Classics

[Kevin]

Great Expectations or the Iliad, where to start?

[Trelawn]

They're two great books Kevin. Great idea for the thread Emma. I'd like to read more Dickens and Gaskell and some more Forster. I am open to other suggestions too.

[Allan]

What is the definition of a 'classic', for the purposes of the thread?

Cphe, I notice that, from an Irish perspective, both Troubles by JG Farrell, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore are in the NYRB catalogue, and are well worth checking out if you haven't read them already.

[Kevin]

My own understanding of what a classic is, is a book that was somehow innovative during its time. Although I'm sure it is open to interpretation.
This is what google popped up http://www.brainpickings.org/2012/07/...

[Paul]

So LOTR counts ☺I could be shot by some for suggesting that.
But I would add as potential suggestions my two favourite 19th century books. Frankenstein and Dracula. Both undeniable classics and genre defining books .

[Kevin]

Downing a hot whiskey to keep a head cold at bay while cramming for an exam in the morning. God a reread of Dracula sounds amazing about now :)

[Trelawn]

Emma I'd be up for trying Elliot. I tried Middlemarch a few years ago but didn't like it. Silas Marner was good though. Adam Bede was also recommended to me.

[Paul]

I have a number of different copies of Dracula as its one of my favourite books. I've even a pop up graphic novel edition. Its always worth a reread Kevin ☺. I read Carmilla this year and intend to read Polidori's The Vampyre next year to compare the development. I've a few other 19th cemtury vampire stories I want to get through as well. So much more interesting than most of the modern take on vampires

[Kevin]

Ah now. Stoker hasn't anything on Stephanie Meyer. :P

I read Plato's The Republic this year as part of college. I found it interesting that all aspiring playwrights must study The Republic during their training. For its time it was obviously groundbreaking.

[Paul]

Kevin its dangerous to mention Plato aroubd Trelawn. She has a Masters in classics and despises Plato. I quite liked The Symposium . Nothing wrong with a book based around a piss up with the lads.
Emma I really enjoyed Silas Mariner. Its a really nice story well written

[Kevin]

I never said I liked him myself Paul :P I'm Ireland in that war :)

[Trelawn]

I actually thought The Symposium was good but The Republic is so convoluted it's painful. I'm not into philosophy in a big way anyway but I reserve a particular loathing for Plato. Aristotle I can handle in bite sized chunks.

[Cathleen]

Emma wrote: "A number of people have mentioned they intend to read more classics next year. I thought it may be beneficial to set up a thread where people can discuss the classics they are reading and get sugge..."

This is a great idea, Emma. Thanks for setting this up. I've already thought that as part of my NY resolutions, I'd like to reread some classics and read some I haven't read--including Dickens. Since I'm a Thomas Hardy fan and I'm so absorbed in Tomalin's Dickens, I definitely want to read her bio of Hardy. I haven't really figured out who else I'd like to read...but I'd like to read more of 19th c. novels.

[Cathleen]

Kevin wrote: "Downing a hot whiskey to keep a head cold at bay while cramming for an exam in the morning. God a reread of Dracula sounds amazing about now :)"

Kevin, hope you knock that cold right out of your system. It's final exam time; therefore, everyone always gets sick! I'm walking around with hand sanitizer everywhere I go :)

[Cathleen]

Paul wrote: "So LOTR counts ☺I could be shot by some for suggesting that.
But I would add as potential suggestions my two favourite 19th century books. Frankenstein and Dracula. Both undeniable classics and ge..."

Dracula is one fantastic book. I haven't read Frankenstein yet....

[Frank]

Cphe, thanks for mentioning the NYR Classics list. I'd overlooked that resource and have just spent the last 20 minutes browsing through it. You're right - there are some great books there.

[Barbara]

Classics to me are usually pre-20th century but on the other hand, I think authors like Steinbeck have classics as well. If I read at least one 19th century work, I will be pleased with myself.

[Sara]

I think I'm going to go with reading/listening to Great Expectations starting sometime in the first couple weeks of the New Years. If other folks are interested in joining me, I can set up a Buddy Read thread for it. I also plan to read The Short Novels: Tortilla Flat / The Moon Is Down / The Red Pony / Of Mice and Men / Cannery Row / The Pearl, Anna Karenina, 3 Virginia Woolf novels, and a few other classics on my 2015TBR.

[Seraphina]

Another option would be to set a challenge for the year, maybe pick 5 classics to have read and people could discuss as they go?

[Paul]

For the Austen fans http://www.theguardian.com/books/book...

[Cathleen]

Seraphina wrote: "Another option would be to set a challenge for the year, maybe pick 5 classics to have read and people could discuss as they go?"

