Listing is a thankless task. Anyone who likes to read does without any lists, just at the behest of the soul. And for those who do not like to sit with a book, advice is all the more unnecessary. The books that every girl should read is a vague and unwilling concept to be reduced to a common denominator. Because the literature is different, and woman to woman are different. But you can still outline the main milestones and give specific recommendations.
Books must arrive on time
Strictly speaking, the books that every girl should read are listed in the course of Russian and foreign literature. Alas, this list is usually compiled in chronological order - from early literature to late, 20-21 centuries.
Of course, few teenagers are able to appreciate works designed for an adult and trained audience. Complex language, unfamiliar facts, feelings and thoughts are still far from school reality - all this turns classical literature into a rather indigestible subject.
When a person makes a list of literature himself, for self-development or even simply for pleasure, he will certainly take into account personal preferences, and the range of interests, and a view of the world. Age in this matter is of no small importance. Dostoevsky, read at age 14, is not at all what Dostoevsky, read at 30. To be convinced of this, it is enough to take a volume from a shelf that has been familiar from school and repeat it. The book will open from a new perspective, the eye will immediately catch on for moments that were simply incomprehensible in adolescence and therefore passed by the reader.
Search for yourself
In youth, people are romantic and open to everything new, unusual. Many people try to create themselves, try themselves in art. Therefore, the books that every girl should read at age 15 is like a restaurant menu: all dishes are unfamiliar in it, and everyone wants to try it.
In literature, as in life, there are still many paths that are not well-liked, each seems curious and alluring. What can be advised to girls at this age? What seems interesting, touches the living, makes you feel sharper and brighter?
Youth is first of all romance. If you recall all the books that every girl should read, the list will not do without the works of Bunin and Charlotte Bronte. Bright, strong feelings, love and fidelity, emotions beating over the edge - this will not leave the girl indifferent, just experiencing her first love. For older people, these works may already seem irrelevant, too romantic and sublime. But such feelings are quite consonant with the soul of a teenager. So “Dark Alleys”, “Easy Breath” and, of course, “Jane Eyre” at this age are the best choice.
Reality-like fantasy
Those girls who love not only novels with a pronounced romantic line can be recommended by “The Lord of the Rings” by Professor Tolkien. This book has become not only a classic of fantasy literature. Tolkien is a professor of philology, an expert on British mythology and culture. The universe created by him is striking in its complexity and thoughtfulness, and the plot of the novel itself has long turned into a role model. Of course, you can just watch a movie, but it will never replace a book. The Lord of the Rings is one of the brightest, multifaceted and fascinating books of our time, which has had a tremendous impact on the worldview of an entire generation. You can’t list the books that every girl should read before 16, and not to mention this novel.
Later, the time will come for more complex works. Remarque's “Three Comrades” is a novel about love and friendship, about life and death. The book, written in simple, easy language, makes you take a fresh look at your life, appreciate every joyful, sunny day, every moment spent with friends and relatives. After all, this world is so fragile, just a second to lose everything.
Girls must smile
Those girls who like to laugh cannot go past such a masterpiece of Russian literature as the “Twelve Chairs” by Ilf and Petrov. In the end, a true woman does not breathe love alone. A sense of humor is an excellent quality that helps to confidently cope with any difficulties in life. To name books that every girl should read at 16 and not mention this novel is blatant negligence. Juicy, lively language, sparkling humor, quotes that have long turned into aphorisms - one can only envy people who will plunge into this delightful world created by the imagination of writers for the first time.
Ostap Bender, a brilliant swindler and a handsome man, a true macho ... Who else could seduce the sultry Madame Gritsatsueva if she was wearing boots with her bare feet? Watching his adventures is incredibly exciting. If a minute of laughter can make life longer, then readers of the novels by Ilf and Petrov will certainly reach the centenary.
Queen of Detective Intrigue
Another worthy author, whose books must be paid attention to by a lover of fun, is John Khmelevskaya. This woman is one of the founders of the genre of female humorous detective. The heroines of her stories are smart, resourceful and cheerful. They can unravel any crime, cope with any misfortune. And, of course, find a man who can appreciate them. If you list the books that every girl should read, the list would not be complete without the wonderful novels What the Dead Man Says, Wedge by Wedge, or All Everything Red. Such works not only teach not to give up, smiling at any storm of life, but also perfectly raise female self-esteem. Khmelevskaya is the best medicine for melancholy and the inferiority complex.
Nineteenth century and twenty first
Romantic natures can be advised by the British writer Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. Despite the fact that the book was written about 200 years ago, the language of the narrative does not seem archaic at all. At first it may seem that events are developing too slowly, but soon the reader gets used to such a slow pace and even finds it a certain pleasure. A truly British atmosphere, clever graceful humor, lively, sympathetic characters - all this did not allow the creation of Jane Austen to be lost among thousands and thousands of love stories.
Discussing the books that every girl should read at 17 years old, this novel should be mentioned. The story of a smart, independent girl and a sarcastic bachelor still enjoys a well-deserved love of readers.
