your favorite classic novels

Top 28. Jul 13, 2003 9:56 PM

» PammyPT - oooh

My favourite novel of all time is Jane Eyre. I just keep finding myself reading picking it up off the shelf over and over again. I also love To Kill A Mockingbird, Animal Farm, and Pride and Prejudice.

~Pamela

-- posted by PammyPT

Top 29. Jul 15, 2003 11:44 AM

» rahunter_nf - My Favourite Classic Novels

When I was in high school, I was introduced to the classics by my English teachers and by Classics Illustrated, a series of comic books on the classics. In the half century since then, I've read numerous classics, including many of the ones that I met in Classics Illustrated. In fact, I have several of them in my prized Great Books of the Western World and The Franklin Library collections.

Like many others (including my daughter, Allison) who have posted messages in this discussion, I find it hard to pick out my favourite classic novels. Thus, I'll limit my selection to books in the collections named above. First, I'll list five of my favourites from those collections that have already been referred to in this discussion. Then, I'll list five of them that haven't yet been referred to in this discussion.

Already referred to in this discussion are these favourites of mine: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice; Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights; Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre; and Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov.

Not already referred to in this discussion are these favourites of mine: Louis May Alcott, Little Women; Charles Dickens, David Copperfield; Henry Fielding, Tom Jones; Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; and Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire, Candide.

-- posted by rahunter_nf

Top 30. Jul 26, 2003 3:34 PM

» shequm - Re: Favorite classic novel

In response to message posted by SusanJ_3:

Hi, Susan,

My first visit to Suite 101 and I'm fascinated by your topic. Hope I am not too late.

The professor who taught Literary History asked the class almost the same question: what are your favorite books? Good he used "books," not "book." I am Chinese, so I definitely wanted to include Dreams in the Red Chambers (also called The Story of a Stone), the best Chinese classic novel, written maybe 300 years ago. Unfortunately no one, not even the professor, had heard about this book, let alone reading it. I am also an English major, so I want to pick at least two: My Antonia by Willa Cather and Tess by Hardy. Grapes of Wrath, if I may add one more.

Thanks for start the discussion. Qumei

-- posted by shequm

Top 31. Oct 7, 2003 1:47 PM

» sean6 - elliot

middlemarch. long read, but got to be my favorite classic.

-- posted by sean6

Top 32. Dec 31, 2003 8:57 AM

» MissSassyJack - New to Classic Literature

I am a rookie! I would imagine that there are many individuals who would find it difficult to exist without books / reading. Unfortunately reading was not something I enjoyed doing (maybe bad memories from school, feeling forced to read). I was not raised in a reading environment.

The past year has been great! My New Year's Goal 2003 was to read a book a month. That was a stretch goal for me but I actually read 15 books, non of which were "classics". This year my goal for 2004 is to read 12 classics. I have a question that some may laugh at... What makes a book a classic?

Thanks.

-- posted by MissSassyJack

Top 33. Feb 4, 2004 2:56 PM

» Redbeerd - Favorite novel and an introduction...

My favorite classic novel is The Three Musketeers. I've read it every year or two since I was 13 years old.

When I do talks or book appearances, the books the audience seems to feel they should read are "Ulysses" (which means they're way more ambitious or a lot smarter than me) or Moby Dick (which means they have more time).

I'd love to hear more from the rest of you

-- posted by Redbeerd

Top 34. Feb 4, 2004 3:02 PM

» Redbeerd - Re: New to Classic Literature

In response to message posted by MissSassyJack:

Wow Miss Sassy...congrats. My idea of a classic used to be "Frampton Comes Alive". After writing my book, A Philistine's Journal, i think i've gotten a little smarter. Here's my definition: It's a work of art (pick a field) that will still be read and enjoyed over time, particularly from generation to generation. A true classic needs to still hold some merit over time.

When I wrote my book, I used 1900 as a starting point and worked my way back. Partly that was to stretch myself...partly because those books are in public domain...apparently Epictetus didn't have a good copyright lawyer.

Happy reading. Try some of the "boy's books" from back then... Treasure Island is a fun read, and Three Musketeers is my all time favorite book. Bad history, great swashbuckling, big enough to impress people who see you reading it.

Have fun

-- posted by Redbeerd

Top 35. Jul 29, 2004 6:39 AM

» bfenters - Re: Re: Favorite classic novel

In response to message posted by shequm:

Could you tell me what the Dreams in the Red Chambers is about?

-- posted by bfenters

Top 36. Sep 10, 2004 7:08 AM

» BernieGeyer - Far from the Madding Crowd

This is one of those stories and authors that I just felt I "should" read. I remember seeing the movie, or parts of it, when I was very young. I picked up the novel last year and absolutely loved it! I now need to go out and read more Thomas Hardy (esp. Jude the Obscure).

With some classics, you need to re-learn how to enjoy reading a book just for the sheer pleasure of a turn of phrase, and not reading just to get to the end. The whole point of reading, as I realized mid-way through the book, is the reading itself, not the "finishing" of the story.

I actually reviewed Far From the Madding Crowd on my own book review web site at http://rantsravesreviews.homestead.com/F...

-- posted by BernieGeyer