That's a wonderful idea, Seraphina. I've already thought of a few classics on my list for 2015, including Dickens and Joyce, maybe Eliot, maybe Gaskell--and then to pick a few more. I also like to linger over those kinds of books, so it would be great to have threads to dip in and out of, without a monthly time pressure (not that there is now...but I always feel like I should try to finish the monthly read in the month it's won)

[Cathleen]

Speaking of classics and other literature, the game show Jeopardy had several questions last night that have all been monthly reads (or mentioned) for GRI over the past couple of years--East of Eden, Crime and Punishment, JK Rowling's The Cuckoo's Calling.

[Seraphina]

Well cathleen we could pick one from each author you mentioned plus one more? Open to suggestions

[Paul]

Stoker or Wilde for an Irish Author whos a bit more accesible than Joyce

[Barbara]

Cathleen wrote: "Speaking of classics and other literature, the game show Jeopardy had several questions last night that have all been monthly reads (or mentioned) for GRI over the past couple of years--East of Ed..."
I had it on but somehow missed that. I love it when there are Jeopardy categories that are favorites.

[Trelawn]

I'll definitely join in for Dickens, Eliot and Gaskell :-)

[Seraphina]

I'd read either of those Irish authors Paul, good suggestions

[Cathleen]

Seraphina wrote: "I'd read either of those Irish authors Paul, good suggestions"

I would read either, too. I read Wilde's Dorian Gray last summer and it was so brilliant, I'd happily read it again. I didn't talk about it with anyone, so I'm sure I'd get more out of it the second reading. And Bram Stoker would be really interesting, too--especially since Paul knows so much about him.

[Trelawn]

I haven't read Great Expectations since I was about 15 so I'm due a reread. And it's one of his best known works so it's a good one to start with.

[Paul]

What about Swift for an earlier Novelist. But yes Wilde only wrote one novel abd Stoker only one good one so it narrows it down . I wouldnt do both aa they are pretty much horror but it would be a nice break from the other classics genre wise

[Kevin]

I wouldn't mind reading Gulliver's Travels. Does C.S. Lewis count as classical? Then maybe the Chronicles of Narnia in order to pick a group of very different classics.

[Paul]

I'd definitely count Narnia and CS Lewis in general

[Trelawn]

With regard to Wilde, we needn't stick to the one novel. His plays are well worth a read especially The Importance of Being Earnest or An Ideal Husband.

[Seraphina]

I would vote for swift for the irish seeing as I've read Dracula and Dorian grey(but enjoyed both and would re read)
So that makes the classics challenge
1. Eliot(any suggestions?)
2. Gaskell-north and south/wives and daughters unless trelawn would like to read something she hasn't already read?
3. Dickens-great expectations
4. Irish author to be decided
5. CS lewis- chronicles of narnia

Anyone have any requests other than that?

[Seraphina]

Tolstoy?

[Kevin]

I was just about to suggest an author that wasn't Irish, British or American and up pops Seraphina... :)

[Trelawn]

Re Gaskell I haven't read Wives and Daughters but I am also happy to reread North and South. Mill on the Floss sounds good for Eliot. Re the Irish selection, I will go along with Swift. As for our 5th classic, I am planning on reading more Forster. I don't know if anyone else would be interested in reading something by him.

[Sara]

I like the idea of Lewis as an Irish author. I also like the idea of Austen.

[Sara]

I also like the idea of Tolstoy

[Trelawn]

I'd also have to opt out of Hardy as I have tried him but just can't take to him. I'd be interested in trying one of the Russians but perhaps not one of the 800pagers to start off with :-)

[Kevin]

Maybe reading several, say three, of Tolstoy's novellas would be better than reading the 800 pager Anna Karenina or the 1200 pages in War and Peace?

[Trelawn]

Something like that could work Kevin.

[Kevin]

Novellas tend to hover around 100 pages or so.

[Trelawn]

A popular one by Tolstoy seems to be The Death of Ivan Ilych at around 90 pages. It gets very good reviews.

[Trelawn]

Emma a Forster buddy read sounds good. Like you, whether I reread the books or not i will definitely join in discussions. it'll be interesting to hear what others think of books I love.

[Trelawn]

A Passage to India, Howards End and Maurice are the ones that spring to mind.

[Trelawn]

Thanks Cphe, I saw an adaptation of it and I agree it was good. I just have a blind spot re Hardy. Jude the Obscure in particular was just so bleak.

[Sara]

How do you feel about Sense and Sensability Emma?

[Seraphina]

Ok well we have a good list of authors now. I mentioned 5 books but it doesn't have to be limited to that since it's a 12 month challenge.

[Seraphina]

A passage to India looks interesting