Reading the Classics discussion

I like when the longer books are broken down so I can join the conversation as I read, which is generally the case here. It's also possible to join in at a later date -- I often go back and read through (and sometimes comment on) discussions I missed, either because they were before I joined or because I got behind on reading. Since most people get reminders when someone comments to a thread they've posted on, the conversation sometimes resumes. If not, at least I get to share other people's observations on the book and leave mine for others to discover later.

This group always breaks the books down into sections. Even a short one, like this month's Persuasion, was broken down into 4 sections. That way people who have finished can comment without putting spoilers in by posting in the folder for the final section, and those in the process of reading it can share their excitement and musings of what's going to happen, by posting in the earlier sections.

It's always seemed to work so far. And when a book is very long (like Anna Karenina or Brothers Karamazov), then the group allocates two months to read it.

I enjoy discussing it as I go along. This group does a great job of breaking the book down into sections, as Phil said, so we can put in comments for whatever section we are in. Sometimes I'll read a sentence or something will happen in the story that I just HAVE to comment on while I'm in the middle of it. You can always put your comments in spoiler brackets if you're concerned about ruining it for someone.

I just finished Gone Girl, which I highly recommend. Once you get hooked, you are hooked. And I am currently starting Beloved. Slowly working my way through The Brothers Karamazov which will probably take me ages thanks to school.

I just started the Brothers Karamazov!! But I see that y'all have read it already. That's okay, but that it my superlong book for the year. With books that size, I take as long as I need. I read on breaks and in between whatever else I am reading.

I am reading Moby Dick, and I wish there was a group out here reading this now. It would be fun to talk to someone about the goodies inside this book.

I am currently reading A Passage to India. This is the second book of E. M. Forster's that I have read, and I would highly recommend his novels if you are interested in class systems dictating social interactions.

Martha wrote: "I am reading Moby Dick, and I wish there was a group out here reading this now. It would be fun to talk to someone about the goodies inside this book."

Isn't there a group called the Moby Dick Group Read or something like that? You could probably jump in late.

As to the discussion about how this group reads and discusses the books that are chosen, Phil and Alana had it right. You can also check all past group read discussions. All discussions are broken up into at least 4 separate discussions depending on the size of the book. This is to prevent spoilers. People can comment as they are reading or when they finish reading the whole book or any time they want. The discussions are always available. This is how this group was originally set up and has always been, to discuss classic books as we are reading them. We have always had a lot of good discussions for all the books.

Finnella wrote: "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."

In case anyone's interested (and apologies if this isn't relevant to you) BBC4 are showing the Derek Jacobi TV dramatisation of I, Claudius. Starts this Tuesday night at 10 pm. 13 episodes. Better remember to set that recording device - 10 pm's past my bedtime!

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up, Helen. :)

Silas Marner. I am having more trouble getting into it than I did reading Middlemarch.

I just finished The History of Mister Polly by Herbert George Wells. If your only familiarity with Wells is his science fiction, then I would highly recommend this novel as a surprising change. Wells is astonishingly funny!

I'm reading Anna Karenina and Hamlet.

Shaun wrote: "Othello is my favorite, followed by Coriolanus, then Julius Caesar."

I haven't read any Shakespeare before, except for Romeo and Juliet for school when I was about 14. I wasn't all that impressed with it. But so fat I'm kinda liking Hamlet, I just finished Act 1 last night.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

I am loving Dracula - much more than I thought I would.

Sydney,

I hated Romeo and Juliet in high school at 14. Loved Hamlet a few years later. :)

I'm liking Hamlet so far. It just takes me quite a while to read! I've only finished Act 1.

Currently I am reading The Phantom of the Opera and Ivanhoe

Began The Good Earth also.Can't believe how good it is.Film is excellent too.

Kaitlyn, I absolutely loved "The Phantom of the Opera!" It is so ,much better than the musical!

I am now working on "Hard Times" by Dickens, "The Metamorphosis" by Ovid, "Jude the Obscure" by Hardy, and various Renaissance tragedies.

