The Best Classic Books to Have on Your Bookshelf

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" ($11)

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" is one of the most iconic examples of post-modern, magical realist literature. Gabriel García Márquez's epic classic book tells the multi-generational story of a family in a fictitious town called Macondo. The ambitious work has been recognized as some of the most important writing in the Spanish language by the International Conference of the Spanish Language, which gave it that distinction in 2007.

"1984" ($13)

One of the best works of dystopian fiction ever penned, many count "1984" as a prescient, cautionary tale about the slippery slope of fascism. In the totalitarian state of Oceania, Big Brother is always watching and the Thought Police are always listening. A book about fighting the power, "1984" is one of those classic books that just keeps getting more relevant by the day.

"The Awakening" ($14)

Set in late 19th century New Orleans, "The Awakening" is a powerful examination of gender roles, femininity, and motherhood through the lens of protagonist Edna Pontellier. One of the early feminist and Southern novels, this classic book is an essential read for lovers of American fiction.

"The Bell Jar" ($9)

Sylvia Plath's own dramatic end at just 30 years old has made this novel — narrated by a young, college-age woman who, throughout the course of the book, goes mad — even more affecting in the decades since it was first published in 1963. An indictment of gender roles and the forced domesticity of women, "The Bell Jar" was in many ways ahead of its time, and still holds up today.

"Beloved" ($8)

Searing, scathing, and heartbreaking in the truest sense, Toni Morrison's "Beloved" is nothing short of a masterpiece. In it, she sketches out the dual horrors of slavery and of failing to adequately face our own history.

"Catch-22" ($12)

Joseph Heller's satirical novel, set in Italy during World War II, offers readers a hilarious look at the contradictions of war.

"Catcher in the Rye" ($7)

Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of classic high school literature assignment "Catcher in the Rye," is a polarizing figure. What some see as a whiny teenager, others see as a keen observer of human behavior and a victim of society. Regardless, the book is widely cherished for its humor and heart as it tells an unforgettable tale of coming of age in New York City.

"The Color Purple" ($21)

The 1983 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction, Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" has been adapted into films and a Broadway musical, and has been the target of many banning attempts over the decades. The novel's overt lesbian themes and explicit depictions of sex acts and sexual abuse has made it the subject of intense scrutiny, but the central characters — Celie and Shug — have established themselves as permanent fixtures in the American literary canon.

"Dracula" ($14)

A gothic horror novel that has inspired countless cultural references and even more Halloween costumes — and, of course, the critically acclaimed 2024 film "Nosferatu," from director Robert Eggers — the original "Dracula" is a classic book in its own right. "Twilight" heads, it's time you got to know your elders.

"East of Eden" ($17)

Set in California farmland in the Salinas Valley, "East of Eden" is a reimagining of the tale of Adam and Eve in stunning prose that has captivated readers since its original publishing in 1952.

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" ($10)

Taken out of print for almost 30 years because of objections to its Black woman protagonist, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is a classic American love story and one of the most acclaimed literary works to come out of the Harlem Renaissance era.

"Frankenstein" ($6)

This gothic novel has been made even more famous by the films it's inspired. (Personally, I'm more of a "Young Frankenstein" fan myself.) This classic book is considered one of the earliest influential works from a woman author.

"Giovanni's Room" ($10) This classic book captures the fear and loathing of American expats in Paris in the early- to mid-20th century — expats who were fleeing racial and sexual discrimination that was rampant throughout the US.

"Great Expectations" ($5)

Charles Dickens is responsible for many classics, of course, from "A Christmas Carol" to "Oliver Twist." But "Great Expectations" is considered one of the greats, and tells an unflinching tale of the orphan Pip trying to make something of himself against all odds in 19th century England.

"The Great Gatsby" ($8)

Made into multiple films and the inspiration for countless "roaring 20s" theme parties, "The Great Gatsby" is one of the most celebrated artifacts of the Jazz Age. The novel — which laid bare some of the impacts of industrialization on gender and class — turns 100 this year, so there's no better time to return to the iconic East and West Eggs for another wild night at the Gatsby residence.

"The House of the Spirits" ($19) "The House of the Spirits" is Isabel Allende's first novel. Through the use of masterful magical realism, this classic book introduced the world to three generations of the fictional Trueba family.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" ($4)

While Ernest Hemingway might have exaggerated a tad when he said "all modern American literature stems from this one book," there's no denying the influence and reach of Mark Twain's Huck Finn. Read in classrooms from coast to coast, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is, at its core, an adventure novel and an exploration of boyhood, race, class, and humanity along the mighty Mississippi River.

"In Cold Blood" ($10)

"In Cold Blood" is not only a literary masterpiece, it also shook up the novel format as we know it. One of the first non-fiction novels ever written, journalist and socialite Truman Capote told the true story behind a brutal four-person murder in Holcomb, Kansas, that could have easily been lost to obscurity but ultimately reverberated around the country.

"Jane Eyre" ($5)

"Jane Eyre," first published in 1847 England, was far ahead of its time in its critiques of classism and sexism. Considered a proto-feminist novel, it follows a girl into adulthood, her lust for her employer, and the tragic end of that employer's first wife, whom he keeps trapped in the attic.

"Anna Karenina" ($12)

Another tragic love story, Leo Tolstoy's classic "Anna Karenina" was once described by William Faulkner as "the best novel ever written." A window into 19th century Russia, this novel follows two lovers who flee Russia because of their extramarital affair, only to find it radically changed when they eventually return.

