{"id":316762,"date":"2026-02-27T09:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T14:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlslife.com\/?p=316762"},"modified":"2026-02-23T17:25:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T22:25:17","slug":"loving-classic-literature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/books\/316762\/loving-classic-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"The teen girl&#8217;s guide to loving classic literature"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-316763 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_621600031_17959533594018712_5179172191374068944_n.jpg\" alt=\"A stack of six vintage-style hardcover books with illustrated spines, including Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess, Sherlock Holmes, Little Women, Peter Pan, and The Secret Garden.\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_621600031_17959533594018712_5179172191374068944_n.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_621600031_17959533594018712_5179172191374068944_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_621600031_17959533594018712_5179172191374068944_n-820x1024.jpg 820w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_621600031_17959533594018712_5179172191374068944_n-768x959.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Classic lit gets a bad rap\u2014long chapters, old-timey language and, ngl, the occasional paragraph that makes you go \u201cum, what?\u201d But there\u2019s a reason these stories have stuck around: Once you crack the code, they\u2019re totally gripping. With a few easy tips, you\u2019ll be breezing through Jane Austen, the Bront\u00eb sisters and Charles Dickens like the book-loving legend you are.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff3399;\"><strong>Watch The Movies<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-316765 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_632546518_18094452989475350_9035039199202891466_n.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in a sheer, cream-colored gown stands next to a man in a light blue suit in front of a wall with Wuthering Heights written on it, smiling for a photo on a dark blue carpet.\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_632546518_18094452989475350_9035039199202891466_n.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_632546518_18094452989475350_9035039199202891466_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_632546518_18094452989475350_9035039199202891466_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_632546518_18094452989475350_9035039199202891466_n-768x960.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best ways to get into the classics is by watching the movie adaptations. There are so many to choose from, and indulging in all of their atmosphere brings the appeal of the classic stories way up. Whether you\u2019re swooning over Lizzie and Mr. Darcy\u2019s chemistry and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pride and Prejudice<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (though whether you choose the BBC miniseries or the 2005 film is a different question) or dashing to the theaters for the much-anticipated <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wuthering Heights<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> premiere, there\u2019s a period piece for everyone to enjoy. These films will give you a taste of the splendor of the older eras and will make you want to dive into the pages that inspired them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff3399;\"><strong>Load Up On Your Book Consumption<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-316767 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_624703501_18202490287329495_800558415519330476_n.jpg\" alt=\"Nine books are arranged in a neat grid on a white floral-patterned bedspread, with covers facing up. Titles include The Song of Achilles, The Historian, The Little Friend, and others.\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_624703501_18202490287329495_800558415519330476_n.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_624703501_18202490287329495_800558415519330476_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_624703501_18202490287329495_800558415519330476_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_624703501_18202490287329495_800558415519330476_n-768x960.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to popular belief, it is totally okay to read two (or more) books at once\u2014and when it comes to reading the classics, it\u2019s encouraged! It all depends on how you balance it. Try having a different book in spaces in your house (one for your nightstand, one for the kitchen table, etc.).\u00a0 Even better is to embrace the audiobook. Audiobooks make it super easy to sneak more reading into your life and are a great idea for the classics (especially if you find yourself getting exhausted after only a page at night). Tune into your reading while you work out, walk with your pup or clean your room.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff3399;\"><strong>Romanticize It<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-316922 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/romanticize-reading-image.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a striped sweater, jeans, and a backpack browses Classic Reads in a cozy bookstore, holding a tote bag and phone. Bookshelves and book-filled tables line the wooden floor, with handwritten notes suggesting How To Get Into Classic Reads.\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/romanticize-reading-image.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/romanticize-reading-image-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/romanticize-reading-image-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s something so atmospheric about classic stories. Whether you like the lavish grandeur of Regency Era Jane Austen, the beautiful and devastating Victorian Era of Dickens or the American classics by Mark Twain, there\u2019s a vibe for everyone when it comes to these genre-defining reads. Sometimes, the best way to make them more desirable is to romanticize the <em>experience<\/em>. Spread out on a picnic blanket with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Iliad<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, sit by the water with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moby Dick <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or curl up by the fireplace with a warm chai and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jane Eyre<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Once you\u2019ve made the experience more desirable, the literary obsessions are sure to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff3399;\"><strong>Track Your Reading Habits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-316770 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_620475054_18190371850343838_3233499219649740663_n.jpg\" alt=\"An open planner filled with handwritten notes sits on a table next to a purple pen and a coffee cup. Books are lined up in the background, creating a cozy, organized workspace.\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_620475054_18190371850343838_3233499219649740663_n.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_620475054_18190371850343838_3233499219649740663_n-290x300.jpg 290w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_620475054_18190371850343838_3233499219649740663_n-988x1024.jpg 988w, https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SnapInsta.to_620475054_18190371850343838_3233499219649740663_n-768x796.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tracking your habits sets up a reward system and motivates you to pursue your reading goals. With an attainable number to achieve, it\u2019s a lot easier to make progress, and it gamifies the experience. Set a certain number of pages each night, with an overall weekly, monthly or yearly goal. And the best part? You get that sweet sense of satisfaction once you\u2019re finished.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff3399;\"><strong>Check out our Insta <a style=\"color: #ff3399;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/glbestiebookclub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@glbestiebookclub<\/a> for classic reading recs!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>More reading inspo right this way&#8230;<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\ud83d\udcda <a href=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/books\/313917\/how-to-actually-get-back-into-reading-this-year\/\">How To *Actually* Get Back Into Reading This Year<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\ud83d\udcda <a href=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/books\/315678\/tell-us-your-dream-date-and-well-give-you-a-book-to-read\/\">Tell Us Your Dream Date And We&#8217;ll Give You A Book To Read<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\ud83d\udcda <a href=\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/books\/307438\/quiz-which-mystery-novel-should-you-read-this-fall\/\">QUIZ! Which Mystery Novel Should You Read?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/womanon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@womanon, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wutheringheightsmovie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@wutheringheightsmovie, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/maevaeatsbooks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@maevaeatsbooks, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/readingslumped\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@readingslumped, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/readbelievelove\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@readbelievelove<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Classic lit gets a bad rap\u2014long chapters, old-timey language and, ngl, the occasional paragraph that makes you go \u201cum, what?\u201d But there\u2019s a reason these stories have stuck around: Once you crack the code, they\u2019re totally gripping. With a few easy tips, you\u2019ll be breezing through Jane Austen, the Bront\u00eb sisters and Charles Dickens like [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1864,"featured_media":316763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[293,294],"tags":[62466,62465,55831,9138,5316,10604,110,62467],"class_list":["post-316762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-rad-reads","tag-bronte-sisters","tag-charles-dickens","tag-classic-books","tag-classics","tag-jane-austen","tag-pride-and-prejudice","tag-reading","tag-reading-the-classics"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1864"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316762\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/316763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}