What Classic Novel Should Everyone Actually Read?

So much required reading, so little time.

Look, guys there are a lot of books out there in the world.

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Some of them are old, some of them are new, but a lot of weight gets put on "classic" novels as a marker of being "well read".

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You know the ones: They were almost all written before 1920, and before editorial feedback was really a thing, and they get taught to students way before they can actually comprehend them.

But like all types of books, there are A LOT OF CLASSICS OUT THERE.

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And while we've all probably got at least Dickens, Tolstoy, Melville, and Brontë on our reading list, there's a range of less canon classics that deserve more attention, too. Like more books by women, by people of colour, and published in translation.

So which famous titles are actually worth it?

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And which ones never get the attention they deserve?

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Which ones won't just make you feel smart, but will make you feel engaged and transported?

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Tell us about why your favourite classic novel should be required reading, and you could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post or video.