. Although I had no idea that this was the third in her Great Plains Trilogy, I won’t let that set me off it since it’s one of her greatest works. It follows two children who are brought to Nebraska in the 19th century. Cather brought the American west to life in a vivid and engaging way.
A Play & A Poem
The Glass Menagerie, a play, is probably the least appealing title in this compilation. Other than Shakespeare, plays are never my first choice when deciding what to read next. However, as I did enjoy my revisit to Death of a Salesman last semester, it might be time to pick this up as it has been waiting for about 6 years. :’) Menagerie is a memory play with strong autobiographical elements that reflect recollections of the narrators’ mother & sister.
Paradise Lost, by John Milton, is 100000% the “book” I’m most looking forward to!! It is one of the most fantastic epic poems of the entire English language o m g. Paradise Lost is about Man’s Fall—the war between God and Satan over the fate of mankind—and is told between the three worlds of heaven, hell, and earth. THRILLING. I cannot, cannot, cannot WAIT.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood gets an honourable mention as this is my sister’s book, and therefore not on my shelves :’) As I have always enjoyed retellings of Robin Hood’s exploits, and have read quite a few adaptations of it, it’s about time I read the fullness of the tale!
Those are the 5 classics on my TBR!!! Though there will always be more than 5 bc I’m a classic lit girl :’) I will spend the rest of my life getting through them all. As always, I would love your thoughts if you’ve read any of these titles! Thank you for reading <3