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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 1775 Views
This month is just making me hate classics. ? - 23/01/2011 12:06:08 AM 1614 Views
Aw. That's a shame. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 12:21:10 AM 1512 Views
Re: Aw. That's a shame. ? - 23/01/2011 12:55:44 PM 1567 Views
Hrm... a high fantasy classic... ranagrande - 23/01/2011 01:15:05 PM 1379 Views
Yeah? Okay... *NM* ? - 23/01/2011 01:16:15 PM 710 Views
Yes. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:17:18 PM 1515 Views
Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:25:40 PM 1394 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 715 Views
Perhaps Gormenghast? Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:58:50 PM 1566 Views
Perhaps, haven't read either Dunsany or Peake. Legolas - 23/01/2011 02:02:51 PM 1543 Views
Re: Perhaps, haven't read either Dunsany or Peake. Camilla - 23/01/2011 02:05:31 PM 1677 Views
Maybe Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? *NM* ranagrande - 23/01/2011 02:20:49 PM 734 Views
Re: Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:37:56 PM 1401 Views
Re: Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:59:18 PM 1558 Views
H. Rider Haggard. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:24:01 PM 1509 Views
Sounds interesting. ? - 23/01/2011 01:34:45 PM 1514 Views
Re: Sounds interesting. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:39:34 PM 1576 Views
King Solomon's Mines is also awesome. nossy - 23/01/2011 03:52:04 PM 1342 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 1571 Views
Precisely Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:40:26 AM 1762 Views
True true... ? - 23/01/2011 12:58:42 PM 1527 Views
Fortunately, that's precisely what this site aims to do! *NM* Legolas - 23/01/2011 01:34:16 PM 747 Views
You just aren't reading the right books (and reviews), it seems Larry - 23/01/2011 12:41:07 AM 1620 Views
The Swiss Family Robinson is hardly a "classic", unless by "classic" you mean "old". Tom - 23/01/2011 06:55:30 AM 1373 Views
Fine then. ? - 23/01/2011 01:02:48 PM 1416 Views
Re: This month is just making me hate classics. Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:05:52 AM 1594 Views
A lot of "classics" need proper context to be appreciated DomA - 23/01/2011 12:22:44 PM 1783 Views
Well said. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 12:46:35 PM 1570 Views
Re: Well said. DomA - 24/01/2011 02:33:10 AM 1630 Views
That reminds me I need to get back to the Mémoires of Marguerite de Valois. Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:17:17 PM 1338 Views
Very true Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:04:56 PM 1519 Views
Speaking of Dumas... DomA - 24/01/2011 02:45:02 AM 1364 Views
ooooh Camilla - 24/01/2011 08:51:46 AM 1707 Views
The Molière movie is called... wait for it... Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:21:48 PM 1545 Views
oooh Camilla - 24/01/2011 10:24:19 PM 1541 Views
Re: oooh Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:29:23 PM 1422 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 01:15:39 AM 1519 Views
I really should watch that movie. Legolas - 25/01/2011 09:43:35 PM 1480 Views
Re: I really should watch that movie. DomA - 25/01/2011 11:15:10 PM 1627 Views
Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. *NM* Legolas - 26/01/2011 06:45:26 PM 714 Views
Re: Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. DomA - 27/01/2011 12:26:48 PM 1744 Views
I guess I'd have to see it to have an opinion on that. Legolas - 27/01/2011 08:00:53 PM 1696 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 01:50:04 AM 1468 Views
Re: oooh Camilla - 25/01/2011 10:22:21 AM 1702 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 12:46:30 PM 1663 Views
That's it! Camilla - 25/01/2011 12:50:18 PM 1644 Views
Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. everynametaken - 23/01/2011 06:25:50 AM 1514 Views
The big problem with Dracula is that it's an epistolary novel. Tom - 23/01/2011 06:58:25 AM 1501 Views
Yeah, agreed. Legolas - 23/01/2011 09:46:57 AM 1496 Views
But Frankenstein doesn't even have good writing to recommend it. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:09:58 AM 1440 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 1320 Views
The challenge is making me wish I hadn't already read Frankenstein Brian - 23/01/2011 07:38:49 AM 2220 Views
Really? ranagrande - 23/01/2011 07:52:24 AM 1486 Views
I didn't mind The Importance of Being Earnest too much Brian - 23/01/2011 08:38:14 AM 2223 Views
Frankenstein ranagrande - 23/01/2011 09:05:10 AM 1551 Views
... Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:08:03 AM 1408 Views
Thank you. *NM* Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:10:34 AM 705 Views
For, as usual, being my wonderful, divine self and bringing light to the world? *NM* Camilla - 23/01/2011 10:12:30 AM 747 Views
Something like that. *NM* Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:15:37 AM 659 Views
There's a reason why they include Wilde among the "decadents". Legolas - 23/01/2011 10:16:33 AM 1431 Views
Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. Camilla - 23/01/2011 08:53:01 AM 1497 Views
Yes. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:15:04 AM 1471 Views
Re: Yes. Camilla - 23/01/2011 10:18:02 AM 1489 Views
I just read A Christmas Carol as well. It's very short, alright. Legolas - 02/02/2011 08:46:16 PM 1517 Views
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