Classics for Beginners discussion
Introductions
Hi Everyone,I am new.
I miss the auditory part of discussing. I was hoping to find a "brick and mortar" book club. Currently an internet message board appears to be my only choice.
Happy to found one about classic literature...
Some of my new favorite authors are Washington Irving, H.P. Lovecraft, Hawthorne, Jane Austin, Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G Wells, L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carrol, brothers Grimm..,
I began reading this past year. I had gone for a long time without reading any novels or story books.
The past few months I have been loading my kindle with enough to keep me reading for a long time.
cheers,
Mod
Hi Joseph, I hope this group meets your needs and expectations. You have built up quite a list of favourite authors already! I agree with you Danielle, it is fantastic that so many of the classics are readily available.
If I am reading from the complete works of Washington Irving, do I have to read the entire print for it to count as a book? Or does each individual story (be it short or long) count as a book?
Mod
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "Welcome, Manda. I second Jane Eyre. It might take a little bet to get involved into the story, but it is a wonderful novel.
Yeah, Call of the Wild is intense. I prefer White Fang, personally."
I liked "Star Rover" and the short story "To Build a Fire."
Hi! I'm Stacie from Minnesota! I love to read-- especially Jane Austen 'sequels',etc.., ya dystopian fiction ( Hunger Games,etc.) and historical fiction..I homeschool one of my kids, so I am also part time 'Lit. Teacher', and as such, this year I have challenged myself to read ahead of my son on some classic books, and am happy to have found this group to help me figure out what to read!
My name is Elizabeth and I'm 24 years old. I live in Kentucky (Louisville, to be precise). I have a BA in psychology and did two minors in English with a concentration in literature and Medieval Studies. I studied French for 5 years and have experience with Japanese, German, and Latin. One of my dreams is to translate Medieval Latin and French manuscripts. The other is to eventually become an archaeologist.Currently, I work with toddlers as a teacher in a daycare. It's not exactly my dream job, or the best use of my degree, but it works for now. I am going back to school in August to work towards a degree in education so that I can become a third grade teacher. I also plan on doing another major in either microbiology or anthropology. I do enjoy some aspects of my job such as being able to teach my children and the joy that I receive when they finally catch on to what I've taught them. I also enjoy the smiles, hugs, and kisses that I get from my kids when I come to work in the mornings.
I am an avid reader and have been since I was a child. I generally read anything except westerns, romance, and inspirational/Christian books. I quite enjoy horror, fantasy, historical fiction, and mysteries. I have also gotten into the Quirk classics recently. Right now, I am reading Android Karenina. Classic literature is another favorite of mine with Edgar Allan Poe, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, HP Lovecraft, Victor Hugo, and Gaston LeRoux being among my favorites.
I look forward to making new friends and taking part in book discussions.
-Elizabeth
Hey, everyone *waves and grin* Marren here. From late last year, I got that urge for all things classic. It started with rereading Jane Austen. This year, I want to read as many of Charles Dickens novels.
Hi, I'm Marescha and I just started reading classics thanks to my literary English classes. Hope to be able to read lots more ^^
Hi Elizabeth, you seem to have an addiction to education! You have been to university (college) a lot! I find it interesting that you don't like romance but you seem to like 'classic' romance such as austen and the Brontes. Welcome Marren :) Have you read David Copperfield? I am reading it now and it is fantastic.
Hello Marescha I hope you will join us in our group reads.
I read it as a girl but cannot remember much.That is one of the reasons I want to read much of Dickens this year. I read Great Expectations last year, I really liked it.
I think that will probably be my next Dickens. It's a bit hit or miss with me and Dickens though. I could not get through Oliver Twist and put down A Tale of Two Cities too, though it could be because I read both a few years ago when I just started reading and maybe it was too much too soon?
I sort of refused to read A Tale of Two Cities in high school (read enough and listened to class discussion to limp through it), but then picked it up 10 or so years later and couldn't put it down. Oliver Twist clinched the deal on my being a Dickens enthusiast, but too much at a time will sour almost anyone, and I didn't read him for years and years, and I still have a few left unread. I think my favorite is Our Mutual Friend.
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I couldn't make it through Great Expectations. I'll try it again one day.
Mod
I hated Dickens. I'm reading Sherlock Holmes at the moment. great stuff, but then again I always liked detective stories.
oh hi by the way, I'm Dermo. just joined today.
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I loved A Christmas Carol, but I found Great Expectations insanely boring. Maybe it was the mood I was in.
Dermo wrote: "I hated Dickens. I'm reading Sherlock Holmes at the moment. great stuff, but then again I always liked detective stories."I just started The Mystery of the Yellow Room, which you might like. The fellow who solves the crimes is called Rouletabille, which is a nickname given to him because he has a very round head, something like a billiard ball.
Mod
I decided to stay at this end of the GR haystack for a while.Anyone skype?
(I find the photos and posts a bit overwhelming and confusing.)
It is currently free computer to computer last I checked.
It would make it possible to have a discussion as a conference.
Mod
It is like messenger except audio and video. I use a laptop with a camera and microphone. Like everything else need to create an account and user name.
(My college professor used it to teach a class overseas from the US.)
If you Google Skype you can find the website.
