Classics for Beginners discussion
Introductions
Mod
I firmly believe that a good approach to reading the classics is to find classic books that you would read anyway, not ones you think you should read. It's amazing how many different classic books are out there waiting to be discovered by a novice reader.
Hello - I'm a bit of a cheat, as I'm not new to reading classics. However, as a former English teacher I'm used to working with people who are new and sometimes struggle with them. I therefore wondered if I could be at all useful to this group? I love our great classics and really enjoy discussing them with others.
Welcome Lyn. So what would you suggest as a good starting point in reading classics? I was never inspired by the readings in school.
Mod
Thank you Jimmy and Lady Danielle,Well Jimmy, I would really need to know a bit more about your own likes and dislikes before trying to match books to you. I don't think you should read a novel 'just because it's a classic'; you should read novel because it interests you in some way.
Sorry not to be more helpful.
Lyn wrote: "Thank you Jimmy and Lady Danielle,Well Jimmy, I would really need to know a bit more about your own likes and dislikes before trying to match books to you. I don't think you should read a novel '..."
Absolutely agree. You need to enjoy what you read. Although I must admit that for myself i like a challange, so will read something 'because it's there'. I almost stopped reading for pleasure completely when I started University and for quite a while afterwards when I was a research scientist - just no time to read anything other than research papers. Picked up 'Return of the Native' and enjoyed Hardy's poetic prose and descriptive of landscapes such a lot decided that I should read a few classics every year since. Hardy probably isn't the easiest writer to start with. I was thinking more about in general when I posed the question, rather than for me personally. I do know that having read The Hobbit to my children when they were younger inspired them to read a bit more, although more of a struggle with the distractions of computer games and the TV these days. So maybe children's literature isn't a bad start in general?
Well that's almost spooky, because when I read your first post, I was half-tempted to suggest Thomas Hardy to you.I agree, there is some great children's literature which is still beloved of adults; stories like 'Gulliver's Travels' and 'Alice in Wonderland' or 'Through the Looking Glass' which can be enjoyed on different levels.
I consider 'Catcher in the Rye' to be a modern classic (and a future classic is probably 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'). The list is almost endless and with so much great children's literature to choose from, it saddens me that our children read so little these days (I even wrote an article on my blog about this exact problem recently).
Closer to Christmas, I'd suggest everyone reads (or re-reads) 'A Christmas Carol' (instead of watching it on the TV). If there is anyone you can read this aloud to, even better! It's very short and absolutely delightful - I've had classes of reluctant teenage readers sitting spellbound over it.
My own favourite classical writers have to be Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and Dickens and I can read them over and over and never tire of them - which, I suppose, is what makes them classics.
Hello,I'm Orion and I'm not big fan of fiction, but I thought the best way to start reading it and get motivated was to join a book club! I live in Pennsylvania.
Welcome to the new folks - Luisa, Pamela, Lyn, and Orion. This is a nice mix of people that are new to classics and others that aren't new to them, but just love them. It's nice to have the different perspectives. I read them years ago and "rediscovered" them last year. But the people here are great about giving suggestions. One really nice thing is no opinion is wrong. The moderators are good too :-)
Susan wrote: "Welcome to the new folks - Luisa, Pamela, Lyn, and Orion. This is a nice mix of people that are new to classics and others that aren't new to them, but just love them. It's nice to have the differe..." Thank you for the welcome, Susan.
Welcome to all the new members....I hope that everyone enjoys the group!!!!
Hello, my name is Karoline and I live in Holmestrand, a small city in Norway.
I have loved classics a long time, though never read that many of them, so now I want to read more ofthem. And I'm therfor hoping that some company and someone to discuss them with will make it easier to open a book and start reading.
My favorit classic is The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori. Not a long story, though a good one in my opinion. And after this I've found myself hunting down the earliest gothic stories and ghost stories published.
I have loved classics a long time, though never read that many of them, so now I want to read more ofthem. And I'm therfor hoping that some company and someone to discuss them with will make it easier to open a book and start reading.
