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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 1687 Views
My own answers. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1288 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment Lordling - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 1197 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 1204 Views
Get a copy with annotations! Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 1134 Views
Re: My own answers. Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1327 Views
Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1306 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1536 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1249 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1378 Views
Well, have you seen any of the Austen TV/movie adaptations, then? Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:25:58 PM 1232 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 1267 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 1129 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... StormCrow - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1210 Views
Re: My own answers. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1272 Views
Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1317 Views
Re: Cliff's notes StormCrow - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1491 Views
Re: Cliff's notes Seriana Sedai - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1318 Views
It's cool. StormCrow - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1370 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1246 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1258 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Tom - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1309 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 1089 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. Tom - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 1140 Views
Yes. Camilla - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 1144 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1316 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 670 Views
I could post you over a copy to borrow. Rebekah - 30/09/2010 08:58:08 PM 1067 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 1143 Views
It is good. *NM* Camilla - 30/09/2010 09:34:47 PM 523 Views
Haven't read any other Kundera, but yes, that one is very enjoyable. *NM* Legolas - 30/09/2010 09:50:30 PM 661 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 703 Views
totally problematic classics temeraire - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1263 Views
Re: totally problematic classics StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 1159 Views
I study them, apparently. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1340 Views
I wish I could do that. StormCrow - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 1243 Views
Less fun than you'd think. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 1107 Views
More admiration of your discipline than assuming you were having fun with it. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 12:31:06 AM 1250 Views
Re: The Classics - general discussion / survey .. edited. Camilla - 30/09/2010 08:58:14 PM 1324 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 1326 Views
Good survey. Legolas - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1311 Views
Agreed. edited Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1274 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 1188 Views
Sometimes. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1232 Views
Maybe I was unclear. Ghavrel - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1223 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. Camilla - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 1100 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1304 Views
I generally do. Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1221 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1382 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... Camilla - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1245 Views
Dickens StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1203 Views
Re: I generally do. BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1281 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: Legolas - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 1120 Views
Re: Good survey. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1389 Views
My classics nossy - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 1178 Views
Re: My classics StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1274 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1350 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 1211 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1270 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1238 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee BlackAdder - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1229 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. StormCrow - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 1153 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise Larry - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1337 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 1014 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there Larry - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 1084 Views
I figured as much. Ghavrel - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 1112 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1197 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise Novo - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1254 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. Mndrew - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 1222 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. StormCrow - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1278 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. Mndrew - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 1068 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics random thoughts - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 1263 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... ajah - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1383 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. Rebekah - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1256 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. ajah - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1246 Views
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