This is another excellent Gothic Romance novel. I didn't care much for the Dr. Frankenstein character and felt that it was mostly his fault. What else was the poor creature supposed to do? Frankenstein made him so monster like that he couldn't even stand the sight of him. The Doctor definitely had it coming to him. It had lovely descriptions of scenery throughout Europe. 
I have heard of Dracula of course, but was unaware of the plot of the original story. It was incredible and quite shocking at times. It's sad that this was Stoker's only successful novel because I want to read more. Count Dracula was not at all what I had expected. This novel contains some of the most well revered literary characters of all time. This is the most classic of the vampire novels and with good reason. Way before it's time and almost hard to believe it was written in 1897.
This was my first Sherlock Holmes novels and I'm in Love! Wow! I love the way the stories twist around then come to a rational conclusion. Sherlock Holmes really is one of the greatest literary characters of all time. Though I plan to read all of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novels, this is the only one that I'll include on my list (otherwise it's just cheating). I would recommend these to anyone wanting a little escape from reality. Written in 1887 and 1902.
Pip is a fantastic character who will stick with you. The story fallows from events in his childhood through becoming an adult. It's a unique tale of misconceptions and unrequitted love. Personally I think the girl and then woman he loves, Estella, is a huge brat and I'm not sure why he loves her in the first place. I guess this shows the power that a beautiful woman raised on bitterness can have over a nice boy. I didn't particularly like either of the endings, but I prefer the one where they stay apart. I think she's poison on whoever she ends up with. Pip, your my kind of man and any woman would be lucky to marry you! It's hard to believe it was written in 1860 because it seem like this kind of thing happens a lot in this age. 
Finally I kind of understand the how the earth was created and all that jazz, no seriously Hawking is an excellent writer and he makes it easy for most people to understand. 
Yes it's a young adults book and no I don't care, it's still going on the list. The story is well written and funny, but also has a wholesome message about being yourself. I've read this several times both as a child and as an adult and it never looses it's charm. The movie is fabulous and sticks to the story fairly well. Written in 1988.
It's a great story loaded with symbolic meaning.....but it's so boring to read. Rent the movie or have someone tell you about it. I don't feel like this was worth the time to read maybe because I already knew the story before I even picked up the book. Written in 1851 and has been retold time and time again, maybe you should pick a more updated and interesting version.
Definitely a difficult read and pretty boring at times. I like the characters and how strong the family bond is through the trials they face together. It's amazing to read because even though it's almost two hundred years old it's still relevant and effective for people today. It took me forever to read so I feel it's a trophy in my quest to read the classics. Written in 1812.
J.D. Salinger's most popular and well revered novels. I first read it in high school English class and since read all of his novels. The hero, Holden Caulfield, is not the usual character for the time it was written, but he is now the model for teenage confusion. Written in 1951, it has only gained in popularity.
Is an allegorical novel about government control and the events leading up to WWII as seen through the view point of a simple farm and it's animals. It shows the danger of power and how far some people...or animals, will go to get it. Written in 1945, but has an easy flow of reading. This one actually had me a little creeped out at the end when the animals could no longer decipher between the humans and pigs. I think George Orwell was more correct than even he imagined.
This is an all time favorite of mine. It's a dramatic comedy about a man pretending to be insane to escape prison. This novel has a few timeless characters such as Randle Patrick McMurphy, "Chief" Bromden, and nurse Ratched who are unforgettable. Written in 1962.
Make sure to keep tissues in stock for this one. It shows the life of a young black woman during segregation and after civil rights. Some of the challenges she goes through will make you shudder. A truly unedited recollection of segration and womens' rights. Written in 1982. 
This is another classic war novel with a bit of a comedic edge. It was written in 1961. The story is set during the late end of WWII. The war novels haven't been my favorite so far, but this one is definitely more interesting than most.
