Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

If you are a New Member to NTLTRC please let us know what your reading and help us meet our Group Challenge of 700,000 pages, even if you do not comment anywhere else in the group. We like seeing what interest others and what could be a new read for us (a Classic 50 years or older). Published in 1972 or earlier.

The Challenge is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I am reading The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I just bought Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to start with the classics.

I'm reading Les Misérables by Victor Hugo for a school assignment.

Cansu. I have it read it. It is about South Africa and a good book, but parts of it are sad.

I guess this is maybe a classic, I'm reading Anne of Green Gables and loving it. It's delightful!

It is a Canadian classic set in Prince Edward Island.
The author Lucy Maud Montgomery has written many novels including five(?) sequels to Anne of Green Gables. I am Canadian and grew up reading, and still love reading, her books.

I'm really enjoying it. It's very hard to put down. I'm a new fan for sure!

Gillian wrote: "I just bought Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to start with the classics."

Love this book!!!

I will be starting Catcher in the Rye in a few days...the last classical book I read was I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. I read Catcher in school and it really stuck with me, and I, Robot was just excellent. I highly recommend both of them if you've never read them.

I'm reading Wuthering Heights again right now because it's my favorite book ever hahaha. But after I finish that I'm starting Anna Karenina!

Cansu wrote: "I just started Cry, the Beloved Country! Has anyone here read it?"

It's about the effect of the white culture on the black culture in South Africa and how it led to the breakdown of indigenous culture. It is deeply religious and at the time was a voice in the wilderness standing out against apartheid which was introduced the year the book was published. It has some difficult things to read in it, but seeks to show that black/white cooperation is the way forward. A ground breaking book.

Laurie wrote: "I guess this is maybe a classic, I'm reading Anne of Green Gables and loving it. It's delightful!"

Yes it is delightful - I reread it about 3 months ago.

Great choice, Tammie. Jane Austen books are full of interesting and sometimes funny characters.

Rosemarie wrote: "Great choice, Tammie. Jane Austen books are full of interesting and sometimes funny characters."

I love it so far

Rosemarie wrote: "It is a Canadian classic set in Prince Edward Island.
The author Lucy Maud Montgomery has written many novels including five(?) sequels to Anne of Green Gables. I am Canadian and grew up reading, a..."

I love the Anne books. I have read them all and thought Anne was such an inspiring character. Gilbert Blythe was one of my first literary crushes when young. It is one of my ambitions to visit Prince Edward Island one day.

I have just finished "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Orczy - would you consider that a classic? It was a real page turner and I can see why they have made so many TV and film adaptations of the story.

I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or heard of the book, although both are of considerable age and my English teacher was brought up reading classics with nuns at a private high school...

Jackie wrote: "I have just finished "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Orczy - would you consider that a classic? It was a real page turner and I can see why they have made so many TV and film adaptations of the..."

That was certainly one of my childhood favourites. I loved Marguerite! To me it is a classic!

Saphia210 wrote: "I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or heard of the book, although both are of considera..."

It is true that it is not a very well known book, but there are lots of Brits who do know about it. What is interesting about Villette is the light it throws on Charlotte's experience as a teaching assistant in Belgium and her falling in love with the professor. So it's definitely one to read if you're interested in the lives of the Brontes. They certainly were a very different family - all of them so talented.

Many people don't know that Charlotte Bronte wrote more than just Jane Eyre. She also wrote Villette, Shirley, Agnes Grey and the Professor.

Actually Anne Bronte wrote Agnes Grey and then she wrote the Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Thanks for correcting that, Rosemary. I'm glad you spotted the error. It's important to get the correct author.

It's very easy to mix up all the Brontes and to work out who wrote what!

Saphia210 wrote: "I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or heard of the book, although both are of considera..."

Villette is one I have been searching for-for a while now. I like to purchase used books, makes me feel like I am recycling somehow. You will have to let us know how well you enjoyed the Classic when your done.

Rosemarie wrote: "Many people don't know that Charlotte Bronte wrote more than just Jane Eyre. She also wrote Villette, Shirley, Agnes Grey and the Professor."

Rosemarie, maybe you were thinking about Jane Eyre?

If you want to read Villette,,and you don't read French(I know that some of our members do) be sure to get a copy that has translations. I have recently read it and the library copy I had, a Signet paperback classic, had a glossary at the back.

