14 Classic College Books You'll Want to Read Again as a Real Adult

The reading lists in most English classes are simply too long — if you don't fall behind on reading by week three, you're some sort of mutant — and both the relentless pace of assignments and the lukewarm classroom analysis from your peers turn reading into a total chore. It's really hard to love reading in college. There's no point in denying it. The real tragedy is that people graduate from college and never pick up a classic novel again, because a) they had a terrible time reading it and b) they feel like there's no need. After all, they technically finished Madame Bovary, despite their heavy reliance on SparkNotes and late-night skimming. So what's the point in reading it again? Before you throw away your battered stacks of used college novels, hang on to a few of the really good ones. After all, they're more than just fodder for cocktail-hour conversations — they're brilliant life textbooks