Ben Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) Okay, so with summer pretty much upon me due to now finishing my first year of university, I have decided it’s about time I set about reading some classics; some of the books I should read. Now, as there are a lot to be choosing from, I’ve decided to put this over to the lovely forum members - you decide. Should I read Dickens, Wilde, Tolstoy, the Bronte sisters?* If you had to recommend classic books that you felt every person should read what would they be? I’m throwing myself wholeheartedly into this during summer, so it will most likely dictate something like 95% of my reading. So, folks, hit me with your best recommendations and decide my literary journey for me this summer. Currently Reading: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Summer 2012 Classics Progress: 4. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Thoughts. The Count of Monte Cristo. - Alexandre Dumas. To Kill a Mockingbird. - Harper Lee. Thoughts. Catch-22. - Joseph Heller. Thoughts. Possible TBR Pile (Will pick and chose from this list). *Asterix indicates 'need to purchase.' Bold indicates read. Austen, Jane: Mansfield Park Austen, Jane: Northanger Abbey (K) Bronte, Anne: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Bronte, Emily: Wuthering Heights Dickens, Charles: A Tale of Two Cities Dickens, Charles: Bleak House (K) Dickens, Charles: A Christmas Carol (K) Dickens, Charles: David Copperfield (K) Dickens, Charles: Hard Times* Dickens, Charles: Oliver Twist (K) Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: Crime and Punishment Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo Eliot, George: Middlemarch* Hardy, Thomas: Far From the Madding Crowd Hardy, Thomas: Tess of the d’Urbervilles (K) Hardy, Thomas: The Woodlanders Hardy, Thomas: Under the Greenwood Tree Heller, Joseph: Catch-22 Homer: The Iliad (K) Hugo, Victor: Les Misérables (K) Huxley, Aldous: Brave New World (K) Joyce, James: Ulysses (K) Lee, Harper: To Kill a Mocking Bird (K) Maurier, D. Daphne: Rebecca Marquez, G. Gabriel: One Hundred Years of Solitude (K) Orwell, George: Animal Farm Steinbeck, John: The Grapes of Wrath (K) Steinbeck, John: Of Mice and Men (K) Stevenson, L. Robert: Kidnapped Swift, Jonathan: Gulliver’s Travels (K) Thackeray, M. William: Vanity Fair Tolstoy, Leo: Anna Karenina (K) Tolstoy, Leo: War and Peace* Trollope, Anthony: Chronicles of Barsetshire.* *To give you some sort of idea of what I’ve already read, I’ll post a list below (I’ll probably have missed some): The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Dracula by Bram Stoker. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. A Room With A View by E. M. Forster. A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence. Treasure Island by R. L. Stevenson. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R. L. Stevenson. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding. Pamela by Samuel Richardson. Oroonoko by Aphra Behn. Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. Edited June 8, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie P Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Hi Ben, you have to read To kill a mockingbird. I think it should be a crime not to read such a classic!! Andie P x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Well I'm obviously going to vote for the Jane Austen books, but if I was going to add one book to your list, it would be Middlemarch by George Eliot. I'm about a third of the way through (it's a long term project to finish it ) but it's been fabulous so far. I know it sounds odd to recommend a book I haven't finished, but it's been that good so far. The only reason I haven't finished it by now is because it wouldn't fit in my bag as it's so thick, but I'm going to get an ebook version once I've demolished by current TBR and dedicate time to finish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 10, 2012 Author Share Posted May 10, 2012 Hi Ben, you have to read To kill a mockingbird. I think it should be a crime not to read such a classic!! Andie P x It's right up there on my list, Andie, don't you worry about that. Well I'm obviously going to vote for the Jane Austen books, but if I was going to add one book to your list, it would be Middlemarch by George Eliot. I'm about a third of the way through (it's a long term project to finish it ) but it's been fabulous so far. I know it sounds odd to recommend a book I haven't finished, but it's been that good so far. The only reason I haven't finished it by now is because it wouldn't fit in my bag as it's so thick, but I'm going to get an ebook version once I've demolished by current TBR and dedicate time to finish it. I've wondered about reading this for a while now, so it's great to hear you recommend it. It seems like it'll be a bit of a challenge with the size of course, but then again at some point I'm wanting to tackle War and Peace so length needs to be ignored. As for the Austen books I'm most certainly going to read more of them very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayley Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Definitely David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. If you like Dickens then Hard Times is also really good. (I'm a