I wouldn’t say I avoid classics, but I definitely wouldn’t count myself as “well-read” in this genre, either. Here are ten classics that, somehow or another, I have not yet managed to read (but definitely plan to in the future):
1. Emma, by Jane Austen–I loved the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow, so I figure it’s high time to read the book!
2. The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde–currently reading this on my Kindle.
3. Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace–I feel like this is sort of a “modern classic”. I’ve just always been put off by the sheer size of it.
4.-5. The Time Machine and War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells–I think this entry is especially bad, since I devoured The Map of Time and The Map of the Sky (which feature Wells as the protagonist).
6. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger–I feel like this is one of those classic coming-of-age novels that everyone is supposed to read as an angsty teen. I never did so.
7. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau–my husband actually just had to write a paper on Thoreau, so maybe now is a good time to pick this one up?
8. Catch-22, by Joseph Heller–I use the phrase all the time, so I should probably read the book.
9. The Thousand and One Arabian Nights–I tried to start this when I was younger and never finished it. I’d like to pick it up again–maybe one of the beautifully bound hardcover editions from Barnes & Noble?
10. Grimm’s Fairy Tales–I read part of this last year. This is another classic that I think I’d like to purchase in a beautiful hardbound edition.
16 Comments
Frannie Pan @ In Clouds of Pages
I so want to read The thousand and one arabian nights! *-*
My TTT: http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.it/2015/02/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-cant.html
writergirlm
I’m hoping someone will gift me that really pretty hardback version, but for now I have the free edition on my Kindle :)
Katrin
I have some classics on my list that I need to read as well! I loved Catcher in the Rye as a teenager, I guess I should re-read it at some point!
writergirlm
It’s hard to read everything on my TBR, it just keeps growing and growing and there are always new titles that catch my eye!
Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks
Wells is a fantastic storyteller–I hope you enjoy War of the Worlds and The Time Machine when you get to read them :)
writergirlm
I’m sure I shall :)
Michelle @ In Libris Veritas
Awesome list! The Picture of Dorian Grey is one of my absolute favorite books and The Time Machine is so much fun to read. I’ve read parts of Walden but not the whole thing, and the rest are all on my massive TBR. I love reading classics, but I’ve read most of the really short ones…so now I’m left with all of the massive stuff or the books in genres I typically don’t read.
writergirlm
Yeah, a lot of the ones that were shorter/easier to read I tackled in high school, so now I’m down to the ‘War and Peace’ length tomes, lol
Erin
My fear with classics is that when there are so many cultural references you don’t want to spoil it by not liking the original :)
The great thing with classics is that as many are out of copyright you can get the eBooks for free!
writergirlm
So true! I have ‘Dorian Grey’ on my Kindle and I also have free copies of Grimm’s, the Arabian Nights, and a few others. :)
Rachel G
I think I’ve read all of the Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but none of the others. I’ve watched the very old movie version of “The Picture of Dorian Grey” (Only the painting is in color in the movie, which is an interesting artistic choice, I’ve always thought).
writergirlm
I think I vaguely remember that movie, but not much :)
Cait @ Paper Fury
I’m hopeless at classics…gah. I don’t really like to read them, so I just don’t. Maybe that’s bad, buuuut I wnat to ENJOY my time reading. *ahem* I did watch the Emma movie, though! years and years ago…gah, I don’t even remember it. I LOVED the remake of the youtube diaries of Lizzie Bennet/Jane Austen. x) And I loved Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Omg, they are seriously warped and creepy though. 0.0
writergirlm
I just bought the first three seasons of Grimm and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it connects to the old tales!
M | BACKLIST BOOKS
Classics are not my strong point! I’ve read relatively few. I did read all the Jane Austens one summer, and I got really into them. But of the books on this list, I’d probably recommend The Catcher In the Rye. It’s one probably best read by teenagers first experiencing a sense of not really fitting in, but I think it’s a pretty easy read, and Salinger has this way with words that makes his writing amazing to read. (I recently forayed into Franny and Zoey and it reminded me what good writing feels like!)
writergirlm
I’ll have to start there then! Good writing is always such a pleasure to read :)