Comfort Reads discussion
Classics
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Classics
Li wrote: "Jane Austen's Persuasion is definitely my comfort read! I must read it like, twice a year or something xD
I haven't re-read any of her books yet but Elizabeth Gaskell's works are pa..."
Persuasion is my favorite, too! I love everything about it.
I haven't re-read any of her books yet but Elizabeth Gaskell's works are pa..."
Persuasion is my favorite, too! I love everything about it.
Oooo, I loved the BBC miniseries, North and South. Am reading now!
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The books going really well, her writing style is really enjoyable to me. Don't hurt me, avid Gaskell fans, but I thought the miniseries was even better! Such good acting, and really played up the drama and romance, it was just so sweet! And the last scene....oh goodness....I can't even try to argue with that....
Dominique wrote: "Oooo, I loved the BBC miniseries, North and South. Am reading now!"
The Goodreads group "Jane Austen" will be reading and discussing "North and South" beginning May 10. Pop over and check it out, if you like. We'd love to have you join in.
The Goodreads group "Jane Austen" will be reading and discussing "North and South" beginning May 10. Pop over and check it out, if you like. We'd love to have you join in.
Just checked, sounds great. (I've read one Jane Austen so far, and plan to start another soon, so I think I'm vaild to join the site.) In that case, I have plenty of time to read finish N&S.
Dominique wrote: "Just checked, sounds great. (I've read one Jane Austen so far, and plan to start another soon, so I think I'm vaild to join the site.) In that case, I have plenty of time to read finish N&S."
We are happy to have you. Some members are new to Jane Austen, and some are veterans. We are a pretty open group, no "credentials" required. :)
We are happy to have you. Some members are new to Jane Austen, and some are veterans. We are a pretty open group, no "credentials" required. :)
Mod
It had to happen, I guess, I watched the movie with no idea a book existed, though you can imagine I found out straight away :) Now I can read Cranford, Wives and Daughters, etc. and try to resist seeing the miniseries first. But I'm still enjoying the book, so it's fine. (I'm noticing what they changed, though, they really played up the drama! Eg. how he and Margeret meet.)
I just got some classics - The Grapes of Wrath; To Kill a Mockingbird; and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass. I'm not sure why, but I love to read classics in the summer months.
Lee wrote: "Laura reminded me of one of my favourites which I'm not sure is a classic but is too good to put under the general fiction folder! The Enchanted April by [author:Elizabeth von Arnim|20..."I'm so excited!!!
I didn't know this book exsisted! I love the film, so now I am definately going to read the book.
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Jamie, the book is lovely! I haven't seen the film so I can't tell you how closely it follows the book but I'm sure you will enjoy it.
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I just finished North and South. It took a long time because I was so busy, but hopefully that school's out soon I'll have more reading time. I really loved it. Now that I've finished I've decided that it's incomparable with the miniseries- they're both so good, but in different ways. I'm excited to join in JA group discussion, Jeanette, thanks for writing about it!
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I'm kind of jealous that I didn't have the experience, oh well :/ I won't do that anymore.
oh, good! I just ordered it through inter-library loan. I can't wait to read it!
Lee wrote: "Fiona, I've had that big fat Count of Monte Cristo glaring at me from my bookshelf for ages."
Me, too! A gift from my husband.
Me, too! A gift from my husband.
Boof wrote: "The Queen of classic comfort reads has to be Charlotte Bronte for me. Jane Eyre and Villette are such wonderful books - perfect for curling up with."
Just re-read this recently and re-loved it all over again.
I've been reading a lot of classics lately, thanks to the eReader. I find them to be brilliant comfort reads. I remember not liking many of them at school, but then being able to talk to mom and grandmom about, as of course they hated them at school too!
And they are (almost) always better read as an adult. Great Expectations is one of my faves.
@Lee: I loved The Enchanted April too!
@Gundula: Christopher and Columbus looks brilliant, thank you for the recommendation.
Just re-read this recently and re-loved it all over again.
I've been reading a lot of classics lately, thanks to the eReader. I find them to be brilliant comfort reads. I remember not liking many of them at school, but then being able to talk to mom and grandmom about, as of course they hated them at school too!
And they are (almost) always better read as an adult. Great Expectations is one of my faves.
@Lee: I loved The Enchanted April too!
@Gundula: Christopher and Columbus looks brilliant, thank you for the recommendation.
