I considered calling this post "I Hate the Classics" but I didn't want anyone passing out in their computer chairs or creating a voodoo doll just for me. But I have a confession to make: I have never enjoyed reading any historical fiction (or historical non-fiction, for that matter). I love to read, but I MUCH prefer contemporary novels and non-fiction. I remember in high school, being required to read "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, and I honestly thought I would die of boredom and and swore to never read Steinbeck EVER again.
I've never read a Jane Austen book. I can't sit through 1000 pages of Les Miserables. Just the title "War and Peace" sounds like the most boring thing I've ever heard of. I've had Don Quixote in my bookshelf for years, and I can't get myself to open it. I know, burn me at the stake. I'm a heretic for even suggesting these things. (This is all I remember about Joan of Arc, and I took a French Literature class, for heaven sake!)
So what I'm wanting from you, my cultured, classic reading friends, is to help me. Help me find a book (or 2 or 10) that I might actually enjoy reading. Implore me to stick through the flowy, descriptive writing and the grammatically incorrect speaking servant. Tell me why I don't have to hate anything written prior to 1980. If I actually turn out to love a book that you suggested, I will praise and adore you publicly on my blog.
Oh, and here is a picture of my boys for those of you who don't read and stuck through this post anyway. It was taken on Ethan's 2nd birthday, when Aidan was only 11 days old:
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My favorite classics (anything written before 1980, lol) would be Pride and Prejudice, Uncle Tom's Cabin and Gone with the Wind. I read almost every "classic" in high school so if you are wondering about any others I could probably give you a brief review although I remember some better than others. Have fun. :)
I am kind of with you on this one. I really hated most of the books that they made us read in high school. I did like To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice. I also didn't mind Wuthering Heights and the Great Gatsby was ok. other than those four I do not care for the old books. They are boring as you say.
My mom recommends "Kite Runner" or "Golden Compass." I don't know if you've read "The Work and the Glory" or not...I haven't, but I hear they're quite good. I have read all of "The Children of the Promise" series by Dean Hughes. They are so addicting, in my opinion. They take place during WWII, so you get some real events and church history mixed in with fictional characters. I couldn't put them down! They're each over 500 pages, I read one a week.
This is incredible. Somehow in High School and College I didn't get in ANY english class that EVER made me read a book. How did I get all the "cool" teachers? So because I never HAD to read those books, I took it upon myself to read all the classics I can get ahold of. Right now I'm reading "A Tale of Two Cities" and I like it so far. One I just read, and loved (and suggest to everyone I know) is Jane Eyre. I also like Main Street. However, like you said. You have to get past the endless details.... (Believe it or not, I thoroughly enjoyed Oliver Twist too!!)
Erin,
if you want a good book, you should read "The Scarlett Pimpernal" It's a classic and it's fantastic! There's actually a series of them (but the first is the best), and it takes place during the french revolution--right up your alley. Stick with it and you won't be disappointed.
I also have a REALLY hard time getting past all the descriptions of every little detail (thus my LOVE of the Twilight Series--they were so refreshing and to the point). So I agree with you full-heartedly. A couple books I highly recommend are Jane Eyre (really, just get past the first few chapters and you'll be hooked, I know that's a lot, but it's worth it!), Mrs. Mike (true story), and I really liked Christy as well. My mom is huge on classics, but I just can't get into them very quickly and give up too soon probably!
This isn't an old classic, but I've heard The Secret Life of Bees is really good. And the Kite Runner.
Erin,
I loved "To Kill a Mockingbird." and CS Lewis has some really great stuff too. I really enjoyed the "Screwtape Letters." There is a great site call Goodreads were you can connect with friend and see what books they have read and get reviews from them. I would suggest that so you would have more things to chose from. I would also suggest "The Kite Runner" even though it is modern. Good luck with the quest to love the classics.
I have a really boring text book you could read. That's about all I read these days. I'm with you, never read a classic I liked. I can't even think of what books I had to read in highschool. How sad is that! I had to laugh at the Adainism about carrying you. Ellie says "I want to hold you." meaning "Mom hold me." It must be the age.
Erin,
I'd have to agree with others who have posted, I loved reading "Pride and Prejudice" and also "Sense and Sensibility." Another classic that I love is "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and also "Gone with the Wind"
The Golden Compass and the 2nd one in that series are GREAT. Then the last book gets really stupid. But it's good writing. I hated all the books they made you read in high school, too. My favorite book is Jane Eyre, which I read as a teenager - so I would think you can get through it. I always like the sad-twinged love stories, though (that one isn't entirely sad - it's good).
Oh, and just so you know - I just started Twilight for the first time! I'm about 100 pages in, and I like it so far.
In my ward, the book group is reading "Goose Girl" which I know nothing about. But there you go.
Despite what you might think, I'm not a lover of classic books, unless they're good. If you're going to attempt Jane Austen, I would suggest Sense and Sensibility. If you don't already know the story line it really keeps you on your toes. I love Pride and Prejudice, but it isn't as exciting if you've seen the movies and know who ends up with who. You also might try Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Instead of skipping over the "frilly" details, you have to skip over his discourses on communism and agricultural economics. Crazy Russian!
My advice to you is whatever book(s) you choose, find someone knowledgeable (even better if they are passionate) about the literature in question. I mean more than just someone reading the book with you for a club discussion. You need someone who can tell you what to look for: significant events, cultural details, commentary on lifestyles of the day, reflections of todays society, etc. That can make or break a book for a reader. Example: I, the previous Shakespeare hater, loved the guy when I took a course with a professor who made sense of it all. Snoop around and see if there is a literature class you can audit at the university. Otherwise you can try finding a website or library book that might make the text come alive. In any case, the more effort you put into a text, the more you are likely to get out of it. There you go, read and be happy.
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