Tuesday 1 July 2014

Top Ten Classics I Want to Read (or Re-read)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme run by The Broke and the Bookish. This week, the topics are Top 10 favourite classic books or Top 10 classics I want to read.


Note: I’ve put a slight spin on the topic this week, and included books I want to reread at some stage.

Classics, in general, aren’t usually my thing; and I firmly place the blame on my secondary school English classes. It managed to do several things for me: it made me mistrustful of books written by Irish authors, and it made me dislike anything historical, in particular anything with the label “classic”. The only person I studied that managed to escape the fate of auto-hatred was William Shakespeare! Thank goodness my year managed to skip all Jane Austen books… that would have really ended badly.

I really doubt any education board wants to discourage a person to read particular types of books, but sadly these were my feelings for such a long time. Thankfully, I managed to persuade myself to try some classics once I was far away from a classroom, and I discovered quite a few classics that I genuinely love. Hand me a copy of Pride and Prejudice, for example, and I’ll float away happily for hours.



These are in no particular order.



Pride and Prejudice book cover

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen


After reading what I wrote above, it won't be a surprise I've listed this first! Unlike most, I didn’t read Pride and Prejudice for the first time when I was a teen in school: I actually read it when I was nearly finished college! And I’m really glad I read it then. If I had read it when I was fourteen or so, I know I would have hated it. Now, it’s one of my all-time favourites and I make a habit of rereading it every year or so.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd


Anything Agatha Christie Wrote


I’ve read so many of her books, and I still have dozens more on the list I haven’t read yet. Yes, I do find some of her mysteries a tad formalistic, and I can predict the guilty person very quickly, but I still really like them!


Lolita


Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov


I haven’t read Lolita, but I’ve seen lots of divided opinions. It’s one of those books that I’ll eventually get around to reading and seeing what reaction and opinions I end up having.


1984


1984

by George Orwell


I love dystopian books, so this one should something I’ll like.


Rebecca


Rebecca

by Daphne du Maurier


This one has been sitting on my TBR list for years, and I think it’s about time I take the plunge and read it!


Jane Eyre


Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Bronte


What’s not to love about the Bronte’s? =)


Wuthering Heights


Wuthering Heights

by Emily Bronte


I read Wuthering Heights when I was a kid and I thought it was alright, it didn't appeal to me that much. I’ve wanted to give it another go for years and hopefully including it here will remind me to dig out my old copy and re-read it!


Emma


Emma

by Jane Austen


This was one of those books I was expecting to hate. I know, not the best way to approach a book! I loved it, and it's second to Pride and Prejudice as my favourite Austen books.


Romeo and Juliet


Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare


I studied Romeo and Juliet in school, and I’ve always wanted to reread it without expectations, and teachers hovering over my shoulder, whispering what opinions I should be having about what I’m reading!


Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone


The Harry Potter Series


Is this pushing the “classics” boundaries to far? Maybe it is. I suppose it could be classed as a new classic now, and since I haven’t read the series just yet - (I'm going to start the first book this week!) – I’m including it for its legendary status. =)


What books did you include in your Classics list this week? Leave a link to your TTT post so I can visit =)



18 comments:

  1. I love love Agatha Christie books, and I definitely consider Harry Potter a modern classic! I wasn't a huge fan of the classics either and am slowly trying to re-read them. I did a spin too, and did classics in the fantasy genre for my TTT. Great list!

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    1. I like discovering the classics now, away from school and college. No pressure, no people to please, and no deadlines! And yay for including HP as a classic! I was a little unsure on including it in the list =)

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  2. I remember all the hype when it was first published, and then the movies, and it had the opposite affect on me, it put me off reading the series! I'm sure my parents had an influence too, they would "gently persuade" me away from certain books. Well meaning, but annoying looking back on it now! But, I have a little reading date with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone this evening - I've only got a few chapters left in my current read, and I'll be starting it next. I can't wait! I'm only, ooh... seventeen years or so late?!

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  3. I think Harry Potter is definitely a modern day classic. I imagine people will still be reading it in years to come. I absolutely loved Rebecca. I want to read Lolita at some point too.

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    1. I'm glad you loved Rebecca, I've seen both good and bad things about it and it's made me question if I'll like it. Thanks for stopping by Chrissi =)

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  4. Great list! I think if HP doesn't count now, it will soon. Rebecca was a really cool book - I bet you will like it. I need to read all of Agatha Christie's books - i have read half a dozen or so, but I just love her so much.

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    1. I really hope I do like Rebecca. I've seen good and bad written about it, so hopefully I'll be on the "love it" side =) I'm hopelessly addicted to Agatha Christie's books, I love reading them! Thanks for stopping by Caitie =)

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  5. That's the trouble with the books we had to read in school, the memories associated from back then are so hard to shake off. It's a shame, cause I think it happens to so many people. It's definitely affected me! Hope you love Jane Eyre if you do get around to reading it again!

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  6. Ah yes, Harry Potter is definitely a classic now! ;)

    Here's my Tuesday Post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. LOL! Thanks for stopping by Jessica =)

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  7. I'm not sure on whether I would want to read Lolita or not. It seems pretty creepy, and although it probably does bring up some deep stuff, I'm just not ready for it. On another note, Pride and Prejudice is probably one of my favorite classics, and 1984 is on my list. And YAY Harry Potter :D

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    1. I've been putting off Lolita for the same reasons! I think I've gotten to the stage where I need to take the plunge and try it, see how I react. Thanks for stopping by Val!

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  8. Great list! I also want to read 1984 and more Christie!

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    1. Hopefully we both like 1984 when we get the chance to read it! Thanks for stopping by =)

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  9. Pride and Prejudice is definitely my favorite classic followed by Persuasion and her other books.lol I first read it when I was a freshman in college but didn't truly fall in love with it until the second time I read it (and with the help of the 2005 movie.)
    I've never been a Bronte fan but I've read all of Charlotte's books (Jane Eyre twice.) My friend is a huge fan though and we always argue Austen vs Bronte. We made each other read Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice and we both gave 1-2 stars for the others book.lol
    Great list! Here's my TT

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    1. Yay for P&P =) I wasn't that big a fan of Persuasion when I read it. Might need a reread to see if I still feel the same!

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  10. Awesome picks, 1984 is a great book! Pride & Prejudice is one of my favourites and I really want to Jane Eyre! :)

    Check out my TTT!

    Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination

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    1. P&P is what made me take another look at classics :) Thanks for stopping by Katrina!

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