List of Top 100 Favorite Books to Read

March 06, 2022 Post a Comment

Collage of book covers on a grey background. Titiles include I Capture the Castle, Persuasion, 1984, Beloved, Things Fall Apart and The Wind in the Willows.

Prototype: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

Everyone loves a classic novel, just where to beginning? From Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the fiction catechism is and so vast you can easily get lost in it.

So we asked our readers to tell us about their favourite archetype books. The resulting list of must-reads is a perfect mode to find inspiration to start your classics take a chance. In that location's something for everyone, from family sagas and dystopian fiction to romances and historical fiction.

And if yous savor this, you tin can too larn most our reader's favourite books by female person authors, well-nigh loved children'due south books and the best memoirs they've ever read.

Showtime at the beginning of our list (books are ranked in no particular order) and tick them off as you proceed this handy downloadable list, or you can jump to:

25 | 50 | 75 | 100

i. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

We said: Information technology is a truth universally best-selling that when most people think of Jane Austen they think of this charming and humorous story of honey, difficult families and the tricky job of finding a handsome married man with a skilful fortune.

You said: Philosophy, history, wit, and the almost passionate love story.

Francesca, Twitter

two. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

We said: A novel before its time, Harper Lee's Pulitzer-prize winner addresses bug of race, inequality and segregation with both levity and compassion. Told through the eyes of loveable rogues Scout and Jem, it too created one of literature's most beloved heroes – Atticus Finch, a homo determined to correct the racial wrongs of the Deep South.

Y'all said: A jarring & poignantly beautiful story about how humans treat each other.

Greygardens, Twitter

3. The Nifty Gatsby past F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Nosotros said: Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic millionaire who throws corrupt parties but doesn't attend them, is i of the great characters of American literature. This is F. Scott Fitzgerald at his most sparkling and devastating.

Y'all said: The greatest, virtually scathing dissection of the hollowness at the heart of the American dream. Hypnotic, tragic, both of its time and completely relevant.

Joe T, Twitter

four. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (1967)

We said: Gabriel García Márquez's multi-generational spanning magnum opus was a landmark in Spanish literature.

You said: Magic realism at its best. Both funny and moving, this book made me reflect for weeks on the inexorable march of fourth dimension.

Andre C, Twitter

5. In Cold Blood past Truman Capote (1965)

Nosotros said: The 'true crime' TV show / podcast you're obsessed with probably owes a debt to this masterpiece of reportage by Truman Capote. Chilling and brilliant.

You lot said: In this groundbreaking novel, completed after half-dozen arduous years of inquiry, Capote invented a new genre - the 'Nonfiction Novel' - applying prose techniques to fact. It spawned the school of New Journalism & invented the true crime genre every bit we know it.

Kgjephcott, Twitter

6. Wide Sargasso Ocean past Jean Rhys (1966)

Nosotros said: JeanRhys wrote this feminist and anti-colonial prequel to Charlotte Bronte'due south novel Jane Eyre which chronicles the events of Mr Rochester's disastrous marriage to Antoinette Conway or Bertha every bit we come to know her.

Yous said: Rhys took a graphic symbol from a classic novel and breathed new life into the "madwoman in the attic" based on her own experiences/earth view. She beautifully showed how the stories we read fold into our lives to make new stories.

Eric A, Twitter

7. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

We said: 1 of the greatest and nigh prescient dystopian novels ever written, this should be on anybody's must-read listing.

You said: Given the exponential growth of AI, Machine Learning & Robotics, Huxley'southward vision acts every bit a warning. Will we ascent and challenge those who seek to shape our future or sleepwalk toward workout by technology?

David G, Twitter

8. I Capture The Castle past Dodie Smith (1948)

We said: Cassandra Mortmain's upbringing in a crumbling castle with her eccentric family may not exist anybody'due south feel, just nosotros can guarantee her coming-of-age story with all its enchanting and disenchanting moments will resonate for many.

You said: A 'children's book' that speaks volumes (ha) about unrequited honey and dysfunctional families. Timeless. And funny. (and we need some laughs on the 100 Classics list!)

Helen Y, Twitter

9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

We said: I of literature's steeliest heroines, in her short life Jane Eyre has overcome a traumatic childhood only to be challenged by secrets, foreign noises and mysterious fires in her new home of Thornfield Hall. All while falling in love with her employer, Mr Rochester. A Gothic masterpiece which was groundbreaking in its intimate employ of the showtime-person narrative.

You said:Considering Jane is a role model: she stands upwardly for herself, others and what she believes in, but isn't besides proud to give second chances to those whose time is running out.

Sarah F, Twitter

x. Criminal offense and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

Nosotros said: This novel is a masterful and completely captivating depiction of a man experiencing a profound mental unravelling. No amount of ethical bargaining on Raskolnikov'southward role tin free him from the parasitic guilt nested in his soul. A brilliant read if you loved Breaking Bad.

You lot said:No other novel has fabricated me experience and then much for the main characters, then deeply depicted past the author. I felt like an orphan when I finished it and information technology'southward the simply novel I've re-read several times.