Another great novel is Gone With the Wind. It is often said that this is the American counterpart to War and Peace. It is unlikely that such a comparison makes sense, but nevertheless, these works certainly have common motives. Human destinies wound around the rim of the wheel of history, the war that destroyed the lives of the main characters - both Tolstoy and Margaret Mitchell knew firsthand what they were writing about. But, of course, “Gone with the Wind” - the book is incomparably easier and more fun. The main character is a strong, intelligent woman. She falls in love and is disappointed in love, makes mistakes and creates her own new world in the midst of chaos and destruction. This is one of the most interesting female characters in the history of literature, giving rise to a huge number of imitators.
The books that every girl under 18 must read is preparation for life in the adult world, and it often turns out to be cruel and unfair. Roman Margaret Mitchell is a great coping tool. Passionate, decisive, contradictory Scarlett can hardly serve as a moral guide. But, undoubtedly, she is an excellent role model. The optimism, love of life and perseverance of this girl are admirable.
Woman and power
The older a person is, the less faith in a miracle remains in him, a reasonable and good structure of the world. And the clearer the understanding that everything is not as simple and obvious as it seems. Not always a good person makes the world a better place, and an evil one makes it worse. The universe is dualistic, light and darkness are just two poles, between which there is an ocean of infinite grayness. The books that every girl under 20 must read are no longer so simple and easy to read, they should not only be interesting, but also make them think.
“Mary Stuart” is a novel by the outstanding writer Stefan Zweig, telling about the confrontation between two queens - English and Scottish. Romantic, sublime, sensitive Maria and dry, prudent Elizabeth ... Watching the chess game led by the queens, playing with people's lives and the destinies of the countries, is extremely exciting.
Reading this novel, it is so easy to put yourself in the place of a ruler, but not a fairy-tale princess, but a real queen, on whom the fate of the people depends. One of the curious features of the book is that its perception changes dramatically with age. Young girls wholeheartedly sympathize with Mary Stuart and hate the soulless Elizabeth. And older women, after reading the novel, are surprised to realize that they were mistaken. It is Elizabeth - the true queen who sacrificed her personal life, her happiness for the sake of the country.
There are black days in life
The books that every girl should read are selected, of course, based on personal preferences. But there are topics that simply cannot be ignored. Readers of the novel "Rose Marena", owned by the famous Stephen King, will find a completely different world. In this novel, the horror master departed from the usual script; there are no vampires, monsters, or werewolves. The most terrible creatures are the people themselves.
Despite the seeming lightness, the novel raises the most important problems, just serves them in a sauce of mysticism and horror. A woman, a victim of domestic violence, decides to leave her husband. Usually, male authors do not like to address such topics, but King was not afraid to step on the shaky ground of gender conflicts and turned out to be absolutely right.
He does not just pedal a sharp, painful topic for many women, he offers a specific solution to the conflict, a strategy of behavior. Not literally, of course, King's methods are overly categorical. But the idea that life should not be a nightmare, it can become better, the main thing is to decide and go towards the future is a very correct idea. Perhaps in a difficult situation, the courage and strength of the heroine will help readers overcome difficulties and regain themselves. "Rosa Marena" occupies a worthy place in the list of "Books that every girl should read."
The Master and Margarita - a novel in a novel
Another of the novels that can be considered "landmark" in the life of every person is "The Master and Margarita." Perhaps there is no work that would be so differently perceived by readers. Some are sure that this is a novel about good and evil, others believe that they have read a story of great love, while others admire the processing of religious subjects and the depth of philosophy. And there are readers who recall only the hilarious adventures of the huge black cat Hippo and the cheerful pose of Koroviev.
Well, everyone is right. Because all this is in the novel. A multilayered work in which mysticism and realism were intricately intertwined, Moscow of the 30s and biblical Jerusalem. Here the devil speaks of God, the Master writes a novel, and the fifth procurator of Judea is waiting for a crazy prisoner with whom he did not have time to agree on something very important.
The books that every girl under 25 should read should not be collections of recipes or tips for losing weight. Growing up is not only about skills. It is also a spiritual development. You need to choose literature that will not only carry away, but also help you go up a notch, to better understand yourself and the world around. The best novel by Mikhail Bulgakov will be able to appreciate both an experienced reader and a person who is only part of the world of great literature.
Forever classic
The books that every girl up to 27 years old should read, it hardly makes sense to list. Tastes have long been formed and that which does not meet the interests will be ruthlessly rejected. But there is one point that cannot be noted. Getting older, people better understand the classics. What seemed silly and boring at school suddenly filled with feelings and meaning.
It is worth trying to re-read novels that were unbearably dreary and monstrously endless just ten years ago.
“Anna Karenina” is not just a book about how a woman left her husband for her lover. This is also the story of a man who could not find himself, his place in life, and therefore lost everything.
“Idiot” is a novel about a man who was so afraid to hurt someone that he could not do anything at all. Helpless before any choice, he, through his inaction, destroyed the lives of others and his own.
Yes, these are only interpretations of literary works, the reader can see this story, or maybe a completely different one. But this is good! Thus, the world of literature is attractive, which allows everyone to see in the book not only the author, but also himself.
The books that every girl under 30 must read can be different. Cheerful and sad, smart and naive, kind and tough. The main thing is that they be. Then the reality will not turn into a boring monotonous highway strip laid along the route home-work-home. Books are oases on this path, windows to another, vibrant world. Sometimes it is so important when there is an opportunity to take a break from everything, to escape from reality and just read a good novel.