Classic books to read now

If you are looking for some great classic books to add to your reading list, take a look at these curated by the Readplot review team.

The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni

Manzoni’s novel takes in the story of two young lovers trying to be together and sets it against a broader backdrop of 17th-century Italian life. The Betrothed is considered by many to be the most extraordinary novel ever written in Italian. This book is on the verge of being forgotten by casual readers, but it’s entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its time, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on bread riots and the plague, and it has the best surprise trope-subversion at the end.

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

Immense yourself in the dazzling breadth of Woolf’s imagination in this short but powerful novel and follow Orlando from the court of Elizabeth I to a celebrated poet in the 20th century. What is it to be a woman? Woolf's modernist novel is so fresh even 90 or so years later. Gender fluidity before the term was even coined. And a history of literature as a backdrop.

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Classics to read more than once in your life

If you are looking for some great classic books to add to your reading list, take a look at these curated by the Readplot review team.

Scoop by Evelyn WaughPartly

Based on Waugh’s personal experiences, Scoop is a satirical take on reporters’ lengths – and newspaper magnates – will go to for a story. With modern exposés on hacking scandals and the like, Scoop feels as relevant as ever. This is a funny story wrapped around absurdity, journalism and war.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

After 18 years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in Britain with a daughter he’s never met. Split between Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story set during the brutal years of the French Revolution. Sitting alone at 16 years old after the family had gone to bed, tears streamed down my cheeks as I finished this novel.

Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith

Diary of a Nobody follows a respectable middle-class man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to live a decent middle-class life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that it inspired an adjective in honour of its main character: 'Pooterish,’ a self-important person who takes themselves far too seriously.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina is a woman who seems to have it all. She’s married, she’s wealthy, she’s well-liked – but she feels her life is empty until she meets Count Vronksy. Tolstoy’s novel is essentially a philosophical meditation on the meaning of life and happiness, but it’s a very readable one.

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Spice Up Your Reading Journey with Classic Ebooks

ClassicEbooks make readers think deeply and concentrate. They also provide the stimulation that your mind needs. Let's look at some of the classic Ebooks you should add to your reading list.

Shōgun - James Clavell

In this Ebook, John Blackthorne gets lost during his voyage at sea. He finds himself in a land with few Europeans. The unfamiliar location is a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin. John has no option but to negotiate for his freedom and truth. Blackthorne’s loyalty gets tested in an attempt to free him.

Circe - Madeline Miller

Circe tells an epic and intimate story about Circe, who is born in the house of Helios. Helios is the God of the sun and the mightiest of Titans. However, she is not as powerful as her parents. She soon realizes that she cannot get engaged with a mortal since she lacks the power of witchcraft. Zeus banishes her when he feels threatened. She crosses paths with several wild beasts and some great figures in mythology. She has no option but to summon all her strength to protect herself and what she loves the most.

The Great Gatsby - Scott Fitzgerald

Authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is the supreme achievement of his career. Published in 1925, the book continues to be acclaimed by generations of eBook lovers. The plot of the story is about the wealthy Jay Gatsby and his beautiful partner Daisy Buchanan.

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What to Do When You’re Behind on Your Reading List

It happens to the best of us. You’re doing your best to catch up on the classics but you get distracted with news feeds, trending topics, and of course what’s streaming. Worry not, here’s what you can do when you’re behind on your reading list.

Schedule time to read. The best way to give yourself plenty of time to read is to schedule it in. Maybe you’ll give yourself 20 minutes to read first thing in the morning before the day gets started, or perhaps an hour after dinner to help you unwind. Whatever time you give yourself, it’s important to give yourself a set time and to stick to it!

Keep a book by your bed. The simple act of keeping a book by the bed can go a long way in helping you read more. Reading at night is an easy way to unwind after a long day, after all. The book at your bedside will serve as a visual reminder that you’d like to make more time to read, and even if it means staying up just a bit later than you intended to you’ll find yourself reading more and more each night as you get invested in a story.

Take a day off. If all else fails, odds are you’re just too busy! And if that’s the case, a day off is definitely called for, one where you can just curl up with a classic book and finally catch up with your reading list! Go ahead, we won’t tell! ;)

Looking to catch up with the classics? Visit our online library at www.readplot.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

The Enduring Legacy of Jurassic Park

When Michael Crichton finished penning and finally published Jurassic Park in 1990, after 17 years of revisions and reimaginings, he may not have known just what a hit he had on his hands. Crichton was already a well established author with dozens of novels and several film adaptations to his name, and in 1983 he began writing Jurassic Park as a screenplay, before finally completing it as a novel. When Steven Spielberg came knocking and turned it into one of the most pivotal films of the 20th century, however, Michael Crichton became a household name overnight.

