A great book can change your life, and that’s no exaggeration. It allows your imagination to flourish, which can sometimes birth new ideas that are worth exploring.
With more than 129 million titles in existence, finding a good title would be like looking for a diamond in the rough. So, to help narrow down that lengthy list, users from Mumsnet gave their book suggestions you can check out.
You will find many classics on this list that you’ve likely already read, but you may also come across a few that may pique your interest. And if you’re not an avid reader, this may just turn you into one.
#1
I’m halfway through The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas & loving it.
Mary Barton by Mrs Gaskell has vivid characters and is a real page turner.
Mary Barton by Mrs Gaskell has vivid characters and is a real page turner.
27points
#2
George Orwells novels are good, particularly 1984 and Animal Farm, but I really enjoyed Down and Out in London and Paris, describing his early life working in Parisienne restaurant kitchens, then coming back to live with the poorest in society in London.
I also enjoy Thomas Hardy books. Tess if the D'Urbervilles, Far from the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure all set in one of my favourite parts of the UK.
I also enjoy Thomas Hardy books. Tess if the D'Urbervilles, Far from the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure all set in one of my favourite parts of the UK.
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26points
#4
The Iliad and the Odyssey.
All of human desires, foibles, pains, joys, cruelties and kindnesses are contained therein.
They will change your life.
Read The Odyssey first as it's easier to get into than the Iliad.
Use the new Emily Wilson translations.
All of human desires, foibles, pains, joys, cruelties and kindnesses are contained therein.
They will change your life.
Read The Odyssey first as it's easier to get into than the Iliad.
Use the new Emily Wilson translations.
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22points
#6
Jane Eyre
The Mill on the Floss
Anne of Green Gables
A Christmas Carol
The Mill on the Floss
Anne of Green Gables
A Christmas Carol
19points
#8
Because reading is so subjective, I can go out on a limb.
Wuthering Heights is in my opinion the most self indulgent pile of pitiful wank ever written. There. I've said it. (Although it does have a redeeming feature in that it gave rise to one of the most brilliant songs ever.)
Dickens is tricky because he's so long winded. Great romping stories though, and the more popular ones are referenced frequently.
Balzac was a great writer, often churning out books practically overnight to pay off his debts. Daphne du Maurier and John Wyndham were also superb for both storytelling and writing style and Jane Eyre is and will always be wonderful. For modern classics, anything by Penelope Lively is worth a read. Oh and Brave New World.
Great thread. Always lovely to have an excuse to talk books instead of do work...
Wuthering Heights is in my opinion the most self indulgent pile of pitiful wank ever written. There. I've said it. (Although it does have a redeeming feature in that it gave rise to one of the most brilliant songs ever.)
Dickens is tricky because he's so long winded. Great romping stories though, and the more popular ones are referenced frequently.
Balzac was a great writer, often churning out books practically overnight to pay off his debts. Daphne du Maurier and John Wyndham were also superb for both storytelling and writing style and Jane Eyre is and will always be wonderful. For modern classics, anything by Penelope Lively is worth a read. Oh and Brave New World.
Great thread. Always lovely to have an excuse to talk books instead of do work...
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19points
#10
Agree with a lot of the comments above.
I recently read Gulliver's Travels (for the first time( and really enjoyed it. Well written, very entertaining, and contains some surprisingly pertinent observations.
Also add Bulgakov's Master and Margarita as a great read.
Interested to see several people mention John Wyndham - I really like his novels and short stories but are they really 'great books' or 'classics'? Not sure I think of them in that way.
I recently read Gulliver's Travels (for the first time( and really enjoyed it. Well written, very entertaining, and contains some surprisingly pertinent observations.
Also add Bulgakov's Master and Margarita as a great read.
Interested to see several people mention John Wyndham - I really like his novels and short stories but are they really 'great books' or 'classics'? Not sure I think of them in that way.
17points
#11
To Kill a Mockingbird
Rebecca
1984
Lord of the Flies
The only "classics" I have ever enjoyed. Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion bored me to tears.
Rebecca
1984
Lord of the Flies
The only "classics" I have ever enjoyed. Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion bored me to tears.
17points
#13
The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver (I know it doesn’t always get listed on the more traditional great literature lists).
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
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15points
#14
I love Moby Dick. It manages to be both about nineteenth century whaling - you can almost taste the salty air - and the human condition. I’m usually quite severe on books with no female characters but this is so absorbing and all-encompassing that it doesn’t seem to matter.
I know this is quite a niche view! - and I wonder if people who don’t like it are expecting a rollicking yarn and are disappointed to find it’s more meditative and descriptive.
I know this is quite a niche view! - and I wonder if people who don’t like it are expecting a rollicking yarn and are disappointed to find it’s more meditative and descriptive.
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15points
#15
War and Peace!
Honestly, if you enjoyed Anna Karenina you will enjoy W&P. It is long but it is really enjoyable and has unforgettable characters.
If it helps, there is a Substack called Footnotes and Tangents that does a read along and is full of notes.
Actually, how could I forget, there was also a Mumsnet read along thread that you can still access!
Honestly, if you enjoyed Anna Karenina you will enjoy W&P. It is long but it is really enjoyable and has unforgettable characters.
If it helps, there is a Substack called Footnotes and Tangents that does a read along and is full of notes.
Actually, how could I forget, there was also a Mumsnet read along thread that you can still access!
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14points
#16
Dracula
dr Jekyll and mr Hyde
the Scarlet letter
H.G Wells- the invisible man, the war of the worlds, the Time Machine
enjoyable in their own right, but also all of the above have had an enormous impact on horror/sci fi in all forms across the world.
dr Jekyll and mr Hyde
the Scarlet letter
H.G Wells- the invisible man, the war of the worlds, the Time Machine
enjoyable in their own right, but also all of the above have had an enormous impact on horror/sci fi in all forms across the world.
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14points
#19
Great Expectations has wonderful characterisation and some excellent set pieces.
Persuasion is truly romantic.
Candide is very funny.
Lolita is a fabulous piece of characterisation through voice. So clever (“Picnic, lightning.”).
Northanger Abbey is a cracking p**stake.
Cold Comfort Farm is hilarious satire.
Middlemarch is very dense and involving.
Persuasion is truly romantic.
Candide is very funny.
Lolita is a fabulous piece of characterisation through voice. So clever (“Picnic, lightning.”).
Northanger Abbey is a cracking p**stake.
Cold Comfort Farm is hilarious satire.
Middlemarch is very dense and involving.
10points
#20
Crime and Punishment is an absolute banger. Love it.
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10points