12 Must-Read Modern Classics - Essential Books for Every Reader

[@mame-musing]

Over the course of many years I’ve read 9 of the books on your list. Your concise synopses are very helpful. I remember being impressed at how vivid Richard Yates’ descriptions and character development were in “Revolutionary Road”. It’s too bad he wasn’t able to be more prolific. I look forward to reading “Stoner” in 2023. Best wishes for a Happy and Healthful 2023!

[@JuanReads]

Thanks, Mary! I hope you enjoy reading Stoner this year. It is such a great novel. What are the other novels you have read on my list? Best wishes for 2023!

[@mame-musing]

It’s many years since I read most of them. “The Talented Mr Ripley” was most recently read 2yrs ago - I’m glad I had not seen the movie, it would have been a major spoiler. The others are; Fahrenheit 451, On the Road, The Bell Jar, The Catcher in the Rye, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and The Wide Sargasso Sea. (On the Road, I didn’t like very much.)

[@JuanReads]

@@mame-musing Nice! On the Road is one of the most divisive novels on my list, but many people love it and it sure is worth reading.

[@Arven8]

Ah! Thank you! I was trying to remember the name of the author and book I read years ago. The in-depth psychological portraits of the husband and wife impressed me (and I'm a psychologist), but I had forgotten the author and title. Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road. That was it! Thanks. I'll have to look for more by him. ... I also recently finished Stoner. Great book. Another great psychological portrait. With both Stoner and Revolutionary Road, my initial impression was that I would not be interested in the subject matter or characters, but I ended up loving both books. ... As for the others on the list, I read Fahrenheit 451 when I was a teenager, back when I was into science fiction (I still read some). I liked it. It fits well with Brave New World and 1984 -- books about the dangers of authoritarianism. I tried to read Catcher in the Rye but couldn't get into it, for some reason (maybe because I'm too old to relate to a coming of age story?). I read The Bell Jar, and it was fine but nothing that stayed with me (as a psychologist, I've heard from a lot of depressed women, so nothing she said surprised me). I would like to read On the Road. I haven't gotten around to that one yet.

[@ThePortlyRaven]

Great list! Stoner is indeed a special book.

[@cindyjvera]

Great list, Juan! Wonderful video.

[@JuanReads]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@w.claytonrowe5391]

Juan, thanks for this list. I just completed Stoner and agree whole-heartedly with your opinions here. Looking forward to reading others from the list

[@JuanReads]

Thanks for watching and commenting! So many people love Stoner. And deservedly so! I hope you enjoy reading some of the other books on my list of recommendations.

[@browngirlreading]

I read lots of classics last year but I've only read 4 books on your list. Hopefully I'll get to more of them this year. Thanks for this great video Juan!

[@JuanReads]

Thanks for watching! What are the 4 books on the list you've already read, Didi?

[@browngirlreading]

@@JuanReads The Catcher in the Rye, The Bell Jar, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Things Fall Apart. I read the first 3 when I was much younger.

[@JuanReads]

@@browngirlreading Great four novels. I also read The Catcher in the Rye when I was much younger, although I have reread it since. I think you'd enjoy most of the other novels on my list :)

[@browngirlreading]

@@JuanReads Not so sure about On the Road.

[@JuanReads]

@@browngirlreading Probably not!

[@deirdre108]

I've read most of these and have a suggestion for a novel that is better than any on the list and that is Anthony Burgess's "Earthly Powers". EP is one of the great works of the 20th century and very much underappreciated.

[@AprendizdeLeitor]

Li somente 4 desta tua lista de 12, ainda há muito a conhecer 😁 Abraço e boas leituras, Juan!

[@JuanReads]

Quais 4 leste, Hugo?

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Great list! I'm happy to say I've actually read most of these, lol. :D I think On the Road was the only one I really didn't like, even though I can concede that it's important. I really need to read Revolutionary Road though...

[@JuanReads]

Thanks! I feel like I need to re-read Revolutionary Road.

[@stephaneb1090]

Obrigado Juan por este vídeo tao bem comentado 👍Desejo te um ano muito feliz 😉😃

[@JuanReads]

Que bom que gostaste do vídeo! Muito obrigado pelos desejos. Espero que 2023 seja muito feliz para ti também!

[@jonharrison9222]

Go Set A Watchman was an abandoned draft published by morally dubious means that tarnished Lee’s reputation.