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I wish I could do that. StormCrow Send a noteboard - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM

Ah, I like to use required reading as a tool to make me read books I think I should. I'm strongly considering taking one of the required "great books" classes at my university (I tested out of enough things that I used another track to satisfy gen eds) just so I can finally nail down some good books I've been putting off. I have terrible self-discipline when it comes to reading old books.


I must have significant authority issues. If it's a friend telling me I have to read something, ok, but if it was a professor, teacher, or actually an employer (which I've had happen), I just balk. A bank I worked for had Atlas Shrugged as required reading for the training program. Already read it, so I refused to read it again on principal.

I unashamedly love Shakespeare, and I don't particularly care that everyone loves Shakespeare. He is wonderful. Milton is wonderful. So is Chaucer. Dante is good, but I think actually a little overrated (at least in the English. I have heard that the Italian is spectacular, but I wouldn't know). The Odyssey and the Iliad, at least in translation.


I forgot about Chaucer too. I enjoyed the Canterbury Tales tremendously. You can't be ashamed of Shakespeare. Everyone likes him for a reason.

Can you tell I'm a fan of the epic? I actually probably read more poetry, but that doesn't seem to be what you're looking for.


No, poetry can definitely be included here. I listed Paradise Lost in my own list. I am a fan of the epic pieces too, Iliad / Odyssey definitely made my list.

And of course Vergil. Vergil, Vergil, Vergil. The Aeneid is an unqualified masterpiece. I adore Ovid's Metamorphoses as well. Most of the Greek tragedies are enjoyable, but I really ought to reserve judgment until I read them in the original.

If you had to suggest just one, which would it be and why? (please not, "because it's good" )

I hesitate to suggest the Aeneid, because it loses so much in translation. I know I sound like an elitist prick, but it's probably more true for that work than for any other I've read. Nevertheless, it's such a seminal work in the Western canon; countless novels reference it. The Iliad and the Odyssey are of course also influential, but more people are familiar with them.


I need to read the Aeneid. It's one of the big gaping gaps in my reading history (which is all over the board). Snobbery is perfectly allowed in this thread, as long as everyone plays nice with us lesser readers.

I haven't staunchly refused to read anything, but I've yet to manage to finish more than a chapter or two of an Austen. She's not a bad writer at all, but I find the depicted world absolutely mind-numbing.


This is more what I was trying to get at. You said it much better. It's not that I can't respect the quality and what she's done for literature. I just can't get into the stories enough to read them. Bronte is worse for me than Austen.


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The Classics - general discussion / survey StormCrow - 30/09/2010 03:52:53 PM 1474 Views
My own answers. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1058 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment Lordling - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 992 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 992 Views
Get a copy with annotations! Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 947 Views
Re: My own answers. Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1085 Views
Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1106 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1339 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1029 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1202 Views
Well, have you seen any of the Austen TV/movie adaptations, then? Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:25:58 PM 1047 Views
Oh yes. I even made the mistake of purchasing the new Pride and Prejudice for her. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:10:05 AM 1036 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 944 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1021 Views
Re: My own answers. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1056 Views
Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1101 Views
Re: Cliff's notes StormCrow - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1314 Views
Re: Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1107 Views
It's cool. StormCrow - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1159 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1032 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1054 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1013 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 879 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. Tom - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 949 Views
Yes. Camilla - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 933 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1111 Views
I really need to read Kundera. I've heard nothing but praise for Unbearable Lightness. *NM* Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 08:46:18 PM 567 Views
I could post you over a copy to borrow. Rebekah - 30/09/2010 08:58:08 PM 877 Views
That is very kind, but I have far too much to do to read non-school books, unfortunately. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:53:23 PM 957 Views
It is good. *NM* Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:47 PM 429 Views
Haven't read any other Kundera, but yes, that one is very enjoyable. *NM* Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:30 PM 571 Views
I found his other books to be pale copies of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. *NM* Tom - 30/09/2010 10:51:55 PM 609 Views
totally problematic classics temeraire - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1074 Views
Re: totally problematic classics StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 967 Views
I study them, apparently. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1128 Views
I wish I could do that. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 1034 Views
Less fun than you'd think. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 902 Views
More admiration of your discipline than assuming you were having fun with it. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:31:06 AM 1076 Views
Re: The Classics - general discussion / survey .. edited. Camilla - 30/09/2010 08:58:14 PM 1086 Views
I knew you would have a rather lengthy list. I was worried until the edit came through. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:26:34 AM 1106 Views
Good survey. Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1103 Views
Agreed. edited Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1063 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 998 Views
Sometimes. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1024 Views
Maybe I was unclear. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1037 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 920 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1041 Views
I generally do. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1025 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1204 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1033 Views
Dickens StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1006 Views
Re: I generally do. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1085 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 926 Views
Re: Good survey. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1173 Views
My classics nossy - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 986 Views
Re: My classics StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1076 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1128 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 988 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1067 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1012 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1035 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. StormCrow - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 961 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise Larry - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1127 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 826 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there Larry - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 918 Views
I figured as much. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 934 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1017 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise Novo - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1072 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. Mndrew - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 1035 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1082 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. Mndrew - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 868 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics random thoughts - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 1038 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... ajah - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1162 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. Rebekah - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1084 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. ajah - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1036 Views
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