Tips On How To Start Reading Classic Literature

Because we all want an impressive score on the Rory Gilmore reading list

Hello! I'm a first-year literature major and an absolute lover of classic novels. If you're anything like me, you love to spread your passions to others. For me, I have a deep interest in literature, however, I know that reading the "classics" can be an intimidating endeavor. Yet with my complete guide, based on my own personal experience, I hope to help others dip their toes into the pool of great novels.

Try to find the writers and novels that relate closely with yourself and/or experiences.

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One of the major aversions to classic literature can be the notion that classic novelists lack diversity. As a result, many potential readers can feel an absence of representation and disconnection from the writer and themselves, the reader. I dealt with similar feelings of detachment and disinterest from reading novels that did not address the many issues and emotions I felt in my own personal life. For many, reading classic novels can be a form of self-therapy or understanding of their own lives, due to the number of philosophical questions and reflections present in these novels. Thus it is important to start your journey into classic literature with a writer or novel that you feel a deep connection with. For me, female writers who dealt with mental illness such as Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath were great since their writings felt incredibly relevant to my own journeys in life.

Depending on your own interests and desires, there is a range of ways to find a writer who suits your interests. The key is to look for writers outside an average high school curriculum.

Don't limit yourself to your country and language in terms of classic literature

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Are you over reading another variation of the 'Great American Novel?" Then maybe it's time to read classic literature from other countries and cultures. At the start of my literary journey, I quickly became bored of most English literature due to the similar plot developments and philosophies present in western novels. I soon tried reading Latin American writers like Gabriel García Márquez and realized that I deeply loved Spanish literature. Not only was I entertained due to the introduction of foreign countries and cultures, but I also loved the experimental writing present in many of the novels I was reading.

Need help finding classic writers from different countries? Look at previous Nobel Literature Laureates. The writers may be contemporary, however, many winners are gifted writers from around the world.

A few recommendations: Pablo Neruda (Spanish), Albert Camus (French) and Thomas Mann (German)

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-nobel-prizes-in-literature/

Know why the novel is great before reading it

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Don't understand why the novel is a classic? It may be because of a lack of research. Almost all classics have at least a textbook reason for their acclaim. It can be due to the novel's progression of ideas or experimental writing of the time. By familiarizing themselves with context, readers can better appreciate a novel's acclaims and its importance in history.

Sparknotes, TedEd, Reddit, Academy of Life, and Wisecrack are some great resources to help.

Find the correct time frame to read the novel

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One of the easiest ways to undermine one's experience reading classic literature is to spend too little or too long with a single novel. By rushing through a novel, one does not take the chance to understand why it's brilliant. I, myself, rushed through Anna Karenina and walked away feeling ambivalent about a novel that I could've truly loved if I took the time to read it slowly.

However, also don't spend months on a single novel that doesn't need that much time to read. Often slow reading makes it easier to forgot the plot (something no reader enjoys.)

Evaluate the page numbers and recommendations online to find the right time to spend with the novel.

Be an active reader!

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Immerse yourself in the experience. Ask questions that challenge you personally or help you understand the plot. If you don't know a historical event mentioned in the story, take the time to look it up. Reading classic literature is all about developing knowledge, so make that extra step. And yes, underlining quotes you like, count!

Bonus tip: Create a journal or spreadsheet on all your favorite characters or quotes. It will be a great way to track your progress and keep you motivated!

Create a welcoming environment

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Before I read, I always make a cup of tea and turn on some classical music. Without fail, this process helps me get into the mind frame for reading. Similarly, you may try to find a ritual that can help set the mood for your reading session.

However, you may want to take it a step further and create an environment similar to the novel you're reading. Try reading Thoreau in the woods or Poe by candlelight. It may be a little, but the change in setting may be enough to get you motivated.

If all else fails and you aren't sure where to begin, start with my personal recommendations...

East of Eden

Metamorphosis

The Bell Jar

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

The Count of Monte Cristo

Love in the Time of Cholera

The House of Spirits

The Stranger

Things Fall Apart

Beloved

Rebecca

Lord of the Flies