bit of a Dickens fan, can you tell? ) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is another classic I really enjoyed, it's not very long either, so easy to fit in And what about Gulliver's Travels as well? Cannot WAIT to start my summer reading. Only two exams standing in my way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 10, 2012 Author Share Posted May 10, 2012 (edited) Definitely David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. If you like Dickens then Hard Times is also really good. (I'm a bit of a Dickens fan, can you tell? ) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is another classic I really enjoyed, it's not very long either, so easy to fit in And what about Gulliver's Travels as well? Cannot WAIT to start my summer reading. Only two exams standing in my way! All the Dickens on the list. I'm excited to read more by him. As for The Scarlet Letter I've read that before, just forgot it from the list. Gulliver's Travels is ready and waiting on TBR so I'll swing around to it eventually I'm sure. Good luck with your exams, you'll love the feeling of relief when you're finally done. Edited May 11, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Please, please, PLEASE read The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - it's such a awonderful, exciting, adventurous, swashbuckling story and superbly written (I notice you have The Count of Monte Cristo on your TBR list - hurrah!). Also, please do add some Jules Verne if you get the chance - he's marvellous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie P Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Oh dear, thanks Ben my own TBR list is getting bigger!!! Andie P x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 Please, please, PLEASE read The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - it's such a awonderful, exciting, adventurous, swashbuckling story and superbly written (I notice you have The Count of Monte Cristo on your TBR list - hurrah!). Also, please do add some Jules Verne if you get the chance - he's marvellous! Ahh, The Three Musketeers is definitely one I want to get around too, thanks for the recommendation. I started The Count of Monte Cristo a couple of years ago but due to the length and other things going on at the time, I never made it through to the end. With the summer months giving me plenty of time, however, I should manage it this time. Ah, Jules Verne! Adding to the list. Oh dear, thanks Ben my own TBR list is getting bigger!!! Andie P x Haha, I only aim to please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 The Three Musketeers was very good - I read it for the reading circle a few years ago - and I've been meaning to read The Count of Monte Cristo since then. Another to add to the wishlist ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Some brilliant books on this list - one summer ISN'T going to be long enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 The Three Musketeers was very good - I read it for the reading circle a few years ago - and I've been meaning to read The Count of Monte Cristo since then. Another to add to the wishlist ... It's another lengthy effort that needs the time dedicated to it. Fortunately I now have that time. Some brilliant books on this list - one summer ISN'T going to be long enough! Perhaps not but I'll give it a very good shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 12, 2012 Author Share Posted May 12, 2012 (edited) Sexy new 'classics' shelf. Can tell I'm applying myself to this challenge. Edited May 12, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Is that your wallpaper?! *bows down* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Most certainly is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 You've got a great list there Ben To Kill A Mockingbird is definitely a must read & I just know you'll love it. Wuthering Heights is my favourite book & I also loved Vanity Fair but not sure if these are books that would appeal more to women than men though I remember that VF didn't like Vanity Fair at all. Far From The Madding Crowd & The Woodlanders are both fantastic reads & imo no classics challenge is complete without a bit of Trollope so I would unreservedly recommend The Barchester Chronicles. Great idea for a challenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) You've got a great list there Ben To Kill A Mockingbird is definitely a must read & I just know you'll love it. Wuthering Heights is my favourite book & I also loved Vanity Fair but not sure if these are books that would appeal more to women than men though I remember that VF didn't like Vanity Fair at all. Far From The Madding Crowd & The Woodlanders are both fantastic reads & imo no classics challenge is complete without a bit of Trollope so I would unreservedly recommend The Barchester Chronicles. Great idea for a challenge Thanks, I'm certainly looking forward to working it - there's some brilliant novels on the list. To Kill A Mockingbird is a priority in all fairness, it's been on my list for too long now with all the recommendations it's had from members on here. I'm not sure about whether they'll appeal to me until I've got started, but I suppose books like Austen's Pride and Prejudice are more appealing