Review of Penguin’s 100 Must Read Classics
The Penguin 100 Must-Read Classics is a great collection of some of the most influential and memorable American classics in literary history. For this section of my blog, I’ll be reading through the list and sharing my honest thoughts, ratings, and favorite parts from each book. I’m excited to discover new classics, revisit some familiar favorites, and see which books truly stand out to me. While these books are considered must-reads, I’ll be sharing my own opinions on whether they live up to that title and deserve a place on my personal must-read list.
#1 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Review:
Oh, how I love this book! I completely agree with the ranking of Pride and Prejudice. This was one of the first classics I ever read, and I still love it to this day. I think Pride and Prejudice is a great classic to start with because the writing is accessible while still being beautifully written, and the plot is simply amazing.
The book is witty, clever, and incredibly enjoyable. Austen excels at writing a story about women and for women, while also addressing the injustices women faced during the 1800s. She has a unique ability to take serious issues and turn them into comedy without taking away from their importance. I simply love her writing and the characters she creates.
If you have not read Pride and Prejudice, you are truly missing out! It is an incredible story about love, women’s rights, social expectations, obligation, and family. It is the perfect classic to start with and a wonderful introduction to the world of beautiful literature.
#3 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Review:
My all-time favorite book, The Great Gatsby, is one of the greatest American classics of all time. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart. F. Scott Fitzgerald is an incredible writer who completely transports the reader into 1920s New York. The Great Gatsby absolutely deserves its place on this list as one of the classics you should read in your lifetime.
The Great Gatsby tells the epic love story of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The characters are so memorable and beautifully written, with layers of symbolism woven throughout the story that elevate it even further. Fitzgerald’s writing is truly one of a kind—it feels like a work of art. Jay Gatsby is one of the most memorable characters I have ever read, and he will always hold a special place in my heart. Fitzgerald has a way of creating complex and fascinating characters that you can love, hate, and want to scream at all at the same time.
So, this is my not-so-subtle way of telling you that you have to read this book. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish it, and I truly believe it can change the way you see literature. I know it has changed mine.
#6 In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Review:
I believe this book deserves a place in the top 100 American classics you should read in your lifetime, but I don’t necessarily agree with how highly it is ranked. There are so many incredible works of fiction that I would probably rank higher than this book.
In Cold Blood is one of the most iconic true-crime novels of the century. Truman Capote tells the story almost as though it were fiction, blending the facts of the case with incredibly detailed storytelling. The book is beautifully written, both in its language and structure, making it easy to forget that you are reading a true story rather than a work of literary fiction.
While it is not my favorite American classic, I definitely think it is a book everyone should read at some point in their lifetime. It is an important piece of American literature and a classic that should not be missed.
#13 The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Review:
The Secret History is one of those books that completely pulls you into its world. Donna Tartt has an incredible ability to create an atmosphere that feels mysterious, beautiful, and slightly unsettling all at once. From the very beginning, you know something terrible has happened, but the way Tartt slowly reveals the events leading up to it makes you want to keep reading.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the characters. They are complicated, flawed, and sometimes incredibly frustrating, but that is what makes them so fascinating. Tartt does an amazing job of exploring how friendships, obsession, privilege, and the desire to belong can influence the choices people make. The characters are not simply good or bad—they are much more complicated than that, which makes the story even more compelling.
I would recommend The Secret History to anyone who loves dark academia, psychological fiction, mystery, or books centered around complicated friendships. It is a long book, but Tartt’s writing and the atmosphere she creates make it completely worth the read. This is definitely a book that stays in your mind long after you finish it.
#25 1984 by George Orwell
Review:
Personally, I was not particularly fond of 1984. I struggled with the portrayal of some of the women in the novel and, overall, I did not connect with the writing style. That being said, I still believe 1984 is an important book to read and understand. While I would not rank it among my personal favorites, I can understand why it has become such an influential and controversial work of literature.
