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"The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu (~1021)

$24.03

This 11th century story is widely regarded as the world's first novel. It follows Genji, the son of an emperor, through his epic life full of trials and tribulations of love, family and politics.

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"Persuasion" by Jane Austen (1817)

$6.99

In the last novel written by the brilliant Jane Austen, a young women is reunited with her ex-fiance in 19th century England after seven years apart. What ensues is a blend of hilarious and awkward moments, in a romance that is still relatable hundreds of years later.

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"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley (1823)

$6.89

The legend of Frankenstein has gone through many reinventions, but to really understand how this monster came to be, the original story by Mary Shelley is a must.

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"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

$10.38

When Louisa May Alcott's publisher asked her to write a "girl's book," she couldn't have anticipated penning one of the most enduring novels of all time. The March sisters in "Little Women" are inspired by her own sisters that she worked to support as a young women in the 19th century United States. But the story weaves in themes of ambition, family responsibility, love, war, and so much more.

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"Passing" by Nella Larsen (1929)

$12.29

As a mixed-race daughter raised by a white mother and white stepfather in Chicago, it was often assumed that Nella Larson was white as well. So it is no wonder that she wrote a character who is grappling with her own race and identity as deeply as Passing's Clare Kendry. Clare Kendry chose to pass as a white woman to everyone including her husband. However, the way this story unpacks her thoughts, struggles, and consequences of that decision is nothing short of brave.

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"Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell (1936)

$11.49

There would be no Scarlett O'Hara without Margaret Mitchell. Gone With Wind may be Mitchell's only novel, but it earned her a Pulitzer Prize in 1937. Considered one of the greatest American novels, this classic is the epitome of timeless.

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"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston (1937)

$11.24

As a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston is regarded as one of the greatest talents to blossom during that time. However upon winning the Guggenheim award, Hurston used her earnings to leave her hallowed city and went to Haiti, where she wrote her greatest piece of work.

After being pulled from readers for almost 30 years, Their Eyes Were Watching God was reissued in 1978 and has remained a literary fixture ever since.

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"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith (1943)

$12.91

Betty Smith artfully brought Williamsburg Brooklyn to life in a way that only a native could. As a German immigrant, Smith's life was not easy, and neither is the life of Francie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn's spunky protagonist. If you're in the mood for a rich coming of age story, this is a great choice.

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"Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank (1947)

$6.97

Anne Frank's diary became one of the most significant and vivid accounts of what life was like for Jewish people under Nazi rule. After fleeing their home in Amsterdam, the Franks and another family lived in hiding for two years in the "secret annex" of an office. During that time, Anne captured a child's perspective of what life was like with excellent detail and even managed to use humor at times. Her diary was discovered in an attic after her death, but has served as a perpetual reminder of what took place for generations of readers.

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"Nisei Daughter" by Monica Sone (1953)

$15.14

Nesei Daughter is the autobiographical memoir of Monica Sone, a Japanese American who grew up in Seattle in the 1930s. Like so many Japanese American families during that time, Sone's family was plucked from their home and forced to live in WWII internment camps. What is remarkable about Nisei Daughter is that it started as a series of letters to her friend, author Betty MacDonald, and evolved into one of the greatest American classics.

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"The King Must Die: A Novel" by Mary Renault (1958)

$9.96

It seems that Mary Renault's mind led her to a world in which ancient philosophers roamed and ancient castles became unearthed. Always a bookworm, after studying at Oxford University she fell in love with Plato and ancient societies. She re-imagined their livelihood as if she had witnessed it herself. In The King Must Die, Renault does just that, by infusing the myth of hero Theseus with a healthy dose of exhilaration.

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"A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry (1959)

$7.65

Lorraine Hansberry wrote the first play written by an African American to debut on Broadway, A Raisin in the Sun. Though she had grown up middle class in Chicago's South Side as the daughter of a realtor, racism did not evade her. Her life was shaped by her family's struggle to integrate a neighborhood, intellectuals that frequented her home, like Langston Hughes, and observations she made from working class people in her life. The culmination of this resulted in an acclaimed play, inspired by Hughes, that brought the struggles of the African American working class to the spotlight.