Angie Five, Twitter

11. The Secret History past Donna Tartt (1992)

We said: Donna Tartt's book follows a clique of smart, bonny students at an elite university, and an outsider who finds himself forced to muffle a nighttime secret. A gripping and tense read.

You said: A modernistic archetype - so well-articulated and written (something that's hard to come up by these days). Likewise, Splendid PLOT!

AnamiAndBooks, Twitter

12. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (1903)

We said: Jack London was a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness and used his experiences to write almost a canis familiaris named Buck who becomes a leader of the wild. With themes exploring nature and the struggle for existence in the frozen Alaskan landscape.

You said: Because anybody who loves the world knows information technology'southward true.

Helen D, Twitter

thirteen. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (1955)

Nosotros said:An allegoric dystopia written in the wake of the Second World War, The Chrysalids cleverly strives to denounce acts of the past while including a profound plea for tolerance.

You said: A post-apocalyptic novel, about intolerance, loneliness, friendship, and what it ways to exist human. A fantastic sci-fi novel, every bit relevant today every bit it was in the 50s.

Hollie B, Twitter

14. Persuasion past Jane Austen (1818)

We said: Austen's last completed novel before her untimely death was ane tinged with heartache and regret. Anne Elliot'south feelings for the handsome Captain Wentworth are re-ignited when he returns from sea. Will they become a second chance at happiness?

You said: This continues to be my favourite novel. Information technology is a more than mature honey story, full of humourous, delightful observations of homo behaviour. It offers us a glimpse of redemption. We change as nosotros abound, and the mistakes made in our youth can be overcome.

Dartmouth_Diva, Twitter

15. Moby-Dick past Herman Melville (1851)

We said: Every American writer since 1851 has been chasing the aforementioned whale: to somehow write a novel equally ballsy and influential as Melville's.

Y'all said: The dandy American novel: great characters, wonderful linguistic communication, thick with the Bible and Thomas Browne, and has the best opening judgement ever. What's not to similar?

David H, Twitter

16. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.South. Lewis (1950)

We said: C.S. Lewis'south timeless tale captured the hearts of children everywhere with its fantastical globe through the wardrobe, total of fauns, dwarves and anthropomorphised animals. Whether yous were Peter, Edmund, Susan or Lucy, nosotros all wanted to put on a fur coat and go along a snow-laden adventure with Mr Tumnus.

You said: A cute timeless tale of innocence, wonder and cede for young and former alike. It was one of the starting time books that I read from cover to embrace without putting down!

Adisha K, Twitter

17. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)

We said: To the Lighthouse is a daring novel with little regard for rules. In that location's no consistent narrator, scant dialogue and almost no plot. With everything stripped away, we're left with a breathtaking and lyrical meditation on relationships, nature and the folly of perception.

You said: You feel like yous're stood on top of a cliff with the sea breeze blowing right through your bones.

‏Halcyonbookdays, Twitter

18. The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (1938)

We said:Considered Elizabeth Bowen's masterpiece novel, this is the story of 16-year former Portia who is sent to live with her Aunt in London, subsequently her female parent'south expiry. There, she falls for the bonny cad Eddie. A devastating exploration of adolescent dearest and innocence betrayed.

You said: This volume captures the bad-mannered tension and anxieties of the interwar period through a deeply reflective, but oddly naive, unloved girl. ‏

Heather O, Twitter

19. Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (1891)

Nosotros said: It received mixed reviews information technology was first published, in office because information technology challenged Victorian ideals of purity and sexual morals. But Thomas Hardy's unflinching business relationship of Tess'southward bid for salvation in a social club fix to condemn her is a harrowing and powerful read.

Y'all said: This novel teaches us virtually the position of women in the by and their moments of frailty versus moments of forcefulness. Basically, an important insight for everyone to have!

Abbie H, Twitter

20. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1823)

Nosotros said: Written when Mary Shelley was just 18 years old, but don't permit that depress you. Frankenstein is a Gothic masterpiece with entertaining ready pieces ample.

You said: Chosen for all the questions information technology raises near consequences and taking responsibility for your actions; nature versus nurture; the value of friendship. I could become on.

Julie A, Twitter

21.The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (1966)

We said:This spine-spooky story was censored by Stalin and sadly only published after Mikhail Bulgakov'southward death.

You said: This novel has got the Devil mooching around Moscow with a massive blackness cat. Oh, and at that place'south a naked flying lady.

Eggfrieddog, Twitter

22. The Go-Between past Fifty. P. Hartley (1953)

We said:A moving exploration by L. P. Hartley of a young male child's loss of innocence and a critical view of society at the end of the Victorian era.

You said: As a 17-yr-quondam, I was completely absorbed by this story, wishing Leo was my brother so that I could protect him from the thwarting that awaited him.

Rapsodiafestiva, Twitter

23. I Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (1962)

We said: A psychiatric ward in Oregon is ruled by a tyrannical caput nurse, just when a rebellious patient arrives her regime is thrown into disarray. A story of the imprisoned battling the establishment.

You said: A story that shows there is more to life than following rules. Having joy and being spontaneous are as of import as anything else in life.

Darren B, Twitter

24. Nineteen Fourscore-4 past George Orwell (1949)

We said: The definitive dystopian novel, George Orwell'southward vision of a loftier surveillance society is gripping from the beginning page to the last.