"To the Lighthouse" ($7)

This story unfolds during a family vacation on the Isle of Sky, when a child's request to visit a nearby lighthouse is derailed over and over again. It's considered a seminal modernist work, shedding light on gender roles in early 20th century Britain. Other classic works from Virginia Woolf include "Mrs. Dalloway" and "A Room of One's Own."

"Little Women" ($14)

What's even better than watching Chalamet and Ronan banter on screen? Reading Louisa May Alcott's original "Little Women," considered one of the most important coming-of-age novels ever written. The March sisters get their first taste of love, jealousy, and tragedy in this all-important novel that has inspired generations of creative interpretations and adaptations.

"Lord of the Flies" ($7)

"Lord of the Flies" is worth reading again if you haven't read it since it was required in high school. With vivid imagery, it tells a story of survival and the corruptibility of humanity, while also capturing the tenderness of coming of age.

"Moby Dick" ($24)

The story of the epic quest to catch a great, white whale, this novel from 1851 is studded with vengeance, madness, and some of history's best writing about the sea. The opening line of the subversive epic, "Call me Ishmael," is one of the most famous of all time. And some have argued it's one of the earliest queer novels ever written.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" ($19)

One of the most beloved works of American fiction, "To Kill a Mockingbird" holds a mirror to a dark chapter in American history, following a scandal that rocked a small town in the Jim Crow South.

"On the Road" ($11)

Perhaps the most famous of the beatnik generation, this novel tells the story of two friends who embark on a cross-country quest for life's true meaning.

"Murder on the Orient Express" ($7)

Hercule Poirot is one of the most memorable characters of modern literature, brought to life over and over again by one of the most celebrated mystery writers of all time, Agatha Christie. "Murder on the Orient Express" is one of her most widely beloved novels, and a great gateway to the rest of the prolific Christie-verse.

"Passing" ($11)

Another classic from the Harlem Renaissance, Nella Larsen's 1929 novel "Passing" revolves around society's increasing obsession with racial passing. This book lays bare the superficiality of racism as well as the intense experience of isolation and erasure familiar to mixed-race people in the US.

"Play It As It Lays" ($12)

Ranked among Time magazine's 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005, Joan Didion's "Play It As It Lays" captures the essence of 1960s Los Angeles, with all its glamor and its shadows. It's a very dark look at womanhood and abortion in a pre-Roe landscape. Didion's other classic hits include "The White Album," "Slouching Towards Bethlehem," and "Democracy."

"Pride and Prejudice" ($10)

Consistently ranked as one of the most beloved books, Jane Austen's second novel, "Pride and Prejudice," follows Elizabeth Bennett as she navigates entering society as a young woman. Over 20 million copies of "Pride and Prejudice" have sold, making it one of the most popular novels ever in English literature.

"Rabbit, Run" ($16)

Famous for its unfavorable protagonist, "Rabbit, Run" traces the story of a young man who has found himself trapped in a family life that terrifies him more than anything. It's the book that cemented John Updike as a preeminent voice of American literature.

"Rebecca" ($7)

Another classic gothic romance novel, "Rebecca" is a love story and a ghost story all wrapped in one. With an iconic opening line — "Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again" — and an unforgettable cast of characters, this book is a must-have addition to any book lover's shelf.

"The Shining" ($8)

Stephen King's 1977 novel inspired one of the most loved (and feared!) horror movies of all time, but the book itself is plenty terrifying, too. Read all about the haunted hotel that started it all in this classic book.

"Slaughterhouse-Five" ($15)

While Kurt Vonnegut's other famous novels also deserve spots on "best of" lists, including "Cat's Cradle," "Slaughterhouse-Five" stands out as one of the greatest antiwar books ever written.

"The Sun Also Rises" ($10)

In Ernest Hemingway's first novel, Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley travel Europe in the wake of World War I, and capture the soul of the "Lost Generation."

"The Hobbit" ($11)

The prelude to "The Lord of the Rings," J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" follows Bilbo Baggins on his journey through Middle-earth, as he finds the courage to break out of his boring-but-comfortable daily routine to seek adventure and treasure.

"The Idiot" ($14)

About an epileptic who returns to St. Petersburg from a Swiss sanatorium, "The Idiot" is brimming with tantalizing literary tropes. From love triangles to blackmail to murder, it's a page-turner that's lasted the test of time since its initial publication in the last 1860s.

"Things Fall Apart" ($9)

The debut novel from Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, "Things Fall Apart" is a seminal text within the world of post-colonial theory. It follows Okonkwo, a leader of a fictional Igbo clan called Umuofia. Okonkwo is a powerful figure known for his brute strength who stands up to a group of early Christian missionaries.

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" ($10)

Extremely popular at the time of printing and still popular today, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is a story about coming of age in the slums of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This classic book focuses on themes about wealth, family, and identity in early 20th century New York City.

"Ulysses" ($25)

Considered Irish author James Joyce's opus, "Ulysses" has such a dedicated fanbase that people from all over the world make pilgrimages to Dublin just to see the places mentioned in the story. Notorious for being one of the most difficult books ever written, each chapter of "Ulysses" is crafted in a different style — one is a play, one is meant to evoke music, one is totally stream of consciousness — though it all takes place in just one day.

"Wuthering Heights" ($7)

Like her sister, Emily Brontë wrote one of the most enduring and iconic novels of the 19th century, portraying the tragic love story of Heathcliff and Cathy set against the blustery, grim backdrop of the moors.

Emma Glassman-Hughes (she/her) is the associate editor at PS Balance. In her seven years as a reporter, her beats have spanned the lifestyle spectrum; she's covered arts and culture for The Boston Globe, sex and relationships for Cosmopolitan, and food, climate, and farming for Ambrook Research.