1984 is a dystopian novel that explores government control, surveillance, propaganda, censorship, and the manipulation of truth. Orwell pushes the boundaries of what we expect from literature and asks difficult questions about society and political power. Much like Animal Farm, the novel challenges readers to think critically about government, authority, and the ways power can be used to control people.
Even though the book was not a personal favorite of mine, I appreciate how bold and provocative it is. Orwell raises questions that stay with you long after you finish reading, particularly about how much control a government should have over its citizens and what happens when people lose the ability to think and speak freely.
Overall, I think 1984 is a book everyone should read at least once, especially readers interested in government, society, politics, and dystopian literature. While I did not personally love the novel, I can understand why it has had such a lasting impact on literature and popular culture.
#26 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger
Review:
We have another very controversial book—people seem to either love it or hate it. I read this book many years ago, and I would love to reread it now to see if my opinion has changed. I remember not loving the novel the first time around. I found myself confused and struggled to fully grasp what the story was trying to say. I actually ended up looking for a detailed summary to help me understand it. Afterward, I really appreciated the message behind the novel; I was just disappointed by the execution.
Although the book was not a personal favorite of mine, I think it explores important themes such as mental health, grief, loneliness, loss of innocence, and growing up. Many of these topics were not discussed as openly when the book was written, which makes the novel particularly interesting to revisit today.
Regardless of whether you love or hate The Catcher in the Rye, I believe it is an important book to read and discuss. Like art, literature is subjective—what I might love, you might hate, and vice versa. I think that is part of what makes reading so interesting. Not every book has to be a favorite to be meaningful or worth discussing.
#50 East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Review:
What a beautifully written book! If I had to be critical, I would argue that this book deserves to be even higher on the list. This was the first book I read by Steinbeck, and it was absolutely beautiful.
I loved the storyline and being able to follow generations of families throughout the years. Steinbeck is easily one of the best writers I have ever read. He could be describing something as ordinary as rotting food, and somehow I would still find it magical and beautiful. This book is the epitome of an American classic. Steinbeck creates incredibly memorable characters with their own quirks, flaws, and struggles, while giving them such meaningful character development throughout the story. He also explores fascinating questions about good and evil, free will, and whether we have the ability to choose who we become.
Seriously, everyone needs to read this book. You will fall in love with Steinbeck’s writing and immediately want to read all of his other novels—because I know I do!
#95 Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Review:
Wow, what a heartbreaking book. This was the first book I read by James Baldwin, and I immediately fell in love with his writing style. It is such a beautiful and painful story about love and the consequences of fighting against it.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I genuinely had no idea how the story was going to end, which kept me completely invested. The characters were magnificent precisely because they were anything but perfect. They were flawed, complicated, and deeply human. Baldwin’s exploration of love is truly magical, especially the way he shows how denying or fighting against your feelings can ultimately tear you apart. His writing is exquisite, and I was drawn into the story from the very first sentence.
I definitely agree that this is an American classic that everyone should read, especially anyone who loves a heartbreaking and beautifully written story about love, identity, and the consequences of denying who you are.
#99 White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Review:
Another tragic but beautiful love story! This was the first book I read by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and I absolutely loved it. The writing is incredible, which, from everything I had heard about Dostoevsky, came as no surprise. I’ve often heard that White Nights is a great place to start if you want to get into Dostoevsky because it is short and gives you a chance to see whether his writing style is for you.
That being said, I found the idea behind the novel both heartbreaking and beautiful. I especially loved the concept of having the main character known simply as “the Dreamer.” I thought it was such a creative choice and fit perfectly with the themes of the story. The overall message of White Nights also really resonated with me: even brief experiences can be incredibly meaningful and have a lasting impact, whether it is a relationship, a friendship, a job, or a particular moment in your life.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in getting into Dostoevsky but who doesn’t want to start with an intimidatingly long or difficult read. White Nights is a beautiful introduction to his writing and a story that will stay with you long after you finish it.
I’ll continue to update this review as I make my way through the Penguin 100 Must-Read Classics, adding new reviews as I finish more books from the list.