Feel like you missed out on those ‘classic’ books everyone must read? Didn’t pay attention to them the first time round when forced to study at school?
We’ve compiled a Cheat's Guide to some great classic books – and shortcuts for those of you who still can’t be bothered.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) This is a high-school English class favourite, but still a goodie. A group of school children find themselves trapped on a desert island. They attempt to govern themselves, but everything goes horribly wrong. Cheat's tip: Watch The Simpsons' episode where the kids wind up on a desert island – it’s a great version of Lord of the Flies. What happens to Milhouse is a complete take-off from the book.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) Don’t read this one if you’re in a good mood! Plath’s trademark novel has been a favourite accessory of angsty teenage girls for years, and with good reason. It’s a semi-autobiographical account of Sylvia’s own descent into madness. The book carries more weight knowing that she killed herself a month after its publication. Cheat's tip: Watch the 2003 film Sylvia – a summary of her life might be easier to tackle than actually reading her books.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902) It’s kind of on the ‘slow’ side but Conrad’s classic novel influenced decades of war movies and books to come. Read as Charles Marlow travels deep into the Congo River to meet with ivory trader Kurtz. What follows is a journey into the dark depths of the human psyche. Cheat's tip: Watch the Heart of Darkness-inspired Simpsons' episode (again – The Simpsons rock!) Homer’s manic boat trip into the jungle is hilarious once you get the reference.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) A coming of age story, which takes place in America’s Deep South. Scout Finch and her brother Jem grow up over three years in Alabama, set against a backdrop of a deeply prejudiced community. When their lawyer father represents a black man accused of raping a white woman, the world begins to change around them. Cheat's tip: Lots of modern films have references to this book, including Pleasantville, Vanilla Sky, and Almost Famous.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (1847) Anything written by a Bronte sister is up there in the must-read list. Wuthering Heights details the love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, and the effects of their romance. Gotta love the cheesy old-school names! Cheat's tip: Watch the 2003 MTV movie, or if you’re feeling silly, watch the Monty Python clip Wuthering Heights in Semaphore.
The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954) Most Kiwis can be forgiven for being “over” The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. But they’re still good books if you’re a fan of adventure stories. Be warned – the books are looong. Be prepared for chapters and chapters of travelling (which Peter Jackson turned into a 5-second aerial shot in the movies – class!). Cheat's tip: Watch the movies. If you’re still keen to read the books, skip past the pages of Tom Bombadil’s flowery songs. They don’t add anything to the story and are kinda lame when you read them in 2007.
If you’re inspired to read any of these, try stockpiling them for a rainy winter day, because some of these babies are pretty long! Happy reading (or cheating).
ryone must read? Didn’t pay attention to them the first time round when forced to study at school? 
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (1847)
Most Kiwis can be forgiven for being “over” The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. But they’re still good books if you’re a fan of adventure stories. Be warned – the books are looong. Be prepared for chapters and chapters of travelling (which Peter Jackson turned into a 5-second aerial shot in the movies – class!).