You lot said: I first read this book years ago, and was glad I would never have to be a part of that kind of society. Yet, here I am in 2018, and then much of that novel has come true.

Donna J, Twitter

25. Buddenbrooks past Thomas Mann (1901)

We said:In Thomas Mann's semi-autobiographical family unit ballsy, he portrays the boring reject of a wealthy and highly esteemed merchant-family in northern Germany over iv generations, as they grapple with the modernism of the 20th century.

You said: It'southward a great novel almost the rise and autumn of a family, the relationship between fathers and sons, and the disharmonize between art and business. Well, and I have to say I practice love family sagas.

Peter 50, Twitter

26. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)

We said: Perhaps John Steinbeck'southward finest novel, this is a beautifully evocative and, past the end, devastating read.

You said: Migration in search of work and a better future. A modern-day story. Still makes my pare tingle.

Morven, Twitter

27. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)

We said: Toni Morrison'southward novel tells the story of a former Kentucky slave haunted by the trauma of her past life, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988.

Y'all said: This book is astonishing. Beautifully written, haunting and the level of detail of the lengths people went to protect their families from slavery is fantastic.

LittleReigate, Twitter

28. The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse (1938)

We said: This is the third total-length novel featuring P. G. Wodehouse's all-time-known creations, the bumbling fool Bertie Wooster and his quick-thinking valet Jeeves. In this outing, the duo hatches a daring and hilarious scheme to steal an 18th-century moo-cow-creamer. What could go wrong?

You said: The all-time of the Bertie and Jeeves novels past Wodehouse, the 20th century master of the lite comic novel. Intricate plotting and bright command of English prose.

Matt F, Twitter

29. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

We said: Bram Stoker'southward novel is told by multiple narrators in a series of diary entries, messages, newspaper manufactures and ships' logs; an old folklore tale becomes a frightening reality for solicitor Jonathan Harker and his friends after he visits Count Dracula. And the Count is not a hero similar our modern vampires aka Edward Cullen.

You said: A Gothic tale of fearfulness and beloved. Would one desire immortality at the toll of one's morality and soul? Loneliness beckons downward such a dangerous and fearful path.

Rob K, Twitter

30. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954)

We said: Mayhap the greatest story ever told, J. R. R. Tolkien's incredible trilogy of otherworldliness brought a world of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs to life in a way never read before. Ultimately a tale of companionship and the battle betwixt good and evil, the fictional world of Middle Earth has endured to get far greater than the sum of its parts.

Yous said: It's got the great sweeping story, romance, heroism, cocky-sacrifice, social commentary... it'southward non just magic and elves!

Anne O, Twitter

31. The Adventures of Blueberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)

We said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, information technology's a uncomplicated adventure just dig a piddling deeper into Mark Twain'south novel and find undercurrents of slavery, corruption and corruption in what Hemingway described as 'The best volume nosotros've had'.

You said: This book demonstrates how a immature boy learns to think for himself, and shows us how we can, likewise. It's funny, sweet and sad – sometimes all in the same paragraph.

Richard C, Twitter

32. Bang-up Expectations by Charles Dickens (1860)

We said:From the escaped convict lurking in the wild Kent marshes to the eccentric Miss Havisham who has remained in her wedding dress since the day she was jilted, orphan Pip'due south coming of age story is one of Charles Dickens' most memorable and iconic novels.

You said: This book is not only important as a literary masterpiece and an evocative story - information technology also has universal appeal as, unfortunately, many children in today'south globe undergo the same suffering every bit Pip.

Ayesha 1000, Twitter

33. Catch-22 past Joseph Heller (1961)

Nosotros said: The perfect read for a cacophonous political moment. Joseph Heller's dizzying masterpiece brilliantly illustrates the way that ability is hoarded and wielded like magic, with sleights of paw and rhetorical trickery deployed similar weapons to go out normal people baffled and exhausted.

You said: In my stance, in that location is no book that better captures human nature and the futility of conflict. Yous'll come out the other side angry, uplifted, and crazy.

Sam W, Twitter

34. The Historic period of Innocence by Edith Wharton (1920)

Nosotros said: A newlywed couple is shaken upwardly by the arrival of the bride'south free-spirited and charismatic cousin Ellen, who piques the husband's interests. He must make up one's mind to save a aging marriage or pursue his passions. Edith Wharton became the beginning woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for this novel which explores love, animalism and social form, set in the Gilded Age of New York.

You said: "When SHE comes she is different, and 1 doesn't know why...".

Lulu B, Twitter

35. Things Fall Apart past Chinua Achebe (1958)

We said: Information technology has come to be seen equally the archetypal mod African novel in English and is read widely across Africa and Nigeria in which it is prepare. It follows the Okonowo a great and famous warrior and the nigh powerful men of his clan. But when outsiders threaten his clan'south way of life - will his atmosphere and pride exist his downfall? Read it to find out.

Y'all said: A compelling and important exploration of cultural identity in relation to both the ascent tide of British colonialism and the pressures of gender expectations. A poignant tragedy written with pathos. Necessary reading!

