Anyone else read "the classics"?

[Warm Gums]

I'm speaking of "literature that has stood the test of time" not the strict definition of Latin based Greek literature and drama, although that is interesting too.
I've read some of the 20th century stuff, (Fitzgerald, Hemingway, etc. ) and some Shakespeare, but not much of the earlier stuff, so with summer looming I decided to challenge my self with a 12 week (online) course of Don Quixote..
Picked it up from the library today, it's quite a tome, should be fun..

[bigmuff113]

I read some Poe stuff. Going to check out For Whom the Bell Tolls (Hemingway) and I saw a copy of The Great Gatsby at a flea market.

[mal paso]

My Mom was an English teacher, so yes.




Not only did I read "the classics", but I love "the classics"


(Nathaniel Hawthorne, not so much)




cool topic btw

[dean]

I taught English for 37 years, so I've read quite a bit (at least scratched the surface). I'm still reading good stuff, but it's lit that I want to read as opposed to lit that I had to read.

Dean

[Brad Pittiful]

im not much of a reader...i think ive read ten/twenty books my whole life

the outsiders (for school)

sex pistols book

beatles book

bodybuilding book by arnold

some i remember reading

[spurgie79]

The Catcher in the Rye was my favorite book until I was about 19. I just connected with it. Then On the Road because that was similiar to my life or what I wanted my life to be at that age and then A Farewell to Arms took me through my late 20s because I was in the middle of a war (or 2) and figuring out who I was and why I was here with a crazy girlfriend and everything else. It was similar in a lot of ways. I still read basically classics or books recommended to me by people whom I respect but none have captured me like those.

[jipp]

yes, when i was taking a vacation in the ICU ward of your local library i mean hospital i read every book i could get my hands on. tv just numbed my brain with the pain pump i was on, i guess thats why i still read today even with my heavy pain meds im on now. my logic was simple. i did not want my brain to turn to mush. so i try to read a book a month. im into the vampire hunter D novels now. first english translation was in 84, all 13 novels are translated now. so thats what ill be ready for the next 12 months. plus other odds and ends. etc.

i have a question. im taking down my library, getting rid of all my computer books. they are all mint condition even if i read them several times. so i can make room for my guitar stuff against that wall. my livings pace is small. anyhow, do library take books? or do i just give them to good will, or what do i do with them. no way will i throw them away. way to much information, even if little out dated still useful to someone at some point in time. im only keeping three computer books, two first edition on unix network programming volume 1, and 2... by stevens.. he is dead, but what a mind he had.. and of course a reference book on C from my old computer programming teacher. the rest of the books have no meaning to me any more with the way my health is.. i know i wont be able to work again.

thanks for your input on what todo with these boxes of computer books.
chris.

[mal paso]

Hey Jipp, the library is a good way to go. I donated quite a few boxes of books to my local library before my last move.

And it helps the community, which is always a plus

[Tarnisher]

Working my way through Ulysses now.

The thing about the classics is, they're often great, but even if they aren't, at least you know what people are talking about if you've read them.

Les Miserables is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read, by the way. Anyone looking for a good place to start should check it out.

[mal paso]

Hey Tarnisher, how is Ulysess treating you? I have a friend who reads it every year on account of it being his favorite book.

I've told him he's crazy, and he agrees

[jipp]

thank you, local library it is.
chris.

[bigmuff113]

Originally Posted by spurgie79

The Catcher in the Rye was my favorite book until I was about 19. I just connected with it. Then On the Road because that was similiar to my life or what I wanted my life to be at that age and then A Farewell to Arms took me through my late 20s because I was in the middle of a war (or 2) and figuring out who I was and why I was here with a crazy girlfriend and everything else. It was similar in a lot of ways. I still read basically classics or books recommended to me by people whom I respect but none have captured me like those.

I cannot read catcher in the rye due to the Mark David Chapman association

[bobsway]

Started a program a few years ago for no special reason to read some classics, made it thru these so far:
Farewell To Arms
The Old Man and the Sea
Slaughterhouse 5
The Catcher In the Rye
Heart of Darkness
Catch-22
Lord of the Flies
Fahrenheit 451
The Fountainhead

Can you recommend anything by Kafka? Seems like someone I'd like to read.

[WisconsinStrings]

I love to read. When I got my Kindle, I thought I'd try and read some of the classics because they are... well... you know... free!

Downloaded War and Peace. I found it interesting and well written. The language and phrasing was enjoyable. The pace of the book was wonderful as well. That said, I didn't get in 10% before I was onto something else. I think John Grisham, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Michael Crichton, etc, are just so much easier to read. I guess I'm just lazy.

The closest I've come to 'classics' is Hemmingway (went on a jag of all his books once), and Mario Puzo.

[Rolling Estonian]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned War and Peace....... Or Twain......

M

[thunderbyrd]

i've read a huge pile of books modern and ancient. the one guy i keep circling around over the last 2-3 years is tolstoy. i've read excerpts from his novels and i love his writing, but i haven't really plunged in. i'll fire up anna karinena one of these days.

i've developed this love for all things Russian, lately.

[SolidbdyJazzfan]

Originally Posted by Tarnisher

Working my way through Ulysses now.

The thing about the classics is, they're often great, but even if they aren't, at least you know what people are talking about if you've read them.

Les Miserables is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read, by the way. Anyone looking for a good place to start should check it out.

"Ulysses" is truly a great book. I haven't read it in a while, but in school (I graduated with an English degree for my undergrad portion) I was a huge Joyce fan. I have "Finnegan's Wake," but think I might refer to a secondary source for it before cracking it, such as the book I understand Anthony Burgess wrote as a guide. The English studies forced a lot of reading, but it was all worth it.

I'm about to re-read Samuel Beckett's "Watt," a very funny book and one which pokes a bit of fun at then-current philosophical ideas.

[mal paso]

Hey Bobsway, Metamorphosis is a good place to start. It's short, funny, absurd and scary.

The Trial is good too.



+1 for your list

[bigmuff113]

Originally Posted by Rolling Estonian

Can't believe nobody has mentioned War and Peace....... Or Twain......

M

A modern day warrior, lean mean stride, todays Tom Sawyer mean mean pride
Dun dun dun duuuuuunnnnnnn (insert synth ruff here)

[mal paso]

^nice