Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
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Please Introduce Yourself
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Welcome to a group of many classic lovers! You will fit right in, Stephanie!
Welcome Jennifer. I just finished Between the World and Me yesterday--wow. Glad to meet another historical fiction lover who also reads classics. This is a great group to branch out in as there are many book choices each month. Looking forward to seeing you in the group.
Welcome Stephanie and Jennifer! I'm looking forward to discussing classics with both of you too :)
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Jennifer wrote: "Hello! I love to read...historical fiction is my favorite, but I also enjoy reading the classics, memoirs, and anything with a great plot! I didn't realize until this afternoon that I was a member ..."Hi Jennifer! Welcome, again! :)
I also like historical fiction! Wuthering Heights is my absolute all time favorite! So glad you're here! Enjoy and happy reading! :)
Jennifer wrote: "Hello! I love to read...historical fiction is my favorite, but I also enjoy reading the classics, memoirs, and anything with a great plot! I didn't realize until this afternoon that I was a member ..."Ah, Jennifer--I love the books you mentioned! Wuthering Heights is an old favorite of mine and Their Eyes were Watching God a new favorite. I also enjoyed The Heart is a Lonely Hunter this year and can't wait to read The Bluest Eye and Between the World and Me. Look forward to discussing books with you!
Laura wrote: "Hi, I'm Laura from Italy. Married, two kids. I like to read books of "dead authors" (classics) and sometimes also something of "living writers" that I find iteresting (Ishiguro, Murakami, Nothomb)...."Laura, hi and welcome! So glad you've joined! :)
Welcome Laura. I have a daughter who loves art so I am learning those classics as well. Glad to have you here. The Italian and Japanese authors you mention sound fascinating. Looking forward to seeing you in the group.
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I've also got The Baron in the Trees.
Welcome to the group Laura, don't worry about not being very cultivated (I'm certainly not!) your input is very welcome here. I'm a fan of 'dead authors' too, although I read far too many books by 'dead white men' which I try to counteract, but often fail hopelessly!
Laura wrote: "@KatyThe cloven viscount is my favourite among the three "our ancestors" Calvino novels."
I read that earlier this year and had mixed feelings about it. My short review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Laura wrote: "@Kathyto be honest, I've read this book when I was nine. My teacher loved him and considering the almost fantasy nature of the plot, tell us to read it on summer vacation. I loved it, without aski..."
Were you answering to me or to Kathy? I don't think it was a question of translation, they tend to be pretty good (and it's the only one available anyway). It's just that I found it quite predictable and if I can say which parts are meant to make me laugh, they won't make me laugh. Also I kind of instantly picked up that a part of it was about politics, there was something I recognized in it.
Well Wikipedia says (giving as a source "Calvino, 'Introduction by the author', Our Ancestors, x."):"Instead of making myself write the book I ought to write, the novel that was expected of me, I conjured up the book I myself would have liked to read, the sort by an unknown writer, from another age and another country, discovered in an attic." The result was Il visconte dimezzato (1952; The Cloven Viscount) composed in 30 days between July and September 1951. The protagonist, a seventeenth century viscount sundered in two by a cannonball, incarnated Calvino's growing political doubts and the divisive turbulence of the Cold War. Skillfully interweaving elements of the fable and the fantasy genres, the allegorical novel launched him as a modern "fabulist".
In the whole the novel made a lot more sense when I read it like that, and Calvino was a political person. I can see that it is meant to be funny but because I guessed what was going to happen beforehand, it became more boring than funny to me.
It may be that he didn't meant for it to be political but it became political, nevertheless. Mika Waltari said that his most famous novel The Egyptian is not about WWII but it is probably hard not to see some similarities. He himself did also say that if he had written it before the war (the story was already in his mind but then the war started), it would have become different. And he then wrote the whole book in a frenzy over the summer of 1945, after serving five years in the government information center, so it's pretty safe to say that the war probably had influenced him, like everyone else.
Laura wrote: "Hi, I'm Laura from Italy. Married, two kids. I like to read books of "dead authors" (classics) and sometimes also something of "living writers" that I find iteresting (Ishiguro, Murakami, Nothomb)...."Ciao Laura, benvenuto! I'm from New Zealand but I lived in Sicily for 6 months 15years ago. I loved my time there and was introduced to Calvino and Lampedusa. Welcome to the group :) Where in Italy do you live?
Hi, I'm Ruth, I'm from Nottingham, UK. I like reading classics (as well as other genres). I've read a lot of British ones, so would like to branch out to classics from other countries. Suggestions are welcome!I also want to go back and read some of the books I read in English Lit class that I didn't like, to see if I can enjoy them in a way that my 14-18 yr old self couldn't.
So many books, so little time!
Welcome, Ruth. You have my mantra exactly-- so many books, so little time. And my other mantra-- rereading all of those books that we had to read in school. Since joining this group, I have reread the school classics as well as new to me classics. This is the the best group to be in for rediscovering all classics. I look forward to seeing you in the group.
Brina wrote: "Welcome, Ruth. You have my mantra exactly-- so many books, so little time. And my other mantra-- rereading all of those books that we had to read in school. Since joining this group, I have reread ..."Thank you Brina
Ruth wrote: "Hi, I'm Ruth, I'm from Nottingham, UK. I like reading classics (as well as other genres). I've read a lot of British ones, so would like to branch out to classics from other countries. Suggestions ..."Hi and welcome Ruth! You've come to the right place to read classics! Good luck with your goal to re-read those books that you didn't like when you were younger! I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself here! Happy reading! :)
Welcome to the group Ruth, we have plenty of classic reads to choose from here, so hopefully you'll find something to suit your tastes. I'm still catching up with books I missed out on during my school years!
