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Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. StormCrow Send a noteboard - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM
I don't really mean either. The ideas themselves may not be difficult to grasp OR challenge predominant views, but their presentation in a literary work may be done in such a way that it's not immediately apparent, or that requires reading a hundred pages of seemingly meaningless exposition before their impact can be felt.

I understand you now. Thanks for the clarification. It's more a matter of execution and presentation.

I struggled with Crime and Punishment, honestly. Ultimately good and worth it, but it was tough for me to get through. I've been stalling on reading more, mainly The Brothers Karamazov.

Note that I did NOT put Crime and Punishment on my list of favorites. I think it's perhaps Dostoevsky's least successful "major" work. It's slower, less developed and a bit predictable.


I actually noted that, the first time I tried to reply to you, and it didn't post for some reason. Either way, I think I'll start with The Brothers Karamazov and see if I want to try the others.


Tender is the Night is his last finished novel and very autobiographical. As a result, it's quite sad.


I'll have to add this one to the list too then. I really enjoyed his writing style and I like the added parrallel to his personal life, even if it's a sad one.
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The Classics - general discussion / survey - 30/09/2010 03:52:53 PM 1548 Views
My own answers. - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1135 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 1070 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 1066 Views
Get a copy with annotations! - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 1020 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1162 Views
Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1183 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1412 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1134 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1277 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 1020 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1087 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1129 Views
Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1179 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1378 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1179 Views
It's cool. - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1237 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1106 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1125 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1096 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 957 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 1019 Views
Yes. - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 1010 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1187 Views
totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1142 Views
Re: totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 1040 Views
I study them, apparently. - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1200 Views
I wish I could do that. - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 1104 Views
Less fun than you'd think. - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 973 Views
Good survey. - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1172 Views
Agreed. edited - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1142 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 1068 Views
Sometimes. - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1095 Views
Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1106 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 984 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1149 Views
I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1094 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1273 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1119 Views
Dickens - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1068 Views
Re: I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1154 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 998 Views
Re: Good survey. - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1244 Views
My classics - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 1058 Views
Re: My classics - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1150 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1208 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 1071 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1137 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1101 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1102 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 1031 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1203 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 898 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 980 Views
I figured as much. - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 1000 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1086 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1138 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 1100 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1154 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 939 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 1108 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1253 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1148 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1135 Views

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