Most of my absolute favorite books are classics. I adore "Old Curiosity Shop" and "Oliver Twist" by Dickens. "The King of Elfland's Daughter" by Lord Dunsany is wonderful, and Andrew Lang's 'Fairy Books' are re-read all the time.
I just started David Copperfield, and I'm really enjoying it so far. I've read about six chapters and haven't been bored at all, so that seems promising. Classics are hit or miss for me. I've only read Jane Eyre once, but I think it's one of those books I'm going to need to read again, since I originally loved it so much.
Another book I need to give another chance is Wuthering Heights. I just did not like it when I first read it. Am I alone in that?
I've actually never heard of North and South! Just added that one to my to-read list. And I read War and Peace when I was in high school, and I remember being lost and not really into the story. Seeing it recommended by so many here, as a comfort read, no less, I will have to try it again! I think I'm finally at the point in my life where I can truly start to appreciate some of the classics.
I really enjoy(ed) Wuthering Heights, a lot more than Jane Eyre. I re-read it every few years. Of course, I may be in the minority on this one.
I'm hoping when I reread it I will get a new appreciation for it! I just finished The Hound of Baskervilles which also takes place on the moors, and I just adored the setting, so I can see myself liking Wuthering Heights more now.
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I know it's a gothic novel, but I don't define it that way. I think the themes in the book are pretty universal and transcend the time period. Jane Eyre seems more gothic to me.
I think it gets a bad rap. It's really about obsessive love, revenge and then (unexpectedly) redemption. I don't want to convince anybody to try it. I am just surprised by how the book is perceived. It isn't a great romance, either, because all of these people had some major issues! :)
Jeannette and Lindsey -- Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favorite stories. I wouldn't describe it as gothic. Having seen many versions of the movie over the years, I finally read the book at end of last year. It was so much more than the movie (naturally).Another classic that I really enjoyed was Anna Karenina; one of these days, I will War and Peace a go.
Diane D. wrote: "Jeannette and Lindsey -- Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favorite stories. I wouldn't describe it as gothic. Having seen many versions of the movie over the years, I finally re..."
Thanks Diane. I don't consider WH gothic, either. I'm glad I'm not the only person on GR who likes this book. lol
My husband has Anna Karenina on his tbr list. Does it get easier once you get past the first pages? It just seemed like too many people to keep straight right from the start for me. I have never succeeded with any Russian Lit, even though I feel that I should. My husband almost finished Crime & Punishment.
Thanks Diane. I don't consider WH gothic, either. I'm glad I'm not the only person on GR who likes this book. lol
My husband has Anna Karenina on his tbr list. Does it get easier once you get past the first pages? It just seemed like too many people to keep straight right from the start for me. I have never succeeded with any Russian Lit, even though I feel that I should. My husband almost finished Crime & Punishment.
Hi Jeannette-- Two tips on Anna Karenina -- hopefully your husband has the version that has the character tree in the front - that was KEY for me; and remember the characters go by last names primarily. It did get much easier for me after the first chapter or two.I even printed out a character tree when I read Wuthering Heights -- all the Kathterines, Kathys, and Heathcliffs!
I really enjoyed Anna Karenina! I would not categorize it as a comfort read for myself though.Printing out character trees - what a great idea, Diane! I can see many of the classics being much more enjoyable with a companion like that.
Okay, I'll look for a character tree. They really do help sometimes. I did find when reading Lord of the Rings, that having watched the movies first helped tremendously when reading the books. I had most of the characters and place names down before I started reading. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much better the books were.
Jeannette -- you may be able to find one by googling it. That was how I found the character tree for WH.
Lindsey wrote: "I really enjoyed Anna Karenina! I would not categorize it as a comfort read for myself though.
Printing out character trees - what a great idea, Diane! I can see many of the classics being much mo..."
I found a great character tree for The Count of Monte Cristo on Wikipee... after I had finished the book! arrgh! I will read it again, eventually, so I have put it in a safe place. I have such a problem with names and remembering who everyone is that it's essential for me. I hadn't thought of printing them out, however. Good idea. I'll blow them up poster size and keep them on the wall for reference!
Printing out character trees - what a great idea, Diane! I can see many of the classics being much mo..."
