Three Must Read Classics

Three Amazing Novels

‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one’. — George R.R Martin

In the past, I had this idea in my head that reading fiction is pointless, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Reading fiction helps a reader to build better language and writing skills, improve vocabulary, increase creativity, cognitive function, and has even been proven to lessen stress levels. Personally, I still need to read more fiction because it will help me out enormously with some of the long-term projects I have in the future.

Here are three fiction books which I couldn’t stop reading — hopefully you’ll enjoy them as much as me…

1984 — George Orwell

Goodreads Rating: 4.2

An all time classic, 1984 is a dystopian science fiction novel, following the life of Winston Smith who is frustrated about the authoritarian regime which is controlling and manipulating society.

You can’t help but draw similarities to todays society whilst reading this book. It’s so engaging and compelling all the way throughout. It’s easily one of my favourite fiction books. It’s also one of Jordan Peterson’s favourite books, too.

If you love reading 1984, then you’re almost guaranteed to love reading Animal Farm, another George Orwell classic.

Favourite Quotes from 1984:

• “Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing.”
• “Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.”
• “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

The Alchemist — Paulo Coehlo

Goodreads Rating: 3.9

The Alchemist is an all time classic novel in which a young Shepherd called Santiago follows his reoccurring dreams of finding treasure at the Egyptian Pyramids. The main idea about the book is that everyone has a destiny and it’s up to each person whether or not they choose to pursue it.

The first time I read this book I don’t think I truly understood the underlying messages behind Santiago’s story and his journey. I gave the book another read after some time and it was a totally different experience and I managed to see the deeper meaning of the book. I absolutely loved it, inspirational and thoroughly enjoyable.

P.S. The Alchemist is also in the top 20 best selling books of all time.

Favourite quotes from The Alchemist:

• “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”
• “Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
• “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”

The Catcher In The Rye — J.D. Salinger

Goodreads rating: 3.8

The Catcher In The Rye is an all time classic novel published in 1951. Sixteen year old Holden Caulfield (the main character) narrates the reader through two days in his life after being expelled from school. After Holden decides to leave school earlier than he should have, avoiding his parents, he spends two days exploring New York before returning home. Along the way he comes into contact with some previous teachers, prostitutes, an ex girlfriend and his little sister in a very eventful couple of days.

Throughout the book, it makes you think that Holden may be suffering from some forms of trauma, depression and/or PTSD, probably as a result of his brother passing away and being neglected by his parents. He also seems to be struggling to find his place in the world and grow up.

Thoroughly brilliant, I couldn’t put the book down. I can’t wait to read it again!

P.S.S. The Catcher In The Rye is also in the top 20 selling books of all time.

Favourite Quotes from the book:

• “Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behaviour. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them — if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.”
• “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn’t happen much, though.”
• “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

Happy Reading!

Yours Sincerely,

Tom