A less popular classic, but this one quickly climbed to the top of my list. It's a coming of age story about a impoverished family in Brooklyn. The girl of the story, Francie Nolan finds comfort in books and learning making this it's most valuable lesson. Written in 1943.
This was first published in 1719, but is an ageless tale. This premiss has been explored over and over in litatuature and film. Being stranded on a desert island with savages and having adventures every step of the way. It's a surprisingly easy read despite it's age. 
Written in 1877, this is a dramatic and touching work. It's a biographical memoir as told from the view of a horse. Black beauty, from birth till old age goes through many hardships as he's passed from owner to owner. A bit of a tear jerker, but full of heart and great to read for all ages. This is a favorite of mine from child hood.
Actually two separate books and both equally excellent. Written in 1865, this one certainly does take you to another world. Very psychedelic for it's time, but contains lots of rich logic to all the madness. This is one you can't put down and will want to read over and over. 
Another difficult read written with the classical language. It was written in 1859, it's one of the more popular novels by Dickens. It's a first hand account of the French Revolution taking place in both Paris and London. I consider this a trophy in my quest to conquer the classics.
As the title leads you to believe, this is a collection of nine stories that seem to have little to no connection at first. Written in 1953, it's intriguing to travel through the logic of Salinger and end up with the chilling tale of Teddy. This book left me breathless and wanting more. I've read every Salinger book and story, this is my favorite.
This is George Orwell's view of the future, year 1984, written in 1949. It's a chilling tale of government control and rebellion as viewed from the past. With thrilling twists and turns it's an instant classic.
Written in 1847 this is a sad tale about the struggle of unrequited love. Wuthering Heights is the only novel written by Emily Bronte just before she died. Unlike her sisters novel, Jane Eyre, this love story is a tragedy that ends in heartbreak. It's about the manor, Wuthering Heights, and the people that dwell within. The characters are strong and vivid making them have a lasting impression on the reader.
This is a memoir of the life of the Author, Frank McCourt, and his family's struggle with poverty and hunger with an alcoholic father. It shows power of the Coholic church and the challenges a young Irish-American boy faced during the 1930s and 40s.
Written in 1951 this was the book that revived Hemingway's career. It's a short and simple tale, but has lots of hidden meaning. It's about an old fisherman who has been on an unlucky streak and has lost his young apprentice. Out of desperation the old man goes too far for a catch and almost ruins his health in the process. In the end it was all for nothing, but everyone learns a valuable lesson in the fight and struggle of an old spirit.
My Everest of 2008. This is undeniably one of the most revered classics of all time, but it was hard to get through I'm telling you. The story was great, but can become redundent and difficult to read due to the use of classical language which isn't surprising seeing as it was written in 1726. I must say the ending was great and I really felt that I had accomplished something by reading this.
this is considered to be the bast war novel of all time. After reading this one and several others I beg to differ, but this is still one of the great ones. Written in 1928 it is an account of WWI from the view of German soldiers. It is a very Gorey and direct which makes it one of the more accurate accounts of the war.
Written in 1847 by Charlotte Bronte, one of three Bronte sisters, all of whom were authors. Jane Eyre was the most popular of the novels and rightly so. It is an incredible tale of an orphan who is cast out by her only relatives to a charity school. Jane grows up in poverty, but gets a good education. She takes a job as a governess and falls in love with the master, Mr. Rochester. It's a struggle of love, faith, and belonging. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite characters of all time because of how high she holds her convictions. She is a strong and intelligent woman who overcomes status to finally find happiness and true love. This was a pleasure to read and the movie was excellent as well.
Written in 1939. This is a meaningful story about the struggles of poverty during the Great Depression. It's about a family, the Joads, who are forced to pack up and move everything to California to survive. After a troublesome journey the family reaches their destination only to find a worse situation. Through trials and tribulations goodness is tested. The reader learns just how far a little kindness can go in the face of adversity. This is a dark and powerful work that leaves a lasting impression on the soul.