Danny N, Twitter

36. Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871)

We said: Dorothea Brooke and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch grapple with art, religion, science, politics, self and society in the lead-up to the Commencement Reform Bill of 1832 in a literary exploration of human follies.This book is considered by many to be the greatest Victorian novel.

You said: This book is superb in form and content. There is no better autopsy of and insight into human being society. She was the Shakespeare of her day and Middlemarch is her finest novel.

Tim R, Twitter

37. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (1981)

We said: A visceral tale, fabricated of smells and sounds and bumps and knocks. A bright way to immerse yourself in one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods of the 20th century, via a wonderfully fantastical conceit.

You said: This is the most magical and well-written book I've read. The history of the partition of the Indian subcontinent told as a delightful apologue.

Claudia G, Twitter

38. The Iliad by Homer (8th century BC)

We said: Information technology is ane of the greatest and most influential ballsy poems ever written, and (alongside The Odyssey)the oldest surviving work of Western literature. Although the story centres on the critical events of the last year of the Trojan state of war, Homer besides explores themes of humanity, compassion and survival.

You lot said: This is the ultimate war poem, filled with existential drama, heroic striving, death, and the pregnant of life.

Max G, Twitter

39. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (1847)

We said: William Makepeace Thackeray'due south satirical reflection of club on the whole embodied in a cast of characters who although flawed, we can't help but honey and root for every bit we follow their fortunes and downfalls throughout the Napoleonic wars.

Yous said: Because Becky Abrupt is the greatest female person atomic number 82 grapheme in English language literature. Bar none.

Greg R, Twitter

twoscore. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945)

We said: The iconic country firm setting of Brideshead see a family consumed past its religion battle with their loyalties. A reflective and nostalgic novel past Evelyn Waugh well-nigh class, family unit and homecomings.

You said: So evocative of a sure time and place, likewise as beingness a compelling story.

Patricia C, Twitter

41. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)

We said: Probably the least commented-upon aspect of J.D. Salinger's masterpiece is how utterly hilarious information technology is. Holden is a character no ane ever forgets.

You said: This novel's main graphic symbol, Holden, is coping with tragic loss, as all of us do in our lives. Equally he wanders aimlessly effectually the city, he struggles to plan his next life move, but finds happiness in pocket-size joys, such equally his strong bond with his sister.

Alma East, Twitter

42. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)

Nosotros said: Alice is a no-nonsense, quick-witted and daring – we could all learn a lesson or 2 from the resourceful young girl in Lewis Carroll's tale packed with a troupe of unforgettable characters. A boundless story full of riddles, puns and wordplay, at over 150 years old it features a heroine way ahead of her time.

You said: We should all get lost down a rabbit pigsty every once in a while and come out believing in half dozen impossible things before breakfast #whyisaravenlikeawritingdesk

Lauren D, Twitter

43. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot (1860)

Nosotros said:Maggie Tulliver is passionate, impulsive and intelligence but her desires disharmonism against her family unit's expectations and upshot in painful consequences. Eliot drew on the frustrations of her own rural upbringing to write one of her most powerful and moving novels.

You said: One archetype everyone must read:The Factory on the Floss by George Eliot. A beautifully told story of an intelligent daughter who yearns for more than lodge allows.

Jess, Twitter

44. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1857)

We said: The 2d novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the 'Chronicles of Barsetshire', opens equally the Bishop of Barchester lies on his deathbed; shortly the boxing for ability amid the town'due south key players will embark. Told with plenty of wisdom and wit.

Yous said: This book has tremendous characters and a plot which sucks you lot into such a unlike globe, about which you find yourself caring desperately.

Hilary Due south, Twitter

45. Some other Country past James Baldwin (1962)

We said: Primarily set in New York'south Greenwich Village, James Baldwin'sAnother State tackled many themes that were taboo at the time of its publication including bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital affairs - all in the sensational world of Harlem jazz and the Bohemian underworld.

Y'all said: This is a book that shows how anybody tin live and love together, passionately, dangerously, with exquisite music. I'll never forget the thrill of outset reading it.

Jon A, Twitter

46. Les Miserables past Victor Hugo (1862)

Nosotros said: Vive la révolution! A sweeping epic and a completely satisfying read by Victor Hugo. Full of beloved, anger, drama and wit. Quite possibly the perfect novel.

You said: A beautiful story of the power of redemption and a expert heart along with a backdrop of the socio-economic iniquities of 19th century France. Beautifully written, it tugs the heartstrings.

Gary G, Twitter

47. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory past Roald Dahl (1964)

We said: Filled with all the sweet treats from your wildest dreams (and proving that nice guys don't always finish last), Roald Dahl'sCharlie and the Chocolate Manufactory is a cautionary tale for both children and adults. Don't be greedy. Don't spoil your children. Don't chew gum. And don't sit in front of the TV all day. 'Information technology rots the senses in the head!'

You lot said: This list wouldn't be complete without some of Dahl's magic, and my golden ticket is for this novel.

Isanne V, Twitter

48. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (1967)

Nosotros said: A coming-of-age tale of teenage rebellion, set in a winner-takes-all globe of bulldoze-ins, drag races and switchblades. It created an anti-hero from the wrong side of the class split up – all written when S. E. Hinton was just 17. 'Stay gilt Ponyboy… stay gold'.

