the classics club discussion

let's chat about the classics we are currently reading!

I actually read the classic book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. it is an African literature about colonialism.

Twilight 0f Forgotten Lore wrote: "Not a classic, but I’m currently reading a history book on the German Empire. I’m also reading some of Emily Dickinsons poetry :)"

That's awesome! I love Emily Dickinson. I've read her complete poems a couple of years ago and still have to think about them from time to time.
I hope you enjoy reading the history book, sounds really interesting. I enjoy reading nonfiction as well. ^^

And your pfp is absolutely aswesome! I guess those are Charles and Henry etc. etc.?

✦ ۰ —ᣞ ⊹ ݁ nil ִ° ⋆ wrote: "I actually read the classic book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. it is an African literature about colonialism."

I read that one in school for literature! How did you like it?

Currently, I am reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, only a few pages in but really enjoying it so far. I am also planning on starting A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens soon since I like to try and read Christmas themed books in December :)

Casey wrote: "✦ ۰ —ᣞ ⊹ ݁ nil ִ° ⋆ wrote: "I actually read the classic book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. it is an African literature about colonialism."

I read that one in school for literature! How did y..."

We do that at school too, it's a good book but it's a shame that Okonkwo dies at the end of the book. What do you think of the book?

♥holly♥ wrote: "Currently, I am reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, only a few pages in but really enjoying it so far. I am also planning on starting A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens soon since I like to tr..."

Nice! Have fun. Jane Eyre and A Christmas Carol are soo good. :D

@Twilight absolutely :D and yes, same. You really can't rush through poetry and it's not meant to be read the way you read a novel. I like your analogy with wine. Or perhaps a poem is also like a praline. ^^

I've read TSH a couple of weeks ago for the first time and I'm happy to say that it has become one of my favourites, practically from the get go. That book... wow, just wow.

Not a classic, but I am currently reading Girl, Interrupted

I learnt it was a memoir right before starting it, which would make it the first book that I read of the genre. Not that far in yet, but it's good. I plan to watch the movie as well.

✦ ۰ —ᣞ ⊹ ݁ nil ִ° ⋆ wrote: "Casey wrote: "✦ ۰ —ᣞ ⊹ ݁ nil ִ° ⋆ wrote: "I actually read the classic book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. it is an African literature about colonialism."

I read that one in school for literat..."

I found it interesting, especially all the parts about their traditions 😊 Some of it was pretty shocking, being Zambian, we never talk about these taboos. Seeing the similarities between Nigerian and Zambian culture was very interesting to me.

What did you enjoy most about it?

Veni wrote: "Not a classic, but I am currently reading Girl, Interrupted

I learnt it was a memoir right before starting it, which would make it the first book that I read of the genre. Not that f..."

I loved the movie 😀 It was my first time seeing Angelina Jolie in a role like that. It was like the female version of One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest.

Twice-Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne <3

Casey wrote: "✦ ۰ —ᣞ ⊹ ݁ nil ִ° ⋆ wrote: "Casey wrote: "✦ ۰ —ᣞ ⊹ ݁ nil ִ° ⋆ wrote: "I actually read the classic book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. it is an African literature about colonialism."

I read th..."

What you write is very interesting but what I liked the most was how Okonkwo never changed but his people changed and it was very fun to learn the Igbo culture.

Okonkwo's character put all he had into what he grew up believing. Honestly, he built his entire life on that culture. Having people come in and tear that down...😬 The end was tragic.

I didn't even know it was a Trilogy until much later 😅 Although I haven’t read the other two books.

Yeah, the end was tragic, Okonkwo dies. But it was interesting book.

I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?

Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Yes, I did! (Come to think of it, I think I haven't added it on here yet.)

rina.reads wrote: "Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Yes, I did! (Come to think of it, I think I haven't added it on here yet.)"

Sweet! What did you think?

Jesse wrote: "rina.reads wrote: "Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Yes, I did! (Come to think of it, I think I haven't added it on here yet.)"

Sweet! What did you think?"

