Hey there, book lovers! I have some great news for you. I stumbled upon this list of 100 must-read books and I just had to share it with you all. Some of these books I’ve read before and can attest to their greatness, while others are now on my personal reading list. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This timeless classic explores the decadence and excess of the Roaring Twenties through the story of the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in American literature, and its themes of love, wealth, and the American dream continue to resonate today.
1984 by George Orwell
This dystopian novel explores a future world in which government surveillance is all-encompassing and even our thoughts are monitored. It’s a chilling reminder of the importance of individual privacy and freedom, and its impact on popular culture and politics cannot be overstated.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Set in Alabama in the 1930s, this novel tells the story of Scout Finch, a young girl who comes of age in a divided community that is rocked by a contentious trial involving race and justice. It’s a beautifully written and powerful reflection on the complexities of human nature and the need for empathy in our relationships.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this novel focuses on the story of a former slave named Sethe who is haunted by the ghost of her deceased baby daughter. It’s a haunting and poetic exploration of the legacy of slavery and the traumatic impact it has on individual lives and the broader society.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
This classic tale of revenge and redemption is set in early 19th-century France and tells the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is betrayed and imprisoned for years before escaping and seeking revenge against those who wronged him. It’s a thrilling and suspenseful adventure that will keep you hooked until the very end.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This romantic classic follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her relationships with the wealthy and eligible Mr. Darcy. It’s a witty and charming novel that explores themes of love, social class, and family dynamics, and its influence on popular culture and literature is still felt today.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This quirky and hilarious science-fiction novel is a cult classic for a reason. It follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, an ordinary human who is whisked away on a wild journey through space and time along with his eccentric companion, Ford Prefect. It’s a story that will make you laugh out loud and leave you feeling exhilarated.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This dystopian novel tells the story of Offred, a woman who lives in a totalitarian theocracy in which women are stripped of all their rights and are forced to serve as reproductive vessels for wealthy couples. It’s a chilling and powerful exploration of the dangers of religious extremism and totalitarianism, and its themes are still relevant today.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Controversial and beloved in equal measure, this novel is a coming-of-age story that follows Holden Caulfield, a young man who is struggling to find his place in an indifferent world. It’s a raw and honest look at the challenges of adolescence and the complexities of human nature, and its influence on popular culture cannot be overstated.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
This magical realism novel tells the story of the Buendía family over the course of several generations in the fictional town of Macondo. It’s a mesmerizing and poetic exploration of Latin American history and culture, and its impact on literature cannot be overstated.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This psychological thriller follows the story of Raskolnikov, a young man who commits a murder and is haunted by guilt and fear in the aftermath. It’s a dark and intense exploration of the human psyche and the consequences of our actions, and its impact on literature and philosophy is still felt today.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This Gothic horror novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a monstrous creature and is then hunted by his own creation. It’s a haunting and beautiful exploration of the dangers of scientific ambition and the consequences of playing God, and its influence on literature and popular culture is still felt today.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This witty and cynical novel explores the corrupting influence of beauty and youth through the story of Dorian Gray, a young man who sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth and beauty. It’s a dark and fascinating exploration of the human psyche and the dangers of vanity, and its influence on literature and art cannot be overstated.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
This heartwarming and inspiring novel follows the lives of the March sisters, four young women who are navigating adulthood and family dynamics in 19th-century America. It’s a timeless tale of sisterhood, love, and the pursuit of happiness, and its themes are still relevant today.
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
This modernist novel explores themes of disillusionment, masculinity, and the Lost Generation through the story of a group of expatriate Americans living in Paris in the 1920s. It’s a beautiful and poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the search for meaning in a chaotic world, and its influence on literature cannot be overstated.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
This surreal and enigmatic novel follows the story of Toru Okada, a young man who is searching for his missing wife and is drawn into a strange and magical world. It’s a haunting and metaphysical exploration of the human psyche and the mysteries of existence, and its impact on literature and popular culture cannot be overstated.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This philosophical novel explores themes of faith, morality, and free will through the story of the Karamazov family, a dysfunctional clan of brothers who are torn apart by their conflicting ideologies and desires. It’s a complex and intense exploration of the human condition and the search for meaning in life, and its influence on literature and philosophy is still felt today.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
This poignant and lyrical novel follows the story of the dysfunctional Ipe family in Kerala, India, and the tragic events that tear them apart. It’s a beautiful and powerful reflection on the complexities of family relationships and the impact of class and caste systems on individual lives, and its impact on literature and society cannot be overstated.
Matigari by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
This powerful and politically charged novel tells the story of Matigari, a revolutionary hero who fights against corruption and oppression in postcolonial Africa. It’s a stirring and inspiring tale of resistance and liberation that explores themes of justice, freedom, and the legacy of colonialism, and its influence on literature and politics cannot be overstated.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
This Gothic romance novel tells the story of the tempestuous love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw and the dark and tragic events that ensue. It’s a haunting and beautiful exploration of obsession, revenge, and the destructive power of love, and its influence on literature and popular culture is still felt today.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of Celie, a young African American woman who struggles to overcome poverty, abuse, and racism in early 20th-century Georgia. It’s a powerful and inspiring tale of resilience and survival that explores themes of race, gender, and sexuality, and its impact on literature and society cannot be overstated.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
This existentialist novel follows the story of Meursault, a disaffected French Algerian who kills an Arab man and is put on trial for his crime. It’s a stark and haunting exploration of the absurdity of existence and the meaninglessness of human life, and its influence on literature and philosophy is still felt today.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
This epic novel tells the story of the Price family, who move from Georgia to the Congo in the 1960s as Christian missionaries. It’s a complex and insightful exploration of the clash between Western and African cultures, as well as the impact of colonialism and imperialism on individual lives and societies. Its themes of identity, history and culture and their intersections are still remarkably relevant.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of the Joad family, who migrate from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression in search of a better life. It’s a powerful and moving exploration of poverty, class struggle, and the resilience of the human spirit, and its influence on literature and popular culture is still felt today.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This witty and cynical novel explores the corrupting influence of beauty and youth through the story of Dorian Gray, a young man who sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth and beauty. It’s a dark and fascinating exploration of the human psyche and the dangers of vanity, and its influence on literature and art cannot be overstated.
The Trial by Franz Kafka
This existentialist novel follows the story of Josef K., a bank employee who is arrested and put on trial for an unnamed crime. It’s a disorienting and surreal exploration of the nature of power and authority and the absurdity of the legal system, and its influence on literature and philosophy is still felt today.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
This dystopian novel explores a future world in which human reproduction is controlled by the state and individual happiness is maximized through the use of drugs and technology. It’s a chilling and prescient vision of a society in which individuality and freedom are sacrificed for the greater good, and its themes are still relevant today.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This novel follows the story of Okonkwo, a respected Igbo leader in Nigeria who struggles to maintain his cultural traditions in the face of colonialism and Western influence. It’s a beautifully written and poignant exploration of the clash between colonialism and indigenous cultures, and its impact on literature and politics cannot be overstated.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
This novel tells the story of four Chinese American women and their relationships with their immigrant mothers. It’s a touching and insightful reflection on the complexities of family relationships and the challenges of navigating dual cultures, and its impact on literature and society cannot be overstated.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This novel tells the story of Amir, a young Afghan boy who grows up wealthy but haunted by guilt and shame. It’s a powerful and emotional exploration of the bonds of friendship and family and the impact of trauma and violence on individual lives and societies, and its impact on literature and popular culture is still felt today.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