You said: The original YA novel, which sparked many crushes and made me fall in beloved with reading.

Claire C, Twitter

49. The Count of Monte Cristo past Alexandre Dumas (1844)

We said: An epic novel by Alexandre Dumas that will have you feeling all the emotions – and a prime case of the old adage that revenge is a dish best served cold.

You said: The all-time classic tale! A story of innocence, romance, betrayal, suffering, revenge and more importantly, Homo'southward triumph over all life throws at him.

Hayati Y, Twitter

l. Ulysses past James Joyce (1922)

We said: Having survived censorship, controversy and even legal action, James Joyce's well-nigh famous novel is renowned for its use of inner monologue and stream-of-consciousness technique. Whether it's the greatest novel of the 20th century, or the most unreadable, is upward for debate.

You said: Reading it equally a person, an emotional journeying. Reading it as a author, technically mesmerizing and inspiring

Pqxzyvr, Twitter

51. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

We said: Mostly set in California, John Steinbeck'due south well-nigh ambitious novel follows ii families and their interwoven stories. The author himself said, 'It has everything in it I have been able to larn about my craft or profession in all these years.'

They said: Bright writing, epic family saga, drills deep into human nature and how we think, feel and act toward one some other. My all-time favourite novel.

Naomi M, Facebook

52. The Brothers Karamazov past Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1880)

We said: Two years in the making, this philosophical novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky questions large topics similar faith, free will and morality just it'south also a very readable one that's part murder mystery, part courtroom drama.

You lot said: A depiction of the darkest recesses of human nature. Only as well of the brightest ones…

Luca C, Facebook

53. Lolita past Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

We said: Quite simply some of the finest writing e'er committed to a page. A book that is simultaneously repulsive and utterly seductive.

You said: Beautifully written. The book takes y'all into the mind of this awful character and lets yous roll effectually in the gorgeous word-play as the story unfurls.

Lesley Fifty, Facebook

54. The Secret Garden past Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)

We said: Frances Hodgson Burnett's book will awaken the curiosity of any reader, no matter their age. There'south something so completely irresistible about hidden doors, mysterious noises and secret hiding places. But this is more than than a story of adventures and gardening, at its middle, The Clandestine Garden promises that with fourth dimension and plenty of nurturing, we tin can all blossom.

You said: I will never forget reading this book as a kid. I felt I was in the middle of the story.

Ulrika F, Facebook

55. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (1938)

We said: Partly based on Evelyn Waugh's personal experiences, Scoop is a satirical take on the lengths reporters – and newspaper magnates – will go to for a story. With modernistic exposés on hacking scandals and the similar, Scoop feels as relevant as ever.

You lot said: A funny story wrapped effectually absurdity, journalism and state of war.

Guy V, Facebook

56. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859)

We said: After 18 years in the Bastille, Dr Manette is released and sent to live in Britain with a daughter he'southward never met. Carve up between Paris and London, A Tale of Two Cities is a mammoth story set during the brutal years of the French Revolution.

You said: Sitting alone at 16 years one-time subsequently the family had gone to bed, tears streamed down my cheeks every bit I finished this novel.

Pat C, Facebook

57. Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith and Weedon Grossmith (1892)

Nosotros said: Diary of a Nobody follows a respectable middle-course man, Charles Pooter, and his attempts to alive a respectable centre-grade life. This riotously funny novel created such an impression that it inspired an adjective in laurels of its principal graphic symbol: 'Pooterish', a self-of import person who takes themselves far too seriously.

You said: I have read this volume so many times and laugh out loud every fourth dimension. I have a Penguin Classic copy of it that'due south falling apart but I wouldn't part with it for the world

Emma H, Facebook

58. Anna Karenina past Leo Tolstoy (1878)

Nosotros said: Anna Karenina is a adult female who seems to take information technology all. She'due south married, she's wealthy, she's well-liked – but she feels her life is empty until she meets Count Vronksy. Leo Tolstoy'southward novel is essentially a philosophical meditation on the significant of life and happiness but it's a very readable one.

You said: Simply the best in-depth characterisation of all time. Tolstoy'south psychological insights have never been beaten.

Chris W, Facebook

59. The Matrimonial by Alessandro Manzoni (1827)

We said: Alessandro Manzoni's novel takes is the story of two young lovers trying to be together, set against a wider backdrop of 17th-century Italian life. The Betrothed is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written in Italian.

You said: This book is on the verge of being forgotten by coincidental readers, just information technology's entertaining, socially and scientifically progressive for its time, has incredibly moving, beautifully-written passages on bread riots and the plague, and information technology has the best surprise trope-subversion at the end.

Shawna R, Facebook

threescore. Orlando past Virginia Woolf (1928)

We said: Immense yourself in the dazzling breadth of Virginia Woolf'southward imagination in this short but powerful novel and follow Orlando from the court of Elizabeth I to a celebrated poet in the 20th century.

Y'all said: What is it to be a woman? Woolf'southward modernist novel is so fresh even 90 or so years later. Gender fluidity before the term was even coined. And a history of literature equally a backdrop.

