Don’t Count Out the Classics
When you encounter an incredible novel, it withstands the test of time. Years, even decades, can pass, and these stories hold the same importance they did upon publication, turning them into classics we can’t stop talking about. Believe it or not, some of your favorites are a lot older than you think, and we’re here to talk about some reads that are well over 50.
1. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
Plath’s masterpiece is one that still deserves attention; it’s a poignant look at depression and a woman’s desire to live her own life, not the one society expects of her. It’s also told with the kind of intricacy only poets master, and it’s a fascinating look into a rather bleak topic.
2. On the Road, Jack Kerouac
You wouldn’t expect a book from the ‘50s to have so many fantastic elements and exploratory themes, but here we are! Kerouac based the book on his own travels—and those of his friends—leaving us with an unforgettable journey we still enjoy in classrooms today.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Lee’s breakthrough book changed the game for writers and literature alike. Told from the perspective of a young child, readers were treated to a brutal look at societal injustice and racism in America. It was originally written in 1960 and remains a popular novel to this day.
4. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
With its booming popularity and continued fanbase, it’s hard to believe that LOTR is so old. But the original books were published way back in the ‘40s, making this a book grandfathered into the genre. It influenced tons of fantasy works after it, and still holds a place in nerds’ hearts.
5. Animal Farm, George Orwell
Animal Farm is another novel we assume is younger than it is. It’s a short allegorical novel on the Soviet Union, one that takes place on a farm with evil pigs that climb the ranks among the other livestock. It’s still mentioned often enough today that we forget when it was first published: 1944!
