Spring has officially sprung (or at least is in bloom), and it calls for you to crawl out of that reading hole that burdens you so! Midterms are behind you and what better time to start reading into the season?
Here are my top five recommendations for spring-filled classics to enrich your intellectual knowledge and kick off your spring season to a great start…
A Room with a View, E.M Forster (119 pages)
This classic novel transports the reader into a European daydream. The sceneries of swimming in the lake, Florence in its warm splendour through the eyes of well-educated middle-class characters, Italian art, and a quaint traditional English village all capture the essence of the exciting early days of the warm season. It is evocative of the anticipation of Spring’s return, when relationships seem ever sweeter, and you rediscover your favourite pastimes under the sun. The various types of characters you will encounter, from stereotypically passionate Italians to ostentatious, bourgeois families, will inevitably lead you to the natural conclusion that you will share with the protagonist: an escape to Florence sooner rather than later.
Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare (301 pages)
Not to be confused with the Dire Strait song or Gnomeo and Juliet. If you have not yet had the pleasure (or perhaps misfortune depending on your teacher) of having studied this timeless tragedy, spring is the perfect time to delve into this classic. Set in Italy’s historical and “fair” Verona, the play is reminiscent of the Renaissance, a period marked by the revival of the arts, tastefully linking with nature’s rebirth after the cold seasons. If a love story between two “star-crossed lovers” will not entice you, will picturing young Leonardo DiCaprio when reading do the trick?
Labels: A Mediterranean Journal, Evelyn Waugh (174 pages)
Personally, I was first acquainted with Waugh’s works through his fiction, such as A Handful of Dust, and how well-written his pieces proved. Yet, his journals introduced a new perspective I had not encountered, one rooted in his own personal experiences and interactions – and what a rich and fruitful assortment, compacted in solely 174 pages!
His writing transports you from the warmth of the Middle East to humorous conversations with street vendors in post-World War I Europe. Ultimately, his quintessential Englishness and nonchalant, honest writing is utterly charming and captivating as he guides you to every corner of the globe (or at least those surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea). An overall timely read if you’re currently planning your great summer tour.
First Love, Ivan Turgenev (78 pages)
This Russian twentieth-century novel brings a whole new definition to love triangles, forsaken affairs and witty men. Turgenev’s light-hearted work centres around the likeable and inexperienced protagonist Vladimir Voldemar, whose enchanting coming-of-age story reveals his struggle with the complexities of entering adulthood and a seemingly futile pursuit of one woman in particular. The story exhibits the beauties and trivialities of love, with a dramatic twist as the cherry on top. It’s the perfect blithe novella to commence an even more joyful spring.
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett (331 pages)
Burnett successfully channels the power of nostalgia in this novel. This is one of those childhood classics you read at around 11, which sparked daydreams of nature’s beauty, and a newfound fascination in gardening. As an adult, you develop a fresh appreciation for the story’s depth. If ten years prior you enjoyed it, I recommend that you read it in a new light; don’t let the genre of “Children’s book” fool you! It is perfect for the early days of spring when daffodils are growing and your admiration for greenery and nature is catalysed. The portrayal of the characters’ personal growth is simultaneous to spring’s natural growth. The novel is essentially an ode to the unsurpassed beauty and renewal quality of spring.
Illustration by Emma Lacey @emmalaceyart