Reading the Classics discussion

Chesterton is great. I like to have more time to focus on his books, but the collections of news articles are perfect for reading in bits and pieces. They can be a bit uneven, since some are so topical, but I love the way he puts words together and every once in a while there's a near-perfect paragraph.

Tey's a favorite of mine, as well. I wouldn't be happy reading her piecemeal the first time, but I've read all of her mysteries a couple of times, so we'll see how it goes. I just wish she'd written more!

Lyn wrote: "Moby Dick and two non-fiction books--helped me get through the "Cetology" chapter."

I did that too- I had a couple of other books (lighter picks) on the side to get me through.

Currently reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. Since this book was first published in 1929, I consider it a "classic".

Sheryl wrote: I have a collection of G.K. Chesterton newspaper articles upstairs near the laundry room..."

I'm reading his Orthodoxy. Kind of a difficult book to get through because of all the paradoxes!

A Christmas Carol

How does everyone feel about Rebecca? A true classic?

Rebecca is a true classic. Novel or movie form.

I just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Being today. It was great! It's been a long time since I read a book with so much philosophy, it was refreshing.

Jenny wrote: "I just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Being today. It was great! It's been a long time since I read a book with so much philosophy, it was refreshing."

That movie is good too.

Just finished Gone with the wind! Picking up Jane Eyre from where i had left it of sometime back :D

Just finished le Carré's "Spy Who Came in From the Cold". Fabulous book, can't recommend it enough. Now starting Phillip K Dick's "Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch".

I'm reading Sense & Sensibility at the moment. I like it, but so far I think P&P was better. Am not even halfway through, though, so I might change my mind.

Nothing is ever as good as Pride and Prejudice :)

Allie: You might be right there, that was an excellent book! :)

First reading Jane Eyre. Following it with Wide Sargasso Sea.

Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch started a lot better than it finished. I've finished my 50 books for 2013, so I'm onto my regular non-fiction. This time it's Freakonomics

I just read an advance pdf version of by Miralee Ferrell. It was incredible, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys inspirational/women's/historical fiction. It is a Christian novel, but it is not at all preachy and would, in my opinion, still appeal to readers who are not necessarily Christian. It speaks to issues of self-worth and self-acceptance and is a good, clean romance. I normally don't read romance, but this book--the second of the Love Blossoms in Oregon trilogy--and its predecessor, ,were truly amazing! It will be released on February 1. Here is a link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

We The Living - Ayn Rand

I read by Jodi Picoult.
So so sad...

Reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for the first time. Halfway through and can't believe this was picked as "one of the best books of the century".

Middlesex. Just started;)

Just started the Discworld novel "Mort", which I'll follow with a couple of Balzac's Human Comedy stories, because I need to get ahead of my challenge before I take on Little Dorritt.

I am reading The Pickwick Papers and really enjoying it.

I am reading War and Peace (well, listening to it on audiobook), but I just finished a short satire I would recommend - Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock. I was expecting Gothic horror so was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a spoof!

And I would like to request people include titles in their posts, as I can't see covers in my mobile app...

I finished today. Next I'm going to start .

Letting Go.

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

I keep reading Jane Eyre :)

I'm about a third of the way through Padriac Colum's The Golden Fleece, which was apparently advertised as a kid's version of the Argonautica back in the day -- once I finish that, I'm going to tackle Robert Fitzgerald's verse translation of The Aeneid.

Also reading another kid's book, Augustus Caesar's World, by Genevieve Foster, which is excellent so far.

So far this year I've read And Then There Were None and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I loved them both and can't believe I waited so long to read them! I wish I had read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as a kid.

Jenny wrote: "I wish I had read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as a kid. "

You're right. I did, and I loved it.

Have you come across Dealing with Dragons yet? Wonderful fun.
Dealing with Dragons

Just finished two Balzac Novellas a part of my long term Human Comedy read (Les Maranas and Passion in the Desert, in case you're wondering) and i'm just starting Oz book #4, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. I'll follow that with a French detective pulp our two (one or both of a Fantomas and an Arsene Lupin book). Then, I shall gird myself for the haul through Little Dorrit.