I liked it! I'd rate it 4 stars.
I think Raskolnikov's descent was really well depicted and left me shocked at times. I liked Sonya and (view spoiler)[that she kinda became his guiding light in the end (hide spoiler)]. The conlusion was perhaps a bit unexpected given the time it was written in so that positively surprised me. The writing style was something that I had to get used to tho, it made the novel hard to get into for me at the beginning.

I hope you'll enjoy reading it! ☺

Twilight 0f Forgotten Lore wrote: "I started reading a history book on WW1 :)"

Hope you'll enjoy reading it and that it'll be informative!

I'm currently reading a collection of ghost stories written by Margaret Oliphant. :)

Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Crime and Punishment is my Favourite book of this year! 😆 It was amazing! Especially how Dostoyevsky's writing made me feel like I was in the book. That is the first time that has ever happened to me. I hope that you enjoy it, Jesse 😃

Casey wrote: "Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Crime and Punishment is my Favourite book of this year! 😆 It was amazing! Especially how Dostoyevsky's writing made me fe..."

Oh, I'm glad to hear that! So far it's very interesting and well-written. The wiring took a bit to get used to, but once I did I started loving it. I thought I would be struggling to understand it, but so far it's been pretty easy. A lot of interesting ideas, though. Not a book you can speed read, so to speak. But I am enjoying it!

I've just started the final installment in Hilary Mantel's Cromwell trilogy... :')

Jesse wrote: "Casey wrote: "Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Crime and Punishment is my Favourite book of this year! 😆 It was amazing! Especially how Dostoyevsky's writ..."

This wonderful, Jesse! 😆 I'm really happy that you're developing a love for it. It is just SO amazing! The writing, the characters, and the suspense 🥰

This is kind of sudden and I know I just joined this club. I love it here and I've already made so many new friends but... I'm not going to active on Goodreads until further notice due to a financial rough patch I'm facing right now with my family. I'm hopeful that I'll return one day 😊 Until then, I'll be continuing my reading journey offline.

I'm planning on read Anna Karenina, The Brothers Karamazov, The Secret History, The Return of the King, some George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy next year 🤣 Yes. My TBR is heavily plan based. I told myself I wouldn't plan it for next year but nobody told my brain, I guess 🤷🏾‍♀️

Merry Christmas to you all and I'll miss you 🥰

Casey wrote: "This is kind of sudden and I know I just joined this club. I love it here and I've already made so many new friends but... I'm not going to active on Goodreads until further notice due to a financi..."

I'm so sorry, that's very unfortunate. I'll be praying for you :)

Hope you love Return of the King, it's my favourite novel of all time! I also want to read The Brothers Karamazov and The Secret History.

Merry Christmas!

Casey wrote: "Jesse wrote: "Casey wrote: "Jesse wrote: "I've just started Crime and Punishment, has anyone read it?"

Crime and Punishment is my Favourite book of this year! 😆 It was amazing! Especially how Dost..."

I just read Chapter V of Part III< and wow, best chapter of the book. So much food for thought!

Casey wrote: "This is kind of sudden and I know I just joined this club. I love it here and I've already made so many new friends but... I'm not going to active on Goodreads until further notice due to a financi..."

I'm so sorry to hear that, I hope that everything works out for you. Enjoy your reading, and Merry Christmas!

Casey wrote: "This is kind of sudden and I know I just joined this club. I love it here and I've already made so many new friends but... I'm not going to active on Goodreads until further notice due to a financi..."

Merry Christmas to you and I'll be praying for you and your family!

Casey wrote: "This is kind of sudden and I know I just joined this club. I love it here and I've already made so many new friends but... I'm not going to active on Goodreads until further notice due to a financi..."

Oh no, I wish you all the best and am already looking forward to your return. ❤ Enjoy reading!
I wish you a blessed new year and merry christmas.

Thank you so much everyone 🥰 Happy Reading and we will definitely meet again!

I'm currently reading Anarchism and Other Essays and Santa Evita, although I'm not sure if they're considered calssics. I'm really enjoying both so far :)

I just completed Carmilla and it was intriguing, to say the least (slightly unsatisfactory too?) I'm currently reading Anne on my mind, though it's not exactly a classic but the impact it had on the lgbtq community and literature in general is phenomenal!

