Shanea’s Comments (group member since Dec 02, 2012)

Shanea’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

Paul wrote: "Hi Everyone, Paul from Penticton, BC here. New to the site, looking forward to getting to know people here and learning about new books to add to my reading list :)
Most read would be Tom Robbins, ..."

Hello!

Frank wrote: "Hi I'm Frank from northern NJ US...I love classic stories and must read books."

Well then, I have a good feeling about this. Welcome.

Lorisa wrote: "Finished it today (a little late). This was a reread from high school for me. I remember how much I loved it then because it was funny and interesting. Now I can read it with a more critical eye an..."
Good job on finishing nonetheless! There are some people reading the series here as well, so feel free to chip in to the conversation.

Tim wrote: "I must confess that when I first saw that our monthly read was THE SWORD IN THE STONE, I was not overly excited. Once I got started reading it, I loved it. White's work was so imaginative and creat..."

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It is the best when you read a book just as part of a challenge or because you told someone you would and end up liking it.

Gio wrote: "Hello,

I would like to add more classics to my TBR. I have read a few but need to expand. Good to be in this Group."

Hello!

Judy wrote: "I am Judy - and I love to read - I am a published poet, as well as a mental health advocate. I have a question! How often does the group start a new classic - I really want to participate, but this..."

Feel free to pick and choose. Sometimes you're just not interested, or too busy. That's why we leave the forums up to have people still post on whenever they get around to it, sometimes months or years later.

Abagail's got it.
Ants and Geese were part of the sections cut by the publishing house, and originally in the Book of Merlyn, rounding out the series, but are now occasionally moved back into their original intended spots.

Cindy wrote: "The part where Wart became part of the geese was interesting. I loved the old admiral goose that rounded up the chickens and put them in the hen house. Merlin does have a great style of teaching. I..."
Congratulations on completing it.
I hope you enjoy it, though some parts are harder to get through than others.

George wrote: "Shanea wrote: "Don't we all wish Merlin was our teacher growing up though?"
Yes, and I mentioned the similarity to The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series- how about the similarity to the Harry..."
I'd say it's slightly dissimilar to most of your examples actually. Obviously there is the similarity of fantastical elements, and the coming of age transition. However, Merlin uses magic to instruct Wart on the world that he already lives in in a literally magical way, whereas in the Potterverse and Narnia the characters experience growth by entering an entirely new world with different laws of nature, mores, etc.

MMG wrote: "Hi, Everyone,
My Goodreads name is MMG, but my real name is Megan (pronounced Mee-gan). My favorite beverage is wine. My most "read" author is actually the children's book author, Brian Jacques (th..."

We try to be fun. Welcome!

Don't we all wish Merlin was our teacher growing up though?

What do you guys think of the use of anachronism by T H White in the series?
Does or did it distract you or confuse you an any point? Do you enjoy it?


Personally, I have always found the occasional purposeful breaking of literary "rules" to be highly entertaining. I'd like to hear from you guys on the matter.

Cindy wrote: "I have 4 books. I would read the whole book, but I am starting a little late. I read slow so there is no way I would be done by the end of February."

You don't have to read by the end of February. There are always a few trailers. Sometimes your hobby has to take a back seat, right?

Cindy wrote: "I am Cindy from South Dakota. I have been on goodreads for a year in other groups. I love to read the classics old and new. My favorite authors are Daphne du Maurier and Agatha Christie. I also lik..."

Welcome! Hope you enjoy it here.

Abigail wrote: "I’m not sure the Tolkien and White had to know each other in order for them to plow the same field. It was a big thing in England in the first half of the twentieth century to use mythology—especia..."

I was just confused by the particular wording. As George was unaware of the timeline, and in order for Tolkein to draw any influence from a book that was unpublished he and White would have had to discussed it privately before it was actually put out to the public. Obviously there are many instances of writers of the same period using similar themes that are in vogue at that period in time.

George wrote: "I'm a little over half way now. Reading the descriptions of strange creatures that Arthur does battle with, I wonder if Tolkein didn't draw some from this book for Lord of the Rings. Also, Merlyn h..."

Were Tolkein and White friends? I had no idea.

George wrote: "C wrote: "Possibly, I would like to see how the first book goes before I decide...."
Same here- I put the full series in my to-read list, but I'm not committing myself yet. So far, "The Sword.." se..."

The series definitely gets darker with each book, besides the Book of Merlyn. The plot is consistent, but it stylistically it changes drastically from book to book. I'd go so far as to say read a chapter or two of each book to decide whether or not you want to continue, unless you're someone who has to finish a book once started.

Lorisa wrote: "Hi all!
I'm Lorisa from St. Louis, Missouri. I've recently become a tea fanatic and I'm a recovering Gatorade addict. My most read author is Evelyn Waugh but I've recently been reading Willa Cather..."

Hello Louisa.

Hello Goreti!
I've only read Candide, but I did love it.
Welcome.

Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the discussion of the Sword in the Stone! Since it is the beginning of the month, I'm guessing a lot of people are just getting started. How are you guys picking up the book? Audible has a great version of the entire series, which I have purchased myself, and there are many copies of it floating around the world.