At the moment I am reading Jane Eyre and Mary Poppins. After this I will be reading the books that are referenced in the Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde.

Jon wrote: "At the moment I am reading Jane Eyre and Mary Poppins. After this I will be reading the books that are referenced in the Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde."

Jane Eyre is my favorite!! I highly recommend watching the 2006 PBS version as well. :)

Rachel wrote: "Jon wrote: "At the moment I am reading Jane Eyre and Mary Poppins. After this I will be reading the books that are referenced in the Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde."

Jane Eyre is my favorit..."

I have heard great things abou Jane Eyre , and I am enjoying it so far! I will have to look up the PBS version thanks for the tip!

Joy wrote: "The Thursday Next books strengthened my resolve to read more classics. What do you plan to start with?"

I am starting with Jane Eyre. Sarah in the Jasper Fforde group sent me a list of the referenced books in the first four books. I am going to start going down the list!

Joy wrote: "wow I didn't know there was a Jasper Fforde group. there is a group for everything."

Yes and we are just starting a year with Thursday Next in prep for the new book feel free to join! ;-)

I am reading a theology book, currently, called Kingdom Come by Sam Storms. However, I post reviews, analyses, and discussion questions on the classics and other books I read on my blog, at: www.steepandsavor.blogspot.com

Most recently, I've read and reviewed: Villette by Charlotte Bronte, The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, and The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway. Feel free to stop by and add to the conversation! I'm looking forward to connecting with others on goodreads to discuss classics and learn about books I haven't tried yet. :)

I will be startingThe Woman in White on February the 1st and I am really looking forward to it.
This months 'big read' has been The Pickwick Papers which is brilliantly funny.

I am reading Murder at the Vicarage

The Northern Clemency.

Janet wrote: "I am reading this year's Booker prize winner, The Luminaries, at the moment. Massive and arduous read, but well worth it. It mimics the classics."

O yes, I'll have to put that on my to-read list :)

I'm currently reading Notes from Underground and The Last Man. Also still reading Parade's End; good book, but a long one.

So many books... so little time... ;)

Reading Billy Lynn's Long Halftime by Ben Fountain.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Hi! I just joined this group. Used to teach literature so read a lot of these in my job but I promise no professorial put-downs. Since I moved on to other things I swore I'd never again read any book except for pleasure & so far kept my vow. Mostly I read mysteries & supernatural horror but have added one classic to my regular current reading - however slow. Took me nearly a year to read Bleak House & just finished Conrad's The Rescue & now reading J. H. Shorthouse's John Inglesant (now there's a neglected classic!).

Bill wrote: "Hi! I just joined this group. Used to teach literature so read a lot of these in my job but I promise no professorial put-downs. Since I moved on to other things I swore I'd never again read any bo..."

I think I want to give The Sound and Fury a shot although Faulkner is a tough read but I'll try. I want to read more literature books such as Anthony Trollope's The Three Clerks and Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad just to name a few.

Joy wrote: "Finished The Woman in White and reading Barnaby Rudge."

How are you finding Barnaby Rudge? I couldn't get past the first few chapters. The Woman in White is up next for one of the challenges I'm doing this year.

Ronhummer wrote: "Bill wrote: "Hi! I just joined this group. Used to teach literature so read a lot of these in my job but I promise no professorial put-downs. Since I moved on to other things I swore I'd never agai..."

I have read Trollope's The Three Clerks in the '80s & liked it. It introduces Mr Chaffingbrass, a criminal defence barrister who also appears in Orley Farm & Phineas Redux & is sort of a Victorian Rumpole. Read some of Innocents Abroad many years ago in American lit class & found it funny but got tedious. Also read The Sound & the Fury in college & found it heavy going but fascinating. May try it again now.

I enjoy Russian literature as well. Dostoyevsky is my favorite.

A Fan's Notes.

I am currently reading the Three Musketeers. So far its enjoyable.