My favorit classic is The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori. Not a long story, though a good one in my opinion. And after this I've found myself hunting down the earliest gothic stories and ghost stories published.
I feel utmost joy that I got to encounter such a delightful group!♥
Mod
Ania Hi fellow classics readers! I have started a new classics challenge called A-Z Penguin Classics Challenge. Please, visit me at projectpenguin.blogspot.com or join my GoodReads group at http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5696... I need your support!
Hi, I'm Dani. I'm kind of interested in classics (love 1984, Brave New World, and Jane Eyre) but when it comes to books like Pride and Prejudice or Les Miserable....snore. I'm hoping reading classics with a group that I can discuss with and gain some understanding of what on earth I'm reading will help me to appreciate them more.
Welcome to all new members...I note that there are 1000 members in this Classics for Beginners group, so a milestone has been reached.
I am glad to find a home where people are excited about reading good books. I have been slowing following the New Lifetime Reading Plan and reading as much as I can with a full time job and school. I think group can help me with my focus and give me some goals to work toward.
Mod
It's very exciting to see that there are 1000 souls on this group psyched about reading the classics!
Hello there, another newbie here. I'm a thirtysomething book lover from Germany and I really need to read more classics and clean up my tbr pile. Among my favourite classics so far are To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm and Gone With the Wind.I'm not completely new to the genre, I read quite a few classics back in school and university days. But it's gotten less ever since I read "for private usage" only. I hope this group will help and motivate me to read more classics!
My personal goal is to read at least 10 classics in 2012, but I will join your November group read already. 1984 is just another book that's been sitting on my shelf for too long, so this is a good starting point :))
Mod
Welcome to all the new members...and hello to all the current members...missed u guys!!! I am really excited to read 1984!!!
Hello, thanks for adding me to the group! I'm from OK, and as of recent years have become quite a bookworm. I enjoyed reading as a child, but left it as my life got busier. :) I started reading again as an adult, but mainly non-fiction, as I couldn't stand the thought of reading "fake" stories, let alone learn anything from them. Obviously, I've gotten over that crazy idea, and have found a new love for books of all sorts (yes, even fiction) all over again! I've been wanting to dig into some of the classics for some time now, but have been a little intimidated by the idea, and figured I would probably get more out of it if I didn't read them alone. And, well, now you know how I found you all!
I'm really looking forward to reading 1984! Nice to be here in this nifty little group! :)
Mod
Heya! I'm Renee from Canada. I've never really been exposed to the classics except for when I was in school. But I'm ready to start, so I'm glad there was a group for classics! Thanks for adding me to the group :)
I'm currently reading a Handmaid's Tale and looking forward to reading 1984! Haven't read George Orwell since Animal Farm.
Cheers!
Hello,I'm Reka and I live in Canada. It's nice to meet everyone and happy to be in the club. I love reading classics. It's my preferred genre. Currently, I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights. Can't wait to get started!
All the best :)
Mod
Hello Renee, Reka, Melissa, Lennongirl and everyone new. Glad to see you here.
Hello! I'm Kara and I live in Indiana. I'm super excited about joining goodreads and this group! I love reading and now that I am done with graduate school I finally have time to read things I enjoy again haha I'm currently reading a fantasy book because I've already read The Hobbit and To Kill A Mockingbird (and own both of them too) and loved them, but I want to keep up to date to read other classics I have missed!!
Hello, I'm Book Concierge (aka Tessa). Diana S invited me to join you. My favorite book of all time is
To Kill a Mockingbird
though I have a hard time considering it a "classic" as I first read it when it was a NEW book! Also enjoy Hardy, Bradbury, Austen, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Wharton and many others.
I'm a voracious reader and read just about any genre, although my preference is for literary fiction - I suppose that's why I enjoy the classics. If they've stood the test of time there is some "meat" on those literary bones.
