25 in 25 List: Literary Classics

Do you remember my list? You know, this one? I wrote an ambitious goal of reading 10 literary classics in my 25th year. I picked up ‘The Grapes of Wrath‘ from the library a few weeks ago and for the life of me, I just could not get into it. And then I got to thinking… what are the parameters by which I’m defining ‘literary classic?’ Pulitzer Prize winning? Something I was supposed to read in school but read the SparkNotes for instead? The fancy, discounted books all decorated to look the same on the end-cap aisles at Barnes and Nobles? A book I can find on a best-sellers list from every decade in the 1900s? The possibilities are really endless.

But I wanted books that weren’t just chores to read so that I could check them off my list. Others may love ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ but how would I decide which books were worth reading for making a more lasting impact than falling asleep reading them at night just to accomplish another task? And then it hit me when I was talking to two of my best friends (Char and Claire) in two different phone conversations recently. I would trust their opinions- if they told me, ‘don’t bother,’ or ‘I’m putting my copy in the mail to you pronto,’ I’d listen.

I decided to create a literary classic list that is completely unique to me and where I am in life right now. I’ll be reading ten works highly recommended by ten individuals whose opinions mean a whole lot to me. My only question/prompt for them: what is one book that has had the greatest impact on your life//what book could you read over and over again that you would define as YOUR life classic?

So far, I’m working on two recommended by Char and Claire- ‘The Happiness Project’ (Char’s pick) and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (chosen by Claire). Look for some exciting lessons I’m already taking away from The Happiness Project in tomorrow’s post!

What are you reading right now? If you had to pick your life classic, what would you include?

Love and reading lists,
Mama Bird

***An update/correction: My apologies to Char and Claire! The idea for my new definition of ‘literary classics’ was born out of conversations where we discussed great book recommendations, but to be fair I don’t think I posed them with my more refined question of ‘what is one book that has had the greatest impact on your life//what book could you read over and over again that you would define as YOUR life classic?’

I still plan on finishing their great book recommendations listed above, but I want to give room for them to pick their true ‘life classic’ and make that my official selection for my list. I’ll update you when I have a more comprehensive list from Char and Claire, and the others I’ll be prompting with my question!

Thanks for forgiving my imperfect memory ;)