for women too and I adored that. I suppose I'll just have to see. Far From The Madding Crowd is another priority after a lot of recommendations, although in fairness I'm starting to feel this is such a good list that they're all 'priority' reads. Thanks for the recommendation of The Barchester Chronicles, I shall add it to the ever-growing list. Edited May 13, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Most certainly is. Not such a good day for that wallpaper! ;) :smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Not such a good day for that wallpaper! ;) :smile: Urgh, I come on here knowing there won't be much football chatter unlike the stick I'm getting through calls. Cut me some slack here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Sorry Ben, there is no safe place! We were at a badminton tournament today and the place practically emptied for the last 10 mins of the Man City game as it was being shown in the adjoining coffee shop, what an exciting end to the season, at both ends of the table!!! Oh, and I'm a Chelsea supporter so I don't have a huge amount to shout about!! Although I'm hoping that may change next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) Sorry Ben, there is no safe place! We were at a badminton tournament today and the place practically emptied for the last 10 mins of the Man City game as it was being shown in the adjoining coffee shop, what an exciting end to the season, at both ends of the table!!! That figures, it was one of the liveliest ends to a season I've seen in a long time. It was the nature of being tipped with two goals in stoppage time that bothers me, QPR had fought so hard to get themselves within touching distance of what would have been a sensational win, and then they just couldn't hold on. Was a sad moment for me. Oh, and I'm a Chelsea supporter so I don't have a huge amount to shout about!! Although I'm hoping that may change next week! It'll be a tough game but best of luck, would much prefer an English team to do one over on the Germans. In any case, I suppose we better take this elsewhere as we're a little off-topic. Back to the top notch classics recommendations, thanks folks! Edited May 13, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Hmmm classics, not my speciality I'm afraid, I have Rebecca on my TBR so I'll be interested to hear what you think of it. I remember enjoyed Sons and Lovers at college but I believe I've seen some less kind reviews of it on here, Lorna Doone and Tess of the D'Urbervilles were teenage favourites as was Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird obviously, though I only got around to it last year. What defines a classic, would The Secret Garden be allowed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) Hmmm classics, not my speciality I'm afraid, I have Rebecca on my TBR so I'll be interested to hear what you think of it. I remember enjoyed Sons and Lovers at college but I believe I've seen some less kind reviews of it on here, Lorna Doone and Tess of the D'Urbervilles were teenage favourites as was Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird obviously, though I only got around to it last year. Rebecca is coming along very nicely at the moment, I'll post my proper thoughts when I'm finished. Sons and Lovers I read recently and although I enjoyed it was a little too stodgy at times because of the masses of romanticised descriptions it contains. Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll see what I can add to the list. What defines a classic, would The Secret Garden be allowed? Interesting question. I saw someone else on the forum say that pre-WWII books were what they considered classics - forgive me, I forget exactly who that was - and I think in a broad sense that's what I'd stick by. Obviously you have your 'modern classics' too, novels such as Birdsong and Lord of the Rings. I think I'd ultimately consider The Secret Garden a classic of children's literature from what I can see, and it's been one I've been meaning to read - I'll add it to the list. Edited May 13, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timstar Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 (edited) Great idea for a challenge, certainly won't be a light reading summer! I have a lot more classics in my TBR pile then I have ever read. You should definitely get some H.G. Wells on there! I just bought these for my summer reading: http://www.amazon.co...37008426&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.co...d_bxgy_b_text_b http://www.amazon.co.../ref=pd_sim_b_2 I also want this: http://www.amazon.co...d_bxgy_b_text_c Edited May 14, 2012 by Timstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I'm finding that a lot of people's recommendations are on my TBR pile (whether paper books or on iBooks) but I've been intimidated by them! I set myself the personal challenge of ticking off more from the 1001 list (I started the year on 12, now on 19) but a lot of them have been the more modern ones on it. I promised myself I would read my first Dickens before the end of the year and next month's reading circle shall be my first Jules Verne so that's progress of a kind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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