Have you read a classic recently?

sahmoun2778 · Post by **sahmoun2778** » 30 Aug 2014, 17:02

Does sci-fi count? I've recently read H.G. Wells "The Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds". Wonderful imagination the guy has.

kelleys4girls · Post by **kelleys4girls** » 30 Aug 2014, 17:29

Portrait of a Lady by Henry James about 2 weeks ago.

obiebookworm · Post by **obiebookworm** » 30 Aug 2014, 17:46

sahmoun2778 wrote:Does sci-fi count? I've recently read H.G. Wells "The Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds". Wonderful imagination the guy has.

Absolutely!!

amen jamir · Post by **amen jamir** » 30 Aug 2014, 19:49

'The House on Mango Street' by Sandra Cisneros. I guess it is considered a modern classic. I liked it. It made me feel nostalgic.

-- 30 Aug 2014, 20:50 -

han87 · Post by **han87** » 30 Aug 2014, 22:16

Just finished When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells if that counts.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 30 Aug 2014, 22:54

Yes, just finished The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

H0LD0Nthere · Post by **H0LD0Nthere** » 31 Aug 2014, 21:29

obiebookworm wrote:
H0LD0Nthere wrote:I am reading thru Plato's Republic.

I did not pick it up of my own accord. I got it off a list of books that, according to someone, I need to be familiar with in order to be moderately well-educated. So as to provide an educated parent for my kids.

Of course, the Republic is brilliant in many ways. There are lots of ideas in it that we have all espoused at one time or another, and that have long been in the air of our culture, so there are many "So that's where that came from!" moments. And to think that Plato (or maybe Socrates) was the first person to articulate this stuff ... genius, right there.

Having said, there are also some shockingly bad ideas in it. Plato's ideal society would have no families, kids raised in institutions, and almost no private property. All this would supposedly get rid of human conflict, because people can't get possessive over "their" kids or "their" property. The naivete of this takes my breath away.

I guess a philosopher from 1,000 years ago might be forgiven for recommending this stuff. But by now ... it's been tried, and the cure is worse than the disease.

OK, lecture over.
I don't ever remember reading this back in the day. No families? Yikes! And he was considered a great philosopher???

Nevertheless, the Republic is definitely worth a look if you're a fast reader. There is lots of amazing stuff in there, like his famous "cave." But his ideal society, yeah ... very cerebral, no allowance for normal human emotions being things of value. And we certainly hear echoes of that anytime someone speaks as though "logic" by definition does not take emotions into account. (I'm looking at you, Scott Adams!)

booksandlatte · Post by **booksandlatte** » 31 Aug 2014, 23:46

I recently read The Mysterious Island and I am currently reading Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I have a collection of classics on my to be read list and I plan to finish them off by New Year's Eve.

Naomi · Post by **Naomi** » 01 Sep 2014, 01:44

Every now and then I go through a Classic's phase, I just got Wuthering Heights yesterday, I've been meaning to read that book for years.

At the moment I'm reading Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence.

Daniland · Post by **Daniland** » 02 Sep 2014, 05:16

Huckleberry Finn is certainly one the most beloved classics on my list

-- 02 Sep 2014, 06:17 --

Huckleberry Finn is certainly one the most beloved classics on my list

1destiny2014 · Post by **1destiny2014** » 02 Sep 2014, 13:06

define classic.... I routinely go back to my favorite books when i need to relax my mind i go to the Series by Luisa May Alcott that follow Little Women. When i need perspective on life i return to The Count of Monte Cristo written by Alexandre Dumas.

Jae101 · Post by **Jae101** » 02 Sep 2014, 13:13

Currently I am re-reading Jane Austen's Northanger Abby. I keep forgetting how easy her work is to read, and then I fall in love with it, and her writing, all over again. I'm a romantic at heart!

P and Ink Reviews · Post by **P and Ink Reviews** » 02 Sep 2014, 15:57

The most recent classic that I've read was Pride and Prejudice last month

Bookwoman · Post by **Bookwoman** » 03 Sep 2014, 09:29

Naomi wrote:Every now and then I go through a Classic's phase, I just got Wuthering Heights yesterday, I've been meaning to read that book for years.

At the moment I'm reading Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence.

That's the one I have picked up to read. I am still reading through the introduction though which is fascinating in itself.

ktfrank04 · Post by **ktfrank04** » 03 Sep 2014, 09:41

The last classic i read was Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" along with two of his other classics. This was earlier this year before i went on my stephen king kick d: