classic literature is actually fun!
Feb. 27th, 2026 05:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silverseaNever was a big fan of classic literature (this may or may not have something to do with my parents giving me children's abridged versions of classic literature as a kid...), but in the last few years I started venturing out of my usual speculative fiction/weeb tastes. Started with Dracula and Frankenstein and the likes, was pleasantly surprised by how readable they were. In retrospect, of course they are very readable, that's why they endured so many years!
Finding Standard Ebooks exposed me to a whole new world though. Highly recommend for any book that's out of copyright.
I read all of Jane Austen's novels last year, thanks to this find. Totally see why she's so popular, and greatly enjoyed getting to trace some of modern romance's tropes back to her. Felt a bit dumb with a lot of her societal commentary going over my head, but had a good time chatting with a friend who's a big fan of her works and kindly explained to me about some stuff. My ranking of her novels would go something like this:
1. Emma
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Persuasion
4. Northanger Abbey
5. Sense and Sensibility
6. Mansfield Park
Slowly reading more classic literature. Main goal this year is to read the Brontë sisters' novels, some recommendations from my aforementioned friend (David Copperfield and East of Eden are her two recommendations), and a few more other books.
Already read Wuthering Heights last month, truly a horrifying but incredibly gripping novel. Now reading Agnes Grey. I'm in the mood for something short and this is the shortest book by the Brontë sisters, apparently. Still early in the book, so not much thoughts yet other than the kids are sociopaths.
Also read A Room with a View last month, which was my friend's number one recommendation, found it very charming, found its 1985 adaptation even more charming. Excellent cast, lovely aesthetics, can't go wrong with the movie at all. Surprisingly enough, my friend haven't watched the adaptation, so I recommended it to her and she also found it an excellent adaptation.
Hoping to read Le Morte d'Arthur, North and South, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms this year. Can't remember if there's anything else on my list... It's not a strict goal anyway, as long as I get around to them in the foreseeable future I'm happy.
Lately I've been interested in Arthurian legends, which is a bit strange considering that I'm a hardcore fan of the Fate franchise. For some reasons, I never was super into Saber's parts, and while I've softened my thoughts on her, I still wasn't interested in the Arthurian legends until last year. Now I have an itch for it and I'm craving to learn more.
Ah, speaking of the Fate franchise, I really should read the Epic of Gilgamesh. I've read bits and pieces of it over the years, some summaries, etc, but never read it in its completion much to my shame. It's not even long at all, so it's even more embarrassing. I intend on changing that this year.
Finding Standard Ebooks exposed me to a whole new world though. Highly recommend for any book that's out of copyright.
I read all of Jane Austen's novels last year, thanks to this find. Totally see why she's so popular, and greatly enjoyed getting to trace some of modern romance's tropes back to her. Felt a bit dumb with a lot of her societal commentary going over my head, but had a good time chatting with a friend who's a big fan of her works and kindly explained to me about some stuff. My ranking of her novels would go something like this:
1. Emma
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Persuasion
4. Northanger Abbey
5. Sense and Sensibility
6. Mansfield Park
Slowly reading more classic literature. Main goal this year is to read the Brontë sisters' novels, some recommendations from my aforementioned friend (David Copperfield and East of Eden are her two recommendations), and a few more other books.
Already read Wuthering Heights last month, truly a horrifying but incredibly gripping novel. Now reading Agnes Grey. I'm in the mood for something short and this is the shortest book by the Brontë sisters, apparently. Still early in the book, so not much thoughts yet other than the kids are sociopaths.
Also read A Room with a View last month, which was my friend's number one recommendation, found it very charming, found its 1985 adaptation even more charming. Excellent cast, lovely aesthetics, can't go wrong with the movie at all. Surprisingly enough, my friend haven't watched the adaptation, so I recommended it to her and she also found it an excellent adaptation.
Hoping to read Le Morte d'Arthur, North and South, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms this year. Can't remember if there's anything else on my list... It's not a strict goal anyway, as long as I get around to them in the foreseeable future I'm happy.
Lately I've been interested in Arthurian legends, which is a bit strange considering that I'm a hardcore fan of the Fate franchise. For some reasons, I never was super into Saber's parts, and while I've softened my thoughts on her, I still wasn't interested in the Arthurian legends until last year. Now I have an itch for it and I'm craving to learn more.
Ah, speaking of the Fate franchise, I really should read the Epic of Gilgamesh. I've read bits and pieces of it over the years, some summaries, etc, but never read it in its completion much to my shame. It's not even long at all, so it's even more embarrassing. I intend on changing that this year.