Antonia Thousand, Facebook

61.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

We said: Step into the dystopian USA and follow the saga of Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden equally they attempt to bring their Transcontinental railroad into being, and uncover the secrets of a shadowy effigy called John Galt along the way.

You said: This book engages the reader through its characters and themes, allowing one to be entranced through this cautionary tale that can exist applied to the modern world.

Deanna H, Facebook

62. The Time Machine by H. 1000. Wells (1895)

We said: When a scientist and inventor creates a time machine, he travels to the distant time to come to see what's in store for humanity. H. G. Wells' novel is the book that popularised time travel, but read deeper and it's likewise a metaphor for the fractured gild that we nonetheless live in today.

You said: A story of noesis, education, and imagining a future.

Gultekin S, Facebook

63. The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

Nosotros said: Sun-Tzu, writer of the world's oldest guide to military strategy, recognised that we live in a conflicted world. The layperson might not exist involved in warfare only the advice within is just as useful for navigating the workplace or daily life.

Yous said: This should exist called the trivial volume of mutual sense. Information technology makes everything easier to understand.

Darren G, Facebook

64. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

Nosotros said: Nobel-Prize winning author John Galsworthy wrote this multi-generational saga which chronicles the Forsyte family unit's fortunes and downfalls as they alive through dramatic social change, from the directly-laced Victorian era to the roaring 20s.

You said: This volume gives you a wonderful impression of life in the 19th and early 20th century. Information technology's both enthralling and touching.

Hildegard S, Facebook

65. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (1962)

Nosotros said: Nigh lx years later Travels with Charley still proves an eye-opening insight into a country that's and so easy to view as a monolith. Steinbeck and his French Poodle encounter everyone from migrant farmers to KKK members in this reminder of a complicated political landscape that's no less disparate today.

You lot said: One of the true get-go 'route' books – a search for the spirit of the ordinary American people.

Edith S, Facebook

66. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934)

We said: It was banned in the US and the UK for xxx years for being also 'pornographic,' and undoubtedly in that location are smutty moments, but Henry Miller uses this to comment on the human condition. Told from a variety of start-person characters in 1930s Paris – including Miller'south ain experiences as a struggling author – the mutual thread betwixt each character is their sexual encounters.

You said: Loud, funny, sexual Paris in the 1930s. I read it when I was 20, and information technology inverse the way I look at the world.

Brendan P, Facebook

67. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence (1920)

We said: Controversial during its time, D. H. Lawrence'due south sequel to The Rainbow follows the lives of two women and the men they become involved with. Women in Love contains some of Lawrence's finest writing.

You said: This is Lawrence at his best… although I do think Lady Chatterley's Lover is nether-rated…

David P, Facebook

68. Staying On by Paul Scott (1977)

We said: Paul Scott passed away at the meridian of his writing career and his last novel, Staying On – which won the Booker Prize in 1977 – gives u.s.a. a unique insight into life only after the end of the British dominion in Bharat.

You said: A funny, tragic, beautifully written study of an English colonial married couple left behind as an independent Republic of india moves ahead.

Catherine B, Facebook

69. The Wind in the Willows past Kenneth Grahame (1908)

Nosotros said:What began as a serial of letters to Kenneth Grahame'southward sickly son evolved into one of England's nearly honey children's books. A whimsical foray through the Berkshire countryside, the esprit betwixt Ratty, Badger, Mole and Mr Toad yet embodies traditional British eccentricities to a tee.

Yous said: You tin enjoy this book at any age – and it's beautifully written.

Vicky A, Facebook

70. My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918)

Nosotros said: The novel tells the story of Jim Brunt, an orphan boy and Ántonia Shimerda who are brought as children to be pioneers in Nebraska in the tardily 19th century. This is Willa Cather's last book in the Great Plains trilogy and was praised for bringing the American West to life.

Y'all said: Quite but, a beautifully written book.

Carolyn R, Facebook

71. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

We said: Controversial at the time of publication, Emily Brontë'south classic beloved story between Catherine and Heathcliff still resonates with readers today. Widely considered a staple of Gothic fiction and the English language literary canon, this volume has gone on to inspire many generations of writers – and volition keep to exercise so.

You said: Passion, heartbreak – this is the greatest novel ever written.

Tessa J, Facebook

72. Perfume past Patrick Süskind (1985)

Nosotros said: In 18th-century France, one man's greatest passion and gift leads him down a path of sensual depravity. Afterward discovering he has no smell of his own – despite having a remarkable sense of aroma – Jean-Baptiste Grenouille trains in the art of perfume-making so he can create the ultimate scent – one that is made from 25 immature virgin girls.

Yous said: A story of suspense and love, with beautiful narration.

Ivy West, Facebook

73. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1867)

We said: LeoTolstoy's sweeping epic of human being life in all its imperfection and grandeur is universally accepted equally one of the greatest novels of all time.

You said:This novel is just gripping and beautifully written. Kept me enthralled for weeks...

Angela T, Facebook

74. Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham (1915)

We said: Considered as Somerset Maugham's most autobiographical of his work, the author stated, 'This is a novel, not an autobiography, though much in it is autobiographical, more is pure invention.' Regardless, the story of Philip Carey, a human with ambitions who falls in love with a loud but irresistible waitress is considered one of his finest books.

