My Annual Classic Novel Reading Project

blacbird · Sep 25, 2007

Some years ago, I decided I needed to dedicate myself to reading one old "classic" novel I hadn't read, every year. So far, in 2007, I haven't kept my commitment. Tonight, I embark.

Previous reads have included Moby Dick, every damn whaley word of which I thoroughly hated, and Typee, another earlier Melville I liked so much that I read it's two sequels, the obscure Omoo and Mardi, which I appreciated, too. Then I read The Confidence-Man, which I found dreadful. I'm done with Melville.

I've had some other disappointments (everything I've tried by Dickens; done with him, too), but some pleasant surprises (Anthony Trollope; a random pick from his dozens of novels, The Claverings, which was delightful).

So, tonight I start Coningsby, one of several novels by the famous Victorian British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. I'll report on how it turns out.

caw

ChaosTitan · Sep 26, 2007

I need to do this, too. I haven't read a classic on my own since I graduated college.

Hmmm...

seun · Sep 26, 2007

I read Frankenstein a couple of months ago. Took me a little while to really get into it, but it was worth it.

Priene · Sep 26, 2007

I try to read at least one classic, old or modern, a month.

Sometimes they're fabulous. To my surprise, the occasional one will be total bilge, to the point where I can't even imagine why it's so well-regarded.

Each to their own, I suppose.

Anonymisty · Sep 26, 2007

Priene said:
I try to read at least one classic, old or modern, a month....To my surprise, the occasional one will be total bilge, to the point where I can't even imagine why it's so well-regarded.

I read Rand's Atlas Shrugged last year. Well, almost read it...I read the first few pages of Galt's endless speech, then skipped past to where the action (such as it was) picked up again. That should be in a Ten Commandments of Writing somewhere - "Thou shalt not allow thy character to ramble on for more than two pages."

desertcomet · Sep 26, 2007

Anonymisty said:
That should be in a Ten Commandments of Writing somewhere - "Thou shalt not allow thy character to ramble on for more than two pages."

Amen!

I've been trying to do that to. I have a friend who really likes to read classics so I usually get advice from her on what to read.

melaniehoo · Sep 26, 2007

I've been doing this too, and have another thread about this (not to hijack). My past couple attempts have been boring! Scarlet Letter & Catch-22.

My Annual Classic Novel Reading Project

blacbird

ChaosTitan

Around

seun

Horror Man

Priene

Out to lunch

Anonymisty

desertcomet

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits