Classics for Beginners discussion

I'm reading Jill by Philip Larkin. It's brilliantly written with some excellent characterisation BUT not a whole lotta story. If you like a gripping plotline avoid it, but if you are an aspiring author then this could be a good place to get inspiration. Larkin knows his stuff (even at 21!).

I am reading The Catcher in the Rye. I am liking it thus far.

I am currently reading Watership Down...I am not too sure if this is considered a classic or not....but it is a fab read....The Characters are so incredibly adorable...It is very refreshing to read a book that is totally different from all the other books out there....

Matthew wrote: "I am reading The Catcher in the Rye. I am liking it thus far."

Hey, I just finished reading The Catcher In the Rye!

@Desiree and Nicolle: O my, don't worry I usually don't have time for my social life. Kidding. I think I use most of my time reading books than going outside my room because my friends are not outgoing people not like my high school friends. Haha.

@Teri: I tried to read that book when I was 16 but I did not like it. Maybe I'll read that later in life again because one of my close friends here rated that 5 stars.

Starting The Wizard Of Oz.

Kwesi 章英狮 wrote: "@Desiree and Nicolle: O my, don't worry I usually don't have time for my social life. Kidding. I think I use most of my time reading books than going outside my room because my friends are not outg..."

I basically have no social life but still can't read that much.

@Julie: Did you enjoy it?

i'm currently reading "ivanoe" by william scott n' it's very interesting!:]

@Nicolle: Aw, I can't help you with that. I have friends, outside school, and we meet once every month to discuss books at the same time to boost my social life at least tidbits of it. Hehe. Try to join some local book clubs.

I did join a local book club but me and a girl Georgia were the only ones of about 10 who actually read the book.

Nicolle wrote: "I did join a local book club but me and a girl Georgia were the only ones of about 10 who actually read the book."

Ugh, that irks me. Why bother joining a book club if you aren't going to read! It makes no sense to me. Anyways, this is the first book club I've ever joined. I would love to put together a book club in my community, but I'm afraid I don't know that many people...lol.

Breanna wrote: "Nicolle wrote: "I did join a local book club but me and a girl Georgia were the only ones of about 10 who actually read the book."

Ugh, that irks me. Why bother joining a book club if you aren't g..."

Another factor is that I am at the awkward age where adults think I am a child but children think I am an adult. Very annoying.

I know the feeling all too well. :/

I joined two local book clubs recently, the first one usually all member read the book of the month moderated by the volunteers (we are currently reading The Woman in Black) while the other book club, we usually go eat and chat every meet-up. Don't worry, Ir cared. I'm also the youngest in the group and I never cared, just don't listen to them.

I have often thought about joining a bookclub, but with my schedule...my husbands schedule and now my kids and their schedules, I just don't have the time....that is why I love Goodreads....I have the ability to chat with all of you wonderful people anytime I have the chance!! Thank you for making this such an awesome place to be!!!!

Yousra wrote: "I am currently reading A Game of Thrones. I just began reading it yesterday and I'm already in love."

I'm reading A Game of Thrones too. I had no idea it was even a book. I started watching the show on HBO and I really liked it, then I found out that it was based on a book. So, I found a copy and I can hardly put it down. I wish I could have read the book before watching the show, but it's alright; I'll read the others in the series before watching the next seasons of the show. lol.

Gah! I also met trolls and different type of people here in goodreads and in person. Not only that, I also met people who hate me and talk in my back when I'm gone. Haha, you can't control people even in online.

Matthew wrote: "@Julie: Did you enjoy it?"

Yes, I did enjoy it, but I think that it was kind of depressing, staying in hotel, going to the night clubs, drinking, smoking...Anyway, I have the old english version and they erased all the swear words. There was a huge amount of a word "phony" in the book and lot of "goddamn". I think Holden really hates phony people:)

And I loved how he shouted when he was leaving: "Sleep tight, ya morons!"

I live in a small town so am enjoying GR very much as I don't know of any IP book clubs. I'm busy with a lot of other activities so until I retire, I don't think I'll try to start one or seek one out.

I haven't read the Catcher in the Rye in a long time.....I hope to read it again soon....

After three days of reading Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, at last, I'm done and recommended. Currently reading The Arabian Nights, can't wait to start.

Harsha wrote: "I am reading Night and Day by Virginia Woolf right now. Just finished the first chapter, looking good so far. It's my first of Woolf's books, I have heard she's a great author."

Harsha, Have u finished Night and Day, or did u hate it? Lots of people don't like virginia woolf but i personally love her writing immensely, i've read 4 of her books(mrs dalloway, to the lighthouse, the waves, orlando) anyone else admire this author?

I have not read any of her books so I don't know if I will like her or not....Sorry Namida

Teri-lynn wrote: "I have not read any of her books so I don't know if I will like her or not....Sorry Namida"

It's okay:) i'm always afraid to recommend her since not everyone enjoys the stream of consciousness style she uses, it can be pretty tyring, but not boring for me...if u want to start with sth, go for Mrs Dalloway, it's my least favourite bt the easiest so...

