*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

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I feel I've read War of the Worlds around the same time I did The Time Machine and Day of the Triffids. Neither of those were through school, just random perusing of Dad's book shelf.

We did do Shakespeare once in highschool, but we didn't do Shakespeare. We generally had a summary of the play and were forced to act out a scene in small groups and then it was like "phew that's done, now for something we want to do". Ya know? All I remember is having to cackle like a witch and say "bubble bubble boil and trouble" or some such. Heh.

There was a recent BBC version of Tess d'ubervilles and I stopped watching after ep one in which she is stalked and then raped. Lovely stuff that! I had nightmares.

I shall definitely look for Phantom of the Opera. Jane Eyre and TKaMB are already on the rec list and I'll have a look for Little women and Anne of Green Gables. I have a feeling my sis has copies of AoGG in her bedroom. hmmm.

Thanks! \o/

[lark_ascends]

I realised I wrote down the wrong name for one of them--it's "On the beach" not "The beach".

The Anne of Green Gables books are incredibly lovely.

[smuffster.livejournal.com]

The rest of the John Wyndham (Day of the Triffids) novels are fantastic.

Aside from Austen and the Hornblower novels, I'd recommend Jules Verne. They're not terribly heavy and pretty amusing.

If you want a Shakespeare rec, I'd suggest Much Ado About Nothing as a good place to start.

And Mary Stewarts novels are great. Though not her Arthurian books.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

And Mary Stewarts novels are great. Though not her Arthurian books.

I've actually read The Crystal Cave and enjoyed it at the time. It was in a Fantasy Fiction class at college.

Someone else recommend Jules Verne too and I know I have Much Ado about Nothing as an Audio Play somewhere. *G* Thanks

Also, just realised I have read The Chrysalids. That was a good read. I hadn't connected it as being the same author as The Triffids book. :)

[smuffster.livejournal.com]

Dunno if you do much reading online, but all of the Jules Verne books are available as eBooks over at Project Gutenberg. In fact I'd suggest popping by then anyway because most of the "classics" are out-of-copyright and you could download a few to read to see what you like.

It's such a shame you didn't have a teacher who loved Shakespeare at school. It really does make all the difference to the level of enjoyment you get from those plays when the teacher is enthusiastic.