World Book Day 2024: 10 Best, Must-Read Books Before You Die

Today is the best time to head to the library or your reading nook at home to spend some time reading a good book.

World Book Day, a "worldwide celebration of books and reading," was created by UNESCO on April 23, 1995. It has been celebrated annually since then.

"We wanted to do something to reposition reading, and our message is the same today as it was then -- that reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives," said World Book Day founder Baroness Gail Rebuck.

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To celebrate this event, here's a list of 10 best, must-read books to add to your to-be-read bucket list.

1. "1984" by George Orwell

Goodreads describes George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel set in Oceania as a "rare work that grows more haunting as its futuristic purgatory becomes more real" and "ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written."

It portrays a nightmarish totalitarian society where personal freedom does not seem to exist.

2. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

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Jane Austen's classic, published in 1813, is "one of the most popular novels in the English language." It centers on the flourishing relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, an aristocratic landowner.

3. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

The Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Harper Lee is a "compassionate, dramatic and deeply moving" read as it takes its readers to "the roots of human behavior."

Today, the story of Scout Finch and her father, Atticus, first published in 1960, is regarded as "a masterpiece of American literature," per Goodreads.

4. "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy

Aside from being filled with swoon-worthy quotes, Leo Tolstoy's 1878 novel gives its readers an overview of contemporary life in Russia.

Here, Tolstoy "uses his intense imaginative insight to create some of the most memorable characters in all of literature."

5. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger's book, first published in 1951, is "an elegy to teenage alienation." This coming-of-age classic, set in New York City, captures "the deeply human need for connection and the bewildering sense of loss as we leave childhood behind."

It is also the 12th best novel of the 20th century.

6. "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

In this installment of C.S. Lewis' widely popular "Chronicles of Narnia" series, he takes his readers on a magical journey to the world of Narnia, "the land beyond the wardrobe door."

The book, published in 1950, shows the adventure of the Pevensie siblings as they battle an evil witch to free Narnia.

7. "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle

The 1962 science-fantasy novel written by Madeleine L'Engle is the winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal.

It follows the story of Meg Murry, who confronts her father's mysterious disappearance. It features the themes of love, trust and courage.

8. "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott's book about the March sisters was published in January 1868. It follows the four sisters -- Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy -- and their devotion to their sisterhood as they traverse childhood to adulthood.

"Little Women" explores the themes of love, career, family responsibilities and personal ambition, among others.

9. "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë

The passionate love story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff was published by Emily Brontë in December 1847 in her novel "Wuthering Heights."

This classic novel follows the simple love story of the two that "acquires the depth and simplicity of ancient tragedy."

10. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley's masterpiece, first published in January 1932, serves as a "thought-provoking" "warning to be heeded as we head into tomorrow."

Its parallels in the present world make the book a compelling read for modern readers.