The success of the initial book and movie led Crichton to pen four sequels, although only one of them was used as a basis for a follow up movie, that being The Lost World. Three more films followed, with the two latest grossing in the billions.

The success of the franchise doesn’t end with the films, however. Numerous video games based on the franchise have been released by various developers, and several Lego animated short films have been produced as well. The franchise has inspired several rides at Universal studios, and has even been the basis for several graphic novel adaptations. With a sixth installment of the movie franchise already in the works, there appear to be no signs of Jurassic Park’s popularity slowing down.

Looking to brush up on the classics? Visit our online library at www.readplot.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Interesting Facts About Roald Dahl

The author of such beloved children’s books as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl has solidified his place in history as one of the most important authors of the 20th century. Here are three interesting facts about Roald Dahl that you may not have known.

Dahl, Roald Dahl. Before his career as an author, Roald Dahl served as a spy for the British Security Coordination during World War II. Somewhat of a James Bond-esque agent, Dahl gathered intelligence for the British while using his charm to seduce society ladies, possibly for his own leisure.

Accusations of racism. Although now a beloved children’s classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was released to considerable controversy, with many calling the book outright racist. Originally, the Oompa-Loompas were described as "black pygmies" from "the very deepest and darkest part of the African jungle where no white man had gone before." Shortly after the outcry, however, their description was quickly changed to be from "Loompaland" with "rosy-white skin" and "golden-brown hair".

The stuff of nightmares. Written in 1943, The Gremlins was first published as a short magazine story before eventually being published and marketed for children by Walt Disney, and is considered to be Dahl’s first piece written for children. It’s a story of creatures responsible for mechanical failures on aeroplanes, perhaps inspired by Dahl’s time in the RAF.

Looking to brush up on the classics? Visit our online library at www.readplot.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices and a great way to get better acquainted with the classics.

Five Reasons to Read The Classics

Pop into any library or bookstore and the selection before you will be nothing short of astounding. Add to the fact that online libraries are increasing their catalogues on the daily, and that selection starts to be overwhelming. But when the time comes to decide on what to read, you can never go wrong when reading one of the classics. Here are five reasons to choose a classic novel for your next read.

Cultural references. So many of our modern pop-culture references are actually referencing classics novels and literary works. There’s nothing quite like the ah-ha! Moment that comes when you discover where a reference or expression comes from.

Appreciating the adaptations. With so many classic novels adapted into film and television, reading the original texts will help lend a whole new appreciation to some of our favorite shows and movies.

Something to talk about. Nothing strikes up a conversation quite like shared knowledge and experience, and with a solid number of classic novels under your belt you’re bound to have something to talk about with just about anyone!

Culture in context. So many of the classics provide a unique look into the culture of the time, and reading those classics will certainly help provide an understanding of that culture and of our shared history.

They’re worth the read. Simply put, the classics are considered classics for a reason: They’re good. You won’t have to wonder about quality when you pick up a classic novel off the shelves, odds are its popularity is well deserved.

Ready to start brushing up on the classics? Visit our online library at www.readplot.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, available anytime on your favourite devices.

Where To Start With Charles Dickens

This is the time of year where Dickens’ influence on literature becomes almost monolithic, with A Christmas Carol’s enduring legacy living on. If you want to get more from this master of prose, these are the books we’d recommend. Whilst the notion of Dickensian literature has some commonly understood traits, realistic depictions of poverty and satirical humor chief among them. It can be hard to figure out where to start with a man that had a diverse oeuvre and so many genuine masterpieces, so these are our suggestions.

Bleak House

Famed for an enrapturing opening page, Bleak House also boasts one of Dickens’ densest and most rewarding narrative, a proto-version of the social realist detective story that would become the hallmark of Scandinavian fiction. This is a scathing attack on the class and gender politics of the British legal system wrapped up in a taut mystery plot.

Great Expectations

One of Dickens’ most haunting and poetically rendered books, worth recommending for the tremendous sense of terroir that brings the Kentish countryside to life, as well as the beautiful and aching prose. It also has a cast of eccentric and complex characters that are the hallmark of all his best work, including some of his most famous creations like Miss Havisham.

If you want to delve into the works of this true giant of literature, or simply browse from a wide selection of classic books. Head over to www.readplot.com where you can find a tremendous selection of eBooks and audiobooks.