So-called "classic" books that I hate, hate, hate!

[Don]

Mermer wrote: "Don wrote: "Lol...whyla??"

The lines are too difficult to digest. Brain stuck, I guess. At first, it was fine but the further I went, I was lost in the middle of words. Haha..."

Which means classics is not your taste then lol...

[ladymay]

Haha, yes indeed.

[Fariza]

Lucky me, I only bought a book of Jane Austen.. Heh

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

I've a solution for these classic novels (anything written in 19th century and before): watch the film adaptation. Many of them have been adapted. Some are actually good. I know it's not accurate to the books and I personally prefer reading to watching movies but in this extreme case, it's better if we watch the darn thing if only to say, "Yes, I know what Les Miserables was all about!"

[Fariza]

Khairul H. wrote: "I've a solution for these classic novels (anything written in 19th century and before): watch the film adaptation. Many of them have been adapted. Some are actually good. I know it's not accurate t..."

Yeah I am thinking the same solution since I bought Emma because I watched the film before so I thought reading is more fun. Wrong.

[Aradweb]

Why not ventures into listening instead of reading. Sometimes when it is hard to maintain the momentum while reading those classic the best cure might be listening to each of the word being spoken by Mat or Minah Saleh.

It occurred to me while I'm trying to finish my Northanger Abbey. After half of the book all I get is a story of a young girl trying to get along with her dance partner.

With Librivox.org
, I'm able to at least get the sweetness of reading English classic. The best is while others listening for latest songs aired on their favorite radio, me listening to a mat or minah saleh acoustical book.

[ajeep]

Khairul H. wrote: "Catcher In The Rye - a dumb punk suburban kid..."

i hate that book. what was the book all about again? another one is the age of innocence, edith wharton. he wrote long sentences, that i kept losing concentration. i'm stuck at page 50, both attempts at reading it.

[Clerk Can]

I've a solution for these classic novels (anything written in 19th century and before): watch the film adaptation. Many of them have been adapted. Some are actually good. I know it's not accurate to the books and I personally prefer reading to watching movies but in this extreme case, it's better if we watch the darn thing if only to say, "Yes, I know what Les Miserables was all about!"

You are a genius!

[Nurul]

Fariza wrote: "Mermer wrote: "Jane Austen - I gave up."

Me too.. I try to read Emma.. Hate myself of buying the book.."

emma maybe too thick, try the famous pride and prejudice for Austen's first book, it's light and witty enought, at least for me to get hooked haha.

I have read the entire works of Austen. And it's the library books, the thickbound one that's need a proper chair and table to read, no to be handheld in your bed hahaha. Later i bought my own collection of those RM9.90 collins classic at MPH.

apart from Austen, the classics that interests me must have that sense of journey and adventure..e.g journey to the centre of the world, oliver twist, treasure island.. ( and not moby dick, no please)

[Don]

Nurul wrote: "Fariza wrote: "Mermer wrote: "Jane Austen - I gave up."

Me too.. I try to read Emma.. Hate myself of buying the book.."

emma maybe too thick, try the famous pride and prejudice for Au..."

Sherlock Holmes?

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

Holmes was not included in my list because he solves mysteries and there's adventure. Never boring. Some of his books are better than others, I admit, but overall I'll take a Holmes over a Dickens any day.

[Don]

But you still don't read it...why?

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

What? No, I've read Holmes. That's why he's not included in my list of classic books that I hate. Because I don't Conan Doyle's work.

[Don]

Ooops sorry Khairul...tersalah baca lol.

[Nurul]

I don't classic-ing Sherlock holmes too, haha.

Btw I agree with the Anna Karenina being among the worst classic. It's the movie that kills my mood to read it too. Strat from the beginning of the story they spoiled it already by showing the main character committing suicide. She was not happy with her marriage, she slept with another man, she killed herself @_@ seriously..a joke

[Norain]

I never read Jane Austen but I have a friend who totally adores her. From what she said, I guess it was because Austen was a feminist. Yes?

