Older books more people should read. Hmm. Well, the obvious choice for this is less popular classics, but I’m not really one for classics. I’ve loved a few, but I’ve also given up on many more. So I’m going to try to select a few books that have been around for a while, but that I absolutely love. Ones that I don’t think are completely unknown, but neither are they required reading in schools or available in the hundreds in every public library system.
All three of these books are favourites of mine. Helene Hanff is best known for her epistolary book 84, Charing Cross Road, but I actually prefer this memoir. It’s more in depth, and really lets the reader get to know Hanff. I adore her wit and acerbic humour, I love her devotion to her particular taste in books and the relationships that developed because of that devotion. The Uncommon Reader is a fictional story about a Queen who becomes hooked on reading after borrowing a few books from a mobile library near the palace and reading them out of a sense of duty. It’s hilarious but also so whimsical and full of book love that every reader will enjoy it. It’s also super short. And finally, Travels with My Aunt. I don’t think this is Graham Greene’s best known book, but it’s the one I’ve read a few times and it has the dry British humour I so love, along with some crazy adventures helmed by an eccentric octogenarian. It’s such a fun romp and full of so many unexpected twists and turns.
What about you guys? Which older books do you think should be more widely read? Have you read any of my picks?
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I love eccentric octogenarian aunts!
Haha me too! You might like Aunt Augusta (Travels with My Aunt) then…
I think Uncommon Reader is so funny. I’ve read it twice and like it best the second time.
Likewise! I’ve read it twice – I can’t say gir sure whichv I liked more as they were do far apart, but I do know my most recent read was a delight and won’t be the last!
Those all sounds like very interesting suggestions. I’m not familiar with any of them, though I have read some Graham Greene.
I’ve tried to read other Graham Greene books and none of them have worked for me. But this one is an all time favourite – so unexpected and hilarious and edgy for its time. If you’re a fan (or if you’re not) I’d definitely recommend it!
Good choices.
Thanks!
I’ve not read any of those but they do sound interesting.
If they sound like your cup of tea I’d definitely recommend – but can also see they might not be for everyone!