Reading the Classics discussion

Alana wrote: "I just did a re-read of Pride & Prejudice for a book club. With all of my being I want to rise above the majority, not be taken in by the whims of thousands of gullible women and not submits to the..."

Alana, I love your character analysis of P&P! We are currently reading it (today is the first day of discussion) for the group Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts if you would like to join in and offer your insights! :-)

Going to start The Phantom of the Opera tonight. Downloaded free from Project Gutenberg.

Thanks Sarah! I am in so many groups right now that I can't keep up with the reading as it is, but I'm glad other ladies are enjoying that great work!

I'm currently reading Empire Falls by Richard Russo. I'm enjoying it, but it's very slow, drawn out, almost Victorian in its insistence on discussing and describing every minutuiae of every minute. Interesting, if slow as small town American life.

One thing though - why are Americans so obsessed with High School sports? We don't give a **** what school sports teams are doing, over here in the UK.

I'm also getting more than a little frustrated with his description of a pause as "a beat" or "x number of beats". He's used that phrase dozens of times now. Lazy boy.

Phil wrote: "One thing though - why are Americans so obsessed with High School sports? We don't give a **** what school sports teams are doing over here in the UK. "

In small towns, this is the equivalent of a major sports team. I live in such a small town, and trust me, whether our HS team wins or loses a basketball game is a big deal.

Very interesting. We have no major sports team within 35 miles of my town, but we still don't care about kids' sport. Don't towns have adult teams that play other towns in the state? I guess it explains the whole jock / nerd thing, because being a jock in a school and the whole town worships you at 17 is a big thing. Isn't there anything in-between schools and the NFL for example?

Phil wrote: "Very interesting. We have no major sports team within 35 miles of my town, but we still don't care about kids' sport. Don't towns have adult teams? I guess it explains the whole jock / nerd thing, ..."

There isn't a major sports team within 700 miles of where I live. Sports are important where I live because it is an organized and healthy thing for kids to do. Better than drugs.

I can understand whole healthy thing - but don't adults organise their own sports teams? Or is it all left behind after school?

Over here in the UK (which is not bigger than a lot of States, there are about 20 different levels of adult soccer, for example, each getting more local and more on an amateur level. It's one of those appealingly quirky idiosyncrasies of small town USA that the whole town turns out to watch the school play football against another school, rather than the local adult team playing another town. And then there are cricket leagues, rugby leagues - all played by adult amateurs.

Crime and Punishment. Schizophrenic and rambling at times, but the intensity of Raskolnikov is amazing!

Currently reading Dear Life by Alice Munro, Paris Stories by Mavis Gallant and Story by Robert McKee. An awesome combination of rhythms and structure!

Matt wrote: "Crime and Punishment. Schizophrenic and rambling at times, but the intensity of Raskolnikov is amazing!"

Thank you! It's penciled in for Mar-May.

Phil wrote: "I can understand whole healthy thing - but don't adults organise their own sports teams? Or is it all left behind after school?

Over here in the UK (which is not bigger than a lot of States, ther..."

I think by the time you end up being an adult in a small town in the States, depending on where it is and whether it's more of a farming or mining or whatever community, most adults are working so many hours just to make ends meet that there isn't a lot of time for some of the activities. That or they just aren't as interested anymore. They get to live their dreams vicariously through the kids. Plus, it's just a fun social even in the town for everyone to get together on the weekends, when there's little else to do. Of course, then they're paying attention to college sports and rooting the kids on from there, but that's primarily via TV.

Speaking of which, I can't believe how much of an (American) football fan I've become over the last few years...I can even rival my husband on getting into the game and yelling at the refs for not making calls! :) Really enjoyed following the college teams this year.

O, also, Phil, just because high school sports take center stage in a lot of American books, doesn't mean that all small towns are like that. Many, of course, but not all.

We don't have the club system of sports prevalent in many Commonwealth countries. So, no, there isn't a lot of adult sports. We do have some adult sports leagues here in town, but no games between towns.

35 miles to a town large enough for any sports franchise is like being in the suburbs here. To not be close to a town with a major team is like being several hours away at the closest.

About 1/4th through War and Peace, I love it so far.

Finished Into the Wild, the biography of Chris McCandless and his trek into the Alaska wilderness in the 90s. It was interesting, though I'm still debating what I really think about him as a person. My review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Just putting in my two cents! In rural Georgia,USA, the adult sport most popular here is bingo. Anything for an additional buck!!

Lol, it was all about SEC football when I was there, Kathy ;)

I just finished Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Absolutely incredible. I know not everyone likes war stories, and yes, that's what it is, but it's so much more than that. I can't wait to see what else Laura Hillenbrand comes up with. I'll put the review in spoilers, as it's rather long, but I didn't really reveal anything.

(view spoiler)[This is the best book I've read in years. I read Seabiscuit: An American Legend several years ago and found it phenomenal, but figured I was biased because I always enjoyed horses. When I saw Laura Hillenbrand had written another book, I couldn't wait to read it, although for some reason it kept getting pushed back farther in the stack. I should have picked it up ages ago.

We've all read, watched or heard WWII war stories and war stories from other eras. Maybe we think we know everything that happened. This book proves otherwise. Each story was unique and incredible. The things that occurred during that era are amazing, for both wonderful and horrific reasons. There are stories of miraculous survival and horrifying defeat. Somehow, Ms. Hillenbrand found a story that encompassed a slew of good and horrible things and followed a beautiful life story that is sure to change anyone that hears about it.

