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Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. Camilla Send a noteboard - 23/01/2011 08:53:01 AM
I read A Christmas Carol for my January/February challenge. I have intended so many times to read it at Christmas time but never quite managed.


I've never read it at Christmas yet, either.

Despite knowing the basic story so very well, it still managed to surprise me. It's very different from the other Dickens books I've read - much lighter, with more economy of language, as befits a short story.

At the same time, it didn't entirely satisfy me. Everything happened too quickly, and Scrooge's conversion from sour misanthrope to cheerful philanthropist is too sudden. I'd have found it more believable if it had happened over a few nights instead of the one, with time for each lesson to sink in properly. But then, maybe it's just because Scrooge wasn't really all that bad. That just feels a little simplistic.


Hmm, maybe. I get the impression the time feels much longer to Scrooge, though. And part of the point is that the conversion should be sudden to everyone else. But yes, there is also the fact that he is not evil.

It has been quite a few years since I read it, though. I should pick it up again. Perhaps at Christmas?

I also think that this is one of those very rare books that is improved by filming. I've seen some gorgeous movies of this book, and have enjoyed them far more than the written story. That said, I liked it enough that I will read it every Christmas from now on, maybe make a tradition of it like so many do.


I agree. I saw a very nice version this Christmas, with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge and Richard E. Grant as Bob Cratchit.

Now. Because the above book is so short, I decided to read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving as well. I kind of wish I hadn't. It would have been better if the book had remained a lovely mystery to me, and I stuck with the delightful Depp film that came out a few years ago. Irving's book is boring.


Really? That is disappointing. I have been meaning to read that.

Seriously. Nothing happens. Yes, the description of Ichabod Crane is quite enchanting, but that's it. Where's the gore? Where's the horror? Why are heads not flying off every which way?


Hmm, those were not my favourite parts of the movie, though. Except you put all the action under "horror". Are you saying there is no crazy witch lady and no headless horsman?

I feel seriously misled by the film industry. Shame on them. And on me for being so credulous. That is all.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
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A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. Rebekah - 22/01/2011 11:48:21 PM 1398 Views
This month is just making me hate classics. ? - 23/01/2011 12:06:08 AM 1228 Views
Aw. That's a shame. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 12:21:10 AM 1139 Views
Re: Aw. That's a shame. ? - 23/01/2011 12:55:44 PM 1252 Views
Hrm... a high fantasy classic... ranagrande - 23/01/2011 01:15:05 PM 1030 Views
Yeah? Okay... *NM* ? - 23/01/2011 01:16:15 PM 506 Views
Yes. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:17:18 PM 1178 Views
Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:25:40 PM 1050 Views
There's really only one high fantasy classic, no? Or two, if you count the Silm separately. *NM* Legolas - 23/01/2011 01:35:03 PM 506 Views
Perhaps Gormenghast? Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:58:50 PM 1203 Views
Perhaps, haven't read either Dunsany or Peake. Legolas - 23/01/2011 02:02:51 PM 1159 Views
Re: Perhaps, haven't read either Dunsany or Peake. Camilla - 23/01/2011 02:05:31 PM 1327 Views
Maybe Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? *NM* ranagrande - 23/01/2011 02:20:49 PM 512 Views
Re: Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:37:56 PM 1083 Views
Re: Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:59:18 PM 1210 Views
H. Rider Haggard. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:24:01 PM 1159 Views
Sounds interesting. ? - 23/01/2011 01:34:45 PM 1187 Views
Re: Sounds interesting. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:39:34 PM 1244 Views
King Solomon's Mines is also awesome. nossy - 23/01/2011 03:52:04 PM 1009 Views
You can't love all of the classics, but it's not like it's a genre of its own that you can dislike. Legolas - 23/01/2011 12:32:01 AM 1227 Views
Precisely Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:40:26 AM 1433 Views
True true... ? - 23/01/2011 12:58:42 PM 1176 Views
Fortunately, that's precisely what this site aims to do! *NM* Legolas - 23/01/2011 01:34:16 PM 529 Views
You just aren't reading the right books (and reviews), it seems Larry - 23/01/2011 12:41:07 AM 1240 Views
The Swiss Family Robinson is hardly a "classic", unless by "classic" you mean "old". Tom - 23/01/2011 06:55:30 AM 1036 Views
Fine then. ? - 23/01/2011 01:02:48 PM 1107 Views
Re: This month is just making me hate classics. Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:05:52 AM 1224 Views
A lot of "classics" need proper context to be appreciated DomA - 23/01/2011 12:22:44 PM 1394 Views
Well said. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 12:46:35 PM 1227 Views
Re: Well said. DomA - 24/01/2011 02:33:10 AM 1283 Views
That reminds me I need to get back to the Mémoires of Marguerite de Valois. Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:17:17 PM 988 Views
Very true Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:04:56 PM 1159 Views
Speaking of Dumas... DomA - 24/01/2011 02:45:02 AM 1021 Views
ooooh Camilla - 24/01/2011 08:51:46 AM 1335 Views
The Molière movie is called... wait for it... Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:21:48 PM 1163 Views
oooh Camilla - 24/01/2011 10:24:19 PM 1212 Views
Re: oooh Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:29:23 PM 1068 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 01:15:39 AM 1164 Views
I really should watch that movie. Legolas - 25/01/2011 09:43:35 PM 1115 Views
Re: I really should watch that movie. DomA - 25/01/2011 11:15:10 PM 1269 Views
Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. *NM* Legolas - 26/01/2011 06:45:26 PM 515 Views
Re: Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. DomA - 27/01/2011 12:26:48 PM 1403 Views
I guess I'd have to see it to have an opinion on that. Legolas - 27/01/2011 08:00:53 PM 1321 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 01:50:04 AM 1091 Views
Re: oooh Camilla - 25/01/2011 10:22:21 AM 1244 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 12:46:30 PM 1268 Views
That's it! Camilla - 25/01/2011 12:50:18 PM 1287 Views
Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. everynametaken - 23/01/2011 06:25:50 AM 1179 Views
The big problem with Dracula is that it's an epistolary novel. Tom - 23/01/2011 06:58:25 AM 1178 Views
Yeah, agreed. Legolas - 23/01/2011 09:46:57 AM 1121 Views
But Frankenstein doesn't even have good writing to recommend it. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:09:58 AM 1107 Views
Dracula is the book I hope to review (properly) today. I love it. So very much. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:08:34 AM 997 Views
The challenge is making me wish I hadn't already read Frankenstein Brian - 23/01/2011 07:38:49 AM 1677 Views
Really? ranagrande - 23/01/2011 07:52:24 AM 1073 Views
I didn't mind The Importance of Being Earnest too much Brian - 23/01/2011 08:38:14 AM 1645 Views
Frankenstein ranagrande - 23/01/2011 09:05:10 AM 1209 Views
... Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:08:03 AM 1057 Views
Thank you. *NM* Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:10:34 AM 494 Views
For, as usual, being my wonderful, divine self and bringing light to the world? *NM* Camilla - 23/01/2011 10:12:30 AM 524 Views
Something like that. *NM* Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:15:37 AM 453 Views
There's a reason why they include Wilde among the "decadents". Legolas - 23/01/2011 10:16:33 AM 1119 Views
Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. Camilla - 23/01/2011 08:53:01 AM 1142 Views
Yes. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:15:04 AM 1127 Views
Re: Yes. Camilla - 23/01/2011 10:18:02 AM 1128 Views
I just read A Christmas Carol as well. It's very short, alright. Legolas - 02/02/2011 08:46:16 PM 1188 Views
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