Looking for classic literature book lists to guide you as you expand your bookshelf? Look no further. This is a list of lists for you to choose from as you look for your next classic novel to read. These lists focus mostly on fiction, but each list has its own leaning and personality, so scan through them to see which one might be right for you as you search for your future reads!
100 Must-Read Classics, As Chosen by Penguin Readers
Published in May 2022, here’s how Sarah McKenna and the Penguin editors described their user-determined list: “They broke boundaries and challenged conceptions. We asked you for your must-read classics; from iconic bestsellers to lesser-known gems, these are your essential recommends.”
Top five books on the list:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (1967)
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965)
BBC’s The Big Read: Top 100
This list is archived now, but it’s still a good snapshot of what readers in the UK were talking about in the early 2000s. “In April 2003 the BBC's Big Read began the search for the nation's best-loved novel, and we asked you to nominate your favourite books.”
Top five books on the list:
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Amazon’s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime
In 2014, Amazon Book editors curated a list of 100 books to read in a lifetime, apparently not using algorithms, but through discussion and debate among the Amazon Book team. The list is not ranked, but rather alphabetical, though it feels appropriate for 1984 by George Orwell to be at the top either way.
Recommended books on this list:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: Delightful words and otherworldly adventures--just what Penny Magic is all about!
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: As relevant today as it was when it was published in 1953
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson: Recommended for first-time Chicago visitors or long-time residents alike
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi: A graphic novel about Iran during the Islamic revolution and one of our book club’s favorite picks
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: An inspiration for the dark academia genre and a source of endless book club discussion
Want to keep your eyes off a screen as you look for your next book? Check out the book 1000 Books to Read Before You Die for recommendations from bookseller and editor James Mustich.
Looking for more options?
Browse more lists on listchallenges.com. Check off the books you’ve read before or, if you’re with a friend or a book club, see how many you’ve read collectively! No need to sign up or log in if you’re not tracking and just casually counting for fun.
ListChallenges.com has challenges for most of the well-known lists above, but it also has quirkier lists with a bit more personality like:
Or, our personal favorite, The Rory Gilmore Reading List
If you’re still not sure where to start, dip your toe into classic literature by starting with some of our favorite short stories by classic authors or start with a Penny Magic classic from our store!
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