Classic Literature Challenge

[here_be_dragons]

Another book challenge:
Although I’ve been an avid reader almost all my life, this is one area where I’ve been a bit negligent. I managed to avoid most of the reading I was supposed to do in high school (thanks to Cliff’s Notes), and now there are a lot of books I feel I “should” have read, but I haven’t. So, I would like to read more of them.
I like

Comments

Re: my one suggestion...

[here_be_dragons]

Is that the one with Mr. Rochester? Yes, I think it is . . .

I have a confession to make! I had been wanting to read this one, because I want to read "The Eyre Affair," and felt like it would probably make more sense if I'd read "Jane Eyre" first. But then, a few months ago, I got lazy, and got the film version (with Marlon Brando, IIRC) from the library. *hides face in hands* That is totally CHEATING, isn't it? (I did it with "Memoirs of a Geisha," too, and "Pay it Forward." Bad Wendy. Bad. BAD!). *giggles*

Maybe I should actually take the time to read the book, huh? I was a bit nervous, since I'd always sort of lumped this one in with "Wuthering Heights" (which I read and did not enjoy). I'll give it a try, though, since you liked it!

Thanks for the suggestion!

[conradin]

I keep meaning to find and read a copy of The Scarlett Pimpernell...not entirely sure why...

[here_be_dragons]

Heh. That title has always kind of disturbed me. When I was a kid, I thought they were talking about bread (pumpernickel) . . . but now I've got the idea in my head that it's really some sort of a big mole or birthmark? Or did I just imagine that? I think I like the idea of the bread better! :D

(As you can tell, that's another of the "unread classics" on my list). :D

[conradin]

Yeah, I think I've always felt a bit that the title doesn't seem to _fit_ with a swashbuckling, sword swinging intrigue adventure...

[here_be_dragons]

Is that really what it's about? Swashbuckling?

Because the title puts me in mind of some fat foppish kinda guy in a bad wig, wearing a dark red velvet suit (late 18th century), with black shoes with silver buckles, white tights, and a big hairy mole on his face. SO not swashbuckling.

I might have to add that one to my list. Now I'm intriqued. And, like you, I've heard (and obviously not understood) a lot of references to the book over the years. *adds book to classics list*

[syrinxkat]

I've got Henry James's Portrait of a Lady in my TBR Challenge list, if you have a mind towards trying that one. I figure classics tend to go better if you can share 'em with others...

[here_be_dragons]

What's it about? In general, I mean. I've heard the title, but there is absolutely no spark of recognition in my head about the subject matter. But yeah, I'll read along with you if you start it at a time when I'm not slammed.

Also, I'll definitely let you know when I start reading "Read Mars," so we can read together if it happens at a time when you're not slammed. :D

I'm doing all right on the TBR thing, btw. I started one of the books on my list this evening. (One of the thin ones, just to make sure I get January out of the way, since I'm getting a tiny bit of a late start). Whee!

[syrinxkat]

Umm...quite honestly, I'm not too sure. I just know it's been on my "classics to read" list for a while. I skimmed the cover blurb and it looks your standard Austin-esque plot about class and relationships, but the main character is an american in England. Might be an ex-pat hook for you there? It's quite a sizeable tome, as most classics are, but it's supossed to be one of the greats.

btw - cute typo on "read mars" ;) Challenge or no, let me know when you start that, and I'll get back into it myself.

I think I've narrowed down my choices for reading this month, but I'm holding my thinnest book in reserve if I get in a pinch :) I'm wading through a (luckily low-pressure) backlog of promised books right now - heavy stuff like Under the Banner of Heaven. They're good reads, but slooooooow. I'm hoping to be able to toss my January TBR into the mix sometime next week. whew!

[here_be_dragons]

I'm glad to hear that you liked Jane Eyre better than WH. I completely agree with what you said - I just didn't like any of the characters! Which was kind of surprising to me. I'd always had in my head that it was some sort of fantastic love story - Cathy and Heathcliff, and she returns from the grave blah blah blah. But ACK! They were both such losers, I could hardly stand it

[saintpip]

I ended up reading quite a few classics simply because of Masterpiece Theatre; I became interested in seeing how the video version differed from the originals. :) I adore Jane Austen (if you like books of that era, read Georgette Heyer...she was the Master), can't stand Hemingway, like Thomas Hardy (though they are dark)...oh I could go on. *L*

[joyliveshere]

Me too! I used to watch Masterpiece Theatre when I was a kid, and that made me interested in classic literature, to the extent that when I was a teenager I read far more real literature than I read now. I could have done without the pretentious Alistair Cooke and his pipe, though, although he was made worthwhile by the Sesame Street bit Monsterpiece Theatre, with Alistair Cookie Monster. But I digress.

Masterpiece Theatre inspired me to read Tom Brown's Schooldays and Pere Goriot, among others.

Also agree w/ you about Austen and Hemingway.

[here_be_dragons]

I watched loads of "Masterpiece Theatre," too, but I don't remember too many that were based on classic literature. Well, I guess "The Pallisers" was? I wouldn't call "Poldark" classic literature (although it was my fave MT presentation. At least I think it was MT. I adored Alistair Cooke, though.

I actually have read a lot of Austen, and one of the few classic I did read in school was by Hemingway and it traumatized me so much I've avoided him every since. :D

[here_be_dragons]

I, too, love Austen. I've read four or five of her books, IIRC. I will check out Heyer.

Also WORD about Hemingway. I read "The Sun Also Rises" in high school (the only book I actually remember READING for a HS English class), and it traumatized me. I thought it was awful and annoying and I hated the characters and it put me off Hemingway . . . well . . . forever, maybe. I suppose I might try something else of his eventually, but it's not high on my priority list after that awful bullfighting madness I read.