This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

Let’s be honest, classics are pretentious. There is always that one person in a literature class who says they “only read classics” because modern literature just isn’t as good. For a while, I was put off by the entire genre— especially since English teachers in grade school always assign the worst ones, but never fear! I have compiled a list of classics that are easy to read and might just get you over your hesitation.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery: I will never stop recommending this book to everyone. Set in turn of the century Nova Scotia, this novel follows a young orphan, Anne, as she is adopted by a middle-aged farmer, Matthew, and his sister, Marilla. Full of Anne’s overactive imagination, beautiful natural imagery, and a powerful story of friendship and love, Anne of Green Gables will bring you back to your childhood in a very real way. The language is simple enough for almost any age to comprehend, but the story never goes out of style. (Also, watch Anne with an E on Netflix for more Anne-related content!)

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God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: I’m a big Kurt Vonnegut fan, and this one is by far my favorite of his books. This novel tells the story of Eliot Rosewater, the silly and ridiculous inheritor of the Rosewater fortune, a sum of almost $100 million. Yet, Eliot has decided to move to a small town in Rosewater County and will listen only to Kilgore Trout, a science fiction writer that no one seems to know about except him. Rosewater’s reason is this: he wants to dedicate his life to helping people— and he will do it in the worst ways possible. Vonnegut is known for his hilarious satire, and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater might just do it the best out of all of his work.

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If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin: For those that are looking for a good cry, this is the classic for you. It tells the story of Fonny and Tish, a young Black couple in 1970s Harlem, who are separated as Fonny is falsely imprisoned for rape. And to make matters worse, Tish has found out she is pregnant with his child. As Tish tries to get Fonny out of prison and grapples with the realities of the broken criminal justice system in America, James Baldwin shows his talent for creating an absolutely heartbreaking story that will definitely require some tissues.

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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: At this point, who hasn’t seen the 2019 movie adaptation of Little Women directed by Greta Gerwig? It’s one of my all time favorites, and the book is just as wonderful. Following sisters Amy, Beth, Jo, and Meg as they grow up in 19th-century Massachusetts, Alcott shows female adolescence in a way that no other classic author has. With a focus on sisterhood, growing up, and gender dynamics, it is a charming story that is readable from childhood and on.

Photo by Florencia Viadana from Unsplash
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton: Another book with an excellent movie adaptation, The Outsiders is a one-of-a-kind story from S. E. Hinton that was originally written when she was only fifteen years old. Throughout the novel, we learn the story of the Greasers and the Socs, two gangs of boys in 1960s Oklahoma. A young member of the Greasers, Ponyboy, and his friend Johnny are involved in a crime that leaves them on the run. This story is an emotional one, showing the inner humanity of young gang-affected boys and the relationships they have with each other. This book is written very simply, with fun Greaser slang. If you’re looking for a story where anything cool is described as “tuff,” this is the choice for you.

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