Yes I finished The Good Earth and it was really good. Now on A Passage to India and Sacred Sites of the Knights Templar. Then The Karamazov Brothers.

Reading Orlando for my book club!! Liking it so far.

Coco Chanel by Justine Picardie. Hubby gave it to me for my birthday.

Brian wrote: "Yes I finished The Good Earth and it was really good. Now on A Passage to India and Sacred Sites of the Knights Templar. Then The Karamazov Brothers."

I Also plan to read The Brothers Karamazov ...
But after Letters From A Stoic (Seneca) and The Myth Of Sisyphus (Albert Camus)
i am new to this group. feels great to find people who share similar interests .

I'm reading Eyeless in Gaza by Aldous Huxley and Moby Dick by Melville. I forgot how much I love Moby Dick.

I recently read Oedipus the King and am now reading The Fellowship of the Ring. First time reading it and so far I like it a lot.

Currently reading 'A tale of two cities'. Found the first few chapters hard going but now getting in to it. Also, reading 'The ragged trousered philanthropist' which is very entertaining.

This is part of my project to read the BBC Big Read Top 100 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top...

Have started Crooked House. It is so good. I love her books!!

The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham; The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga; an anthology of American transcendentalist writings.

I'm still reading Dracula, and have just started the Aeneid for class.

I will have to check out the Penguin Classics reading guide. That sounds helpful.

I am reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man...just a few more pages to go...Amazing work, I must say...

I'm almost finished with The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola. I'm also reading Orlando by Virginia Woolf and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. And for fun I'm reading The Prince of The Blood by Raymond Feist.

Melissah wrote: "I'm almost finished with The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola. I'm also reading Orlando by Virginia Woolf and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. And for fun I'm reading The Prince of The Blood by..."

I am also reading Orlando!! And I looooved the Blind Assassin!! I am liking Orlando..more than I thought I would I guess...but I have always wanted to read it. I am reading it for my book club. :)

Melissah wrote: "I'm almost finished with The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola. I'm also reading Orlando by Virginia Woolf and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. And for fun I'm reading The Prince of The Blood by..."

How was The Ladies' Paradise? I'm a huge fan of Zola, and that is one I have not read yet.

Cindy- I'm about 3/4 into both books and they are fascinating!! Orlando is so strange! I agree that I'm liking it more than I thought I would. I always enjoy Atwood's novels and this one is no exception.

Alan- The Ladies' Paradise is amazing. This is my second time reading it (first time was for a class on 19th century French lit) and I love it again. Zola is brilliant! I def recommend reading this one as well.

I love both authors very much. Atwood and Woolf. I have read many by both. Orlando is interesting. I like her view of literature. Some observations are kinda funny.

Amerika by Franz Kafka.

Also something which just became a classic, by the 50-year definition: The Feminine Mystique.

Pride and Prejudice!:-)

Nana, first Zola book and so far so good.

A clash of kings.

The Good Soldier.

Hey,

Just joined :)

I just finished Emma (after originally starting it when I was 16 I never got past p.45, eventually started over this year) and loved it so much! Favourite Jane Austen so far! :)

Moved onto Jane Eyre which I started last summer but after the slow start had sort of forgotten about, about 11 chapters in now and much more into it :)

Sketches from a Hunter's Album, Ivan Turgenev

Just finished Kafka on the Shore, now reading The Nonexistent Knight & The Cloven Viscount. Started reading Oryx and Crake but I cannot get into it. Anyone else read it and like it?

Finally finished Emma... it has never taken me that long to get through an Austen before. Definitely not my favorite, though it wasn't terrible. Three stars. (3 1/2)

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

I have just finished The Misremembered Man by Christina McKenna. It is a jewel of a book, and I highly recommend it.

I am going to start When She Wokeby Hillary Jordan soon.

I have difficulty with audio books, too. I thought it was just me though and have tried to "train" myself to listen. However, I find that I can read a book much faster that listen to it, also.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Sketches from a Hunter's Album, Ivan Turgenev"

This one looks interesting! I recently purchased his complete works and need to prioritize my reading plan --- I think I'll put this one near the top of my list ;)