The Timeless Appeal of Classical Literature and My Top Five Picks

As you walk into my home, you will be greeted by shelves upon shelves of books of all kinds.

My love for literature began at age three when my Mom introduced me to the beloved character Franklin, and by the time I was six, I had moved on to Enid Blyton’s world of adventure, mystery, and intrigue. (A humblebrag, I know.) From thereon, my love for reading grew.

I explore all genres with equal fervour, but it is the classics that hold a special place in my heart. These authors possess the power to transport me to a bygone era of elegance and refinement. I am an avid reader + collector of classics as my travels are never complete without a visit to an old and dusty bookstore in search of rare first editions and other literary treasures. 

Now, we all know that there are some books that we read once and then never again, and there are others that we find ourselves returning to time and time again. For me, classics are often the latter – with their alluring and complex prose, timeless themes and vivid characters. In this post, I would like to share with you 5 of my favourite classics which have certainly withstood the test of time. You must know that narrowing down my choices for this post was a daunting task, however, I persevered. I have read these books more than 10 times as they are a major source of comfort for me, and I really enjoyed photographing the books, too. 

✎ Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This charming and hilarious romp tops my list. Set in the early 19th century Regency England, this novel explores the story of a witty and headstrong young lady named Elizabeth Bennet as she banters and bickers her way through the countryside with the brooding and mysterious Mr. Darcy until they start to realise that maybe there’s more to each other than meets the eye. Definitely taught me the importance of having a good sense of humour – and a well-timed insult or two!

✎ Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Before I read this book, my Mom often narrated this story to me during bedtime. When I was old enough to read, she gifted me her copy, the story of young boy named Pip who comes from humble beginnings and dreams of becoming a gentleman. When a mysterious benefactor grants Pip’s wishes, he finds himself swept up in a whirlwind of high society parties and grand estates, meeting all sorts of oddball characters – notably Miss Havisham, Estella and Abel Magwitch. As Pip was forced to confront the truth about his own desires and the reality of the world around him, I wept with him.

✎ Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

This book was gifted to me by my Dad’s wife when I was 10, and I was plunged into the mid-19th century London where a young orphan dared to ask for more gruel and found himself caught up in a whirlwind of daring escapes as he struggles to find a place in the world. This book is so rich in detail and paints a very vivid picture of the characters and settings, so when I stumbled upon its’ movie adaptation, I immediately knew that it has failed to capture the depth and richness of the book, and definitely fell short to portray the emotions and nuanced storytelling found in the book which explored themes of poverty and social injustice. The copy Nazytha gifted me is now worn-out from multiple reads and I recently acquired a more recent edition of this book. However, I know that I will always reach for the copy I first received whenever I want to read it again and again.

✎ Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Despite the controversies surrounding this insight into the writer’s (rather twisted) mind and justifications for his actions, I love it for its’ lush prose and witty wordplay. From the bustling streets of New York to the sleepy towns of the American West, the writer and Lolita travel together, navigating the tricky waters of desire, love and obsession. I believe that its’ exploration of morality and power along with the psychological depth it offered enabled the book to earn its’ place as a classic of modern literature.

✎ Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

This big, fat book tells the tale of a bunch of melancholic and misunderstood characters in France. They all have their own stories to tell, and weaves in and out of each other’s lives like a tapestry of drama and heartbreak. Along the way, they sings songs, falls in love and occasionally gets into sword fights. Offering a little bit of history and a little bit of romance, this book took me on a wild ride with its’ twists and turns and tears and triumphs. It did make me weep like a weeping willow, but in the most delightful way possible.

So that’s about it, for now. These books have given me countless hours of joy, and with each reading, I discover something new – whether its’ a deeper understanding of the characters, a new appreciation for the language or simply a renewed sense of wonder. Amidst our move to Doha, I can turn to the comforting pages of Little Women or the enchanting world of The Secret Garden. When the days are slow I need a dose of adventure and excitement, I can journey to New York City with Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. And when I simply need to be reminded of the beauty of language, I can lose myself in the poetry of Wuthering Heights or the prose of The Great Gatsby and many, many more…