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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (1960)

$8.99

To Kill a Mockingbird is the heart-wrenching story of a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South -- a crime punishable by lynching -- and the courageous lawyer that defends him. Lee, whose father was also a lawyer, grew up in Alabama during a time when lynchings were not uncommon. Published in the midst of the civil rights era, Lee's timeless masterpiece provoked much thought about the power of the human spirit in the face of relentless racism. It went on to earn her a Pulitzer Prize and sell over 40 million copies worldwide.

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"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle (1962)

$5.02

Madeline L'Engle never lost the imagination and fascination with life's enchanting questions that children possess. "Of course I’m Meg,” L’Engle said about Meg Murray, the precocious, adored protagonist of A Wrinkle in Time. This year, the classic children's book was brought to the big screen and has reminded so many adults why they loved this story as a child. If you haven't caught the bug to re-read this gem, now's a great time to enter the Tesseract with Meg Murray.

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"The Bell Jar" by Slyvia Path (1963)

$12.23

After her husband left her for anther woman, Sylvia Path dove into the depression she was experiencing and wrote this novel about a woman spiraling into insanity. The tragic part is that shortly after writing The Bell Jar, a book that brought her much notoriety, Path committed suicide. Path had struggled with mental illness most of her life, even spending time in a mental facility as a young person. But it was her poetry and writing that have given her an enduring legacy. Haunting as it may be, "The Bell Jar" was a meaningful accomplishment.

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"Efuru" by Flora Nwapa (1966)

$15.50

"Efuru" is the first internationally published book, in English, by a Nigerian woman. And though she was hesitant to accept the label of feminist, the protagonist in her classic book was definitely just that. Throughout the book we see Efuru being a pillar of strength, out-earning her husband, caring for her father and finally discovering her higher calling.

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"Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys (1966)

$10.68

Jean Rhys was already an accomplished writer when she decided to write Wide Sargasso Sea near the end of her life. Known for being a fierce rule breaker, Rhys struggled with poverty, alcoholism, depression, and discontent with a patriarchal society. Wide Sargasso Sea features many of those themes as she focuses on a prominent character from the past: The madwoman in the attic from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

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"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou (1969)

$7.19

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the celebrated memoir of poet, writer, dancer and activist Maya Angelou. It takes the reader on a journey through the pain of her childhood abandonment and rape to the other side of healing, love, and freedom in adulthood. In the words of this brave woman, "Love liberates."

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"Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison (1977)

$10.87

Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, essayist and professor. There are many books to choose from by this prolific writer, but for this list we chose Song of Solomon, a coming of age story about Macon Milkman" Dead," who sets out to to learn about his family roots.

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"The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros (1984)

$7.11

When Mexican-American writer and fellow Chicagoan Sandra Cisneros was presented the National Medal of Arts by President Obama he said, "Through her novels, short stories, and poetry, she explores issues of race, class, and gender through the lives of ordinary people straddling multiple cultures." Indeed, The House on Mango Street, which tells the story of a young Latina woman growing up in Chicago, does just that. The reader becomes enthralled as the main character Esperanza Cordero discovers her true self.

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"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood (1985)

$9.59

Margaret Atwood's novel of a dystopian future where women are relegated to diminished roles in a patriarchal society has become an award-winning television show. But the original story told from Handmaid Offred's point of view is a must for any fan of the Hulu series.

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"Thus Were Their Faces: Selected Stories" by Silvina Ocampo (1988)

$14.68

Thus Were Their Faces: Selected Stories contains enchanting tales of "doubles and impostors, angels and demons, a marble statue of a winged horse that speaks, a beautiful seer who writes the autobiography of her own death, a lapdog who records the dreams of an old woman, a suicidal romance, and much more." With an imaginary scope as great as hers, Argentine writer Silvina Ocampo is considered a master of literary and novella.

