Booklist Queen's 2022 Reading Challenge - hosted by booklistqueen

Classic You've Avoided
We all have those books we've been meaning to read but have been avoiding. Either because they're too long or too deep or just too scary.

Now it's time to pull out a classic you've been avoiding and give it a try. Maybe it'll surprise you.

Need suggestions? Here are some book lists for you:
All books added
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Giovanni's Room

James Baldwin

159 pages • first pub 1956 (editions)

fiction classics lgbtqia+ literary emotional reflective sad medium-paced
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

544 pages • first pub 1939 (editions)

fiction classics historical literary emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

35 hours, 35 minutes • first pub 1877 (editions)

fiction classics literary romance challenging emotional reflective slow-paced
A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry

The Christmas Books #1

Charles Dickens

3 hours, 31 minutes • first pub 1843 (editions)

fiction classics fantasy hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

187 pages • first pub 1595 (editions) user-added

fiction classics play funny lighthearted fast-paced
The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple

The Color Purple Collection #1

Alice Walker

298 pages • first pub 1982 (editions)

fiction classics historical lgbtqia+ literary emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

Little Men

Little Women #3

Louisa May Alcott

352 pages • first pub 1871 (editions)

fiction classics emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth

The Odessa File

Frederick Forsyth

334 pages • first pub 1972 (editions)

fiction historical thriller adventurous dark tense fast-paced
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game

Ellen Raskin

6 hours, 59 minutes • first pub 1978 (editions)

fiction middle grade mystery adventurous mysterious fast-paced
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time

Time Quintet #1

Madeleine L'Engle

280 pages • first pub 1962 (editions)

fiction fantasy middle grade science fiction adventurous mysterious medium-paced