Famous Books We’d Love to Read but Haven’t Yet, Part 2

​And now, for something a bit different! We’ve been thinking about the classics lately (and not just speculative-fiction ones) and how important they still are, especially with literacy’s current state of decline. Classic books are classics for a reason and can teach us a lot, if we slow ourselves down enough to learn from them!
 
So in the previous blog post and this one, we’re sharing some excellent classics we’ve been meaning to read—not all of them are actually terribly old, although some are. Now, we just need to find more time between the grind and our side hustles. . . .

Sarah’s list:
 
1. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu: Often called the world’s first novel, it follows the life and romantic entanglements of Prince Genji in Heian-era Japan, exploring court politics, love, and the impermanence of beauty and human relationships.
 
2. The Epic of Gilgamesh: This ancient epic follows King Gilgamesh of Uruk and his companion Enkidu as they undertake heroic adventures, confront loss and mortality, and ultimately grapple with the limits of human life and the search for meaning.
 
3. Phantastes by George MacDonald: A young man, Anodos, enters a dreamlike fairy realm where his wandering experiences of beauty, temptation, and transformation lead to moral and spiritual growth.
 
4. The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin: This series follows a world plagued by catastrophic seismic activity and the oppressed orogene people who can control it, focusing on three intertwined narratives of survival, power, and systemic oppression as the truth behind the world’s collapse is revealed.
 
5. The Wolf Leader by Alexandre Dumas: A humble shoemaker gains supernatural control over wolves and uses his power to exact revenge on those who have wronged him, leading to increasingly dark consequences.
 
6. The Once and Future King by T.H. White: a retelling of the Arthurian legend, following King Arthur’s upbringing, rise to the throne, and reign as he and his knights of the Round Table struggle with war, justice, and the tragic flaws that ultimately doom Camelot.
 
7. The Legend of Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore: This series follows the drow ranger Drizzt Do’Urden as he rejects the cruelty of his subterranean society, journeys through the surface world, and battles prejudice, monsters, and his own violent heritage while seeking honor and belonging.
 
8. Watership Down by Richard Adams: A group of rabbits flee their doomed warren and undertake a perilous journey to find a safe home, facing predators, rival colonies, and challenges to their survival and leadership along the way.
 
9. The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin: This series follows the life of the wizard Ged and other characters across the archipelago of Earthsea as they confront magic, identity, and the balance between light and shadow in both the world and themselves.
 
10. The Vampyre by John William Polidori: a major influence on Dracula. The mysterious aristocrat Lord Ruthven befriends a young gentleman named Aubrey and gradually draws him into a web of fascination, manipulation, and destruction as Ruthven’s vampiric nature brings ruin to those around him.
 

What’s your favorite classic book, or which one have you really been meaning to read? Tell us in the comments!
 
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P.S. – ​If you loved these book recommendations, why not sign up for our newsletter? Twice a month, we’ll send you a themed list of fantasy and/or sci-fi book recommendations, and sometimes music, movies, or manga too. (Not to mention jokes, games, puzzles, memes, and the occasional recipe!)

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