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Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Pair with Classics

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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holly

54 responses to “Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Pair with Classics”

  1. bookmuffin Avatar
    bookmuffin

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      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

      Like

      Reply
      1. bookmuffin Avatar
        bookmuffin

        Yeah I can’t say I was a massive fan of his character unfortunately, but my friend loves CiTR! I think it’s a love it or hate it book!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Zuky the BookBum Avatar
    Zuky the BookBum

    Great idea for this weeks TTT. I’m not a classics kind of girl, so this is great for me 😀 I couldn’t think of anything to do for this weeks topic so I’m skipping it this week!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks!! I’m glad you found it helpful! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Nika Avatar
    Nika

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks!! I couldn’t help but think of Catcher when I read Perks… even the movie reminded me of it a little!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. FranL Avatar
    FranL

    Great Idea! I’d be very interested regarding your reasoning on some of them. For some it’s clear but others I was sort of curious as to why you chose certain books!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      I’ll definitely make future posts about it, then! 🙂 Which ones would you be most interested in?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. FranL Avatar
        FranL

        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

        Liked by 1 person

  5. coffeelovingbookoholic Avatar
    coffeelovingbookoholic

    wow, this is a really interesting post! i have read some of the classics and some of the contemporaries, but the only pairing i read is “the catcher in the rye” and “the perks of being a wallflower”, which fits pretty good! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thank you!! 🙂 I think that Charlie and Holden would be fast friends!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. coffeelovingbookoholic Avatar
        coffeelovingbookoholic

        yeah, i can imagine that too! 🙂

        Like

  6. Naty Avatar
    Naty

    This is a wonderfully creative post! Loved it!! I guess with 1984 one could pair basically most sci-fi and dystopia nowadays… such an influential work.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks so much! You’re so right about 1984– it’s such an iconic classic novel that has influenced countless books over the years.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. 4963andypop Avatar
    4963andypop

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      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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  8. hitandrun1964 Avatar
    hitandrun1964

    Great idea.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thank you!!

      Like

      Reply
  9. Casey Elizabeth Dennis Avatar
    Casey Elizabeth Dennis

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      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! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Casey Elizabeth Dennis Avatar
        Casey Elizabeth Dennis

        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.

        Like

      2. Casey Elizabeth Dennis Avatar
        Casey Elizabeth Dennis

        I do think you are right, it had a lot to do with being forced to read a book.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. wordswithbri Avatar
    wordswithbri

    I love this! If you end up starting the series of posts I would love to read them. I never would have thought of pairing Great Expectations and A Prayer for Owen Meany together, that’s really interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      I’m so glad you’re looking forward to future posts! I’ll definitely be writing them soon 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. stslusher Avatar
    stslusher

    Love these pairings!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks!!

      Like

      Reply
  12. Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel Avatar
    Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel

    I definitely think you should do more posts with the pairing. I am super curious about reading Illuminae now because 1984 was a favourite book of mine

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      I’m so glad to hear that! I’ll definitely be writing more posts soon! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  13. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks so much!! I feel like there are elements of 1984 in so many books these days. It has really shaped literature!!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Bridget Avatar
        Bridget

        1984 was definitely a trailblazer – Such an awesome book!

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Astilbe Avatar
    Astilbe

    I agree with you, Bridget. What a neat spin on this week’s topic.

    A Prayer for Owen Meany and Great Expectations would go very well together indeed.

    Here is our TTT

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks so much!!

      Like

      Reply
  15. KliScruggs Avatar
    KliScruggs

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      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.

      Like

      Reply
      1. KliScruggs Avatar
        KliScruggs

        Ooooh, I might definitely have to read it now!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks so much!! I’ll definitely be writing more posts about this soon! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. thebookcorps Avatar
    thebookcorps

    Oh wow great choices!! I totally agree, especially with the catcher in the rye and perks 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks so much! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. camilleareads Avatar
    camilleareads

    Such a cool post! For someone who enjoys reading classics A LOT, this helps with making contemporary picks. For me, it’s Jellicoe Road 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thank you!! I absolutely LOVE Jellicoe Road. ❤ It's one of my all-time favorite books!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. emmareadstoomuch Avatar
    emmareadstoomuch

    AN AMAZING AND GAME-CHANGING POST.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      THANK YOU!! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Hermione Montrose & Clara Oswald Avatar
    Hermione Montrose & Clara Oswald

    Okay, I think I’m going to HAVE to read Jellicoe Road now, since you’ve recommended it so many times AND compared it to Jane Eyre! Fantastic post–you should definitely explain a couple of these further.
    ~Hermione

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      YES. Let me know what you think of Jellicoe Road ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
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About ME //

i’m holly — former english major, current twenty-something book lover, allergic to nuts. drop me a line at nutfreenerd@gmail.com or on instagram.

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