10 Ways to Expand Your Bookshelf: Classics

The mark of a good book can always be found through the amount of time it circulates. For some books, this timescale has become infinite and the books themselves have been labelled as timeless classics; books we can enjoy time and time again. These books have managed to sneak their way into English classes across the globe and have firmly captured the hearts of old and young alike. In this week's Ten Ways, we're going to have a look at ten timeless classics to add to your bookshelves!

1. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

A popular favourite for teenage English classes, To Kill a Mockingbird follows the story of Scout Finch, her older brother Jem and their friend Dill. After Scout's father Atticus is appointed as the defence lawyer in a case involving the alleged rape of a woman, the trio find themselves thrown into a world of crooks, racial hatred and dodgy accusations.

2. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald's classic novel has recently been made into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which shows how popular it really is! The Great Gatsby documents Nick Carraway's move to Long Island. There he meets Jay Gatsby, a reclusive millionaire with a penchant for throwing lavish parties. Throughout the short timescale of summer 1922, Nick helps his cousin, Daisy, to rekindle a lost flame with Gatsby and subsequently watches the drama unfold firsthand.

3. Animal Farm – George Orwell

With political themes running throughout, Animal Farm is an interesting and insightful look into the uprising of a small group of farm animals. With parallels running throughout the book in relation to the 1917 Russian Revolution, the rebellion and subsequent removal of humans from the farm documents the quick change from an equal society to one which is as bad as the previous one had ever been.

4. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck

Set during the Great Depression, this novel follows two farm workers – George Milton and Lennie Small. The pair are as different as night and day; George is uneducated but smart, and Lennie is strong, but does not have the smarts that George possesses. Together, they dream of settling down together on their own piece of land but after finding work on a ranch, a series of events take place that shatter the reality of this dream altogether.

5. Lord of the Flies – William Golding

After a plane crash causes several adolescent boys to become stranded on a vacant island, the group realise that in order to survive, they must create a small colony and signal to passing ships. During this time, the boys grow lazy and eventually paranoia sets in. Lord of the Flies follows the story of these boys and, after a heartbreaking ending, brings across a vital theme to the readers.

6. Dracula – Bram Stoker

Before Twilight captured the attention of the vampire-loving readers, we had Dracula. Told in a rather unconventional way, the story follows Johnathan Harker as he enters the residence of Count Dracula to assist with a real estate issue. After escaping the vampire's clutches, he finds that Dracula's grip was not only on him, but on the people he loved.

7. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

Much as the title suggests, this novel revolves around a portrait created by a painter of Dorian Gray, a man who believes that the only thing worth pursuing is beauty. After the painting is completed, Gray continues on with his life, but with every selfish and cruel action he undertakes, the image painted of him in the portrait changes too. Desperate to appear as true beauty himself, Gray attempts to rectify this with disastrous circumstances.

8. Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell

A coming-of-age novel, Gone with the Wind follows the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner. When the war comes around, Scarlett finds herself thrown from the comfortable life she once knew and into a world of poverty, lost love and death. Throughout the duration of the novel, we see Scarlett grow and mature as a young woman as the hardships she engages with shape her way of living.

9. Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island is another coming-of-age novel, this one focused around the adventures of a young boy, Jim, as he sails the seas in search of treasure hidden by the long-dead pirate Captain Flint. During the course of the sea adventure, mutiny and betrayal are on the cards and Jim is taken from relative safety and thrown headfirst into a group of dangerous and greedy men who want nothing more than to have the treasure to themselves.

10. Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist is perhaps one of the most well-known story-to-stage adaptations of all time. This classic tale follows the life of Oliver, a young orphan who is forced through a failing care system. After causing mayhem in the home of Mr. Sowerbury, Oliver runs away to London where he finds himself keeping acquaintance with a group of pickpockets and no-gooders.

Special thanks to silent hearts. and Goddess of Muse for editing!