Top 10 classic novels: what to know if you haven’t read them yet

One of the originally released editions of “The Old Man and the Sea.”

The Classics: some love ‘em, some hate ‘em, but everyone knows ‘em. The English curriculum boasts some good ones. Let’s review what you may have missed.

10. “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller (1961)

If you fly, you’re insane. If you don’t fly, you’re sane. You can only stop flying if you are insane. The Pacific Theatre of the Second World War was a turbulent scene for pilots. During the grueling shifts and long nights, nobody wanted to fly the missions. Yet, the only way to get out of it was the claim insanity.

9. “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy (1868)

You don’t have to be good with names to recognize this Tolstoy novel as a treasure trove. Arguably one of the best(along with Anna Karenina) of many good Tolstoy novels, “War and Peace” takes you through the Russian elite social scene against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

8. “Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas (1844)

Perhaps you’ve always wondered what it felt like to win the lottery and what you’d do with your winnings. The story of the count would make lottery money look like peanuts. With his newfound wealth found under a mountain, he enacts revenge on his old enemies.

7. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen (1813)

This one I haven’t personally read, but “Pride and Prejudice” is undoubtedly the golden standard of romance novels. Love is about making choices, and Elizabeth Bennet never seems to be able to make the right choice until she meets Darcy.

6. “Invisible Man” by HG Wells (1897)

A true horror masterpiece, “The Invisible Man” articulates the story of an alchemist who turns himself invisible and becomes insane. In a terrifying saga of murders, mysteries, and a manhunt for a villain no one could see, HG Wells brings fear into every reader’s heart.

5. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe (1958)

Nigerian culture is extremely underrepresented in literature. This makes the monumental novella by Achebe all the more impactful. Explore Igbo tribal life and the consequences of strength and bravery in this tragic story.

4. “1984” by George Orwell (1949)

Big Brother is watching you. He will use your darkest fears to bend your will and morph your thinking. “Crimethink” is not only prosecuted, it is persecuted relentlessly by the Thought Police working tirelessly to control your every thought.

3. “A Tale of Two Cities” Charles Dickens (1859)

Paris and London. Heroes and Prisoners. Bankers and Doctors. The Tale of Two Cities is full of contrasts molded together into one flowing novel of love, sacrifice, and wit during “the best of times” and the “worst of times”: the French Revolution.

2. “Les Miserables” Victor Hugo (1862)

Probably the most complicated story of all time. A must-read for enthusiasts who enjoy long and winded plots and twists. Taking place in history shortly after the setting of “A Tale of Two Cities,” “Les Miserables” has several iconic moments from when a character sells her front teeth and hair to survive to when a man drags a perceived enemy through the sewers to save his life.

1. “The Old Man and the Sea” Ernest Hemingway (1952)

This is perhaps a controversial first pick, but I certainly believe that this Hemingway novel deserves the spot at the top of this list. An exhilarating story of hardship and wealth which disappeared in an instant, “The Old Man and the Sea” captures an eternally relevant story told in Hemingway’s trademark slowly-developing and quickly-crashing style. I also happened to own one of the original 1952 copies.