I decided at the beginning of this summer that I'd finally start Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.... Yeah, still making my way through it. It's gonna be a personal milestone, I guess. The 2007 mini-serial helps sustain my interest. lol

I've also developed a penchant for reading poetry on tumblr lately :P There're some really fantastic poets there!

I am still reading Lucky Jim as I took a break from reading fiction. Over half way through and I can't help but adore Dixon(Jim) for his cringe-worthy life and the little faces and sarcastic comments he makes to get through it all. Hilarious!

Still working on Really loving this book...very interesting to see what a rabbit goes through in his life

How long is it Teri-Lynn??

It's 400 plus pages but its a very easy book to read...and it's all about Bunnies...How can you not love this book!!! Its so incredible....Now when I see little bunnies hopping around I call them by the names in the book....

Namida... wrote: Lots of people don't like virginia woolf but i personally love her writing immensely, i've read 4 of her books(mrs dalloway, to the lighthouse, the waves, orlando) anyone else admire this author?


Yes, me.

Teri-lynn wrote: "It's 400 plus pages but its a very easy book to read...and it's all about Bunnies...How can you not love this book!!! Its so incredible....Now when I see little bunnies hopping around I call them ..."

I've seen the movie and the ending is so so sad...

I love, love, LOVE both Watership Down and Fahrenheit 451

Right now I'm re-reading Les Miserables and The Secret Garden

I like talking bunnies (Watership Down) and Fahrenheit 451 is classic mid-future Sci-fi from Ray Bradburry. 451 is almost Orwellian, or rather, a competing work.

I have a feeling that the book is going to be very sad as well....I have already had a few moments of being choked up....

Well the film is...

It's ok I have Kleenex!!!

That is a relief... Don't wear eye makeup!! (or wear waterproof).

@Theresa: The story is getting better although I find some stories similar to each other and very hard to read. Not to mention that I can't feel the presence of the hot desert. I think translations really have big changes to the stories. Haha.

@Darnell: I loved The Time Travel and it was one of my favorite books. What do you think of the book so far?

@Darnell: Haha, sorry for that. You should punch me once you saw me crushing your reading phase.

Joanne wrote: "I love, love, LOVE both Watership Down and Fahrenheit 451

Right now I'm re-reading Les Miserables and The Secret Garden"

I loved Les Misérables, but anyone who starts it needs to be prepared to press through the first 100 pages or so. It is really worth it though - Great story.

I had started this book a long time ago...I had a very hard time getting through and I gave up...would like to start it again at some point....Les Misérables

Jen wrote: "I just read Jane Eyre. Now I'm reading The Eyre Affair."

Hahaha....Jane Eyre is one of my fave books and I have read the Eyre Affair and really liked it, a warning though, The Eyre Affair for me was the best in the series that I have read so far, and I have read the first 4!!

Currently reading a non classic and will never be defined as such as it is not that great....Kissing Snowflakes....don't bother if you don't have to!! I am reading it for another groups bookclub challenge. But, on the upside another of the books in the challenge was To Kill a Mockingbird which I have now listed in my Top Ten fave books of all time!!!!!!

At last, I'm done reading The Arabian Nights and currently reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë for fun and for my love to the Brontë sisters.

i just finished Great Expectations , and unlike Kwesi, i take Classics slowww, because they make the best impressions on me, modern literature's charm lifts faster, now, due to Great Expectation's utter brilliance and outstanding emotional grip it kept me in, it might take a while to move to the next classic but when that happens it'll probably be Villette for Charlotte Brontë or my final Austen Sense and Sensibility


Lee wrote: "Namida... wrote: Lots of people don't like virginia woolf but i personally love her writing immensely, i've read 4 of her books(mrs dalloway, to the lighthouse, the waves, orlando) anyone else admi..."

yes you admire her? well, elaborate more please!! which book do u like best? how many have you read for her? What do you think of the style?.... i'm sorry if i'm coming hard but i rarely find anyone who admires her, and there isn't even a decent group here on goodreads to talk about her books, i hope more read for her in this group.

Namida... wrote: "i just finished Great Expectations , and unlike Kwesi, i take Classics slowww, because they make the best impressions on me, modern literature's charm lifts faster, now, due to Great Ex..."

The first I read was Orlando, which is one of my favourite books. I've also read The Waves and To the Lighthouse. In terms of the style, I'd liken her in some respects to Kafka (another of my favourite authors) - far less sparse in her use of language, but writing what I call philosophical novels.

Lee wrote: "Namida... wrote: "i just finished Great Expectations , and unlike Kwesi, i take Classics slowww, because they make the best impressions on me, modern literature's charm lifts faster, no..."

for me, first was To The Lighthouse, but i didn't like it as much as after i read Mrs Dalloway and got acquainted with the style, i consider Orlando as the most different one from the rest, with more humour and evidently less characters, but i probably like them all with the same magnitude. i always cast my eyes on Kafka and think i'm too young to be reading it, is his writing hard, or more like is his writing harder than Virginia to grasp?