Books have the ability to alter our viewpoints, start discussions, and even upend social mores. Here, we’ll explore 30 contentious works that not only challenge conventions but are nevertheless required reading for everybody who wants to comprehend the intricacies of the world we live in.
1. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
To suggest that James Joyce’s book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was a work of love would be an understatement. Joyce’s unusual and distinct style of writing makes this book challenging to read, but it’s well worth the effort. Stephen Dedalus’s story of maturing is utterly captivating. You’ll have questions and answers on his quest for identity.
2. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
The story of Lauren Olamina, a girl with hyperempathy and unusual religious views, is told in Parable of the Sower. In a world of total chaos following the fall of the government, Lauren’s family is killed, her home is destroyed, and she is compelled to live in the perilous outside world alongside other survivors who are committed to establishing a community where Lauren’s religion, Earthseed, can flourish.
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
It’s inconceivable that The Bluest Eye was Toni Morrison’s debut book given the writing’s genius, depth, and beauty. The narrative centers on Pecola Breedlove, an 11-year-old African American girl. She hopes to have blue eyes when she wakes up because she wants to feel as adored and lovely as the blue-eyed kids in America. Racism in the 1940s South is addressed in this potent and incredibly poignant book.
4. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Gothic and philosophical novel by Oscar Wilde, has remained a classic. Despite being the Irish author’s first and only published work, it left a significant influence. The story of Dorian Gray, a young, dishonest man, and the portrait that exposes his darkest secrets are told in this legendary book.
5. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams’s iconic one-act play, was staged in 1944. This drama is still presented in high schools, community theaters, regional theaters, and other venues as of 2024. This is due to the fact that the drama centers on a dysfunctional but real family. Williams made all of the characters more lifelike by basing them on members of his own family.
6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina is frequently hailed as one of the greatest novels ever written, and for good reason. A work of fiction by Leo Tolstoy addressed the important and profound problems that humanity faced in the middle of the nineteenth century. It should come as no surprise to you that the topics covered in this book are still relevant today.
7. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker released a book in 1982 that became a modern classic and a phenomenon in society. The Color Purple is that book. It was the first Pulitzer Prize-winning and National Book Award-winning work by an African American woman. It tells the story of a Black lady who is abused because of her ethnicity, gender, and the person she finds attractive. Everyone should read this eye-opening article.
8. My Antonia by Willa Cather
You’re in for a long ride if you haven’t read My Antonia by Willa Cather. This is Cather’s most famous book and she was one of the best American authors of her era. She narrates the tale of a brave and attractive immigrant girl who meets young Jim Burden after being compelled to go to Nebraska. Their story is about youth, adventure, and a lot more. The intricacy of this tale will captivate you.
9. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
This book demonstrates that children’s literature is not limited to young readers. C.S. Lewis takes the reader on an exciting voyage through the lovely, magical land of Narnia in the first book of his amazing seven-volume series, where kids are crucial in assisting good over evil. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe contain teachings on faith, family, friendship, and forgiveness in addition to Lewis’ remarkable inventiveness and crystalline prose.
10. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Despite not being published until 1985, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale is a gripping classic. Additionally, it was recently turned into a well-liked Hulu series. You should read the book regardless of whether you have previously binge-watched the series or intend to do so. It’s captivating, eerie, and hopeful.
11. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens has enduring appeal. Depending on when you read it, there are a hundred possible interpretations of this work. Many human emotions, like love, joy, disappointment, sadness, and hope, are depicted across the pages. You’ll come to the conclusion that a person’s values and principles are far more significant than how they seem.
12. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a must-read for everyone who appreciates dystopian and/or science fiction literature. Even though it was composed in 1932, more than 80 years ago, it is still a classic. A totalitarian society that prizes conformity, a deadly desire, is the subject of the story. The absence of uniqueness and self-expression makes readers reevaluate their conceptions of happiness, freedom, and progress.
13. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
The narrative of Frank McCourt’s upbringing is replete with heartache, insecurity, and adversity. Despite being a bright boy who is eager to learn, McCourt is ignored in church and school as he gets older because he comes from a lower socioeconomic background. His memoir is both heartbreaking and inspirational since, as he ages, he can overcome these social barriers to succeed and become educated.
14. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a classic book. Despite being written in 1847, it still sparks meaningful but nuanced intellectual debates. The heroine of the book is mistreated, intelligent, self-reliant, and enigmatic. She addresses ethical quandaries that compel readers to reflect on their own lives.
15. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Despite being over 500 pages long, it is utterly captivating. The unnamed narrator of this story inhabits a bizarre reality. His innocence fades as the story progresses. The racial prejudice he endures and the reasons behind his nickname, “Invisible Man,” are made evident to readers. It is chock-full of intricate concepts that will leave you wanting more.
16. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood, one of the best-selling true-crime books ever written, tells the story of the Clutter family’s quadruple murder in Holcomb, Kansas. As Capote unravels the events of that fatal night and the cause of the highly acclaimed family’s murders, you will be gripped from start to finish by this book.
17. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights has a certain realism that reverberates across its pages. The plot revolves around the ferocious and adored Catherine and the vicious Heathcliff. This book feels amazing to read. Give yourself permission to give in to the world and the characters that Emily Bronte crafted.
18. The Odyssey by Homer
Reading The Odyssey by Homer is a difficult but valuable endeavor. This is due to the fact that it was composed at some point in the eighth century BCE. The epic poem has since been translated into contemporary English after being discovered etched onto a slab of clay. Before starting their literary journey, many readers consult a reader’s guide or conduct in-depth research.
19. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
This is a superb work of feminist writing that demonstrates the crippling effects of Victorian-era societal structures on women. This is demonstrated as Edna, the main character, comes to terms with the fact that she has personal preferences, likes to be autonomous, and is unable to express herself as she would like.
20. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a timeless book with a lot of subtleties. You will be able to picture each of the female characters and their lifestyles in great detail as you read. Everyone should read this literary masterpiece at least once. Its popularity has led to Broadway musicals, TV adaptations, films, and more for a reason.
21. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Though Pride and Prejudice is arguably the most notable of her novels, all of them are worth reading (disregard the fact that they all conclude with a female character finding a husband, as they teach us much more than that). In order to find happiness, Lizzie in this beloved novel must learn to let go of her own preconceived notions about people she doesn’t really know.
22. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The female-driven narrative of Sylvia Plath has an enduring impact. The main character, Esther Greenwood, has a serious case of depression. There are many assumptions and preconceived ideas about what should and shouldn’t be in her coming-of-age story. You can’t help but identify with Esther’s uncertainty.
23. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
In addition to an exciting mystery, readers of this book are confronted with the terrifying insight that everyone has a secret existence and a dark side. When Dr. Jekyll reveals that he is the violent, gory Mr. Hyde, we are compelled to face our inner demons and make the decision to give in to them.
24. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner, narrates F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterpiece. He spends the summer in the East and falls head over heels for Jay Gatsby, a mystery millionaire. Gatsby is a self-made success story that examines how the American ideal is destroyed while also serving as a symbol of it.
25. 1984 by George Orwell
There is more to “Big Brother” than merely a reality program. You will see why it is a force to be dreaded in Orwell’s outstanding work. 1984 is a must-read because it will make you think more deeply about political authority and technological advancements than you may now realize.
26. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This work is exquisitely written and delves into concepts of class and race. The narrative, which takes place in the 1930s deep South, shows how bigoted the world can be. This book will genuinely open your eyes by making you think about life from other people’s perspectives.
27. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter tackles difficult subjects like sin, guilt, and legalism that become clearer to us as we become older. The protagonist, Hester Prynne, confronts her faults as she attempts to raise an illegitimate child. This book examines the unfair logic of Puritan legalism as well as the destructive power of shame and guilt.
28. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
A literary masterpiece, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was fully published in 1818. The dark and melancholy sides of humanity are examined in the gothic story. Readers are drawn in by the interactions between the story’s two central protagonists, Victor Frankenstein, and the creature he creates. Tragedies and their effects are the subject of this tale.
29. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Woolf is probably one of the most well-known female writers in literary history. One day serves as the basis for the entire book. Throughout the book, a number of characters are introduced and thereafter make frequent appearances. Their memories, experiences, and thoughts are disorganized, so to speak.
30. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This novel is truly a work of art, it is the quintessential crime novel, with not only an intriguing plot, where every chapter builds upon the previous but also an incredibly well-realized environment and characters, which we could not help but sympathize with the protagonist in his struggle with his inner demons and his desperate grapple to keep up appearances of normalcy and innocence as he grows more weary and disheveled by the day.