Hi everybody,myself debashis from india.i am new to this clan.very much eager to cxplore classics and discuss them,can anyone let me know how to start a discussion on a particular book here in this group.i have started east of eden to read just a few days ago,so want to discuss and read.any reply to this matter will be very much helpful.thankyou.
Debashis wrote: "Hi everybody,myself debashis from india.i am new to this clan.very much eager to cxplore classics and discuss them,can anyone let me know how to start a discussion on a particular book here in this..."Hello and welcome Debashis! I'm sure you'll enjoy our group! Happy reading! :)
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Welcome, Debashis. Glad you joined and looking forward to seeing you in the group.
Thaks everyone,just love the warm welcome of this group...just eager to look forward...thanks again
Welcome Debashis, I hope you enjoy the group :)
Hi i am Edward from england i love reading history and classics
Edward wrote: "Hi i am Edward from england i love reading history and classics"Hi and welcome Edward from England! This is the place to read classics! Enjoy and happy reading! :)
Hello everyone, I'm Fae from Germany. This is the first group I'm joining though I have been on Goodreads for a little while. My favourite genres are classics, fantasy and anything that can fit under gothic and spooky umbrella. Other than books I love music, doing needlework and learning about history and mythology. I'm looking foward to the reading and hope you all are having a wonderful day :)
Welcome, Fae. It seems like some spookier books are going to win for group reads in October. Glad you joined and looking forward to seeing you in the group.
Hello, everyone! I'm Jonah. This is the first Goodreads group I am taking relatively seriously. I am interested in reading classics, as I have not been the best at reading them in the past. I look forward to enjoying them with the rest of you, and I hope these books expand my vocabulary further. I enjoy other genres such as fantasy and natural history, and one of my favorite hobbies is reading a good novel.
The Soul of Winter wrote: "Hello, everyone! I'm Jonah. This is the first Goodreads group I am taking relatively seriously. I am interested in reading classics, as I have not been the best at reading them in the past. I look ..."Hello and welcome Jonah! You've picked a great first group here on Goodreads! I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself here! Happy reading! :)
Welcome Jonah. This is a great first group to join on goodreads. It helps you expand your reading to classics and other books. Glad you joined and looking forward to seeing you in the group.
Hey, everyone! My name is Hanna. I absolutely love reading, as well as hiking and being out in nature. I enjoy reading literature/classics, fantasy, and natural history. I'm happy to have found this group, and look forward in reading all of the future classics with everyone.
Fae wrote: "Hello everyone, I'm Fae from Germany. This is the first group I'm joining though I have been on Goodreads for a little while. My favourite genres are classics, fantasy and anything that can fit und..."Hello and welcome Fae from Germany! Glad you decided to join our group! Happy reading!
Welcome Edward, Fae, Jonah and Hanna! I'm glad you've all decided to join our group and look forward to discussing classics with you :)
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Welcome Hanna. Glad to see that you enjoy reading classics. I hope that you enjoy this group.
Fae wrote: "Hello everyone, I'm Fae from Germany. This is the first group I'm joining though I have been on Goodreads for a little while. My favourite genres are classics, fantasy and anything that can fit und..."Hi Fae--Welcome! You might like to join or read of We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson that starts next month. It's sure to be spooky!
Thank you very much for all the welcome wishes! And @Kathleen that is a wonderful coincidence because I have this book right next to me on my shelf of books to be read. I'm looking foward to read next month with the group:)
Hello!My name is Antonina and even though i have been on goodreads for a while, I started using it seriously a month ago. I found this group because of my affinity towards classics.I was wondering if you have any recommendations?
Antonina wrote: "Hello!My name is Antonina and even though i have been on goodreads for a while, I started using it seriously a month ago. I found this group because of my affinity towards classics.I was wondering..."
Hi and welcome Antonina! Glad you decided to join our classics group on Goodreads. I think if you look through our bookshelf you'll find something to your liking! My personal favorite is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Enjoy yourself here and happy reading! :)
Matt wrote: "Loretta wrote: "Antonina wrote: "Hello!My name is Antonina and even though i have been on goodreads for a while, I started using it seriously a month ago. I found this group because of my affinity ..."Hi and welcome Matt! Gilmore Girls! What a great show! This is the classics group to read those classic that were featured on the show! Glad you're here! Enjoy and happy reading!!! :)
Welcome, Antonina and Matt. I have seen some of your comments in the currently reading section and you have come to the right group. We have many choices each month so there should be books that suit everyone. Looking forward to seeing you both in the group.
Welcome Antonina, I'm so glad you've decided to join in our group. I know you've just read and enjoyed A Midsummer Night's Dream, but it's hard to recommend something, I have so many favourites! I agree with Loretta, to take a browse through our bookshelves, as we have quite a lot to choose from :) Welcome Matt, I've heard a few people who've been inspired by The Gilmore Girls, I believe GR has a listopia list of all the books mentioned on the show. I'm sure we have plenty here too! Good luck with whatever you decide to read next :)
Hello again,Pink!I saw that Lolita is in your favourites. I love that book . Have you ever came across a book similar to it?
Antonina wrote: "Hello again,Pink!I saw that Lolita is in your favourites. I love that book . Have you ever came across a book similar to it?"
Not really, at least not on the same subject matter, though maybe The Collector for how disturbing and uncomfortable it made me feel. I also really enjoyed Pnin by Nabokov and I've heard that his book Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle is a good choice if you liked Lolita, but I haven't read it yet myself.
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Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)
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Hi and welcome Stephanie to Goodreads and to our classics group! Yes, you'll be in good company here with members who love to read classics and have discussions about them! So, enjoy and happy reading! :)