We said: Meander down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; on the surface, it’s a simple adventure but dig a little deeper into Mark Twain's novel and discover undercurrents of slavery, abuse and corruption in what Hemingway described as 'The best book we've had'.

You said: This book demonstrates how a young boy learns to think for himself, and shows us how we can, too. It’s funny, sweet and sad – sometimes all in the same paragraph. 

 

We said: Although it is considered Somerset Maugham’s most autobiographical work, the author stated, 'This is a novel, not an autobiography; though much in it is autobiographical, more is pure invention.’ Regardless, the story of Philip Carey, a man with ambitions who falls in love with a loud but irresistible waitress is considered one of his finest books.

You said: A compelling story of unreciprocated love. 

 

We said: At the centre of Bleak House is the never-ending legal case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce which draws together a disparate group of people who hope in some way to profit from the case. Dickens’ scathing reflection of the legal profession went some way to support a judicial reform movement in the 1870s.

You said: The characters, the rage at injustice of so many kinds, and spontaneous human combustion! 

 

We said: Between Marianne’s impulsive romantic views and her older sister’s more practical view of love, we follow the two sisters as they embark on a new life after their father’s death, experiencing love, romance, and heartbreak.

You said: I found the themes of the role of women in society interesting. Despite being 200+ years old, it is as relevant today as it was when written, and that must interest everyone, surely? 

 

We said: Obsessed with beauty, a young Dorian Gray expresses a desire to sell his soul so the portrait of himself that hangs on his friend’s wall, will age instead of him. A story of evil, debauchery and scandal.  

You said: It was the first classic I ever read as a young teen and blew my expectations of classics being 'dry old books' out of the water! Gripping, dark, scandalous, and witty, it's been my favourite book ever since 

 

We said: This is arguably Dickens’ most famous tale. Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and exclamations of 'Bah Humbug!' are as synonymous with the festive seasons as Santa, turkey and Christmas pudding.

You said: A masterpiece. The ultimate story of hope and redemption. 

 

We said: Silas Marner was Eliot’s favourite of her novels. It tells the story of an isolated miser, who is given a second chance to transform his life when he adopts a young orphaned child. With themes of religion, industrialisation and community, the book also provides us with a glimpse of a vanished rural world.

You said: Redemption and love. Beautifully written 

 

We said: One of literature’s most famous parties - this groundbreaking postmodernist novel takes place across one day as Clarria Dalloway’s prepares for her evening celebration while reflecting on her life.

You said: A reminder that no life is too small. 

 

We said: In Little Women, Louisa May Alcott set out to write a book in which girls would see them themselves accurately reflected. The March sisters, with their four very different personalities and ambitions, accurately embody both the challenges of growing up and the irreplaceable bond of sisterhood.

You said: A story of growing up and changing and the world set around a group of young girls. This book is as timeless as it is beautiful. 

 

We said: Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 1978, Iris Murdoch's book is the story of strange obsessions and reflections which haunt Charles Arrowby, who retires from London’s glittering theatre world to an isolated home by the sea. An unforgettable story, beautifully told.

You said: This book left me speechless while reading and after reading and I still can't find the words to describe why it is one of the most impressive pieces of writing I have ever read. 

 

We said: Charles Dickens himself referred to this novel as his ‘favourite child’ and many of our readers agree. The story of David Copperfield and his adventures from childhood to maturity is partially an autobiographical novel based on the author’s life experiences.

You said: I love everything about this book, from the wonderful characters to the sweeping story, it's like a comfy pair of slippers that I return to time and again knowing I won't be disappointed. 

 

We said: Taking the word ‘Kafkaesque’ to new levels, The Castle is a nightmarish reach into an autocratic world. Bamboozling from start to the very unfinished end (the novel ends mid-sentence), this is Franz Kafka’s finest commentary on oppression and bureaucracy.

You said: This book leads the reader into a maze of conundrums, confusion, iciness and moral fog. Never to be forgotten once read.