I read Harry Potter and Philosophy last year, Mad, so I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it.
The Picture of Dorian Grey and Dracula are on my to read list (one of these years).
You do realize that you make the rest of us look like hopeless idiots - right? lol! ~_^ I think I need to add more classics to my pile this year. Fluff is great, but one should read something of redeeming literary value occasionally - don't you think?
Hopeless idiots? Nah, I just got away with including a lot of stuff that is job related. All the Harry Potter stuff was for my class. Not that I wouldn't have read much of it eventually, but this way I was under a deadline.
I went through a Victorian Literature phase this year, it was weird. I need to pick a different era this year. Keeps me on my toes.
i'm with Nan. you make us look so... erm, stupid was the first word that came to mind, but i know it isn't the one i want to use. how about literarily challenged? is that even a word?
anyhow, it was pleasant to see some Sherrilyn Kenyon on there. i love the woman's sense of humor. i've been considering getting back into her series, but i'd have to look at my stash to see where i left off.
unlike Nan, i doubt i'll be putting any classics on my list. the last time i tried to read what was considered classic literature, i wanted to hang myself because it sucked big ones.
I'm wondering what classic you read that had such a reaction! I don't think you all are "literarily challenged," I just go through strange reading phases. (Part of my charm.)
As I noted above, several of the books listed were work related, including the classical stuff. I'm putting together a course on tragic heroes, so I had to read the classical tragedies.
Yes, I think Sherrilyn Kenyon's stuff is incredibly funny, too. I was sold on her when I read a conversation in one of her books about the movie Troy, that was almost verbatim to a conversation I had with a friend after we saw the movie together.
When this friend read the book, she highlighted the pages and passed it on to me. It gave me a chuckle or two.
I like fluff reading, I don't get to read enough fluff. But I'm weird, if I don't get into the story within the first 20 or so pages, I just put it down.
I should note that there weren't any of these non-starters on my list, :D
i took AP English my senior year of high school. we HAD to read Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Awakening by Willa Cather. i despised them both. i couldn't even finish Tess. Cather's book was so boring, dead people would fall asleep to it.
i think the teacher knew i disliked her. she didn't like me much, either. the only good thing she ever had to say to me was that i was the only student she'd had who read The Bells by Poe with the right rhythm.
now Poe... i can read all kinds of Poe. but my idea of classic is probably much different than literary type folks.
and, like you, if i can't get into it within the first few pages, i won't get into it at all.
You might like some of the gothic stuff, ldf. But it is written in a different style since the era was 1760s-ish to 1820s-ish (but this would be a very late example).
Author's like Ann Radcliffe tend to be a bit heavy-handed, and the style flowery, but you might enjoy something like Matthew Lewis' The Monk, which is available free online. It is full of plenty of lust, murder, death and religious euphoria.
Wow. You make me look only marginally literate and rather limited in my choice of reading material. LOL.
I have read Brahm Stoker's Dracula voluntarily and Animal Farm under duress -- I was almost morally opposed to anything assigned to me as a supposed "classic" in school. I was a science nut and lived on Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and a little horror. Still do, but I lean more toward horror now.
My Latin skills never reached the point where I could have read a full length work and enjoyed it as it was written. Nor did my Spanish, sadly. And I never really got a chance to try Greek. You have my admiration and perhaps a little envy.
But seriously, it was interesting to recap some of this stuff. It was interesting for me to note that I read some new stuff and not just the old favorites. Because, honestly, if I like a book, I will read it over and over again.
Which means I have books all over the house, stuck into every crevice and dark corner I can find. It's a sickness. But I refuse to part with them because in a year or two I will read it again. The kids laugh about my rather bizarre home- cataloging system.
A couple of years ago, I was reading a lot of snuff. I am now happy that I got over that phase though. I was fascinated but it gave me nightmares.
As for the languages, I have to keep my skills sharp. So, I read the Greek fairly regularly. Although I really love it, it's my favorite language, so the reading is a treat. If occasionally slow going with a few WTF moments The Latin is, meh, but it pays the bills.
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The Picture of Dorian Grey and Dracula are on my to read list (one of these years).
You do realize that you make the rest of us look like hopeless idiots - right? lol! ~_^ I think I need to add more classics to my pile this year. Fluff is great, but one should read something of redeeming literary value occasionally - don't you think?
P.S. Luff the HJ icon! *squee*
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I went through a Victorian Literature phase this year, it was weird. I need to pick a different era this year. Keeps me on my toes.
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anyhow, it was pleasant to see some Sherrilyn Kenyon on there. i love the woman's sense of humor. i've been considering getting back into her series, but i'd have to look at my stash to see where i left off.
unlike Nan, i doubt i'll be putting any classics on my list. the last time i tried to read what was considered classic literature, i wanted to hang myself because it sucked big ones.
Reply
As I noted above, several of the books listed were work related, including the classical stuff. I'm putting together a course on tragic heroes, so I had to read the classical tragedies.
Yes, I think Sherrilyn Kenyon's stuff is incredibly funny, too. I was sold on her when I read a conversation in one of her books about the movie Troy, that was almost verbatim to a conversation I had with a friend after we saw the movie together.
When this friend read the book, she highlighted the pages and passed it on to me. It gave me a chuckle or two.
I like fluff reading, I don't get to read enough fluff. But I'm weird, if I don't get into the story within the first 20 or so pages, I just put it down.
I should note that there weren't any of these non-starters on my list, :D
Reply
i think the teacher knew i disliked her. she didn't like me much, either. the only good thing she ever had to say to me was that i was the only student she'd had who read The Bells by Poe with the right rhythm.
now Poe... i can read all kinds of Poe. but my idea of classic is probably much different than literary type folks.
and, like you, if i can't get into it within the first few pages, i won't get into it at all.
Reply
Author's like Ann Radcliffe tend to be a bit heavy-handed, and the style flowery, but you might enjoy something like Matthew Lewis' The Monk, which is available free online. It is full of plenty of lust, murder, death and religious euphoria.
Reply
I have read Brahm Stoker's Dracula voluntarily and Animal Farm under duress -- I was almost morally opposed to anything assigned to me as a supposed "classic" in school. I was a science nut and lived on Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and a little horror. Still do, but I lean more toward horror now.
My Latin skills never reached the point where I could have read a full length work and enjoyed it as it was written. Nor did my Spanish, sadly. And I never really got a chance to try Greek. You have my admiration and perhaps a little envy.
Reply
But seriously, it was interesting to recap some of this stuff. It was interesting for me to note that I read some new stuff and not just the old favorites. Because, honestly, if I like a book, I will read it over and over again.
Which means I have books all over the house, stuck into every crevice and dark corner I can find. It's a sickness. But I refuse to part with them because in a year or two I will read it again. The kids laugh about my rather bizarre home- cataloging system.
A couple of years ago, I was reading a lot of snuff. I am now happy that I got over that phase though. I was fascinated but it gave me nightmares.
As for the languages, I have to keep my skills sharp. So, I read the Greek fairly regularly. Although I really love it, it's my favorite language, so the reading is a treat. If occasionally slow going with a few WTF moments The Latin is, meh, but it pays the bills.
Reply
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