Classic Book of the Month

We thought it might be an interesting variation to have some classic literature to discuss – so any input, recommendations, or general discussion- please feel free to join in…

What makes a classic?

This is a difficult genre to define as everyone has their own opinion as to what constitutes a classic….

• Classics stand the test of time
• Classic have expressions of great qualities in life, situations and cultures
• Classics have universal appeal
• Classics influence other writing
• Classics stimulate thinking and debate

Inspiration for both classics and modern classics may be found at this listology site:

1001 books you must read before you die

So go ahead, and tell us your favourite classical read, give us the Title and the Author, and add a little bit about the book without including spoilers. If you quote from the book, don't forget to mention the source or link to a web page directly...

We can then start to choose books for our new Classic Book of the Month section.

Vote for October’s choice either Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald or Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Vote Here

Looking forward to some interesting Classic book choices

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.
Now, don't knock it 'til you try it!
We all love looooonnngg novels, obviously, and this one's just under 700 pages. Piece of cake. Almost a "novella"!
We love historical fiction. Set in Russian society in the early 1800's, this is historical fiction at it's finest.
We love gripping, believable characters. Tolstoy has amazing insight in the human psyche. His characters have depth and meaning.
Now, I don't have the knack for poetic, descriptive writing, and I'm horrible at book reports. I'm just saying that this book is excellent, a fabulous read, and definitely a classic!

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

I read this many, many years ago and was really touched by it.

Zookie - you've convinced me! I've always wanted to read War and Peace but it always seemed "to big" but after reading Outlander I can read anything!

I listened to Anna Karenina a couple of years ago and was disappointed that I couldn't get War and Peace on audio. I've been watching and a version is almost finished at librivox.org, so I am planning to try to listen to that in the near-ish future (fall or winter? whenever it's done and I have some time for it). I'd love the chance to discuss it with other readers, too.

OK. I just read through that list of 1001, and I've only read about 100 or so of them (my count wasn't exact and it was a quick scan). I'm feeling kind of inferior at the moment.

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy



Written in 1874, and published in serial form in the literary magazine Cornhill, this is a romantic look at the life of a young woman Bathseba Everdene and the three men who feature in her life. The first is Gabriel Oak, a poor sheep farmer with little prospects, the second is Farmer Boldwood, a man of property, but quite boring, and the third is the handsome and rakish army captain...this is Victorian romanticism at it's best..

I read this book when I was in my early teens - it fostered my love of romantic stories and strong male characters...

Thomas Hardy

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh. So much character analysis to discuss there.

If you're interested in the reading of Tolstoy, be sure to catch "The Last Station", a movie that was in (I think) limited release last year. Very well done study of the last years of Tolstoy's life, with Helen Mirren, Ian McKellan and Paul Giamatti chewing scenery. What could be better? Will get you even more excited about reading War and Peace.

I have my own list of books that are part of classics, and if there are not they should be.

I read some of these books many years ago, i own them all...but I read them translated from originals into my first language. I do own the translations..I even brought them with me in my new country.


1. I love everything that Ernest Hemingway wrote.
I would start though with For Whom the Bell Tolls.

2. Then I love everything that John Steinbeck wrote
I would start with The Grapes of Wrath in his case.

3. Francis Scot Fitzgerald and his The Great Gatsby.

4. Aldous Huxley - Point Counter Point

5. John Galsworthy and his The Forsyte Saga.

6. Everything that Eric Maria Remarque wrote-everything!
Starting with All Quiet on the Western Front

7. Iris Murdoch - The Sacred and Profane Love Machine

Not sure if you consider classics, but still
8. Umberto Eco - In the name of the rose
9. Eric Knight -This above all.

...and so many others...

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

Anna karenina is one of the most loved and memorable heroines of literature. Her overwhelming charm dominates a novel of unparalleled richness and density. Tolstoy considered this book to be his first real attempt at a novel form,and it addresses the very nature of society at all levels of death ,destiny, human relationships and existence. It is a tragic book, but it is perhaps the most readable if you haven't read any of Tolstoy's works before...

This probably borders on having the characteristics for being considered a classic but I have to include Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. When I first read this, it was simply an interesting Science Fiction book on censorship and a totalitarian government. Then I studied more comprehensive world histories and found out it wasn't all fiction.

Lorna Doone by R D Blackmore

(From Amazon uk)

Lorna Doone, a Romance of Exmoor is an historical novel of high adventure set in the South West of England during the turbulent time of Monmouth's rebellion * (1685). It is also a moving love story told through the life of the young farmer John Ridd, as he grows to manhood determined to right the wrongs in his land, and to win the heart and hand of the beautiful Lorna Doone.


*Monmouth's rebellion in 1685 was an attempt to overthrow Catholic King James II of England by James Scott, Duke of Monmouth,who was the illegitimate son of Charles II, and considered by some to be the rightful heir to the throne.

Having downloaded several classic books onto my kindle I am enjoying a revival :
Since January I have read:

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Treasure Island by RL Stevenson

and am currently reading
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is my favourite classic (that I've read, I have a large pile of Classics in my TBR)

While Catherine and Heathcliffe are both entirely unlikable characters, their relationship is so hearbreakingly passionate... it's an incredible novel!

A selection of my favourite quotes:
"...he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same"

"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it."

"Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!"

http://www.wuthering-heights.co.uk/quotations.htm

This makes me want to read it again!.. I think it's been about a year since I last read it.

Heh. It took me a couple of tries to get through this book just because they are so unlikeable. I swear if they lived today the would be one of those thrill killer couples that drive around killing people.
I am glad I persevered though because it is a good book.
I have so many favorites but Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee are right up there with Jane Eyre for me.

I've both read and listened to Wuthering Heights and the characters were just so unlikeable that I just didn't love it that much.

I did love To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, Frankenstein, Dracula, and probably lots more but those are what came to me.