♥holly♥ wrote: "Currently, I am reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, only a few pages in but really enjoying it so far. I am also planning on starting A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens soon since I like to tr..."

holy christ me too i read a christmas carol for christmas every single year, it has become a tradition atp!

Casey (INDEFINITELY INACTIVE) wrote: "Veni wrote: "Not a classic, but I am currently reading Girl, Interrupted

I learnt it was a memoir right before starting it, which would make it the first book that I read of the genr..."

I LOVE THAT MOVIE IT'S MY TOP FEMALE RAGE FILM

liz wrote: "I just completed Carmilla and it was intriguing, to say the least (slightly unsatisfactory too?) I'm currently reading Anne on my mind, though it's not exactly a classic but the impact it had on th..."

I recently read Carmilla too and loved it. Intriguing is definitely a good way to describe it! I think it could have been better if it was longer though, as the ending felt quite rushed

liz wrote: "♥holly♥ wrote: "Currently, I am reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, only a few pages in but really enjoying it so far. I am also planning on starting A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens soon si..."

Oh that sounds like such a fun tradition, I might start doing that too!

♥holly♥ wrote: "liz wrote: "I just completed Carmilla and it was intriguing, to say the least (slightly unsatisfactory too?) I'm currently reading Anne on my mind, though it's not exactly a classic but the impact ..."

precisely, i wanted to see more of carmilla and though it was justified of the times, laura's homophobia was stressed to a point where it displayed confusion in her own thinking like girl do you worship her or hate her make up your mind! (like in the last sentence laura knows carmilla visits her so it might be that she is hiding the fact in the documentation because she knows everyone is after tearing them apart?) there are so many conspiracy theories and hence intriguing!

oh please holly we can all read a christmas carol together it'd be so fun!

Liz, that's so true, I liked Laura but she was a bit frustrating at times. I think the story could have been better as a full novel rather than a novella, if it had time to focus more on Laura and her figuring out her feelings. I guess that isn't realistic for the time it was written though unfortunately. First and foremost it's a product of the social attitude at the time. Sadly, it's more of a reflection of the general fear of vampires than a love story.

And yes, we should absolutely read a christmas carol together!

you're right, it should have been a full length book, however i disagree with the central plot being the author's expression of fear of vampires in that age. the romanticization of carmilla and the very description of her from laura's perspective can't simply be cast off as a vampire's charm, it was too abstruse for that. the entire lore was a bad execution of the plot in my opinion.

omg yay! whenever you say, what about the 24th? should i text you privately?

mine is not a classic but i am currently reading “a little life”! i’m sadly only on page 97 due to school and work getting in the way of my reading time! but luckily holiday break will be soon here and then i can hopefully catch up on my reading!<3

liz wrote: "you're right, it should have been a full length book, however i disagree with the central plot being the author's expression of fear of vampires in that age. the romanticization of carmilla and the..."

Right, sorry I kind of worded that badly. It isn't the central plot I suppose, but still underpinning the story somewhat. I do agree that the story had a lot more to it than that.

And sure, the 24th works, feel free to message me :)

cloudi.kyla wrote: "mine is not a classic but i am currently reading “a little life”! i’m sadly only on page 97 due to school and work getting in the way of my reading time! but luckily holiday break will be soon here..."

It's always the best feeling when there's finally time to read! I hope you enjoy :)

not a classic, but currently rereading a little life!! one of my favorites though it breaks my heart every time

I've just started another collection of uncanny stories, this time with stories by A. M. Burrage. I've only read the first story so far, and liked it, so I'm excited to read more of his work which I will do now. xD

I have been working my way through all of Jane Austen's books. I am currently reading Emma. I'm not very far in, but I can tell it is going to be a favorite.

Emily :) wrote: "I have been working my way through all of Jane Austen's books. I am currently reading Emma. I'm not very far in, but I can tell it is going to be a favorite."

Ah yes, Emma is my second favourite novel by Austen! Hope you'll continue to enjoy reading. :D

I haven't read The Trial yet, but am planning on reading The Castle soon!
However, I also really like Northanger Abbey because it parodizes the Gothic Novels I so love hahaha