If you've ever been in an English class, you've probably been told by teachers to start reading "books of literary merit", but it can be difficult to get into more complex novels; especially if you don't read regularly already. However, it doesn’t have to be so intimidating; there are plenty of interesting, accessible, and manageable classics to start with! If you're looking to prepare yourself for AP English later on, or just want to elevate your reading, then here are some helpful tips and recommendations on how to start reading more books of literary merit.
Pick Something Recent
While most people's minds go to classic novels written over a hundred years ago when they think of literary merit in books, there are countless deep, thought-provoking works being written today. Going for highly regarded recent books has the benefit of avoiding the dense, archaic language of old. Looking online for books written within the past 50 years that are considered modern classics isn't difficult, but to start you off here are a few of my personal favourites:
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman
Pick Something Short
When looking at classics from the early 20th century or before, you're destined to face dense sentence structure and language that has long since fallen out of fashion. If you're not already used to archaic language or purple prose, these books can feel insurmountable. If they're long, it can feel far more rewarding to give up halfway through than to stick it out until the end. However, if you start out with something short, you can get used to less modern writing styles without feeling like you're running a mental marathon. Some personal favourites a determined reader can finish in a day are:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Pick Something Straightforward
Many beginners in the world of literary merit books start by reaching for the most acclaimed and famous novels. However, these novels are most often extremely complex, dealing with high-level philosophical themes that can feel impossible to make sense of if you’re not used to classic literature. These types of novels are great to explore, but when you’re just starting out, try to get a taste of that style through novels with more digestible themes that challenge your thinking without completely overwhelming you; reading these will prepare you for future analysis of more abstract themes and ideas. Some highly regarded novels that aren’t too abstract include:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
1984 by George Orwell
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Pick a Story That Interests You:
You can pick the most accessible novel in the world and if it doesn't interest you it can still feel like a slog. Particularly when you're just starting to get into reading works of literary merit, picking a genre or premise that excites you is key. As someone who's always been fond of fantasy and horror, I found the works of Stoker or Poe far more interesting than those of more realistic authors when I was first getting into books of literary merit. While I think branching outside of one's favourite genres is good- and maintain that even the most unappealing book can surprise you- for readers just getting into works of literary merit, going for something you're not interested in is a surefire way to sabotage your journey into more thematically complex works.
At first, it can be difficult to start reading books of literary merit: they can be long-winded and boring, with a surplus of antiquated language. However, once you get used to more dense writing styles and ideas in books, it can unlock a world of fascinating works full of clever plots and thought-provoking themes. Hopefully, with these tips to guide you, your journey into reading more complex novels is a little easier.
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