The "Classics"

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The "Classics"

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1swimfreak14
Editat: nov. 19, 2012, 5:37 pm

In Minnesota, everyone in my grade has to read Lord of the Flies. In previous grades, we all had to read other "classics" like The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and Animal Farm.

I really, really, REALLY don't like classic books (like book written over 50 years ago), mainly because they just aren't interesting and also because reading and writing about them are huge assignments at my school. Also, they all have to have some under-lying meaning about them, mostly about government and stuff like that. Why can't they just write the words they want us to know, not cover it up with symbolistic words?

Does anyone else think the same way? Or what are some other classic books that are super boring (or maybe really good)?

(You should probably know that I wrote this while doing an annoying assignment about Lord of the Flies, which is why I kind of went on about how much I hate classic books :). )

2donnao
nov. 19, 2012, 8:04 am

You want something that you don't have to take any meaning from? Can you give examples of books you like that have no meaning? Am I missing something?

3swimfreak14
nov. 19, 2012, 5:36 pm

That's not really what I meant-- I just don't understand why we have to read those kind of books. They are all written in old fashioned language that doesn't say exactly what they want you to know. Like all of the books we read in school have some kind of symbolism that is really hard to figure out.

4flanisntjustdessert
nov. 20, 2012, 9:17 pm

I like some " Classics", but I guess its the particular book. I read the abridged version of Little Women and loved it, but then read the 500 page real one and couldn't finish.

5swimfreak14
nov. 21, 2012, 6:34 pm

Yeah I tried to start the 500 page one too, but I didn't get into it.

6donnao
nov. 22, 2012, 4:15 pm

I never enjoyed Little Women either, but I put that down to a matter of personal taste. I think it's a shame to try one or two "classics", find that you dislike them and vow never to pick one up again.

7flanisntjustdessert
nov. 22, 2012, 6:01 pm

I did love A Tale of Two Cities though!

8swimfreak14
nov. 23, 2012, 12:30 pm

>6 donnao:: I suppose you're right. I will admit that I liked To Kill a Mockingbird, which I read in 9th grade.
>7 flanisntjustdessert:: I haven't read that one before!

9mrmcfluff2
nov. 23, 2012, 11:30 pm

#7 Tale of Two Cities is probably one of the better classics I have read. It's informative but also has a really good plot line to keep you interested. The problem is that Dickens gets a bit long winded and he writes likes he's being paid by the word.

#8 I personally didn't like to kill a Mockingbird, but I really didn't like having it from Scout's perspective so maybe that's why.

10swimfreak14
nov. 24, 2012, 10:29 am

Yeah I also think that it would have been better if the book was in 3rd person.

11justjukka
nov. 25, 2012, 11:04 pm

I really like Pudd'nhead Wilson and Nathan the Wise.  Both are available on Gutenberg.org.

12swimfreak14
des. 3, 2012, 8:11 pm

>7 flanisntjustdessert:: Hey Flan you'll never guess what book my class is now reading!

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens! Haha what a co-inc-i-dinc!

13LibraryStalker
des. 4, 2012, 2:51 pm

I have to say that I do not agree.. I have read so many classic book that are actually really good. If you can get past the thees and thous, you might actually enjoy them.
I would recommend reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Just give them a try and I guarantee you'll at least be ok with them, if not like them.

14LibraryStalker
des. 4, 2012, 2:53 pm

#9- I think a Tale of Two Cities is a good book but you're right.. does it really take two pages to write about someone walking down the street? (Exaggeration but still)

15flanisntjustdessert
des. 4, 2012, 5:55 pm

I Like Jane Eyre as well.

16mrmcfluff
des. 31, 2012, 8:05 pm

#13 That's so funny, I'm currently reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen! I definitely feel like it is one of the better classics. The characters are both admirable and easy to understand. And there are also characters that you love to hate. My only objection is the complexity of some of the minor details that Austen uses so many pages to describe. If anyone is thinking about reading this book I would definitely suggest it.

17flanisntjustdessert
des. 31, 2012, 11:34 pm

Loved P & P.

18swimfreak14
gen. 15, 2013, 7:44 pm

I finished Tale of Two Cities this week (just had my test today). I will admit that the story itself was very good, but I didn't think the text was easy to understand.

19mrmcfluff2
feb. 5, 2013, 7:33 pm

Dickens does do a good job of getting paid by the word. But if you get past all his long winded ness, I agree the story is really awesome

20flanisntjustdessert
feb. 11, 2013, 9:56 pm

I really enjoy Dickens, and enjoy the wordiness.

21mrmcfluff2
Editat: feb. 18, 2013, 7:57 pm

Started reading Great Expectations and I really like it. I also recently found out that Dickens wasn't actually paid by the word. Apparently all his long winded paragraphs have a purpose. But I am on board for this book, which is sometimes hard to say when reading a classic

22mrmcfluff2
jul. 30, 2013, 3:32 pm

Not exactly a classic but definitely not a random beach read. Has anyone heard anything about the book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell?