PB’s Comments (group member since Jul 29, 2015)

PB’s comments from the 100 Classics and beyond... group.

Cameron wrote: "I've dedicated 2015 to reading classics. I've powered through quite a few this year by supplementing my reading with audiobooks during commute (by the way, audiobooks are so wonderful, I can't reco..."

Wow, that's wonderful. Don't you feel so accomplished? It's been a great year with regards to books for me too :)
I also read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time in 2015..
I read Othello and Hamlet by Shakespeare (now I know what is up with that skull!), Wuthering Heights, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Scarlet Letter... all for the first time. With this book club, I plan to read more in 2016. By the end of 2015, I should have read 1984 too.

Cameron wrote: "Excellent, I've read it once but I've been meaning to reread it. It's definitely a top 10 of all time classic in my opinion."

Glad you like it. Looking forward to reading about your insights.

http://rdup.me/ih5silktf1or

NOTE: The site requires a Twitter account. I also just found out about the site not too long ago so I don't know how well it works yet, but I thought you guys might be interested.

Before reading 1984, I suggest you read this brief historical context section on Sparknotes: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/1984/co...

:D

I'll be back with questions :)

HAPPY VOTING!

We will start reading Jane Eyre on Jan 1 to start the year 2016 off!

1984 DISCUSSION THREAD.

Please feel free to post anytime (but don't forget spoiler tags if you will mention any).

I will be posting discussion questions later on as well.

Christina wrote: "I still need to read Wuthering Heights! And lots of others on this list..."

Yes, I do too! And they're wonderful books. That's why I started this book club. Now, I actually have a valid reason to read them, and so far it's been working!

Glad to have you in the club Christina!

I realized that 1984 is a pretty heavy read, and it's quite a lot to take in. For that reason, I have extended the deadline to Dec. 23... so you can have Christmas vacation and spend the rest of December with your family and not reading in your room ;)

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/twocities/

Personally, I find it very helpful and fascinating to read the "Context", "Analysis of Major Characters", "Themes, Motifs, & Symbols", and "Study Questions and Essay Topics" sections.

Sparknotes.com is quite a useful resource to enhance the reading experience, as well as to ingrain the reading experience of classics. Personally, I find it the most effective when I use it after reading the novel (firstly to avoid spoilers, and secondly, to avoid tainting the pure reading experience of a classic and giving yourself a chance to develop your own impressions or interpretations or reflections of either a certain passage or the entire novel itself).

Hi guys,

I really apologize for posting so late. I hope you all can still participate.

HAPPY POSTING!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In general, how did you like the novel? Is it your first time reading it? If it's not your first time reading it, did you find yourself enjoying it more, or did you keep the same opinion about the novel?

2. Which character do you find most interesting in the novel and why? In regards to the depth of the character, how do you think Dickens was able to achieve that kind of depth in the character?

3. Like myself, do you find it dissatisfying for Lucie to have loved Charles Darnay? Do you somehow feel that the story of their love blossoming into marriage was not told, or skipped altogether?
**I ask this because I felt like there was not really a lot of narrative interaction between Lucie and Charles Darnay beforehand, excepting the flashback to their first meeting, as well as during Darnay's trial.

4. Why do you think did Sydney Carton choose to confess his feelings for Lucie?

5. In the entirety of his character, would you consider Sydney Carton heroic? Now, beyond his sacrifice, would you still consider him as a hero, somewhat? How would you compare him with Charles Darnay?

6. There are so many events that comprise the resolution. What did you think? Is there a part that you would prefer to change? Do you think that the novel left a lasting impression on you?

7. I think that Charles Dickens writing is beautiful and quite enchanting. Please share one or a few of your most favorite passages, and why?


***I will be disclosing my answers gradually as I reply to your posts.

HAPPY POSTING!!!

HAPPY VOTING!

If you're done reading, feel free to share your thoughts, or any questions that can be answered by other members!

Unfortunately, I have not finished reading it yet, but I will try to post some discussion questions as soon as I can.

Thank so much everyone for your patience!

At least, 50% of you did (4 votes).

HAPPY READING!

Enjoy the extension.

Elaine wrote: "Hi, my name is Elaine and I joined this group as I would love the opportunity to discuss classics. I'm currently reading Wuthering Heights for the 3rd time and really enjoying it. I read lots of ch..."

Welcome to the club, Elaine. Glad to have you!
We finished reading Wuthering Heights, but we're now reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. But you are very welcome to join the discussion of Wuthering Heights, it is still open. I've also read Great Expectations, and decided that I like Charles Dickens after. It's not my favorite, because there are so many good ones, but it's definitely one of my first classic reads too.

Hope you have fun!

HAPPY VOTING!

As always, please let me know if you have any other book suggestions (or add them to the To-Read shelf, and check Suggestions)

John David wrote: "I've written a review which mostly encompasses my thoughts on the book in brief. I just so happened to be reading this book at the time that the book was chosen to be read for this group, so I was ..."

John David, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughts about the book. Thank you for sharing them! And yes, I will be very delighted to read what you thought of it. You can share the link to your review here :)

Honestly, my answers to the first questions are very similar.
3. I also think that the author chose Mr. Lockwood to be the objective storyteller.. but as you can imagine after hearing so much about them, even he gets attached to the characters towards the end. He even developed a fancy to Catherine Heathcliff himself. :)

5. And to answer your question, Isabel wrote her letter to Ellen Dean, yes, in short, Nelly.

6. I love the quotes you shared! I definitely agree with the second one, especially. Nowadays, I find it more and more difficult to have a wholesome conversation with many people, and I find myself just wanting to sit alone by myself in peace reading a book, rather than wasting time to make small talk. I like socializing.. and I understand that some people don't and just do it out of courtesy, but I really hope people just don't say things that they don't really mean such as asking "how are you" when they're not really ready to hear the answer or they don't even have time to stop and hear you say a brief "Good."

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Glad to have you in the club!

Please check out the Wuthering Heights thread for details.