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.
I'm going to this year. I think it would feel lovely to read it in a cold place at Christmas. So on Christmas Eve, just before bed, I will curl up with a glass of port and read this story. Hopefully.
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.
That's a good point about time feeling longer to Scrooge. Still, I feel he should have ruminated on things, relapsed a bit, and then changed. Would have made a better story.
It has been quite a few years since I read it, though. I should pick it up again. Perhaps at Christmas?
Good plan.
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.
Oh yes, that's one of the ones I was thinking about. Tis gorgeous.
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.
I wouldn't recommend it.
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?
No witch, no horseman, except in legend. Was most upsetting.
*MySmiley*
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out.
- 22/01/2011 11:48:21 PM
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This month is just making me hate classics.
- 23/01/2011 12:06:08 AM
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Aw. That's a shame.
- 23/01/2011 12:21:10 AM
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Re: Aw. That's a shame.
- 23/01/2011 12:55:44 PM
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Hrm... a high fantasy classic...
- 23/01/2011 01:15:05 PM
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Yes.
- 23/01/2011 01:17:18 PM
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Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but
- 23/01/2011 01:25:40 PM
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There's really only one high fantasy classic, no? Or two, if you count the Silm separately. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 01:35:03 PM
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Perhaps Gormenghast?
- 23/01/2011 01:58:50 PM
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H. Rider Haggard.
- 23/01/2011 01:24:01 PM
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You can't love all of the classics, but it's not like it's a genre of its own that you can dislike.
- 23/01/2011 12:32:01 AM
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The Swiss Family Robinson is hardly a "classic", unless by "classic" you mean "old".
- 23/01/2011 06:55:30 AM
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A lot of "classics" need proper context to be appreciated
- 23/01/2011 12:22:44 PM
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Well said.
- 23/01/2011 12:46:35 PM
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Re: Well said.
- 24/01/2011 02:33:10 AM
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That reminds me I need to get back to the Mémoires of Marguerite de Valois.
- 24/01/2011 10:17:17 PM
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Very true
- 23/01/2011 01:04:56 PM
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Speaking of Dumas...
- 24/01/2011 02:45:02 AM
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ooooh
- 24/01/2011 08:51:46 AM
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The Molière movie is called... wait for it...
- 24/01/2011 10:21:48 PM
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oooh
- 24/01/2011 10:24:19 PM
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Re: oooh
- 24/01/2011 10:29:23 PM
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Re: oooh
- 25/01/2011 01:15:39 AM
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I really should watch that movie.
- 25/01/2011 09:43:35 PM
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Re: I really should watch that movie.
- 25/01/2011 11:15:10 PM
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Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. *NM*
- 26/01/2011 06:45:26 PM
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Re: Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares.
- 27/01/2011 12:26:48 PM
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Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out.
- 23/01/2011 06:25:50 AM
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The big problem with Dracula is that it's an epistolary novel.
- 23/01/2011 06:58:25 AM
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Yeah, agreed.
- 23/01/2011 09:46:57 AM
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But Frankenstein doesn't even have good writing to recommend it.
- 23/01/2011 10:09:58 AM
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Dracula is the book I hope to review (properly) today. I love it. So very much.
- 23/01/2011 10:08:34 AM
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The challenge is making me wish I hadn't already read Frankenstein
- 23/01/2011 07:38:49 AM
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Really?
- 23/01/2011 07:52:24 AM
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...
- 23/01/2011 09:08:03 AM
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Thank you. *NM*
- 23/01/2011 10:10:34 AM
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For, as usual, being my wonderful, divine self and bringing light to the world? *NM*
- 23/01/2011 10:12:30 AM
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Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out.
- 23/01/2011 08:53:01 AM
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I just read A Christmas Carol as well. It's very short, alright.
- 02/02/2011 08:46:16 PM
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