Good fiction books to read range in length and genre but hundreds of classics exist over centuries of literature. All beg to be added to your bookshelf. How do you know which to read? The choices can be overwhelming.
Read on to learn about 3 literature classics to add to your reading list ranging from science fiction to classics of romantic literature.
Emma by Jane Austen
You may be curious about Emma after seeing the 2020 film, or just interested in classic romantic literature by its most well-known master: the inimitable Jane Austen. Her razor wit and social politics shine through after centuries of change.
In Emma, Austen topples romantic conventions to create a timelessly funny story of a matchmaker vs her own insecurities. The love triangles (and squares) remain hilarious and sparkling with social commentary. Austen remains a sociopolitical authority after several revolutions in how we define the term. She’s still worth a read today.
Those interested in feminism would do especially well seeking out Austen. Before it was well-known “how” to be one, Austen wrote the book (literally) on what it means.
Dune by Frank Herbert
Almost 150 years after Austen, Frank Herbert wrote the bible of science fiction with Dune. Whether you anticipate the upcoming film or simply want to get in on some of the best world-building in literary history, Dune still provides an essential adventure into one writer’s limitless imagination.
It tells a story in the life of the Atreides Dynasty that takes place over decades of social change. In his exile, the young prince Paul discovers his role as a prophet and seer. He conquers many challenges and also succumbs to his flaws.
For a deep exploration into politics, science, and society in the far future of Herbert’s space-faring civilizations, Dune offers a comprehensive guide to 20th-century imagination.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl has become a literary smash in the last few years due to its brutal plot and famous film adaptation. The well-known feminist wrote a book that won’t prove to be an easy read. However, it could serve as a thrilling diversion from your humdrum home life.
Flynn writes an irredeemably evil woman as the villain to prove that literary women don’t need to sparkle with virtue. Reckless praise, she seems to say, has been less empowering than honest evil portrayals.
Maybe you don’t agree with her point? What you can’t deny, however, is how interesting it is to hash it out with one of the 21st century’s most thrilling genre authors.
The Takeaway
Good fiction books to read could come from any century. This article offers 3 to provide a small cross-section of varied literature spanning 200 years. From romantic classics to modern thriller bestsellers, these books represent essentials that would spruce up any bookshelf.
Look for one or all three of these to learn more about literature history as well as the imaginations of its famous authors.
