With 2022 all wrapped up, it's time to start making your reading list for 2023. Whether you're setting reading goals for the year, or simply looking to reconnect with your love of books, we've got you covered.
There are many benefits to reading classics, and we think you should be adding a few to your list this year. So, here are 5 amazing classic books that you absolutely must dive into in 2023!
1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is often listed as one of the great American novels, and with good reason. Fitzgerald's story of decadence, unrequited love, and the lost American Dream never gets old. The Great Gatsby is the story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire. His pursuit of Daisy, a young woman who comes from 'old money', is at the crux of this tragic, beautiful story.
Why you should read it:
It's short. Only 208 pages!
It's a love story and a tragedy, rolled into one.
It's a social critique of wealth and upward mobility in America.
You can appreciate the film (and Leo's portrayal of Gatsby) in a whole new way!
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those singular classic books you definitely need to read in 2023. Harper Lee's novel is a coming-of-age story set in the U.S. rural south. It follows Scout Finch, the daughter of a local lawyer, as she watches her community get torn apart by a terrible crime and the racial prejudices that follow.
Why you should read it:
It shows how racism and prejudice can affect communities.
It's written in easy-to-read, clear language.
It teaches us about the past, and reminds us of what still needs to change.
3. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
More than 25 years after bursting onto the literary scene with his hugely successful debut, The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway wrote the novel that would win him the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Old Man and the Sea is the story of an epic struggle between an old fisherman and the biggest fish he's ever caught. You won't regret adding this one to your 2023 classics reading list!
Why you should read it:
It's short and sweet: just 127 pages long!
It explores heavy themes like suffering, aging, and humanity's place in nature.
The ending will 100% make you cry.
4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey may not be as widely read as Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion, but it's without a doubt one of Jane Austen's most under-appreciated jewels. Northanger Abbey tells the story of a young protagonist who is obsessed with gothic novels. That is until her love for gothic fiction begins to color her real life too!
Why you should read it:
It's one of Jane Austen's funniest novels!
It's an entertaining coming-of-age story.
It's a satire of gothic novels and perfect for anyone looking for humor with slightly dark undertones.
5. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Animal Farm was George Orwell's penultimate novel and continues to be a force to be reckoned with. This adult fairytale is a metaphor for a failed communist state. In Animal Farm, a group of farm animals overthrow their human farmer and take over the farm. Initially, they hope to create a fairer society, but soon the farm begins to spiral into a hierarchical dictatorship with dark consequences.
Why you should read it:
The length of 1984 (Orwell's final novel) often puts people off from reading Orwell. The good news is, Animal Farm is a much shorter work. This novella is only 112 pages long!
Animal Farm shows how those in power can use beliefs to manipulate the populace.
It teaches us to question everything and never blindly follow leaders.
What's on your 2023 reading list?
Share the books you're excited to read in the comments below.
Who are we? At Proseposters, we create stunning wall art from the words of your favorite classic books! From wall posters to art prints to diary planners and more, we make bookish art for bookish people.