Breaking someone into great literature

[Darcy88]

There's this person I just met who reads in much of her spare time, really loves reading, but, having only a few months ago turned 19, she still reads young adult fiction, continuing with the new books of the series she's been reading for years. I want to suggest a few books to her, lend her them if I have them, that are great literature, "classics." What books would you all suggest as ones it would be good for such a person to start off with? I am thinking mostly about novels, since I already know what poetry to bring up.

I thought of Pride and Prejudice and 100 Years of Solitude, mostly for their readability but also for their status. There are a couple more recent Canadian authors - Michael Ondaatje and Alice Munroe - I'm thinking of too. And for some reason I want to recommend to her Ovid, because The Metamorphoses was one of the first great books I read and I found it highly entertaining and story-driven. Lawrence and Conrad and Dostoevsky are three of my favourite novelists but they don't seem right for her at this stage. I did not appreciate them when I was that young.

They don't have to be "easy" books, but as plot-centered as the books she now reads are I want books that are of the kind that you can enjoy them as a romp, as mere entertainment, not necessarily as philosophical and profound. I also don't want them to be daunting vocabulary-wise, nothing too verbose.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm actually having a lot of difficulty thinking of great books that wouldn't be too great a shock to someone used to books about cliched young lovers and vampires.

[Charles Darnay]

I think P&P is a good place to start, it is plot-driven and it has quite a few thematic developments that later slipped into YA novels.

Depending on the type of person she is, Picture of Dorian Gray might be a good choice. It is short, not difficult in regards to vocab, and plot driven.

[Dark Muse]

I think that Austin would be a good choice, also I would recommend the Bronte's, particularly Jane Eyre would be a good one to start with. I am currently reading Dangerous Liaisons which I think might be a good fit. It is easy reading, entertaining, and lots of romantic entanglements, maybe Vanity Faire.

[Jair]

Les Mis? Count of Monte Cristo?

[ChicagoReader]

You might consider starting her off with some more recent literary fiction, I think it would lead nicely from YA books. I immediately thought of The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which is a good book with a young, fresh vibe to it that I think would work well. As for classics, The Great Gatsby seems to work with young people, I liked it when I first read it at 16.

[Calidore]

Les Mis? Count of Monte Cristo?

I was going to suggest Monte Cristo myself. Everyone likes it, and it was written as entertainment, originally appearing as a newspaper serial (as did lots (most?) of Dumas' work).

If you don't mind my asking, who is she to you that you feel the need to upgrade her reading? That might help people make suggestions.

[Darcy88]

All the suggestions thus far have been fabulous. Thanks everyone. Austen, Dumas, Wilde, Fitzgerald and the others mentioned all sound fitting.

I was going to suggest Monte Cristo myself. Everyone likes it, and it was written as entertainment, originally appearing as a newspaper serial (as did lots (most?) of Dumas' work).

If you don't mind my asking, who is she to you that you feel the need to upgrade her reading? That might help people make suggestions.

Calidore.... I didn't think of Dumas but now realize I ought to have thought of him first. I read some of 3 Musketeers a few years back and it was very entertaining. She's this girl I asked out a few days ago, our first "date" we talked endlessly for like 8 hours in a cafe and out walking and have spent all the time we're both not working since then together. She is really into reading, she loves hearing me talk about books, and it seems anyone I become acquainted with who shows a spark of interest for literature I always lend them some paperback copies of my favourite books. But considering that she's not used to reading classic literature I want to exercise a little deliberation in what titles I recommend. She has read a fair bit of Shakespeare, but as for the greats that's about it.

[Pierre Menard]

Dumas is a good intro, especially with a young adult fiction background.


Twain and Camus were two others that got me started on the path of classic lit. A little more modern, easy enough style, and plenty of substance - Twain more so with humour, Camus with the serious stuff.

Alice In Wonderland is another goodun'. Great use of language and style, excellent wit and humour and endearing characters.

A slightly left of field one is Voltaire (trans. Donald Frame). Probably more than all the others got me interested in more serious lit. There's a number of good collections of his short stories/parables that are a joy to read.

A couple others:

Lolita
Sorrows of Young Werther
A Clockwork Orange

[Darcy88]

Dumas is a good intro, especially with a young adult fiction background.


Twain and Camus were two others that got me started on the path of classic lit. A little more modern, easy enough style, and plenty of substance - Twain more so with humour, Camus with the serious stuff.

Alice In Wonderland is another goodun'. Great use of language and style, excellent wit and humour and endearing characters.

A slightly left of field one is Voltaire (trans. Donald Frame). Probably more than all the others got me interested in more serious lit. There's a number of good collections of his short stories/parables that are a joy to read.

A couple others:

Lolita
Sorrows of Young Werther
A Clockwork Orange

You really think Camus would be good eh? Its funny because just this morning she read the back of my copy of L'estranger. Voltaire and Twain! Totally. Why didn't I think of them? Candide would be perfect.

[Pierre Menard]

You really think Camus would be good eh? Its funny because just this morning she read the back of my copy of L'estranger. Voltaire and Twain! Totally. Why didn't I think of them? Candide would be perfect.

Maybe not his non-fiction, and probably not The Fall. But The Stranger and The Plague I think could be worthwhile.

But yes, I heartily agree with Candide! It's short as well, so it shouldn't take her too long to read.

Despite having not read much Oscar Wilde, I might throw my support behind the other posters' recommendation. I've read a few of his short stories and it's apparent that he's got that really good balance between wit and pathos, and a style that flows beautifully. She'd be unlikely to get bogged down and such.

[Haunted]

someone used to books about cliched young lovers and vampires.

Wuthering Heights

Tess of D'berville

Jane Eyre

[Harold251]

I think that Austin would be a good choice

[AlysonofBathe]

If you're looking into Canadian authors, I'd also suggest some Margaret Atwood or Mordecai Richler.

Cheers,
Alyson

[loe]

How about "Gulliver's Travels" or "Don Quixote"?

And when someone is interested in vampires then "Dracula" would be worthy to read (if she doesn't already know it).

I absolutely agree with the recommendation of "The Picture of Dorian Grey" and I would like to add "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" and "Frankenstein".

I wouldn't recommend 100 Years of Solitude. I remember it as a rather long-winded experience.

Here in german-speaking countries Herman Hesse and Max Frisch are very popular among young people. I am not sure how famous they are outside Europe?

[Calidore]

She's this girl I asked out a few days ago, our first "date" we talked endlessly for like 8 hours in a cafe and out walking and have spent all the time we're both not working since then together. She is really into reading, she loves hearing me talk about books, and it seems anyone I become acquainted with who shows a spark of interest for literature I always lend them some paperback copies of my favourite books. But considering that she's not used to reading classic literature I want to exercise a little deliberation in what titles I recommend. She has read a fair bit of Shakespeare, but as for the greats that's about it.

Well, congratulations.

Couple more thoughts and suggestions, if you'll forgive the liberty:

1) Make sure she feels free to drop something she ends up hating, rather than forcing herself to finish it just to please you.

2) Allow her to make recommendations to you also. I've been supplying a friend's kid with books for years, and found some YA stuff that I liked a lot as well. Give and take is important.

I would also submit, since this is a dating situation, that Pierre's suggestion of Lolita could be seen as unsubtle.