Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Pair with Classics

~ Holly

Happy Tuesday!! August is coming to a close, which means it’s time to start thinking about going back to school. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is back-to-school themed, which means I’ve decided to focus on classic literature. Classics definitely get a bad reputation from required reading lists in classrooms; however, I think looking at parallels between classic and contemporary literature help demonstrates how books from the past influence what we read and write in the present. Here are ten classic couples to check out!

I’m thinking of starting a series of posts in which I go into more detail about some of these pairs. There are so many parallels between classic and contemporary literature!

What books would you pair with some of your favorite classics? What do you think of the books that I’ve mentioned? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

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50 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Pair with Classics”

  1. Some very interesting pairings here! As much as I didn’t enjoy either of the books in the first pair, I definitely agree with the pairing (I think I read them back to back?!) A very interesting list!

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    1. Reading them back to back would be so interesting! I was probably the only one in my freshman year English class in high school who didn’t hate Holden Caulfield haha

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  3. This is a very cool idea! I haven’t read any of the classics you listed except for The Catcher in the Rye but I really like that you paired it with The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It’s perfect!

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      1. I’m interested in all but particularly these:
        Woman in White- Gone Girl (I see some broad parallels but I’m interested in your reasoning)
        Jane Eyre- Jellicoe Road
        Portrait of Dorian Gray- The Goldfinch

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  7. Need to add many of these to the reading list! The only pair i have read is great expectations and a prayer for owen meany. I have little recollection of the dickens novel (time to read it again i guess!) owen meany left an impression. I remember gravestones carved from granite and a somewhat dislikable title character. I also liked Catcher in the Rye and 1984 is an all-time favorite. I look forward to trying out the others including Willa Cather whom ive never read!

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    1. A Prayer for Owen Meany is so fantastic! Also, I’m excited that you’re looking forward to reading Willa Cather’s works (she’s one of my favorite authors!). If you’re looking for a place to start, I highly recommend My Antonia, The Song of the Lark, or O Pioneers!

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  9. My computer is argumentative at times so the only photos that loaded were the first pairing & I have to say yess! Two of my favorites! I don’t know why people dislike the classics so much, I’ve always loved the reading we list we had in my AP English classes in school. Of course, I honestly wasn’t a big fan of Nathanial Hawthorne but other than that, I loved all the ones that I’ve read. I still read them to this day. ❤ ❤ Genius post!

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    1. I’m the same way– I’ve always loved reading classics in school! Sometime I find that it’s not the classics that people necessarily dislike; rather, they just don’t like being forced to read something. Whatever the reason, I wish that classics didn’t have such a negative reputation! ❤

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      1. I agree! We had a reading list and that was how I discovered some of my favorite books, like The Handmaid’s Tale. I read it when I was 18 & it opened my eyes to a lot of issues for women. I started rereading it when I saw Hulu started a show based from it.

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  13. This is SUCH a unique post for TTT!! Interesting choice to pair 1984 with Illimunae! I can certainly see the comparison with the ever watchful Big Brother and AIDAN – although the intentions are quite different. I’m definitely wanting to pick up both books in your first pairing!

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  15. I could NOT for the life of me get into 1984, so maybe I should try the Illuminae files. I’ve been debating whether to start them or not. Also happy to see On the Jellicoe Road on here as it is excellent reading!

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    1. Illuminae is SO suspenseful and gripping– I couldn’t put it down! Also, I’m so glad you’re also a fan of Jellicoe Road ❤ It's one of my favorite books.

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  16. Love this post, Holly! Very original. Some choices were obvious (Charlie really is the modern day Holden) but some were very surprising and interesting. I haven’t read all of the books on here so I would’ve liked to read a little bit of your reasoning behind your pairings. Great post, though!

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  21. Pingback: Blogger Recognition Award – Comma Hangover
  22. Pingback: A Classic Couple: Robinson Crusoe and The Martian | Nut Free Nerd
  23. Pingback: A Classic Couple: 1984 and Illuminae | Nut Free Nerd

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