J.Kaye, icedream, Bluestocking, Literate Housewife and Koolaidmom!
- What is the best classic you were "forced" to read in school (and why)?
- What was the worst classic you were forced to endure (and why)?
- Which classic should every student be required to read (and why)?
- Which classic should be put to rest immediately (and why)?
- **Bonus** Why do you think certain books become classics?
Well, these are definitely some tough questions!
1) What is the best classic you were "forced" to read in school (and why)?
This would definitely have to be The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. First of all, I've always loved Dostoevsky, ever since I read Crime and Punishment for "fun." I didn't get around to reading Karamazov until my Russian Lit class in college - I thought it would be cumbersome. Of course, I was completely wrong!
2) What was the worst classic you were forced to endure (and why)?
This one is a bit more difficult for me. I've disliked plenty of classics, but the worst? The Sound and the Fury by William Faulker. Ugh. I can't stand him or his writing style. Enough said.
3) Which classic should every student be required to read (and why)?
Whew, another toughie...honestly, I feel like everyone should be required to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. First of all, that's the only way most guys are ever going to read Austen and discover that she's not just a girly author who wrote fluff. She was talented in her own right and could write with the best of men. However, I feel like many men trivialize her at this point. Plus, I've heard from a lot of girls that reading Pride and Prejudice is what got them into reading. So I think it's a must-read for everyone!
4) Which classic should be put to rest immediately (and why)?
Anything by William Faulkner. Reading shouldn't be boring, and it shouldn't be a chore you dread. He made me never want to read a book again. (Luckily, that wasn't the case!)
5) Why do you think certain books become classics?
I think they need to speak to multiple people. They need to be informative, whether about a person, a time period, or society, and people from different backgrounds need to able to relate to the book. They need to be well written...I'm not sure what else!
Anyone else have any thoughts?
7 comments:
Thank you!! I loved reading your answers! I just finished BK and now that I've done a little research, actually appreciate why it's considered to be so great...
I do love Faulkner, though! :)
I look forward to reading what others think, too!
Thanks again for playing!
I'm in! I'll post on it later tonight or tomorrow. You may be horrified to learn that I actually enjoy reading Faulkner... Will you still be my friend? :)
LOL - I come over here to read about the Tuesday Thingers and read this...I'll get mine posted this week. But warning, I hate classics. The responses might be a bit negative. :)
Lol I hated Faulkner!!!! "The Unvanquished" made me want to kill myself. I also hated "McTeague" by Norris. Now that was torture.
"Pride and Prejudice" I totally agree with. I love Austen's romantic story, and love her humor.
Sound and the Fury is definately on the top 5 worst forced reads.
I love what you said about Pride and Prejudice! It's true requiring this book may be the only way to get teen boys to read Austen.
Your reasons something ranks as a classic are pretty much the same as mine, too.
I waited until after I did mine to read yours, then compare notes. Fun! Thanks for taggin me ;-)
We share Dostoevsky love! He really should have more fans, in my opinion. I've never had to read anything by Faulkner, and now I consider myself luckier than I already did! I also completely agree with you about Pride and Prejudice. It bugs me to no end that it's now classified as "chick lit" - there's nothing wrong with chick lit, but Jane Austen was a brilliant writer in a world where it was hard for women to become one, and she deserves way more credit.
The Kool-Aid Mom has tagged me, so I'll be posting on this later today.
Hey I've never been tagged before. Well by blog is running normally now! So I'll get on it.
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