Book meme

[blubird_pie]

Posts I am delaying to respond to this meme: meta on classical themes in SPN, a drabble about keeping count, an unpleasant fic about Sam while Dean was in hell, a Jossed apocafic, and a Jossed angst-fest of a het-inflected character study. *sigh.* Making lists is easier (even if it makes me feel a bit poorly read) so without further ado

Comments

[lexhibition]

I imagine Bridget Jones is on there because this is a BBC list and that's really popular in the UK, much more so that Faulkner.

What I don't understand is why they've got 'The Complete Works of Shakespeare' but then a separate one for 'Hamlet'. Very odd.

You should definitely read Midnight's Children - if you liked the Satanic Verses. I loved it a lot; but then, I have a weakness for magical realism. :D

[blubird_pie]

Ah, that does make sense; I think watching the movie has predisposed me to think poorly of Bridget Jones the book. I agree that the Hamlet thing is odd. C.S. Lewis has two entries for the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, too.

I did like the Satanic Verses, and Midnight's Children is definitely on my list. I totally agree about magical realism! I'm so unversed in Indian culture and Islamic tradition, though. I felt like all the references were whizzing over my head. Biblically based stuff I can usually pick up on, but my knowledge of the Quran is worse than remedial :(

[tifaching]

I can't see Bridget Jones Diary OR The Davinci Code. They just don't seem to fit with the rest of the list.

[blubird_pie]

Right? I mean, intellectually I see the problems with an antiquated canon and with the dismissal of pop culture... but on an emotional level I have this snooty mistrust of best sellers. Also, I know both of those books only through their goofy movie incarnations, so. There's that.

[dante_s_hell]

I try to read at least one classic a year. Last year it was A Lesson Before Dying by Gaines and this year it was Anthem by Rand. They left a lot of books off the list and it's decidedly, um, lacking in the multicultural area.

I agree with tifaching about The Da Vinci Code. I wouldn't call that a classic. Bridget Jones is on my list of books to read this year.

[blubird_pie]

Yeah, I was trying to make my way through some classics lately, but neither Mrs. Dalloway nor The Sound and the Fury got me any points this time around! Haha, I think I'm always inclined to want these types of lists to reflect my own reading patterns, as some sort of external approval of my status as an educated person. Which is silly, and highlights the dangers of having a 'canon' at all, but there you have it.

Also, are you still doing those spn episode group chats? It sounds like lots of fun, but I keep missing the party!

[dante_s_hell]

We sure are! We haven''t picked the next date yet. What's good for you in the coming week? I'll have something up on my journal later today so we can set a date. We'd love to have you join us. It's a lot of fun!

[blubird_pie]

Awesome! My evenings are mostly free next week, asides from Wednes and, clearly, Thurs, so hopefully I won't be hard to plan around. I'll check your journal for specifics later :)

[melanth0]

This is a funny list...have you ever read any nabokov other than part of Lolita? because he's pretty much my favorite.

Also, I see that a) The Woman In White made it on there and b) you have not read it. I really enjoyed that book; if you like Victorian-era drama and intrigue, be sure to check it out.

[blubird_pie]

I read Pale Fire, which was great. And I do want to get back to Lolita; I don't usually leave books uncompleted, I just started reading a library copy when I had too many other things going on, and in the end I got distracted, had to return it, and lost my place. I was reading an essay on Nabokov and Barthes the other day, though, and it reminded me that I really need to get on that. So much to read! I'll add the Woman in White to my list, though; I like drama and intrigue of all flavors!