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Yes. Rebekah Send a noteboard - 23/01/2011 10:15:04 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.

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
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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 1753 Views
This month is just making me hate classics. ? - 23/01/2011 12:06:08 AM 1591 Views
Aw. That's a shame. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 12:21:10 AM 1489 Views
Re: Aw. That's a shame. ? - 23/01/2011 12:55:44 PM 1548 Views
Hrm... a high fantasy classic... ranagrande - 23/01/2011 01:15:05 PM 1358 Views
Yeah? Okay... *NM* ? - 23/01/2011 01:16:15 PM 696 Views
Yes. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:17:18 PM 1493 Views
Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:25:40 PM 1373 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 703 Views
Perhaps Gormenghast? Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:58:50 PM 1548 Views
Perhaps, haven't read either Dunsany or Peake. Legolas - 23/01/2011 02:02:51 PM 1512 Views
Re: Perhaps, haven't read either Dunsany or Peake. Camilla - 23/01/2011 02:05:31 PM 1661 Views
Maybe Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? *NM* ranagrande - 23/01/2011 02:20:49 PM 722 Views
Re: Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:37:56 PM 1382 Views
Re: Dunsany is good. And Grimm, but Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:59:18 PM 1536 Views
H. Rider Haggard. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:24:01 PM 1491 Views
Sounds interesting. ? - 23/01/2011 01:34:45 PM 1494 Views
Re: Sounds interesting. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 01:39:34 PM 1558 Views
King Solomon's Mines is also awesome. nossy - 23/01/2011 03:52:04 PM 1312 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 1536 Views
Precisely Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:40:26 AM 1739 Views
True true... ? - 23/01/2011 12:58:42 PM 1508 Views
Fortunately, that's precisely what this site aims to do! *NM* Legolas - 23/01/2011 01:34:16 PM 734 Views
You just aren't reading the right books (and reviews), it seems Larry - 23/01/2011 12:41:07 AM 1593 Views
The Swiss Family Robinson is hardly a "classic", unless by "classic" you mean "old". Tom - 23/01/2011 06:55:30 AM 1352 Views
Fine then. ? - 23/01/2011 01:02:48 PM 1395 Views
Re: This month is just making me hate classics. Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:05:52 AM 1573 Views
A lot of "classics" need proper context to be appreciated DomA - 23/01/2011 12:22:44 PM 1763 Views
Well said. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 12:46:35 PM 1549 Views
Re: Well said. DomA - 24/01/2011 02:33:10 AM 1609 Views
That reminds me I need to get back to the Mémoires of Marguerite de Valois. Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:17:17 PM 1318 Views
Very true Camilla - 23/01/2011 01:04:56 PM 1496 Views
Speaking of Dumas... DomA - 24/01/2011 02:45:02 AM 1341 Views
ooooh Camilla - 24/01/2011 08:51:46 AM 1687 Views
The Molière movie is called... wait for it... Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:21:48 PM 1526 Views
oooh Camilla - 24/01/2011 10:24:19 PM 1521 Views
Re: oooh Legolas - 24/01/2011 10:29:23 PM 1396 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 01:15:39 AM 1501 Views
I really should watch that movie. Legolas - 25/01/2011 09:43:35 PM 1453 Views
Re: I really should watch that movie. DomA - 25/01/2011 11:15:10 PM 1604 Views
Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. *NM* Legolas - 26/01/2011 06:45:26 PM 703 Views
Re: Why not? We liked Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain and Les Invasions Barbares. DomA - 27/01/2011 12:26:48 PM 1721 Views
I guess I'd have to see it to have an opinion on that. Legolas - 27/01/2011 08:00:53 PM 1676 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 01:50:04 AM 1421 Views
Re: oooh Camilla - 25/01/2011 10:22:21 AM 1677 Views
Re: oooh DomA - 25/01/2011 12:46:30 PM 1641 Views
That's it! Camilla - 25/01/2011 12:50:18 PM 1624 Views
Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. everynametaken - 23/01/2011 06:25:50 AM 1490 Views
The big problem with Dracula is that it's an epistolary novel. Tom - 23/01/2011 06:58:25 AM 1475 Views
Yeah, agreed. Legolas - 23/01/2011 09:46:57 AM 1463 Views
But Frankenstein doesn't even have good writing to recommend it. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:09:58 AM 1418 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 1300 Views
The challenge is making me wish I hadn't already read Frankenstein Brian - 23/01/2011 07:38:49 AM 2195 Views
Really? ranagrande - 23/01/2011 07:52:24 AM 1466 Views
I didn't mind The Importance of Being Earnest too much Brian - 23/01/2011 08:38:14 AM 2193 Views
Frankenstein ranagrande - 23/01/2011 09:05:10 AM 1532 Views
... Camilla - 23/01/2011 09:08:03 AM 1383 Views
Thank you. *NM* Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:10:34 AM 689 Views
For, as usual, being my wonderful, divine self and bringing light to the world? *NM* Camilla - 23/01/2011 10:12:30 AM 724 Views
Something like that. *NM* Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:15:37 AM 647 Views
There's a reason why they include Wilde among the "decadents". Legolas - 23/01/2011 10:16:33 AM 1408 Views
Re: A few thoughts on my Classic challenge book. Well, books, as it turns out. Camilla - 23/01/2011 08:53:01 AM 1476 Views
Yes. Rebekah - 23/01/2011 10:15:04 AM 1451 Views
Re: Yes. Camilla - 23/01/2011 10:18:02 AM 1463 Views
I just read A Christmas Carol as well. It's very short, alright. Legolas - 02/02/2011 08:46:16 PM 1496 Views
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