I understand there's been a lot of discourse lately regarding whether you should read classic books, but there's been little to no recommendations for beginners. Not to toot my own horn, but I thought I could help solve this problem. Due to length, I'm going to avoid including my take on the discourse. Below is a list of recommendations. Content warnings are available on StoryGraph.
Recommendations
So, you want to read a classic book but have no idea where to start. I'll start with a list of how to get books for cheap, then I'll recommend some short stories, before finally recommending full books.
Cheap books:
I'd recommend getting a library card first and foremost. This will allow you to not only take home books for free, but to download apps (Libby, Hoopla) that will loan out free ebooks.
If, like me, your local library is inaccessible (nearly all of mine are closed for renovations currently), you can use Thriftbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, Bookoutlet.com, or any other bookseller.
Mass market paperbacks are designed to be cheap, and sellers like Dover Thrift or Signet Classics are incredibly accessible. Puffin Classics are also cheap.
Most classic children's books are cheap. Anne of Green Gables, Aesop's Fables, Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Wind in the Willows, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, Winnie the Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, A Wrinkle in Time, The Call of the Wild, many of these can be easily found and are cheap. Don't stick in this section forever though; these are children's books for a reason. This is a good starting point to get into the habit of reading, but move onto adult books as you go.
Short Stories:
Those Who Walk Away From Omelas: a perfect town has a secret. This author has also written tons of other works!
Harrison Bergeron: through the use of physical handicaps, everyone is finally equal. I love this author as well! (And before you get the wrong idea, he isn't a bigot. He's been fighting for Black, disabled, transgender, and LGBTQ rights long before it was socially acceptable.)
The Lottery: everyone in town partakes in a mysterious lottery.
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream: AI takes over the world and holds five people captive.
The Necklace: a vain woman requires that she wear the highest-quality jewelry to a gathering, and pays a high price for it. If you like plot twists, you have to read this.
The Tell-Tale Heart: a man kills another man, and tries to convince both you and himself that he is sane.
Barbie-Q: a short story about growing up Mexican in poverty, and the beauty standards American society forces on us.
Tell Them Not to Kill Me!: an old man tries to avoid being killed.
Young Goodman Brown: it's been years since I read it, but a Puritan comes across devil worship in the woods.
Books:
Many of these will be novellas, which are shorter books.
I'd also recommend reading the full works of the short story authors you like.
The Stranger: a man who seemingly has no emotions kills someone.
Metamorphosis: Gregor Samsa wakes up one day to find he has turned into a giant bug.
Animal Farm: animals seek to establish a utopia in which everyone is equal.
The Pearl: a poor man finds a pearl that can change his family's life forever. (Warning: this one is particularly graphic.)
The Death of Ivan Ilych: a man who lived a superficial life dies.
A Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy old man, is sent to the past and future to learn from his mistakes.
Siddhartha: an Indian Brahmin leaves everything to look for meaning.
The Giver: a young boy is tasked with holding all of his society's memories.
The Outsiders: a boy and his friend who live in poverty, and who are at constant war with their rich classmates, go too far one night.
Slaughterhouse Five: prisoners of war during World War II are treated like cattle and survive the bombing of Dresden.
Hamlet: a man has to reconcile with his father's death, and his mother's remarriage to his uncle. (If Shakespeare is difficult for you, read the No Fear Shakespeare edition. You can find it for cheap.)
Feel free to read anything apart from this list, and to recommend other works. These are just works I've read and liked.
