Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Have you often found yourself stuck in a Classic without understanding what that paragraph meant?
A term you have never heard of or what it meant in this tale?
I just read that and...What did I miss?
Need help with and Author or Classic?
Comparable work?

Need support while reading a Classic read. Sometime I know I have asked Rosemarie what something meant. If you are reading on your own your more than welcome to add your thoughts and /or questions here.

I have loved reading all my life and studied literature in university, as did my elder daughter.
If you have any questions about books, genres and especially literary terms, I will be glad to answer them, and if I don't know right away, I will do some research.

I am a retired teacher, and learned over the years that every question asked is relevant, no matter how small or trivial the subject seemed to be.

I'm here to help and learn along with you.

Happy reading!

A great idea for a thread, likely much needed!

I don’t have years of teaching experience, only an English minor on my degree. Any questions I see that I can answer, though, I will. :)

That would be helpful, Samantha. It's good to have more than one resource person.

A brilliant idea - I really appreciate this.

Rosemarie have you read any of Françoise Sagan's novels. I understand she mostly writes romance and has Classic and Modern time frames for her books?

I read her most famous book Bonjour tristesse(1954) in my 20s and loved it.
Later, I read Un certain sourire (1955) and thought it was just okay and really don't remember any of the plot, just my impression of the book.

I have Aimez-vous Brahms on my wish list. It looks interesting.
She seems interesting as a person too!

I will have to add Bonjour Tristesse to my list as well.
Thank you!

You're welcome.

By coincidence I saw her on TV last night. She drives like a maniac!

What show were you watching, Bernard?

Bonjour Tristesse is a stunner, written when the author was only 18, so the feelings are well represented - the feels are real! I've actually got it on my re-read list this year for a couple of challenges. I've read it about 4-5 times and love the film as well.

It was a prog about Paris, with Clive James, who had lived there. She gave him a lift. He was terrified!

By the way, if you like Françoise Sagan, why not read Colette?

I have read Colette's stories about Claudine.

I have Chéri and the consecutive books and The Collected Stories and I also have Secrets Of The Flesh: A Life Of Colette a biography by Judith Thurman

She had the most remarkable and amazing life!

Bernard wrote: "It was a prog about Paris, with Clive James, who had lived there. She gave him a lift. He was terrified!"

Is that the Postcard series?

Yes, "Postcard from Paris". He was an amusing man, and a great ambassador for Australian culture, along with Dame Edna.

When you don't watch television it feels like everyone else is in a secret club of which you aren't a member ;)

You are right Jazzy. I am a member of SSTW (Secret Society of Television Watchers).

Don’t forget the SSNS — Secret Society of Netflix Subscribers. There’s also a Hulu edition of that and amazon prime for all these companies’ exclusive programs.

My husband is the TV watcher in our house. The only tv I watched was the occasional kid's show with my grandkids, a few years ago.
I don't even remember the last show I watched-it was probably an old movie.

Samantha wrote: "Don’t forget the SSNS — Secret Society of Netflix Subscribers. There’s also a Hulu edition of that and amazon prime for all these companies’ exclusive programs."

Yes, there are now hundreds of digital channels available. I can even watch Japanese tv, NHK in English.

oh if we had Hulu and it was free I would watch it, but it's not available in my country. I used to have a shared Netflix sub, but when the lad's father took it over he changed the password and removed me :P

amazon? Forget it!

But everyone keeps talking about things I never heard about ahaha

Bernard wrote: "You are right Jazzy. I am a member of SSTW (Secret Society of Television Watchers)."

Do not forget the SSCL!

Secret Society of Classic Literature, Lesle?

I'm a member of that!

Nope!

This is a deer with no eyes!

Secret Society of Chocolate Lovers?

When it comes to books or tv, I simply love a good story with complex characters and a well-developed plot.

I agree with you there, Samantha.

Secret Society of Corporate Layabouts?

Rosemarie wrote: "Secret Society of Chocolate Lovers?"

I am surprised Bernard did not get this one!
Good job Rosemarie!

Nothing better than a Novel with Complex Characters and a Well Developed Plot along with a box of Chocolates and your favorite Beverage!

How did I miss this thread?? Thanks, Lesle for opening the thread and Rosemarie for being so kind in accepting to lend support to us readers of classics.

You're welcome!

When this thread appeared, I was sure I would have lots of questions. But so far, none! But it is comforting to know that when I do have one, there is somewhere to go for the answer.

Piyangie, sometimes when researching or someone else mentions an author or a book, it is often nice to have a Friend like Rosemarie to answer those questions like....Is it worth me trying to find this book? What style does this author have? Do I have to find a dictionary, notepad, and pen to read this one? I cannot find someone else that is reading this Classic to discuss a section that no matter how many times I read it, I just do not get it?

So many thoughts that now can be answered by someone we all trust to give us a fair answer!

Exactly, Lesle. Rosemarie's opinion will be invaluable for me in the future. I've started learning French so that with time I can read French books in French (That is the goal anyhow). I really would like to find from her the easy short books, perhaps children's stories that I could begin with. And also many more regarding other classics. So glad that a friend like her is there to help.

Piyangie, I forget where you live, but you should try inquiring if your local library has bilingual children’s books with French as the second language. If not, maybe they could get some for you. Another thing I’ve heard of people doing when trying to learn a second language is reading their favorite books in that language or watching their favorite movies in it.

youtube is full of great aids, children's books in other languages, etc. I had lots of fun with Jip and Janeke

A really fun French series for kids and grown ups is Le Petit Nicolas by René Goscinny and the rest of the books in the series. They are really funny.

And the Asterix books of course. And Tintin.

Exactly, Bernard! They are such fun books.

The captain was called Haddock in French! Curious. The story is that Mrs Herge suggested the name. But why? Does the word sound amusing to French speakers?

Thanks all, for the information/opinion. Appreciate it. I'm currently reading the Tintin series and I could try them in French as Bernard has suggested. I'll check on what you've suggested Rosemarie. And as Samantha has mentioned, I could read a familiar or favourite book in French. That sounds quite appealing.

Rosemarie what are the books called that have English on one side of an open book and French on the other side for the purpose of learning to read in a new language. I know we talked about this before but I cannot remember.

In Canada we call them dual-language books.

They are also called Bilingual books.

That is right Rosemarie, that is how you can look them up under the one online bookstore I order from!
Thanks!

Thanks for the info, Jazzy. The terms can often differ depending on the country.