Not strictly Victorian: Classics Revisioned

[Sasha]

Has anyone read Wide Sargasso Sea?The story of (a renamed) Bertha Mason, from Jane Eyre? I've been meaning to.

[Ellen]

Marjorie wrote: "Wide Sargasso Sea is an amazing book that falls in a completely different category from the usual pastiches, "sequels," and other rip-offs of classic novels. It's a genuine classic in its own ri..."

Yes, I think that books that may co-opt a plot from another book but then create their own characters are in a different category from those that employ another writer's characters and write "prequels" or "sequels". "The Wild Sargasso Sea" may use the plot of Jane Eyre, but I think Rhys developed her own characters and really fleshed them out, which is what has made that book a classic. Thanks!

[Sasha]

Yeah, that's why I brought it up: it sorta falls into this category, but as you say, it gets its own respect. So that's pretty interesting.

Anyone got any others like that? I feel like there are one or two, but if so I can't remember them.

[Sasha]

My wife hated Drood. To be fair, she hated it so much she didn't finish it, but I generally respect her taste. (Sorry to be Mr. Negative Pants.)

[Sasha]

Ha...agreed.

There are a few books (by a few I mean hundreds) that are burning badges of shame for me - any time I say anything about a book, I'm afraid there are people whispering behind me: "That dude hasn't even read Bleak House!" And it's true: I haven't even read Bleak House. Embarrassing.

[Sasha]

I kinda feel that way too. If someone gives me a book, I'm obligated to read it...but I've generally got something else I wish I was reading instead.

[Ellen]

Alex wrote: "I kinda feel that way too. If someone gives me a book, I'm obligated to read it...but I've generally got something else I wish I was reading instead."

I agree with you and Anna, Alex. Instead of giving me a particular book I always hope that people will give me gift certificates or pre-paid cards at Barnes and Noble or some such bookseller so that I can go to the shop and choose a book or books that I really want. I don't think most people know us well enough to choose books for us. Thanks!

[Sasha]

I think a lot of people just don't realize how...weird I am. Y'know, most people just read books. When they hear that a book is good, they might check it out. It's hard for them to fathom that I have a whole List that I've agonized over, and Joseph Conrad absolutely has to come next, and I have no time find out whether Colson Whitehead can write a good zombie novel or not.

[Andreea]

Alex wrote: "Yeah, that's why I brought it up: it sorta falls into this category, but as you say, it gets its own respect. So that's pretty interesting.

Anyone got any others like that? I feel like there are o..."

There are quite a lot of serious post-colonial rewritings of well known books, I think some of the most famous are Foe by Coetzee (Robinson Crusoe), A Tempest by Aimé Césaire (Shakespeare's The Tempest) and Jack Maggs by Peter Carey (Great Expectations).

[Sasha]

Oh cool, thanks Andreea! I've never heard of any of those. I'll check 'em out. Very interested in Foe; I like thinking of Crusoe as an unreliable narrator, and it sounds like Foe might be playing with that. Have you read these?

[Gerald]

Two takeoffs I love: Peter Carey's "Jack Maggs." Not really a retelling of "Great Expectations," but another novel of a convict that goes to Australia, becomes rich, and tries to help a young kid who helped him before he was transported. Really a novel about the founding of Australia. Also Jon Clinch's "Finn" the story of Huck's father--as mean a bastard as any in fiction. Bonus: we learn who Huck's mother was. (Well, he had to have a mother, didn't he?)

And while I'm on the subject, I'm a total fan of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books: Harry Potter for lit majors. Picture Miss Havisham on a motorcycle!

[Ellen]

Gerald wrote: "Two takeoffs I love: Peter Carey's "Jack Maggs." Not really a retelling of "Great Expectations," but another novel of a convict that goes to Australia, becomes rich, and tries to help a young kid w..."

That's a pretty good nickname for the Fforde "Thursday Next" books, Gerald. I absolutely adore them, and read most of his books as soon as the library has them. Brilliant! Thanks!

[Sasha]

Finn is an interesting idea for a book. Yeah, that guy is a jerk.

One of these days, I'll get around to the "Thursday Next" books.

[Ellen]

Alex wrote: "Finn is an interesting idea for a book. Yeah, that guy is a jerk.

One of these days, I'll get around to the "Thursday Next" books."

