Post by Chicago Jake on May 24, 2006 1:58:37 GMT -6
A few years ago, I decided to edumacate myself by reading some of the “classics” of literature. It has been slow going, as my lips get tired easily, but I have persevered. Anyway, here is a rundown of the tomes I have devoured so far. I’d love to hear all of your opinions on these particular works, as well as your own choices of classic literature. Here goes my personal run-downs:
Animal Farm (George Orwell) - A great parable. Animals on a farm kick out the human farmers because they just don't treat the animals with respect and equality. But before long, though, the animals are stratifying their own society. Because after all, some animals are more equal than others! (yes, this is where that phrase originated). A rip-roaring indictment of socialism; at least that's how I read it.
A Movable Feast (Ernest Hemingway) - I read this before my first trip to Paris. It isn’t really a novel so much as just a series of diary listings from Hem’s time in Paris with one of his early wives. Seems like most of his time was taken up with drinking, eating, and sometimes writing. (I can relate.)
The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway) - Closer to being an actual novel, or at least a travelogue as Hem and his buds travel through Spain and take in bull-fighting and other cultural events. Some relationships and emotional events, but still not much of a story. But he does begin to explore his “code” of how a real man must behave in all types of situations, in order to be a real man.
A Farewell To Arms (Ernest Hemingway) - Finally, Hem writes an actual novel, with an actual plot, although it is still mostly a chronicle of his real life experiences in the Italian army. He meets, falls in love with, marries, and loses, the love of his life. And endures it as a real man must.
At this point, I figured I had "grokked" Hemingway as much as I was going to, and decided to move on.
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald) - Party time! Rich preppies in the Jazz Age drink, smoke, and commit adultery with little concern for the repercussions (which do occur). Entertaining, but it was hard to read without envisioning Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.
The Catcher In The Rye (J.D. Salinger) - Endorsed by four out of five serial killers. Not much of a story here either, but sort of a slice-of-life from the viewpoint of a disaffected teenager, trying to understand the world of grown-ups, and his own foibles. Interesting, but I fail to see why it is considered such a classic.
A Confederacy of Dunces (John Kennedy Toole) - A truly laugh-out-loud hilarious book. Written by a no-account loser living with his mother in New Orleans, it is the story of a no-account loser living with his mother in New Orleans. After writing it, and failing to find a publisher, Toole offed himself. His mother spent years trying to find a publisher for it, and when she finally did, it immediately won a Pulitzer. One of the best books on this list.
Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) - This is really a kid’s book. The story of a teenage British lad who gets swept up in an adventure with pirates, buried treasure, lost island, and maps. Lots of fun. I’m not sure it belongs on this list, but there you have it.
Don Quixote (Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra) - I haven’t finished this one yet, but I figure, what the heck; Cervantes spent 20 years writing this thousand-page tome, so I don’t need to read it in a hurry. Don Quixote, a sixteenth-century Spanish hidalgo (a minor nobleman) takes it into his addled head that he should be a “knight errant” (an occupation that went out of style with King Arthur) and roams the countryside looking for adventures. Everyone assumes that he is insane, which he is, and humors him as best they can. Funny, but rather repetitive, and difficult to keep up with. A nice 200-page synopsis would be appreciated! But I’ll finish it one of these days.
Lord of the Flies (William Golding) - discussed on another thread; a parable about how the flaws of society can be traced to the inherent flaws of human nature.
Okay, that’s it for me. What are YOUR favorite classics? And what should I read next?.......Jake
Animal Farm (George Orwell) - A great parable. Animals on a farm kick out the human farmers because they just don't treat the animals with respect and equality. But before long, though, the animals are stratifying their own society. Because after all, some animals are more equal than others! (yes, this is where that phrase originated). A rip-roaring indictment of socialism; at least that's how I read it.
A Movable Feast (Ernest Hemingway) - I read this before my first trip to Paris. It isn’t really a novel so much as just a series of diary listings from Hem’s time in Paris with one of his early wives. Seems like most of his time was taken up with drinking, eating, and sometimes writing. (I can relate.)
The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway) - Closer to being an actual novel, or at least a travelogue as Hem and his buds travel through Spain and take in bull-fighting and other cultural events. Some relationships and emotional events, but still not much of a story. But he does begin to explore his “code” of how a real man must behave in all types of situations, in order to be a real man.
A Farewell To Arms (Ernest Hemingway) - Finally, Hem writes an actual novel, with an actual plot, although it is still mostly a chronicle of his real life experiences in the Italian army. He meets, falls in love with, marries, and loses, the love of his life. And endures it as a real man must.
At this point, I figured I had "grokked" Hemingway as much as I was going to, and decided to move on.
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald) - Party time! Rich preppies in the Jazz Age drink, smoke, and commit adultery with little concern for the repercussions (which do occur). Entertaining, but it was hard to read without envisioning Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.
The Catcher In The Rye (J.D. Salinger) - Endorsed by four out of five serial killers. Not much of a story here either, but sort of a slice-of-life from the viewpoint of a disaffected teenager, trying to understand the world of grown-ups, and his own foibles. Interesting, but I fail to see why it is considered such a classic.
A Confederacy of Dunces (John Kennedy Toole) - A truly laugh-out-loud hilarious book. Written by a no-account loser living with his mother in New Orleans, it is the story of a no-account loser living with his mother in New Orleans. After writing it, and failing to find a publisher, Toole offed himself. His mother spent years trying to find a publisher for it, and when she finally did, it immediately won a Pulitzer. One of the best books on this list.
Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) - This is really a kid’s book. The story of a teenage British lad who gets swept up in an adventure with pirates, buried treasure, lost island, and maps. Lots of fun. I’m not sure it belongs on this list, but there you have it.
Don Quixote (Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra) - I haven’t finished this one yet, but I figure, what the heck; Cervantes spent 20 years writing this thousand-page tome, so I don’t need to read it in a hurry. Don Quixote, a sixteenth-century Spanish hidalgo (a minor nobleman) takes it into his addled head that he should be a “knight errant” (an occupation that went out of style with King Arthur) and roams the countryside looking for adventures. Everyone assumes that he is insane, which he is, and humors him as best they can. Funny, but rather repetitive, and difficult to keep up with. A nice 200-page synopsis would be appreciated! But I’ll finish it one of these days.
Lord of the Flies (William Golding) - discussed on another thread; a parable about how the flaws of society can be traced to the inherent flaws of human nature.
Okay, that’s it for me. What are YOUR favorite classics? And what should I read next?.......Jake
