Classic Books Worth Revisiting: Why Your Book Club Should Read the Oldies

The Anti-Classics Bias

For years, our book club avoided classics. "We read enough of those in high school," someone would say when they were suggested. "Let's read something relevant."

Then one month, someone insisted we try "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. She'd just seen a movie adaptation and was curious about the source.

We agreed reluctantly. And then we couldn't stop talking about it. The discussion went long. People texted for days after. It was, hands down, our best discussion of the year.

Turns out, "relevant" doesn't have an expiration date.

Why Classics Work for Book Clubs

Depth of discussion material

These books have been analyzed, debated, and interpreted for decades (or centuries). There are layers to unpack that newer books often lack.

Shared cultural touchstone

Even if no one's read it, people often know OF the story. You're joining a larger conversation.

No spoiler anxiety

The "twist" in a 100-year-old book isn't really a spoiler. Knowing the plot doesn't ruin the experience.

Comparison to adaptations

Most classics have been filmed, staged, or adapted multiple times. Comparing versions adds discussion dimensions.

It counts as reading widely

Book clubs help us read things we wouldn't pick ourselves. Classics are the ultimate example.

Classics That Don't Feel Like Homework

Some older books are slogs. These aren't:

The Accessible Greats

"Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier (1938) Gothic suspense, romantic jealousy, a mystery at its core. Reads like a modern thriller.

"And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie (1939) Ten people, isolated island, mysterious deaths. Still gripping 85 years later.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) Short, beautiful prose, doomed romance. Better as an adult than it was in high school.

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë (1847) A governess, a brooding man with secrets, gothic atmosphere. More readable than you'd expect.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (1960) If you read it in school, read it again. It hits differently as an adult.

Hidden Gems

"A Room with a View" by E.M. Forster (1908) Witty, romantic, surprisingly modern in themes. A delight.

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston (1937) Gorgeous prose, a Black woman's journey to self-discovery. Should be more widely read.

"The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton (1920) Old New York society, restrained passion, sharp social observation.

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley (1818) Not what you think from movies. Philosophical, tragic, written by a teenager.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde (1890) Dark, witty, disturbing. Wilde's only novel is more readable than his reputation suggests.

Making Classics Work for Your Group

Provide context

Unlike contemporary books, classics benefit from background. Share brief context about the era, the author, or why the book mattered.

Use discussion guides

Classics have tons of existing discussion resources. Steal questions from literature guides—they've been refined over decades.

Watch adaptations

Movie nights can complement the reading. Comparing film to book generates great discussion.

Don't rush

Some classics are longer than modern books. Give more time, or break into parts with multiple discussions.

Address the discomfort

Older books often contain attitudes we now recognize as problematic—racism, sexism, colonialism. Don't ignore it. Discuss it. How does the book reflect its era? How does that affect our reading?

Discussion Questions That Work for Classics

• What surprised you about this book? Did it match your expectations?
• How do you think readers at the time reacted differently than we do now?
• Which aspects feel universal and timeless? Which feel dated?
• Would this story work if set today? What would change?
• Why do you think this book has lasted when most from the era haven't?

Building a Classics Rotation

You don't need to read only classics. But incorporating them:

Once a year: Dedicate one meeting annually to a classic. Make it an event.

Paired reading: Read a classic alongside a modern book with similar themes. Compare.

Member's choice classics: Let members choose which classic the group tries. Investment increases engagement.

Genre classics: If your club loves mysteries, read foundational mysteries. Sci-fi fans? Read the genre's origins.

My Book Club's Classics Journey

After "Rebecca," we started adding one classic per year:

• Year 2: "Pride and Prejudice" (surprised by how funny it is)
• Year 3: "East of Eden" (long but worth it)
• Year 4: "Beloved" (difficult, powerful, necessary)
• Year 5: "The Count of Monte Cristo" (adventure, revenge, readable)

Each one generated exceptional discussion. And they've changed how I read—I now see connections between contemporary books and their predecessors.

The "I Already Read That" Objection

Some members may have read the classic before. That's fine. Rereading is undervalued. People change; books reveal different things at different life stages.

A member who read "Jane Eyre" at 16 will have a different experience at 40. Those different perspectives enrich discussion.

Start Where It's Easy

If your group is classics-resistant, start with something that reads like contemporary fiction:

• Short
• Plot-driven
• Accessible language
• Ideally with a recent adaptation that creates curiosity

Once you have one positive experience, the resistance tends to fade.

The classics aren't medicine you have to swallow. They're some of the best stories ever told. Your book club deserves access to them.

Discover classics and contemporary books alike on Readfeed, where AI-generated discussion questions work for any book—whether it was published in 2024 or 1824.