Rosemarie wrote: "Many people don't know that Charlotte Bronte wrote more than just Jane Eyre. She also wrote Villette, Shirley, Agnes Grey and the Professor." That's what always shocks me! (about Villette and the Professor)

Rosemarie wrote: "If you want to read Villette,,and you don't read French(I know that some of our members do) be sure to get a copy that has translations. I have recently read it and the library copy I had, a Signet..." I do read some French...I've been taking for three years, but I am also advanced for my class...if need be, I have my own French-English dictionary, but so far I've been able to understand most French in classics. Thanks for the advice! :D

Lesle wrote: "Saphia210 wrote: "I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or heard of the book, although bot..." One book that I can't seem to have access to from any libraries I do have access to is the Mysteries of Udolpho. I had to resort to buying it on my Kindle. I'm also reading that right now so I'll see how I like both of them!

Rosemary wrote: "Saphia210 wrote: "I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or heard of the book, although bot..." I am very interested in their lives. I read this very interesting biography on them, and I found out so much about their lives. I think, like most writers, they reflect much of their lives in their writing.

Maggie wrote: "I'm reading Wuthering Heights again right now because it's my favorite book ever hahaha. But after I finish that I'm starting Anna Karenina!" Great choices! I love both books! (I tend to like darker books, like Gothic romances haha). When I finished Anna Karenina I just sat there for a while, still processing everything that happened.

Laurie wrote: "I guess this is maybe a classic, I'm reading Anne of Green Gables and loving it. It's delightful!" I love love LOVE the Anne series, but most of all the first book, Anne of Green Gables. I'm still a teen, but I read it when I was younger and it's so funny and Anne is so lovable that it is still one of my all-time favorites.

Rosemary noticed my error regarding the author of Agnes Grey. It is
Anne not Charlotte. I have read the other of Anne's books, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and really enjoyed it.

Saphia, have you read Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen? The Mysteries of Udolpho plays an important role in the book.

Rosemarie wrote: "Saphia, have you read Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen? The Mysteries of Udolpho plays an important role in the book."

Really? I never knew, that's so interesting! I think I tried reading Northanger Abbey three years ago (in fifth grade, I'm now in eighth) and I didn't find it much to my liking. I preferred Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I didn't like Emma so much either, I guess because I just didn't like Emma herself, haha! I think I'll try Northanger Abbey again! Thanks for that bit of trivia/information

I didn't like it the first time either. This group did a group read not that long ago and I loved it this time. Check out the book discussion thread after you've read it.

Saphia210 wrote: "Lesle wrote: "Saphia210 wrote: "I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or heard of the book..."

the Mysteries of Udolpho is wonderful! It's good to read after Northanger Abbey where it is quoted quite a lot, as it so impressed poor Catherine. Here is a link for an on-line version. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3268

Another really good Gothic novel - indeed the first of the genre is The Castle of Otranto also available online by Horace Walpole He must have been the inspiration for Anne Radcliffe's Udolpho http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/696

So delightfully shuddery to read!

Saphia
I would agree with you, I noticed Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters related their lives into their writings. A great way to start writing I think is to write about experiences.

Rosemary wrote: "Saphia210 wrote: "Lesle wrote: "Saphia210 wrote: "I am reading Villette by Charlotte Brontë! Funnily enough, neither my English teacher nor the assistant teacher (who is from the U.K.) have read or..."

Yeah, thanks to my school librarian I found the mysteries of Udolpho on the Gutenberg project website. But I downloaded it on Kindle.

I haven't read anything in French for many years - what's a good children's classic in French I could start on...?

I'm reading Mansfield Park for the fourth time. It's one of my favorites.

Hi, Jenny. These books are not classics, but they are very special. The author is Eric Emmanuel-Schmitt . The books are Oscar et la dame rose, L'enfant de Noé and Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran. The books are YA books that can be enjoyed by adults too.

What about Le Petit Prince by Saint Exupery? It works for all ages and is quite delightful.

I agree. It is a wonderful book, with charming illustrations.

Jenny wrote: "I haven't read anything in French for many years - what's a good children's classic in French I could start on...?"

You could also give a try to "Le petit Nicolas" by Sempé & Goscinny. The books consist of short stories about a little boy. It's really funny and a children's classic in french.

I just finished one of Le petit Nicolas books. They are funny. The illustrations are a great addition too.

I just finished reading Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. It was stuffed full of memorable characters and several plots.I always enjoy Dickens Characters! The middle of the book drug some but the last hundred or so pages were great!

I have just started reading Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Unfortunately, Dickens died before he had a chance to finish the book so the mystery is never solved.