It’s that time of the week and this time we’re talking Classic Literature at Weekly Geeks.
- How do you feel about classic literature? Are you intimidated by it? Love it? Not sure because you never actually tried it? Don’t get why anyone reads anything else? Which classics, if any, have you truly loved? Which would you recommend for someone who has very little experience reading older books?
- Read at least one chapter of a classic novel, preferably by an author you’re not familiar with. Write a mini-review based on this chapter: what are your first impressions? Would you read further?
- Let’s say you’re vacationing with your dear cousin Myrtle, and she forgot to bring a book. The two of you venture into the hip independent bookstore around the corner, where she primly announces that she only reads classic literature. If you don’t find her a book, she’ll never let you get any reading done! What contemporary book/s with classic appeal would you pull off the shelf for her?
- As you explore the other Weekly Geeks posts: Did any inspire you to want to read a book you’ve never read before—or reread one to give it another chance? Tell us all about it, including a link to the post or posts that sparked your interest. If you end up reading the book, be sure to include a link to your post about it in a future Weekly Geeks post!
So I have to discuss what I think about classic literature…I really have no feelings one way or another. I’ve read quite a few of them during High School for my Advance English classes, but they never really struck me as anything special. I remember reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and I enjoyed it, but that’s all I can really remember of it. I really have nothing against classic literature, but whenever I hear anybody talk about it, it’s usually because of Austen, Tolstoy, Bronte or Dickens. In all honestly, a lot of classic authors don’t appeal to me. I have no desire to read Pride and Prejudice or War and Peace, not because of anything I’ve heard, but they just don’t interest me. The classics that do catch my interests are ones that are more Gothic in nature and involve human characteristics that are truly fantastic and monstrous. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Vampyre by John Polidori, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (which I’m currently in the middle of) – these are the novels that catch my interest and you really never hear them talked about. They are the parents of the modern horror novel and if Stoker had never written his novel, where would vampires be today? Classic Gothic literature was unapologetic in its portrayal of human emotions that society refused to see and that is one of the reasons that I love it so much. In fact, some of my favorite quotes comes from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1797-1851):
I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone?
Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.
I’ll be the first to admit, I haven’t read a lot of classic literature and it’s not because I don’t have access to it. I have quite a few classic novels on my shelves, but while their stories intrigue me, there are times I have a hard time getting past the more formal speech that the writers of old used. For example, when I read the first chapter, The Story of the Door, of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the story captivated me. The story is so well written that I wanted to find out more about this mysterious Mr. Hyde that the two gentlemen were talking about. However, while I was intrigued by it, I was easily distracted by the formal and sometimes stilted use of the English vocabulary. Granted, back in 1886 (when this novel was published), that was the way people spoke, but it’s not what I am familiar with today. That’s a lot of the reason why I don’t read more classic literature. I have to admit though, the first chapter did exactly what it’s suppose to do – I was intrigued with the slight look at the characters involved and I wanted to read more.
As for cousin Myrtle, I would be completely screwed. I don’t read contemporary literature and I’m not a fan of a lot of classic literature so anything I’ve read or could recommend, Myrtle probably has already read. If I had to take a shot in the dark and make a recommendation, I would have to say Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Daughter. I’ve never read the book, but I’ve seen an old film version and I loved it. I would love to pick up this novel and read it, but it would probably end up on the shelves next to all the other classic Gothic literature I have – gathering dust.
As I’m going through some of the other Weekly Geekers post, I’m seeing a lot of them mentioning Pride and Prejudice and for the life of me, I don’t get the draw of this novel. From everything I’ve heard about it, it’s like a historical romance, yet it’s considered classic literature. Is it a requirement that anyone reading classic literature must like this novel? However, I do have to say that I was surpised to see a lot of classic novels that would interest me. I have to thank Becky for adding to my TBR pile though. Dumas is definitely on my list to try and it was great to see her reveiw of The Three Musketeers.
I actually just finished The Three Musketeers, and posted the review today, which was somewhat ironic with the Weekly Geeks prompt! I consider it a classic that even those who don’t generally like classics can enjoy. Of course, I may not be the best judge of that because most of my perennial favorites come off the classics shortlist!
I agree that Pride and Prejudice comes up a lot, but I think that’s simply because it’s one of the most commonly-assigned books. (I read it in high school, and I have to read it again this semester for British Romanticism.) I think it’s a great book, but not the best classic out there. In fact, I don’t think it’s even Austen’s greatest book (I think the perennially undervalued and ignored Mansfield Park deserves that distinction), but to each his own opinions and Pride and Prejudice seems to be the choice of the masses.
I seemed to have rambled, but I do want to encourage you to pick up The Three Musketeers, it’s a laugh-out-loud book you can brag about having read! :)
I’ve been wanting to read Frankenstein for awhile now. I’m bad about reading classic literature and don’t read much of it myself. Another one that I’ve been wanting to read is The Woman In White. It is supposed to be a classic gothic novel.
Frankenstein has been on a lot of Weekly Geeks post this week.. might have to take a look at it.. I love the quotes you posted.
I must admit I love the usual ‘talked-about’ classics you mentioned: Tolstoy, Bronte, Austen, and Dickens.. all. Meg is right about Pride and Prejudice, though, it was assigned reading to me in high school. But besides that, I don’t consider it “just” historical romance. I’ve tried reading a few historical romances but really couldn’t finish them. But Austen’s writing is just so accessible and light, they’re such feel-good reads. But reading is so subjective though, which is why I totally get you.. :)