*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

[charis-kalos.livejournal.com]

As a beginning:

Any Jane Austen, but Pride and Prejudice is the most popular for a reason.

Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre.

Elizabeth Gaskell: Any, but there's a Penguin Classics edition of her Gothic short stories which are lots of fun.

Charles Dickens: Bleak House

Wilkie Collins: The Woman in White

I'm away from my bookshelves at the moment, and I'm trying to visualise what's on them but do those do as a beginning?

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed! Thank you!

I have quite the list going now. I'm gonna head down to the second hand book store on Saturday with said list and see which ones they have ($50 credit, you see!). And if that doesn't work, I'll go to Collins and just pick me up some Penguin classics. :)

I'm kinda excited. :)

[charis-kalos.livejournal.com]

Glad you're excited. I am an absolute Penguin Classics junkie - I have an entire bookshelf full of them. This is why I'm still wearing my jeans-and-rugby-shirts uni clothes around the parish - all my money goes on books rather than clothes!

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Hee, I'm like that with DVDs these days, but I was once more of a book junkie. I want to get back into reading, but nothing has caught my fancy (and more recent incredibly short attention span) of late. But I've always wanted to read more of the classics. I should definitely re-read "Day of the Triffids" too. I LOVED that book as a kid!