5 Classics to Read in 2016

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As much as I love to binge on a juicy Netflix show or docu-series (Making a Murderer, anyone?), I truly love to indulge in pages and pages of books. But, I don't read enough. Blame a busy schedule or a misaligned priority list. Regardless of the reason I don't get in the reading time that I should, I have made it priority (Not resolution. I don't do those.) to read more books this year.

We all should read more. Reading has been linked to reducing your risk for Alzheimer's and dementia, reducing stress, expanding your vocabulary, improve your memory, and improve your focus, among other benefits. Source.

And sometimes, it's good to get back to the basics. In a world of constant innovation and the need for "newness", getting back to literary roots can be refreshing. Timeless fiction and non-fiction, these works are classics for a reason.

These five books are on my list to read in 2016. What would you add?

Five Classics to Read in 2016

1. The Count of Monte Cristo

Lengthy, but worth it - so I'm told. Alexandre Dumas writes an epic story of revenge and rising above challenges.

2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Betty Smith's coming-of-age story is about a second generation Irish-American girl and her family, living in 20th Century Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

3. The Bell Jar

Written by Sylvia Path, this semi-autobiographical classic parallels some of the author's experiences with mental illness and depression.

4. The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger's novel is laced with themes like adolescence angst and rebellion. A heavy book, this classic is a commentary on identity, belonging, loss and connection.

5. Of Mice and Men

A powerful story about friendship, John Steinbeck's novel is set in the Great Depression and follows two ranchers who are simply finding their place in the world.

Classics that I would technically add to this list, but I've read already:

  • The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  • To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Lord of the Flies by William Goulding

XO | britt

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