*coughs* So, the classics!

[starrylizard]

There's something that I've been bemoaning lately. Apparently, back in high school and even in college (that's yr 11 and 12 here in Canberra), they didn't teach the same stuff in English as everyone else. Why yes, looking back through my English notes, I have waxed lyrical about The EarthSea Trilogy, learnt all about puberty via Judy Blume and even (wait for it!) written an essay about Aliens comparing the Director's cut to the screen version and discussing the subtle ways in which the movie pointed out the inhumanity of the android character found therein.

While all of these things were reasonably entertaining, I now find I have never studied Shakespeare, never picked up a Dickens or even a Jane Austen. (I did manage to get one term worth of Greek Tragedies, which was pretty darn fun!) So, now I'm thinking that perhaps I should try to fill this little void in my education.

I haven't a clue where to start though. So, please suggestions, my wonderful learned flisties! Tell me which Penguin Classic I should pick off the bookstore shelf.

I want something with a reasonably happy ending. Something not too bogged down with slow bits. You know, just for a starting point. I don't want to be put off right away.

I loved Hornblower on TV. Are the books good to read? The BBC adaptations of Jane Austen are awesome and right now I'm watching Our Mutual Friend, which appears to be very twisty-turny and fun! Don't laugh too hard, but I didn't know that was a Dickens book until it popped up in the opening titles. *doh* Oh yes!

So (*rubs hands*), please be giving insightful knowledge over now? :)

Comments

[sarlania.livejournal.com]

Our Mutual Friend is fantastic! I'm assuming you're watching the one with Paul McGann and David Morissey? *winks*

Ummm classics well it's all too personal taste. I think Pride and Prejudice is the most readable Austen, and the most popular, so that's a good starting point. After that I recommend Persuasion or Emma. I prefer the former. =) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is too a very readable and fantastic classic. However, it's more of a bittersweet ending than a happy ending soo....

If you want happy endings, don't read Dickens! Apparently (I haven't read all the Dickens myself) Our Mutual Friend is the only Dickens novel to have a happy ending, so if you're into something cheerful don't go for Tales of Two Cities or David Copperfield!

Hornblower I think is fantastic, but it's very much down to taste. There's quite a bit of sailing terminology to get one's head around, but IMO it doesn't detract from the fantastic plot and characterization. I say go for it, but be warned that the ITV adaption is quite different from the books. Archie doesn't have a major role in the books, Hornblower's only friend being Bush, and Hornblower's character in the books is much more introspective and much darker than in the movie. Go yeah, give it a read! I recommend perhaps skipping the first book in the series chronologically, going straight to Lieutenant Hornblower. =)

(BTW, if you haven't already, watch BBC's adaptation of The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, which is crackling and utterly hilarious! (Happy ending XD )

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming you're watching the one with Paul McGann and David Morissey? *winks*
*cough* I may have noted PMG was in it and hence picked it up. I spent the first episode squeeing as all my favourite British actors then popped up one after another. How absolutely freaking utterly cool is the cast list on this puppy?! O_O

Really, David Copperfield is angsty? Damn, I thought that might be a happy one for some reason. Okay, I think I'll skip most of Dickens just for the moment and come back later.

Wiki tells me Lieutenant Hornblower is the 7th novel. Is that right? Feels like cheating, but thanks for the tip! *adds C. S. Forester to the possible reading list* Hopefully I've picked up a little of the sailing terminology from the BBC adaptation or I can just set about things with a dictionary nearby. Lucky Bush is my favourite character. :)

(BTW, if you haven't already, watch BBC's adaptation of The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, which is crackling and utterly hilarious! (Happy ending XD )
Oh cool! Okay, I'll see if I can find it anywhere. :)

Thank you muchly!

P.S. Was just reading your profile earlier and you're studying biomedicine. I assumed you were an arts major from your LJ content. Hee! I did molecular biology. :)

[sarlania.livejournal.com]

Wiki tells me Lieutenant Hornblower is the 7th novel. Is that right?

Well it's the 7th novel that CS Forester wrote, but 2nd chronologically, if that makes sense? The events of that novel are in Mutiny/Retribution and the beginning of Loyalty.

And yes hehe history is my pet like, and many of my biomed friends are really surprised when I borrow biographies and such for "light reading" =)

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. He didn't write them in order. Got it.
I've made myself a list and I plant to go searching this weekend. I'm hoping the second-hand book store has some of them, as I've got credit there. :)

I think it's fabulous! People have such interesting hobbies. It often leaves me feeling very uninteresting.

[charis-kalos.livejournal.com]

David Copperfield has lots of angst through the book but ends happily. Tom Jones the book is even racier than the tv adaptation!