I found a great character tree for The Count of Monte Cristo on Wikipee... after I had finished the book! arrgh! I will read it again, eventually, so I have put it in a safe place. I have such a problem with names and remembering who everyone is that it's essential for me. I hadn't thought of printing them out, however. Good idea. I'll blow them up poster size and keep them on the wall for reference!
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Hayes wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "I really enjoyed Anna Karenina! I would not categorize it as a comfort read for myself though.Printing out character trees - what a great idea, Diane! I can see many of the classi..."
Hayes -- LOL, blowing up the character trees to poster size!
Fiona wrote: "I feel the same Lee. I don't think I've ever read a Gothic novel so I can't say if it is a genre I will like or not, but it's just so well known and miserable sounding. I'm not sure if I can be bot..."I agree with what Jeanette said up there, Gothic doesn't immediately mean misery. It just means creepy...mysteries taking place in old mansions with squeaky doors and the like. My favorite gothic classics would be Jane Eyre and Rebecca
Allison, I liked those two too, and I've read maybe less than a dozen in that subgenre but I do love a handful.
I'm embarrassed to say I haven't read Jane Eyre, but I have read Rebecca. Love Rebecca.
I really think that Jane Eyre fits the Gothic "mold" more than Wuthering Heights. Rochester and crazy Mrs. Poole and the mad wife, that's pretty "Gothic." WH does have ghosts and brooding on the moors, but I find it to be more of a character study of the two/three families and their intertwined fates. I hope that makes sense to someone besides me!
I still have to read Rebecca. I got put off by the movie, but I did watch it back in my "unenlightened" youth. :)
I still have to read Rebecca. I got put off by the movie, but I did watch it back in my "unenlightened" youth. :)
Hey Jeannette, I think your comment makes perfect sense! Regarding Rebecca, I watched the movie after reading the book. While I enjoyed the movie, I liked the book much better, so do give it a go one of these days. The writing in Rebecca is a big part of its enjoyment, and I personally got more out of imagining the story vs. seeing it on the screen. The ending is a little different in the book too, and I preferred the book's ending.
Ooo, Allison, I'd never heard of Rebecca before. It looks really good. I just added it to my TR list. Thanks for mentioning it!
Lindsey wrote: "Ooo, Allison, I'd never heard of Rebecca before. It looks really good. I just added it to my TR list. Thanks for mentioning it!"Oh, Lindsey, Rebecca is ultra famous, and I was young when I read it so the way the plot played out really took me by surprise. Hadn't read many mysteries and it was one of my first gothic type novels also. Highly recommend it. Deliciously creepy.
Diane D. wrote: "Hey Jeannette, I think your comment makes perfect sense! Regarding Rebecca, I watched the movie after reading the book. While I enjoyed the movie, I liked the book much better, so do give it a go..."
I'll give it a try this summer! Now I'm curious. :)
I'll give it a try this summer! Now I'm curious. :)
Li wrote: "Jane Austen's Persuasion is definitely my comfort read! I must read it like, twice a year or something xD I haven't re-read any of her books yet but Elizabeth Gaskell's works are pa..."
persuation is my second favourite novel of Jane Austen. but i didn't quite like wives and Daughters.. I felt like it took forever for me to get through it.. anyway I have yet to read North and South
Persuasion is coming up soon in my reading queue! Can't wait to start it.
Not sure where to put this -http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ma...
But To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic and one of my favorites!
I'm reading Rebecca now, and although it has taken me a lot longer to get into it than I originally thought. I do like it! I'm going to watch the movie when I'm done with the book.
Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Rebecca now, and although it has taken me a lot longer to get into it than I originally thought. I do like it! I'm going to watch the movie when I'm done with the book."Rebecca and is a great book and the movie is wonderful too; really faithful to the book!
Barbara, I agree with Joy that you should watch the movie Rebecca after reading the book. It is in black and white and I think it won an Academy Award (Best Picture perhaps?).I am reading Pride and Prejudice; that is a favorite of a few of you on here. I am really enjoying it!
Comfort Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
The Great Gatsby (other topics)Great Expectations (other topics)
1984 (other topics)
Heart of Darkness (other topics)
Vanity Fair (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Edith Wharton (other topics)W.P. Kinsella (other topics)
Stella Gibbons (other topics)
Evelyn Waugh (other topics)
George Eliot (other topics)
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I haven't re-read any of her books yet but Elizabeth Gaskell's works are particularly wonderful to read, especially North and South and Wives and Daughters =)