I hope you do get a chance to read the "Thursday Next" books, Alex. Maybe start with "The Eyre Affair", the first book in the series, and see what you think. These books always provide me with a romp in the fields of literature while at the same making me laugh constantly. So much fun! Thanks~

[Diane]

I hope you do get a chance to read the "Thursday N..."
I listened to cds of the Thursday Next series on a road trip and smiled or laughed the whole way. Very cleverly done. I strongly recommend you start with the first book in the series, "The Eyre Affair", or it will be confusing.
no, they're not believable, but they are a hoot.

[Ellen]

Diane wrote: "I hope you do get a chance to read the "Thursday N..."
I listened to cds of the Thursday Next series on a road trip and smiled or laughed the whole way. Very cleverly done. I strongly recommend you..."

I don't think Fforde means for his "world" to be believable. I feel as though his intent is to play with literature, have fun, and hook the reader on his characters and style; I don't think he wishes to make the world believable, but to keep it a booklover's fantasy!

[Ellen]

Anna wrote: "I guess what I mean by believable is that good fantasy worlds have rules that work within the world that make them interesting, well crafted and a joy to read. When I read Fforde, I felt he was jus..."

I understand what you mean, Anna. I only meant that I don't think that Fforde even set out to create a believable fictional world, but rather just to have fun. And if the his world isn't consistent, for me that doesn't matter. I simply enjoy following his fantasy around the literary universe! LOL!! Thanks!

[Ellen]

Anna wrote: "I'm probably being a fictional world snob. The Eyre Affair was a good read. He just lost me after that."

So I guess you didn't like "The Well of Lost Plots" as much as you did "The Eyre Affair"? I really enjoyed that one, too. Thanks!

[Mimi]

Sara wrote: "Ellen wrote: "OK, this is going to sound rather rude, but I hope no one takes this comment personally. For some reason I rather resent writers who create "sequels" or "prequels" that take character..."

I think it can be laziness, but often it's true love. The reader loves Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and wants to explore that world more. What if Elizabeth hadn't gone to Pemberly? :O Just imagine. Since Austen isn't around to ask and since she died far too early and left only a small legacy of novels, many readers aren't sated. We want more. As a reader of these 'what if' books, I have no illusions that they are of the quality (and some are just terrible), but I still like to explore that world and imagine Darcy ....(insert interesting twist).

[Ellen]

Jamie wrote: "Sara wrote: "Ellen wrote: "OK, this is going to sound rather rude, but I hope no one takes this comment personally. For some reason I rather resent writers who create "sequels" or "prequels" that t..."

Jamie, your perspective on this issue has me reconsidering. But how does a reader even discover which of these books are of good quality and which are simply awful? As a reader whose to-read shelf is overflowing, I haven't got the time to start reading a book and then having to quit because it's so poorly written. I suppose reading reviews by readers I respect would help distinguish the good from the bad. I understand that, as you mentioned, a writer might fall in love with a particular character and, because there's no way to know what Austen might have done with the character, the writer has to dream up something. But I agree that perhaps laziness is involved to a certain extent, because it does take more work to create one's own characters from scratch. Thanks so much! I appreciate your input.

[Ellen]

Anna wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Anna wrote: "I'm probably being a fictional world snob. The Eyre Affair was a good read. He just lost me after that."

So I guess you didn't like "The Well of Lost Plots" as much as y..."

Oh, I'm sorry, Anna. I suppose Fforde has his readers as do most authors, and to be a fan of his work one has to be able to accept his writing as it is. Part of what I enjoy about his books is that "cleverness" that turns you off. Well, such is life, right? There are so many authors in the world that we can all find some of whom we are very fond, right? Thanks so much!

[Mimi]

Now I'm really torn about The Eyre Affair. I guess I'll save it for a beach read.

I do have the new PD James on my list, but its only getting so=so reviews.

[Ellen]

Jamie wrote: "Now I'm really torn about The Eyre Affair. I guess I'll save it for a beach read.

I do have the new PD James on my list, but its only getting so=so reviews."

Hey, just jump in and pick up "The Eyre Affaire", Jamie. Everyone's taste is so different that you may like it very much. Thanks!

[Tânia]

Has been published in the Guardian an interesting article about the classics been the best self-help literature and good for improve the romantic life. An interesting point of view, I never thought about it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyl...