9 classic novels worth reading once in your life

“Classic” can sound like homework. But the books that last usually last for a reason — they’re still funny, still moving, still true. Here are nine that reward the read, without the dread.

1. Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen

Sharper and funnier than its reputation. The wit holds up two centuries on.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee

A childhood, a courtroom, and a conscience. Still one of the most moving American novels.

3. The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Short, shimmering, and sad. The Great American Novel in under 200 pages.

4. Jane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë

Gothic, fierce, and surprisingly modern in its heroine. A proper page-turner.

5. Their Eyes Were Watching God — Zora Neale Hurston

Lyrical and alive, a landmark of American literature too often skipped. Read it.

6. Frankenstein — Mary Shelley

The original science-fiction novel, and a tragedy about ambition and neglect. Eerily current.

7. The Count of Monte Cristo — Alexandre Dumas

Revenge, escape, and reinvention — a giant page-turner that flies by. Pure story.

8. Beloved — Toni Morrison

Demanding and unforgettable. A masterpiece about memory, freedom, and love.

9. 1984 — George Orwell

The dystopia that named our anxieties. Short, chilling, endlessly quoted.

Start the shelf

Used bookstores are the natural home of the classics — affordable, everywhere, and meant to be passed on. Find one on our shelves, or ask the Matchmaker which classic fits your taste. Want something shorter to start? See our weekend reads.