classic literature is actually fun!

[silversea]

Never 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.

Comments

[vamp_ress]

You seem to be working your way through the English classics If you feel like discussing any of them, ring me up :) If you liked "A Room with a View", may I recommend "Maurice" by Forster? It's even better. Actually, I think it's in a league of its own. Read it this month and was absolutely mesmerised.

[silversea]

Ooh, thanks for the recommendation! Sadly it's not in the public domain yet, but I see my library have a copy, so I'll try to get around to it sometimes soon. Forster had sharp wits in A Room with a View, but I question his odd ending and overall I feel I don't have a good grasp on his writing yet... Have you read A Passage to India? I was wondering if I should try that too.

[vamp_ress]

I haven't read "A Passage to India" yet - I still plan on reading all of his novels. At the moment I'm halfway through "The longest Journey" which is a bit more disjointed and not as focused as, let's say, "Maurice". But it also has Forster's sharp wit, his subtle irony and his disdain for British society&tradition. That seems to be his thing. He seems to like looking at what people are willing to do to "fit in" and then follows their downfall because it makes them unhappy. Especially with "The Longest Journey" I was reminded of Thomas Hardy from time to time because Forster seems hell-bent on making his characters miserable.

Once I've finished "The Longest Journey" I will have read three of his books. I'd say "Maurice" is his strongest by a long shot. So if you read only one of his novels, read this I'd say :)

[silversea]

Thanks for letting me know about The Longest Journey! I did get Forster's dislike for the British society & tradition in A Room with a View, it was pretty funny at times. Some of his criticism of the British tourist is still very accurate!

I feel what you said made a lot of sense about fitting in vs being authentic to yourself? Lucy struggling with her wants and the British society's expectations... Cecil and George representing the British society's expectations and pursuing your wants and freedom. But at the same time, it's slightly interesting because I read the appendix which sketches out a fairly depressing future for Lucy and George and I'm like what?

I'm gradually catching up on my library loans, but I hope to get around to Maurice sometimes this spring... likely summer though, just looking at my stack.

[vamp_ress]

Mhm, interesting. My edition of A Room with a View didn't have an appendix. But it sounds like the future this lays out for Lucy and George is a bit like what you'll read in The Longest Journey. Because no one in this novel is afforded the luxury of a happy marriage. It's bleak all around. Everyone seems to marry for the wrong reasons and it makes all of the characers miserable. And I mean, it's almost on a Thomas-Hardy-level of misery, because the misery is caused by the terrible decisions these characters make. It's quite frustrating. At the same time you can see his usual themes realised in this: society vs. the self and/or nature, happiness vs. duty, religion vs. living authentically. That kind of stuff.

[silversea]

Oh, sounds like I'll be avoiding The Longest Journey then. I don't think I can do bleakness.

[vamp_ress]

Which is totally fair :)