10 classics I want to read in 2024

What makes something a “classic”? How old does it have to be? How much a part of the canon? And which/whose canon are we talking about anyway? Here are ten books I’m calling classics, and that I’d like to read in 2024.
I’m a little late to this train, but so be it — there are still eleven months left in the year to get to these…

Books:
Paradise Lost by John Milton (1667)
Le Rouge et le Noir by Stendhal (1830)
I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki (1905)
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (1905)
Antigone by Jean Anouilh (1944)
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)
Another Country by James Baldwin (1962)
The Promised Land by Grace Ogot (1966)
Une si longue lettre (So Long a Letter) by Mariama Bâ (1980)
The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa (1982)

People:
@yenasung
@RoisinsReading

Socials:
StoryGraph: @sdelphis

[beabaptistaa]

Bea from Portugal here !!! I’m so happy seeing people from other countries reading Fernando Pessoa, I really hope you’ll like it 🥰 not sure if you would consider it a “””classic””” but I also recomend Blindness by José Saramago who won a nobel prize. Happy readings to everyone 😘🫶🏻

[glossy]

Great list! Can't wait to listen to you talking about them :) This year I finished "I am a cat" and it was a delight. My boyfriend gifted it to me just because of the title basically :D I've never heard about it before and then I saw it on your shelf :D I really liked it, it was more than I expected it to be. Excellent portrayal of Japanese society of the time and a cat in a role of an omniscient narrator was such a fun idea, and I believe novel for that time. I recommend reading all 3 volumes because chapters differ a bit, some are more dialogue heavy, some are more a philosophical reflections. Wish you a great reading year!

[alattemorning]

Oh my goodness Edith Wharton's books are just fantastic, I'm excited for you!!

[claaaaaara]

your outfit should be a classic!!!! It's beautiful!!! LOVED it!! And it *blended* and *harmonizes* so well with you hair!! Congratulations and thank you!
Now talking about books, if you ever want to fight about classics, I recommend the introduction of Calvino's Why read the classics (translating from my mind, maybe it's a bit different in English).
Also when you read The book of disquiet, try to find someone reading out loud in Portuguese from Portugal. Pessoa's poetry sounds really beautiful in the original, I think you'll like it. And spoiler (if that's such a thing for poetry), it's quite melancholic (but I must say that I think that for all Portuguese classics)

[jameskatie]

ugh, the hair looks so good.
i love seeing lists of classics!! definitely keen to read more wharton, she is such a brilliant writer. i read custom of the country in 2022 and it was SO GOOD. that james baldwin sounds perfect, i'll be popping that on my list. x

[hollyc]

Great list! I also gravitated towards East of Eden and I’m about 100 pages from the end. It is excellent! Can’t wait to see your thoughts.

[juju.ukrainiangirl]

So long a letter sounds very intriguing! First time im hearing about this book, thanks. Hope the year will turn out great!🌸

[hanaarizk]

Indeed, beef usually prods it's head when the conversation of classics comes about, but you did so well. Great list! Been wanting to get into the book of disquiet for quite some time, hoping to get around to it this year. Definitely will if it ends up a bookclub pick!

[paperbackstacksss]

Love the variety in this video! House of Mirth is also on my 'classics to tackle in 2024' list 😊

[Literatiloves]

Oh my gosh, your hair is beautiful - I love the color! Super interesting list. I would like to read Baldwin this year and more Edith Wharton. I read Ethan Frome last year and it was bleak but really good. I’ve never seen anyone else on booktube mention I Am a Cat. I have picked it up so many times at the bookstore and always end up getting something else but maybe this year is finally the time. Hope you have a great reading year!

[s.h.]

2024 is the year I read the big classics on my TBR so i was excited to see your picks! Le rouge et le noir is also on my list, I'll try to read it and I'll keep an eye out for your review if you get around to it too!

[katsfieldnotes]

Hoping I can get my life together and follow along with that East of Eden buddy read you and Roisin are doing! If not, at leat Ill know I can tap into that conversation down the road. But excited for our lil Morrison buddy read (I snuck a few pages the other day and had to self-talk to put it down. It was Another under the radar classic, maybeeee

[wicebittten]

i'm also reading the book of disquiet this year! one of the few books i'm bringing along on a semester abroad in italy. I've read a few bits and pieces and have loved what i've read-- clever, poetic, diary-type revelations.

[ivanainthecity]

I am digging your fit! 😊 I appreciate u putting these in chronological order 😂 idk why, just makes sense! I’m so curious to follow along as u read/discuss these on your channel 👀! And I also wanna read Another Country!

[erica]

Great selections! I’m also hoping to get to some of these books these year.

[rebareads]

Inspired to prioritize some classics that have been sitting and waiting on my TBR!
Also, LOVING your hair 💕

[kiranreader]

i love this!! the classic i know i want to read in 2024 is the waves

[poetrybysuhashani__]

one of my reading goals is to read more classics - helpful video ✨

[nathansnook]

YES! pls read The Hearing Test! a meditative, quiet banger!

EEP ALSO STOKED FOR THE NEW CUSK !!!

[RoisinsReading]

Good luck with the Milton! Have you read Dante? Looking forward to talking East of Eden with you (still working through it)