10 Books on My TBR Older Than Me

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each week, she will post a new Top Ten list topic for everyone to weigh-in on. Link back to That Artsy Reader Girl on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists!

This Week

Books Written Before I Was Born (These can be books you’ve read or want to read!)

Finding books on my TBR older than me was not a difficult task. I’m turning 25 this year, so not very old, but I love reading classics and older books in general. Though I’ve already read quite a few books that are older than me, I wanted to instead share some on my TBR, as my biggest reading goal this year is to read more classics.

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10 Books on My TBR Older Than Me

1 . 1984 by George Orwell (published in 1950) — 71 years old

I still cannot believe I haven’t read this novel. It’s been on my TBR for as long as I can remember, and as a lover of dystopia, I know I’m going to enjoy it. Plus, I’m pretty sure it draws ideas and themes from one of my favorite books, We, so I’m bound to like it.

2. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (published in 1939) — 82 years old

Hello, my name is Alyssa, I’m twenty-four years old, and I’ve never read an Agatha Christie novel. I always imaged myself at the age of sixty or seventy just binging all her works, but this is one I’ll probably read before I’m an old lady.

3. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (published 1996 – in February, which is three months before I was born!) — 25 years old

I mostly want to read this because I’m a pretentious English major asshole. Also to be able to say “Oh yeah I’ve read Infinite Jest.” Plus who knows, I may end up liking it. I read Atlas Shrugged for the same reason and loved it.

4. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (published 1937) — 84 years old

I know a lot of kids read this in grade school, but I never did. It’s kind of my mission to read all of those classics that I missed out on by being homeschooled.

5. Persuasion by Jane Austen (published 1818) — 203 years old

Jane Austen is one of my literary heroes. I love her writing. I think she’s so smart and witty, and I want to read everything she’s ever written.

6. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (published 1961) — 60 years old

Again, another classic school book I never read.

7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (published 1877) — 144 years old

People call this one of the world’s greatest novels. How can you not want to read it? Other than the fact that it’s 8 million pages long.

8. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (published 1954) — 67 years old

I’ve seen all the LOTR movies. And the Hobbit movies. And now I need to read them.

9. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (published 1955) — 66 years old

I’d never heard of Lolita until my favorite college professor mentioned she was reading it back during my senior year (or maybe the year after I graduated?). I trust her judgement. She’s my favorite professor for a reason.

10. Hangsman by Shirley Jackson (published 1951) — 70 years old

I devoured The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Jackson has recently become one of my favorite writers, and this story sounds like it’ll be a favorite of mine, too.

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There are many, many more classics on my TBR, but these are some that have been there the longest. Like I said, my 2021 reading goal is to read more classics, so hopefully you’ll see some reviews of these in the coming year! What are some of your favorite books that are older than you? What are some books on your TBR older than you? Let me know in the Comments, or feel free to share your own Top Ten Tuesday links with me!