Top Ten Classic Novels to Read

Today reading has become something that scares people away. If one does read, it's normally a modern novel like John Grisham, Danielle Steele or even J.K Rowling. Classic novels like Wuthering Heights doesn't get read as much and in fact makes people run in the opposite direction. Classic literature gives us an insight to what life was like when they were written. Here is a top ten list of classic novels everyone should read (in no particular order).

Jane Eyre: by Charlotte Bronte. The men may not want to read this one, but you ladies should. Jane Eyre is considered the first romance novel written. It follows the life of a young governess, Jane, through her trials. She discovers her love has a dark secret which causes her to leave him, only to return years later to find him a different man. Jane Eyre is full of hints to the dark secret, but the reader is surprised to find the truth. It's not full of sex and lust as most romance novels are today.

The Portrait of Dorian Grey: by Oscar Wilde This is a more intriguing story of a young man who desires to remain young forever. He spend his life smoking, drinking and indulging in sinful desires. As he remains young a portrait of him grows old and he in turn goes insane. What will Dorian do to keep his secret quiet?

The Awakening: by Kate Chopin. This novel was unique in it's time. It portrays the life of a New Orleans woman who wants to break free from the norms society places on women. She breaks all the rules and makes her own life away from her husband and children. But what kind of effect does that have on her?

Heart of Darkness: by Joseph Conrad: This novel is a mans novel through and through. It follows the narrator's journey into the Congo in the late 1800's early 1900's. The readers view his thoughts and ideas on African tribes and the dangers of miscommunication. It has slight hints of sex and death in it.

Things Fall Apart: by Chinua Achebe. This novel goes hand in hand with Conrad's novel. Achebe's novel focuses on a Nigerian tribe: the Ibo. It depicts traditions and culture of the tribe. It also goes on to show what 'colonization' did to the tribe.