Hello, I'm from Poland. I really think that knowing classics is important as you can understand culture much better when you know them. I also enjoy most of those books ;) I know mainly Polish classics so there's lots of stuff I intend to read :)I can see that you are reading Les Miserables, I've only seen the musical based on it, so It would be great to read it with you :)
I've red Count of Monte Cristo as a child and I loved it, I think this group is just for me :)
Joseph wrote: "It is like messenger except audio and video. I use a laptop with a camera and microphone. Like everything else need to create an account and user name. (My college professor used it to teach a cl..."That is a nice idea
Marren wrote: "Joseph wrote: "It is like messenger except audio and video. I use a laptop with a camera and microphone. Like everything else need to create an account and user name. (My college professor used i..."I could send you my user name (and maybe agree on a time) If I were able to send it to you.
Mod
Zofia wrote: "Hello, I'm from Poland. I really think that knowing classics is important as you can understand culture much better when you know them. I also enjoy most of those books ;) I know mainly Polish cla..."Hi! Welcome Zofia. My mom's parents were from Poland and I would love to read some Polish classics. Could you recommend some that have been translated to English? Thanks so much! Carrie
Carrie wrote: "My mom's parents were from Poland and I would love to read some Polish classics. Could you recommend some that have been translated to English?"Published as recently as 1986, The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman may become a classic. It takes place in Poland during WWII. It's a beautiful story.
Thanks for the suggestion Elizabeth! I added it my TBR list. :)
Lots of polish classics are connected to our history. As for a long time we didn't have independence our writers had to deal with censorship. There are lots of books that are very symbolic and you need to read between the lines to understand what they are really talking about.
I loved Wedding for it's great magical atmosphere.
Other example Henryk Sienkiewicz often wrote about older times to express his thoughts on Polish situation. He won Nobel Prize and his most famous novel is Quo Vadis (I don't like it much though).
We have many books concernig 2 world war such as
Zdążyć przed Panem Bogiem
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen
As for more modern writers I would recommend Tadeusz Różewicz. I really really liked Kartoteka ("The card index" in english)
One of my favourite novels of all time is Ferdydurke although translating this book must have been really difficult. But you need to like absurd and grotesque to enjoy this book :)
Stanisław Lemwrites great science fiction books and they are considered classics in Poland.
You could also check out:
The Doll
Chłopi (Nobel prize, about polish peasants - it's a bit scary book)
Tango - very witty modern classic about the society
Hey everyone! My name is Brianna and I am very new to classics. Some of my favorite movies are Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility. I have tried to read Pride and Prejudice and it was a little much at the time but I think I'm ready to try again. I am going to start in February with Count of Monte Cristo. I am looking forward to all the new finds in friends and books!
Joseph wrote: "Marren wrote: "Joseph wrote: "It is like messenger except audio and video. I use a laptop with a camera and microphone. Like everything else need to create an account and user name. (My college p..."I think the moderator for here, should set up a skype account for the group (that is the only way it would be productive)
My Skype user name is "joseph.gallo19"
I plan to later post a time that I will be available to be contacted. If anyone has an enthusiasm for the books on my read list keep me in mind.
Zofia wrote: "Lots of polish classics are connected to our history. As for a long time we didn't have independence our writers had to deal with censorship. There are lots of books that are very symbolic and you..."Thank you soooo much! I added them all! Absurd and qrotesque sounds good! HA! Thanks again, Carrie
Hello!My name is Deana and I'm from Bulgaria.Although I love a good paranormal romance book with a criminal twist, I also very much enjoy classics. My favorites are Ivanhoe and A tale of two cities and I'm currently reading Twenty thousand leagues under the sea by Jules Verne.
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Hello, I am Rob from Atlanta, GA (USA). I have just realized that I love reading the classics. My first book to read with your group is the 'Count of Monte Cristo'. My favorites are the futuristic political novels (1984, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World), so I am hoping BNW wins.
Mod
Hello!I'm Marlene from Germany. At the moment I'm about to finish my first semester of studying English, but I started reading classics about two years ago. My list of classics (the to-read list as well as the one for read books) has grown ever since, but I think this group is a good motivation to read even more.
So far my favorites are Jane Eyre, 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and Dracula - though some others might replace them soon.
I'll join you for "The Count of Montechristo" because it's been on my to-read list for a while. :)
Hi there I'm John and I'm from CT in the States. My favorite books tend toward science fiction and Russian authors (bonus points for Russian sci-fi!) but the more I read them, the more I love the classics. It's always so hard to figure out what to read next, so I figured I'd join a reading group, and this one seems like a great choice. I'm excited to dig into Count of Monte Cristo!
Rob wrote: "Hello, I am Rob from Atlanta, GA (USA). I have just realized that I love reading the classics. My first book to read with your group is the 'Count of Monte Cristo'. My favorites are the futurist..."Brave New World will be our April read.
Hi, Nicolle, Thank you for your inviting me to join this group. I've been busy working since last year i've found lots of people join in this classic group..
I hope i can catch in.
sorry i'm late to join in
Nicolle:)
Send to everyone to say Hi
Mod
Sunshines2008 wrote: "Hi, Nicolle, Thank you for your inviting me to join this group. I've been busy working since last year i've found lots of people join in this classic group..
I hope i can catch in.
sorry i'm late..."
Welcome to the group, I'm sure you'll fit in nicely.
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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Hiya Elizabeth don't worry about missing a group read, there are plenty, and if we have already read one in previous months which you wish to read, you can still post in that topic. :)
Glad you could join us David! I hope you join us in feb. Though I haven't checked what has won the poll yet so will find out now...