Mod
Hello, I'm Kevin and live in the Bay Area, US. I've read only a few classics outside of high school and college. This group looks perfect. :)
Hi! My name is Micah and I live in Chicago. This is the first group I've joined here and since I'm always saying I should read more of the classics, I figured this would be a good place to start. My favorite classic has to be "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.
Welcome to all the newbies!!! I hope that everyone is enjoying the site!!!!
Mod
Hi everybody, my name is Deborah and this is also my first group here on Goodreads. :) I hope to read more classic lit in the future, getting out of my usual reading comfort zone.
Mod
Lyn wrote: "Hello - I'm a bit of a cheat, as I'm not new to reading classics. However, as a former English teacher I'm used to working with people who are new and sometimes struggle with them. I therefore wo..."Hi Lyn we could use an expert in the group!
Welcome to all new members I will be more attentive in future. :D
Hi! My name is Kris and I live in Minnesota. I enjoy reading all books, however, I also want to focus on reading more of the classics. I have many that I want to get to and look forward to all the future reads. My favorite classic reads so far are A Tale of Two Cities and Little Women.
Hi I'm Jun from Japan.I've read a few English classic book but I'm a complete beginner.
I thought this group would be perfect for me!
I am happy to join this group and nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you too Jun hope you will be an expert in classics in no time!Welcome Kris, I am also a lover of Little Women and if you like that I would recommend you also read The Secret Garden.
Hi guys!! I have also read a few classics and I am really excited.. I have read almost all of Jane Austen's and others as well.. Whenever I go to a library the first shelf I check is the "classics" shelf.. However, I still feel I am a beginner and I found this book club really interesting to join.. Nice to meet you!:-)
Welcome to all the new newbies in the group!!!! Hope everyone is enjoying the site and the group read!!!
Hiya Pola, thw annoying thing about my local library is that the classics are mixed in with the general fiction so I have to hunt them down!
Hi! I'm Voula, 24, from Greece. I'd love to read some classics, but maybe I started off on the wrong foot... So far, I tried to read "Wuthering Heights" but I just got annoyed of its surrealistic love. I 'm not the kind of person who doesn't appreciate what's proved to be worthwhile and that's why I joined this group! I really think that some books are considered timeless for a good reason and I just feel ashamed of myself that I haven't read many yet!
Yeah, I think that this happens to me sometimes as well Nicolle.. I like hunting though! If its worth it..:-)
Pola wrote: "Yeah, I think that this happens to me sometimes as well Nicolle.. I like hunting though! If its worth it..:-)" Yes, once you have found the book tucked away in a corner it can be quite satisfying.
Otl1987 wrote: "Hi! I'm Voula, 24, from Greece. I'd love to read some classics, but maybe I started off on the wrong foot... So far, I tried to read "Wuthering Heights" but I just got annoyed of its surrealistic l..."
Hello Voula, you have certainly found the right group for you! Join in our group reads and you'll soon build your list of classics read.
Classics for Beginners
Books mentioned in this topic
The Time Regulation Institute (other topics)Barchester Towers (other topics)
Pride and Prejudice (other topics)
The First Men in the Moon (other topics)
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar (other topics)Victor Hugo (other topics)
Gabrielle Roy (other topics)
Albert Camus (other topics)
W. Somerset Maugham (other topics)
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Depending on what is and isn't a classic I would (be a total girl about it and) say my favourite ‘classic’ classic is Pride & Prejudice.
My favourite book ever is 1984, but don’t know if that is considered a classic or whether it is just a masterpiece.
Over the years I have read bits and pieces of all sorts. For an idea of recent reads, off the top of my head in the last few months I have read Song of Ice & Fire – books 1to5, The Radleys, and Hunger Games Trilogy and I loved SoIaF & Hunger Games. However hasn’t been a classics year so far and it’s time to correct that!
I have been wanting to read To Catch a Mockingbird for a long time now and will be making a start on that this weekend to make sure I finish it by the end of month deadline.
I look forward to reading the books and discussing them with you all :)