Thanks to Trish for suggesting this meme - something to tempt our classics tastebuds before the challenge begins!
1. My favorite classic is either Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - please don't make me pick a sole winner!
2. The classic I had the toughest time finishing is a number too large to mention I think! I remember struggling hugely with Jane Austen when at high school but somehow when I got to University I "got it" and now she is my favourite author. I can't think of any classics titles off the top of my head at the moment for this question but I know I have a lot of trouble with books that have HUGE descriptive content rather than focusing on character.
3. I would recommend any Jane Austen book to someone who doesn't like/read classics. I think Jane Austen novels are fun, character driven and still relevant in a lot of ways to today's society.
I would also recommend a book called Classics - Books For Life By Jane Gleeson-White. The author talks about 62 books she sees as the classics of literature and within the book famous authors also list and talk about their favourite classics. I have found this book to be a helpful guide when choosing classics to delve into.
4. To me, a classic book is one that moves the reader and stands the test of time. I think a classic should be readable across time and (hopefully, culture and society). A classic is a book you want to go back to again and again.
5. The type of relationship I have with classics is as an in awe friend! I would like to say I have an "equal" relationship/friendship with the classics but I know this is not the case. I often struggle to read books labeled as classics but I find the journey rewarding when I give it a go.
4 comments:
I can relate to the struggle/reward relationship. It took me a while to finally get into Austen and I hope to read more of her in the future. I really enjoyed Jane Eyre! Thanks for playing!
I'm going to have to get the Gleeson-White book. That might help me focus on the classics I should be reading as well. Does she include Russia lit? I really hate the Russian classics I've read.
I never appreciated the books I was forced to read in High School until I was an adult and marvel at the kids who fall in love with them at the high school level. I wonder if it was just me or maybe even the teacher.
I also struggle with classics sometimes. I went through a period when I decided I wanted to be well-read. I still would like to be but I am unwilling to tolerate a book that I am not enjoying. Life is just too short!
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