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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 1394 Views
My own answers. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 985 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment Lordling - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 925 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 922 Views
Get a copy with annotations! Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 908 Views
Re: My own answers. Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1005 Views
Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1031 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1273 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 959 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1126 Views
Well, have you seen any of the Austen TV/movie adaptations, then? Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:25:58 PM 972 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 963 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 879 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 947 Views
Re: My own answers. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 981 Views
Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1030 Views
Re: Cliff's notes StormCrow - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1251 Views
Re: Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1040 Views
It's cool. StormCrow - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1088 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 960 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 985 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 920 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 808 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. Tom - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 873 Views
Yes. Camilla - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 856 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1038 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 538 Views
I could post you over a copy to borrow. Rebekah - 30/09/2010 08:58:08 PM 809 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 894 Views
It is good. *NM* Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:47 PM 404 Views
Haven't read any other Kundera, but yes, that one is very enjoyable. *NM* Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:30 PM 539 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 577 Views
totally problematic classics temeraire - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1010 Views
Re: totally problematic classics StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 933 Views
I study them, apparently. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1053 Views
I wish I could do that. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 963 Views
Less fun than you'd think. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 839 Views
More admiration of your discipline than assuming you were having fun with it. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:31:06 AM 1002 Views
Re: The Classics - general discussion / survey .. edited. Camilla - 30/09/2010 08:58:14 PM 1020 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 1038 Views
Good survey. Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1030 Views
Agreed. edited Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 995 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 930 Views
Sometimes. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 950 Views
Maybe I was unclear. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 962 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 841 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 964 Views
I generally do. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 962 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1126 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 960 Views
Dickens StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 939 Views
Re: I generally do. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1016 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 858 Views
Re: Good survey. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1111 Views
My classics nossy - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 923 Views
Re: My classics StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1010 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1061 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 907 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1001 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 946 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 962 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. StormCrow - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 895 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise Larry - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1049 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 753 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there Larry - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 840 Views
I figured as much. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 868 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 946 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise Novo - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1007 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. Mndrew - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 968 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1008 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. Mndrew - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 823 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics random thoughts - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 984 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... ajah - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1094 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. Rebekah - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1006 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. ajah - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 972 Views
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