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"Jasmine" by Bharati Mukherjee (1989)

$9.96

Pulling from her own experience as an immigrant to the United States from India, Bharati Mukherjee wrote Jasmine to describe the struggles Indian Americans face to achieve the "American Dream." Jamine's story is as rich and transformative as any heroine you've ever seen, but still distinctly different.

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"The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan (1989)

$10.36

On the surface, The Joy Luck Club may appear to be an immigrant story, but in truth, Amy Tan digs into the relationships between mothers and daughters and their culture. Set in San Francisco in 1949, you'll examine how deeply connected these women are to each other, whether they'd like to be or not.

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"Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies" by Laura Esquirel (1992)

$10.20

Laura Esquirel wrote a magical tale when she conceived of Like Water for Chocolate. It follows the life of Tita, a woman so destined to become a master chef that she was born in the kitchen while her mother was cutting onions. With charm and wit, Esquirel transports readers to turn of the century Mexico and the rich culture that thrives there.

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"Girl, Interrupted" by Susanna Kaysen by 1993

$8.99

Upon arriving at McLean Hospital, it becomes strikingly clear to 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen how much her reality has changed. Hauntingly fitting, McLean is the same hospital that treated esteemed author of The Bell Jar, Sylvia Path. Kaysen's memoir, Girl Interrupted, encompasses the chilling and surreal experienced or witnessed during her time there.

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"Breath, Eyes, Memory" by Edwidge Danticat (1994)

$13.25

Drawing on her memories of Haiti, Edwidge Danticat tells the story of a young girl sent to live with her mother in New York, the brutal truths she learns there and her purposeful return to Haiti. Though published in 1994, Danticat's literary debut, Breath, Eyes, Memory, has never lost its popularity or praise.

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"In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez (1994)

$8.97

In the Time of Butterflies is the brave story of the four Mirabel sisters who risked their lives to stand up against the Dominican Republic's tyrant Trujillo. Through a blend of history, personal accounts, and passion, Julia Alvarez will not only educate you with this book, she will leave you feeling something you'll never forget.

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"White Teeth" by Zadie Smith (1999)

$10.00

If you haven't heard of Zadie Smith, this is the perfect way to introduce yourself. Her first book, White Teeth, earned the English writer numerous awards, and even a comparison to Charles Dickens. In the book, readers follow the paths of two WWII veterans, their daily struggles, and their relationship to the racial and cultural influences in London.

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"Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books" by Azar Nafisi (2003)

$11.11

Imagine suddenly being banned from reading all Western literature. That was the challenge Iranian Azar Nafisi faced as a teacher. Determined to not stunt the education of her female students, Nafisi devised a courageous plan to broaden their minds through reading. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books sheds a beautiful light on the plight of women trying to thrive in revolutionary Iran.

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"Gilead: A Novel" by Marilynne Robinson (2004)

$9.80

Beloved author Marilynne Robinson tells an unmatched story about the American experience in her novel, Gilead.

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"Harry Potter" Paperback Box Set by J.K. Rowling (2009)

$52.16

It's hard to pick just one Harry Potter story to read, so we're including them all. This epic tale of a magical orphan's years-long fight against the evil Lord Voldemort is one of the most famous tales in modern fiction, so if you or your kids haven't had the chance to read it yet, now's the time!

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"The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration" by Isabel Wilkerson (2010)

$14.14

Through the observation of three key figures, Isabel Wilkerson reveals the experiences of those who left their homes for something more during the Great Migration. As their paths unfold, readers of The Warmth of Other Suns will begin to understand how these decision impacted future generations in this country.

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"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2013)

$12.69

In Americanah, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie manages to weave in the experience of a Nigerian immigrant, the struggles with race an identity she faces no matter where she is, and an unyielding love story that will keep you turning pages.

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"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt (2013)

$15.36

Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch follows a young New Yorker named Theo whose longing for his mother affects every aspect of his life. Readers will no doubt be captivated by Tartt's writing.

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