Read a long classic novel

Winter is a good time for the big book you keep meaning to read. The evenings are long, going out is less tempting, and a story that takes weeks suits a season that does too. The best classic novels for this are the ones people still love after a very long time: books with characters you want to stay with. Pick one, read a chapter a night, and you’ll arrive in spring with something finished.

Choose the right classic

Decide what you want from it first.

• A love story with wit. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is funny, sharp and easy to settle into.
• A story about sisters growing up. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is warm, and it has winter in it, which makes it a natural fit for the season.
• Something dark, romantic and dramatic. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre has a strong voice and plenty of suspense.
• A big, serious novel. Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is long and rewarding if you want a book to live with for weeks.

If you’ve already read one of these, ask a friend or a librarian what they’d suggest. For a first long classic, a book with a clear plot is a better bet than one that’s mostly famous for being difficult.

Before you start

1. Check your library. A library card makes the book free, and many libraries lend e-books and audiobooks too.
2. Look at translations. For a book first written in another language, such as Tolstoy’s, translators differ. Read the first page of two editions and keep the one that reads most naturally.
3. Pick an edition you can hold. A paperback with readable type beats a tiny, heavy one. An e-reader is a good choice for a very long book.
4. Save the introduction for later. Many editions have a long introduction that gives away the plot. Read it afterwards.

Set up a reading routine

A long book gets finished by habit, not by one big effort.

1. Choose a regular time. Before bed, or with tea after dinner.
2. Choose a small amount. One chapter, or 20 minutes. Stop when it’s done, even if you want more. Wanting more is what brings you back tomorrow.
3. Set up the spot. A reading lamp, a blanket, your phone in another room.
4. Keep a bookmark and a pencil for names and places you want to remember.

If you’d like a change of scene now and then, take the book to a café for an afternoon.

Keeping going

• Keep a character list. Many classics have large casts. Jot down each name with a few words.
• Don’t worry about every word. If an old phrase confuses you, read on. The meaning usually comes from the sentence around it.
• Mix formats. Listen to the audiobook on a walk and read the paper copy at night.
• Talk about it. Tell a friend what’s happening. It makes you want to continue.

How much to read

Pick a number that sounds almost too easy. If a chapter is short, read two. If it’s long, read half and stop at a natural break. After a week you’ll know your own pace, and you can work out roughly how long the whole book will take. Many people find the second half goes faster than the first, because by then they know the characters and the language feels familiar.

What goes wrong

• The start is slow. Many classics take a few chapters to get going. Give yours about 50 pages.
• You miss a few nights. Read two chapters when you can, or simply carry on from where you were.
• You lose track of who is who. Use your character list, or look up a list of the characters. Avoid full summaries, which give away the ending.
• You’re reading it because you feel you should. Choose another. The goal is a book you enjoy.

When you finish

Write down a few lines on what you liked and what surprised you. Many classics have been made into films or series, and watching one afterwards is a good reward. If you loved the author, look for another of their books.

Make it a winter evening

Turn the lamp on, make tea and read your chapter. It’s a small habit that turns the dark part of the day into something you look forward to.