Reading The Classics

[breadstick]

How many of you have actually read the classic books?

for example Jane Austin novels or Moby Dick, of mice and men, catcher in the rye, to kill a mockingbird etc

do people say they have in order to appear smart?

[weecalf]

Never did or will

[society]

me me me and I still read chapters randomly from them.

[joggerjayne]

No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

[joggerjayne]

Jane Austin ... groan.

[CheekyChops]

I've read some of them but that was when I was taking English Literature O level at school!

I've tried to read few since then but usually give up as I find them boring compared to other stuff I can read that was written more recently.

[mikey4444]

I first read Mockingbird when I was much younger and it made a huge impression on me. Can't think of a better set book for schools, although I am sure it is already.

All of Steinbeck's work worth reading. We read The Grapes of Wrath at school in the 1960's ( as well as The Searchers, and The Day of the Triffids ! )

I have tried Catcher in the Rye but have never been able to get past the first few pages. When I told my American friends that years ago, they were scandalised ! I will continue to keep trying though.

I suppose you would include Brideshead Revisited in the classic book selection and it is a firm favourite of mine, which I re-read every few year.

Can I suggest another series of books for the "important to read" category ?
The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott...can't praise it highly enough. Don't forget Staying On, the sequel that won the Booker Prize in 1977, just before his death in 1978.

[yogasun]

Yes, No, Yes (great book) Yes (great book) and Yes

[mccfluff]

some i've read, some i haven't

i preferred grapes of wrath to of mice and men and i couldn't get on with Jane A at all. love the sherlock holmes books, to kill a mockingbird, moby dick was hard going.

trying to think what else ive read.....

[mikey4444]

Wee Calf...why would you never read Mockingbird ?

[murraymints]

Have read all of these !

[Tilly2]

I have read the all and many more

[joggerjayne]

A lot of the "classics" are off putting because of when they are set.

It's hard to relate to the characters.

When we read a book, or watch a movie, we subconsciously imagine ourselves being ... Lara Croft, or Bridget Jones, or whatever.

It's hard to do that when the characters live in a completely different time.

[mccfluff]

i don't agree, i have no problem seeing myself in a discworld novel, i identify with granny ogg for some reason.....

[mccfluff]

anne of green gables - are they considered classics? i loved those books and still re read them

[boxtops]

I read our school curriculum, but it really depends what you define as Classics - I call that Charles Dickens, the Brontes, Shakespeare. Not more modern stuff.

[China Doll]

Well I've not read Moby Dick but yes to the rest. And no, not to appear smart, I am smart and don't nead to put on appearences, I just happen to like reading.

[mikey4444]

Well, JJ ...that would probably account for all these books being best sellers, even years after publication !

Moby Dick isn't terribly easy but there is nothing remotely difficult with the Steinbecks or Mockingbird.

Not sure if any books containing Lara Croft are going to get into any Classic Book selection. But, horses for course I suppose. Some people like easy books and some people want a bit more of a challenge.

[mccfluff]

i thought lara croft was based on a playstation (or other console) game?

[paddywak]

Yes quite a lot of them over the years.Of the ones you mentioned couldn't get into Austin or Catcher in the Rye, Moby Dick I found quite hard getting started but once I got into it I enjoyed it,Steinbeck is very good and the Mockingbird is my favourite book.

[LyndaB]

I've read loads of them. Most of dickens, quite a bit of Shakespeare, lots of jane Austen, catcher in the rye, to kill a mockingbird, Of mice and men, quite a few Elizabeth Gaskell, The Grapes of wrath, love Jane Eyre, I've read Les Miserables and hated it so much I never wanted to see the stage show, hated Crime and punishment. Some I loved, some not so much.