You said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love.

Rajan D, Facebook

75. Bleak House by Charles Dickens (1853)

We said: At the middle of Bleak Business firm is the never-ending legal case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce which draws together a disparate group of people who promise in some way to profit from the case. Dickens' scathing reflection of the legal profession went some mode to support a judicial reform movement in the 1870s.

You said: An amazing story, with and then many twists and turns

Jane E, Facebook

76. Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac (1837)

We said: Would-exist poet Lucien Chardon moves from the French Provinces to the glamorous beau monde of Paris where he chop-chop discovers a world far more dangerous than he ever imagined. Honoré de Balzac paints a vivid and roughshod picture of the hypocrisy and moral history of his times.

You said: A magnificent story nearly human nature, ambition and gild (in any century).

Isabel M, Facebook

77. Breakfast of Champions past Kurt Vonnegut (1973)

We said: Function one-act, part searing satire, nosotros're taken to the Midwest to follow Vonnegut'south ageing writer Kilgore Trout on an absurd narrative. You may dear it, yous may not get the signal. Either way, you'll detect information technology hard not to laugh.

You said: Reading this blend of surrealism, sci-fi and other genres made me realise that sometimes, fiction tin can be more than powerful than existent-life stories!

Kleber L, Facebook

78. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

We said: This is arguably Dickens' nigh famous tale. Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and exclamations of 'Bah Humbug!' are equally synonymous with the festive seasons as Santa, turkey and Christmas pudding.

Y'all said: A masterpiece. The ultimate story of promise and redemption.

Sergeant_Tibbs, Twitter

79. Silas Marner by George Eliot (1861)

Nosotros said: Silas Marner was Eliot's favourite of her novels. It tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a second risk to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of religion, industrialisation and customs, the book also provides us with a glimpse of a vanished rural world.

You said: Redemption and love. Beautifully written

Rhiannon C, Facebook

80. Mrs Dalloway past Virginia Woolf (1925)

We said: One of literature'southward most famous parties - this groundbreaking postmodernist novel centres around Clarria Dalloway's preparations for a party she'south hosting, exploring themes of mental health, modernity and time.

You lot said: A reminder that no life is too small.

Marianna South, Facebook

81. Piffling Women past Louisa May Alcott (1868)

We said: In Petty Women, Louisa May Alcott set out to write a book in which girls would see them themselves accurately reflected. The March sisters, with their four very different personalities and ambitions, accurately embody both the challenges of growing upward and the irreplaceable bond of sisterhood.

You said: A story of growing up and changing and the world fix around a group of young girls. This book is every bit timeless equally it is beautiful.

Luke E, Twitter

82. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch (1978)

We said: Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 1978, Iris Murdoch's book is the story of strange obsessions and reflection which haunt Charles Arrowby, who retires from London's glittering theatre world to an isolated abode by the body of water. An unforgettable story, beautifully told.

Y'all said: This book left me speechless, while reading and later reading and I even so can't find the words to describe why information technology is one of the near impressive pieces of writing I have always read.

H, Twitter

83. The Godfather past Mario Puzo (1969)

We said: Both Mario Puzo's book and 1972 film adaptation became global phenomena with this searing portrayal of New York'southward Mafia underworld. A powerful story of tradition, blood, honour and of form, family allegiance.

You lot said: This novel teaches the reader about the strengths and failures of human nature.

Louisa J, Twitter

84. The Castle by Franz Kafka (1926)

We said:Taking the give-and-take 'Kafkaesque' to new levels, The Castle is a nightmarish achieve into an autocratic world. Bamboozling from start to the very unfinished end (the novel ends mid-sentence), this is Franz Kafka'south finest commentary on oppression and hierarchy.

Y'all said: This book leads the reader into a maze of conundrums, defoliation, iciness and moral fog. Never to be forgotten one time read.

Arnold F, Twitter

85. I, Claudius by Robert Graves (1934)

You said: Written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, Robert Graves' novel captures the madness and immoderacy of ancient Rome. Both I, Claudius and Graves's sequel Claudius the God are regarded today equally pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction, too as gripping reads.

You said: A beautifully written novel about absolute power. Very relevant.

Ian G, Twitter

86. Peter Pan by J.1000. Barrie (1904)

You said:The story that made every child want to dance on tiptoes over midnight rooftops and soar away to Neverland, J. M. Barrie'due south tale of the boy who could never grow up brought magic to bedtimes everywhere. From the Lost Boys to fearsome pirates, the enchanting adventure of Peter Pan has, both literally and metaphorically, never grown onetime.

You said: A book that reminds everyone to never grow up within!

Jennifer Grand, Twitter

87. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (1980)

You said: A medievalist protagonist encounters a series of misadventures in a comedic exploration of the human status. John Kennedy Toole'southward novel is widely regarded today every bit a tragicomic classic that exposes 'intellectualism'.

You said: I chose this book just because the characters are fantastic, and information technology makes me laugh.