No matter what Bro Khairul said, I love Charles Dickens :) And I don't like Sherlock Holmes. Prefer Agatha Christie's Ms marple and Hercule Poirot a thousand times over him.

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

Chalk and cheese. Holmes was Victorian age detection and Poirot was early 20th century. Conan Doyle was all about the adventure and Christie was all about the human emotions.

[Rozy]

Until now I only manage to read Jane Austen collection. The thing I love about classic either English / Malay that the language is so artistic.

[Norain]

Khairul H. wrote: "Chalk and cheese. Holmes was Victorian age detection and Poirot was early 20th century. Conan Doyle was all about the adventure and Christie was all about the human emotions."

The early Poirot short stories are like Holmes, I think. I don't like those stories, prefer the novel.

I don't hate Holmes. Still read Holmes and have a complete collection of it (which I have not yet finished).

[Norain]

Rozy wrote: "Until now I only manage to read Jane Austen collection. The thing I love about classic either English / Malay that the language is so artistic."

I agree. And I prefer classics because they are safer (less likely to come across 18++ scenes).

[Nurul]

I prefer Holmes because of the scientific methods and the logic play. I just love how he could simply read one's character just by analyzing his hat. the more technical the better, I am glad Mr Watson told us the fact that he seldom show interest in woman except for this only woman who managed to pawn him hahah.

p/s - I am reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz now. An engaging read for a classic, or maybe i just love fantasy that much?

[Lolliepop]

frankly, i wanna try pride and prejudice..is it any good?or in some way included in the title of this thread?

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

Lolliepop wrote: "frankly, i wanna try pride and prejudice..is it any good?or in some way included in the title of this thread?"

Chick lit 19th century style. It's great if you like chick lit. Not so much if you don't.

[Top of the World]

Classics are "classic" -- usually from awhile back . . .

How about mysteries!

If you want to read dialogue where things happen -- try Raymond Chandler. Try Josephine Tey. Try James M. Cain. Try Eric Ambler. Try Michael Connelly. Even try Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Try Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone. Try Margaret Millar. Try (her husband) Ross Macdonald. Try Patricia Highsmith. You might even try Dashiell Hammett.

These are some of the classics in the Mystery field. Try looking at my book: The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors, and Librarians (1997, Dec), book and e-book.

[Nurul]

Khairul H. wrote: "Lolliepop wrote: "frankly, i wanna try pride and prejudice..is it any good?or in some way included in the title of this thread?"

Chick lit 19th century style. It's great if you like chick lit. Not..."

How dare youu, i refuse to accept Jane Austen as a chick lit. nononono..

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

I dare quite a lot.

[Kataklicik]

But I agree with KhairulH - Austen IS chick lit!

[Syahira]

diarrhea..... lmao

I read a lot of classic when I was at highschool. Now, I watch movie adaptations. Save me time from reading through the preachy fillers.

Austen is a chic lit and a social commentary about lengthy relationships.

North and South is much better. Its like dumping Elizabeth into reality. But hardly people knew about the book.

[Shavian]

Well i do, "Wives & Daughters" too Elizebath Gaskell.
may i know if you like Mill on the floss, George Elliot, and Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy, they both have sad and/or tragic endings though.

i'm trying to read all of Dicken's novels ( 21 in all i think) and those written by Anthony Trollope, but haven't got enough time for that.

Sorry for this digression this ain't the place to discuss Classics...Cheers.

[Anna]

Pride&Prejudice: I give up. Too heavy-literate.

[Syahira]

Anna wrote: "Pride&Prejudice: I give up. Too heavy-literate."

should try mansfield park if you think p&p is heavy

[Aina]

Cather In The Rye is boring? I actually want to read that book :/

[Khairul Hezry, I hate people but not you. You, I like.]

It did not resonate with me. Holden was a twit.

[CekMoNSter]

I actually never read classics..At least not that I`m aware of..The arguments above sound nasty, and kind of scares me a bit when I was just having this new spirit to start reading classic this year..

Oh well, I`m going to try reading Alice in Wonderland first then maybePride and Prejudice later..

Lengthy writings tend to make me skim through the pages..