From the very opening chapters, I was laughing out loud at the antics of Louie, and had this been a Hollywood film I would have been incredulous; surely not ALL of those things could have happened to one boy! But no, it's a true story. I can't imagine what he put his mother through; precocious doesn't begin to describe it.

Then I was swept up in his ongoing adventure learning to be a world-class runner. I hadn't heard any of the story before, so each time I had no idea whether he would win or lose. I felt like I was in the stands cheering him on.

If I thought so many adventures could not have happened to one child, that was nothing for everything that happened to him during the war years. It is disturbing, frightening, appalling and compelling. There are images I want out of my head and stories that would encourage me in the darkest moment. The atrocities and hardships Louie and other soldiers endured is unimaginable. Learning about his life after the war is unsettling, yet makes me wonder how many times I have judged someone for an outburst when I have no idea where they might have been coming from.

The end of the story is just as compelling and beautiful as the beginning. It is everything the title asserts: survival, resilience and redemption of the deepest kind. This book will shock you, but it will uplift you. I know it's the oldest cliche out there, but if you never read another book about WWII or any other war, read this one. A hearty five stars.

**I listened to this book narrated by Edward Herrmann, who does a lot of narration for The History Channel. If you like the History Channel or narration by Edward Herrmann, you will love listening to this one; it's like listening to a special without all the visual effects. (hide spoiler)]

I guess I'd better start on Persuasion.

Last night I finished On the Eve by Turgenev. So beautiful!

my review

Just started my first Sherlock Holmes last night. I'm reading The Hound of the Baskervilles.

I recently finished with The picture of Dorian Gray and Lolita! Both are brilliant thought I was much enthralled by the rather dark Dorian Gray!

Now, I am kind of confused which to pick up amongst Vanity Fair, Pride and Prejudice, A tale of two cities and Anna Karenina!

Suggestions highly appreciated! :)

Renee wrote: "Just started my first Sherlock Holmes last night. I'm reading The Hound of the Baskervilles."

Good one. Love Sherlock Holmes.

Just finished and started reading

Jane Austin fans might be interested to know that Project Gutenburg has just released a collection of her letters. It is among the "New Books" on their website.

Finished Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking today... wow! Well worth the read. Everyone should read it, whether intro- or extroverted, or somewhere in-between. I found it very englightening. My review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The King's General. Published in 1946, takes place during the English civil war.

I'm still reading some Russian stuff. Finished one of Tolstoy's short novels, The Kreutzer Sonata, and am now reading A Hero of Our Time.

Alana wrote: "Finished Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking today... wow! Well worth the read. Everyone should read it, whether intro- or extroverted, or somewhere in-between. I foun..."

I enjoyed it too! However, I only got halfway through it because my library e-book loan expired, but I plan to finish it someday!

just finished I, Claudius which gives the impression of being terribly worth and hard going but is, in fact, a rollercoaster of sex & drugs & rock'n'roll - Roman stylee! Ace book. Being in the first person and very direct, it reads as a very modern book. Will probably follow it up with the sequel, just because.

Have you ever seen the BBC TV series of I, Claudius from the 70s, Helen? It's fabulous television.

Alan wrote: "Jane Austin fans might be interested to know that Project Gutenburg has just released a collection of her letters. It is among the "New Books" on their website."

Thank you Alan :)

I've heard of it, & seen snippets but never seen it. It would have been a tad too adult for me when it came out!

The Bridge of San Luis Rey.A poignant book....

Reading - it's good, but has degenerated into stating the obvious right now (the chapter on paragraphs, basically says nothing at all).

Just started reading Pride and Prejudice.

Renee wrote: "Just started reading Pride and Prejudice."

We are discussing Pride and Prejudice in the group Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts if you're interested!

I am finishing up Anna Karenina and starting The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I have never read any of her books and am excited to see what she has created!

Phil wrote: "Have you ever seen the BBC TV series of I, Claudius from the 70s, Helen? It's fabulous television."

I loved that series. I can't wait until my sons are just a bit older, so I can show it to them.

I am reading Kiss of the Spider Woman, which is very good.

I've just started reading The Good Earth.

I'm reading Swann's Way by Marcel Proust, Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, and Thud! by Terry Pratchett.

What is the March group read?

Sandra wrote: "What is the March group read?"

It's still being polled, but it looks like Dracula will win. (Opinion: polls this late in the preceeding month make it hard to have read the book in time to discuss it.)

But, Elizabeth, the idea is that we read it *during* March and discuss it as we're reading it; not that we need to have all read it before the start of the month of discussion.

Phil wrote: "But, Elizabeth, the idea is that we read it *during* March and discuss it as we're reading it; not that we need to have all read it before the start of the month of discussion."

It's nearly impossible to discuss a book I haven't read. People are just saying "I'm 200 pages in" or "nearly finished." There isn't a discussion. If you're afraid people haven't read the book, then you can't say something which might be a spoiler to them. In every group I've seen, one comes to the discussion having read the book.

So, do we read it prior to March 1 (almost impossible this late in the game) or read it during March and discuss it as we read, in sections?

In the group that I co-moderate, we divide each book into sections and create a discussion thread for each section to avoid spoilers. That way everyone is reading the same section at the same time.

My apologies for part of my comment above. I was confusing 2 groups with the "no discussion" part. I haven't read a group discussion here. I always try to have completed a book before entering a discussion. I plan my reads a month or two in advance. I have read 2 of the books in this months poll, and am not especially interested in the others. I'm not pouting because a book I suggested isn't in the poll - I'll probably save it for reading at another time anyway.