Sharon, Twitter

88. The Razor'south Edge by W. Somerset Maugham (1944)

You said: Featuring Maugham himself as a character and adapted twice for the big screen, The Razor'south Edge tells the story of an American airplane pilot trying to conform dorsum to normal life following the Offset World War. Information technology'southward a gruelling look at the devastating effects of mail service-war trauma, and a philosophical journey to find meaning in life.

Y'all said: A profound story of one man'due south journeying to discover himself.

Holden M, Twitter

89. Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson (1939)

You said: Many will recall the contempo BBC series of the same proper name; Lark Rising to Candleford is author Flora Thompson'southward semi-autobiographical recollections of her youth and growing upwardly in Oxfordshire, and paints a delightful portrait of country life at the end of the 19th century.

You lot said: Perhaps a piffling bit out of left field, but I dear this volume. It's simple, information technology's beautifully written and it's all nearly capturing a vanishing fashion of life every bit countryside farming turns to Victorian towns... really eloquent, actually moving!

Vicky, Twitter

xc. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy (1878)

We said: When proud and passionate Eustacia Vye marries Clym Yeobright, she believes she can finally leave her rural life at Egdon Heath backside. But their unhappy matrimony causes a chain of events culminating in tragedy, and their realisation that their destinies cannot exist controlled.

Y'all said: I chose this book because Eustacia Vye is misunderstood - as are many women.

Linda 1000, Twitter

91. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young man by James Joyce (1916)

We said: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young man was James Joyce's first novel and details the young artist discovering his vocalisation, craft and identity through his literary alter ego, Stephen Dedalus. There are echoes of his techniques here before they are refined in his later works such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake.

You said: Joyce is not only the greatest stylist in English language, but the novel contains one of the most complex discussions of aesthetics in the 20th century.

Donald K, Twitter

92. Eye of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

We said: JosephConrad's novella has been deemed by many as a 'difficult read', but this enigmatic and atmospheric piece of fiction of Charles Marlow's journey upwards the Congo river – which too provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse At present – will leave you unfolding its many layers for a long time subsequently.

Y'all said: What an astonishing piece of writing from someone who had to learn the linguistic communication beginning...

Tracey L, Twitter

93. North and Southward past Elizabeth Gaskell (1854)

We said: A swooningly romantic book with an exhilaratingly combative pairing at the centre. The themes of wealth and gender inequality are woven in seamlessly, and are completely integral to the electric dynamic between Margaret Hale and John Thornton.

You said: This novel combines a beautiful love story and give-and-take of of import economic and social issues of its time.

Alina, Twitter

94. The Handmaid's Tale past Margaret Atwood (1985)

Nosotros said: 'When it first came out it was viewed as existence far-fetched,' said Margaret Atwood in 2017. The connected regression of ballgame laws and women's rights across the world has only made Atwood's dystopian all the more pertinent; and ensuring the book – and Telly evidence's – place in history as a lynchpin of the feminist resistance.

You lot said: I chose this book considering information technology gives a feminist perspective on the world. Also, Atwood uses events from history to create the story, which I notice important. History is a circle.

Emma H, Twitter

95. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (2004)

We said: A novel of two halves, Suite Francaise is nearly life and death in occupied France, and finding love and promise in the most unexpected of places.

You said: This is my favourite volume. It is an extremely moving account of the kinds of things that really happened in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War. It presents the dilemmas, fears and choices that were felt and had to exist made past ordinary people.

Jim H, Twitter

96. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1962)

Nosotros said: This deeply personal and unforgettable account of a day in the life at a Soviet labour army camp in the 1950s is highly considered to be one of the greats of gimmicky literature.

You lot said: Solzhenitsyn's writing from personal experience of life/existence in a forced labour army camp under Stalin'due south communist regime is a stark, vicious, masterpiece.

Brian T, Twitter

97. What A Carve Upward! by Jonathan Coe (1994)

We said: The Winshaw family are the almost powerful and cruellest family unit in England that is until their biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family's corrupt and immoral activities. A dark and wickedly funny story which makes a profound statement on the Thatcherite era.

You said: This novel has so much to say almost human nature, political power and the elite, and always will practise. Caustic, heartfelt, funny, devastating; a beautiful volume.

Declan C, Twitter

98. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (1974)

We said: Anyone looking for an introduction to philosophy demand look no further. It's also a touching portrayal of fatherhood and friendship.

You said: An amazing philosophical adventure that influenced a generation.

Jason F, Twitter

99. White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1848)

We said: One of Fyodor Dostoyevsky'south underrated works, this short story is divided into six sections. With themes of loneliness and unrequited dearest told past a nameless narrator – information technology'south quintessential Dostoyevsky.

You said: This is an incredibly beautiful and uplifting volume. Everyone should read information technology!

Melly, Twitter

100. Hard Times pastCharles Dickens (1854)

We said: Dickens uses the fictional town of Coketown and its inhabitants to explore the harsh realities of the Industrial Age and the importance of imagination in a world driven by fact.

You said: Pathos, humour, social annotate, politic and incredibly well-drawn, believable characters.

Angela, Twitter

What's your favourite classic read? Let united states know at @penguinukbooks.

Books ranked in no particular order. Some answers have been edited for clarity and style.

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