What's your favorite classic novel?

[Duderonomy]

The Picture of Dorian Gray
Wuthering Heights
Macbeth
Mutiny on the Bounty
Etc..

[Akrazotile]

Objectively speaking, probably the one I wrote.

[Stephonit]

Does anyone still read them?

[Thorpesaurous]

Probably Of Mice and Men.

I really liked Catcher In The Rye too.

[Prometheus]

1984

[fiddy]

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance

[Prometheus]

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance

Classical quality - Romantic quality

:applause:

[bladefd]

1. Lord of the Rings trilogy
2. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Other mentions:
To Kill a Mockingbird
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1984
2001: A Space Odyssey

[masonanddixon]

Mason and Dixon by Pynchon

[kennethgriffen]

little black sambo

[Smoke117]

I don't read that junk. I read fantasy, sci fi, horror. I've probably read more books in the last 6 months than this entire board has over their lifetime. Mouth breathers.

I did read the Once and Future King, though. I suppose that could be considered classic. Trivia note: That's what Magneto is reading in his cell in Xmen 2.

[72-10]

I thought Dorian Gray was too boring. I don't even think I finished it. I know it's considered a classic, but I'm surprised it would be anyone's favorite.

[Akrazotile]

I thought Dorian Gray was too boring. I don't even think I finished it. I know it's considered a classic, but I'm surprised it would be anyone's favorite.


The writing is a bit tedious - and awkwardly homoerotic - but the larger concepts the main character struggles with are interesting and relatable IMO. And the plot is pretty original (as far as Im aware).

The book def doesnt make Wilde standout as a writer, but I found the storyline compelling enough overall. I think it

[JEFFERSON MONEY]

Slam by Walter Dean Myers

[Loco 50]

Mutiny on the Bounty was really enjoyable. Treasure Island is an easy read in a similar vein. Robinson Crusoe as well.

Animal Farm is probably my personal favorite of all time.

I've always liked dystopian settings so 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 really grabbed me as a highschooler.

Anything by Jules Verne is really good. Journey to the Center of the Earth, Around the World in 80 days, 20,000 Leagues are all amazing when you consider that this man invented this stuff in the late 1800's.

The Odyssey and other tales of mythology are as classic as classic can get and really entertaining.

The Bible has some good stories. I like the book of Genesis for it's creativity and also Proverbs when it focuses on King Solomon in particular.

Anything that has earned the classic label is more than likely going to be entertaining in some fashion as long as you put the effort in to understand the author's perspective.

And for the sci-fi fans, like Smoke, anything by Michael Crichton, in my opinion, is gold. Personal favorites are Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, and The Sphere. All had movies that failed to live up to the writing, as is typical. Oh, and recently I've taken a liking to Hyperion and The Terror by Dan Simmons.

Thinking about this topic has made me realize it's been way too long since I've explored some new books, so thanks.

[JohnnySic]

2 classic novels I never got the appeal of were The Catcher in the Rye and A River Runs through it.

The former is about some kid who drops out of school (a pretty heady move for his day, I guess) and wanders around and has a few adventures. OK.

The latter is about a family that really enjoys fly fishing. One son gets killed in a brawl or whatever and supposedly there is some major symbolism about this event that goes over my head. The language its written in is pretty though

[warriorfan]

Probably Of Mice and Men.

I really liked Catcher In The Rye too.

Of Mice and Men was very good. Had no idea it was going to go the route it went. That ending is pretty rough though. :cry:

[Akrazotile]

I've always liked dystopian settings so 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 really grabbed me as a highschooler.



Most of them are based on hypercollectivism.

So I assume you read them for inspiration?

[Akrazotile]

2 classic novels I never got the appeal of were The Catcher in the Rye and A River Runs through it.

The former is about some kid who drops out of school (a pretty heady move for his day, I guess) and wanders around and has a few adventures. OK.

The latter is about a family that really enjoys fly fishing. One son gets killed in a brawl or whatever and supposedly there is some major symbolism about this event that goes over my head. The language its written in is pretty though


Catcher was pretty remarkable for its time.

Ofc today you hear thousands of distinct voices every time you watch tv or read the internet.

Caulfield’s narrative cadence was not something you would normally get from a novel or a television character of yesteryear. Definitely pioneering.


Ive never read A River Runs Fru Dat Shit, so dunno about that one.

[rufuspaul]

A Confederacy of Dunces
Slaughterhouse 5
Lord of the Flies
Moby Dick
Look Homeward Angel

[Loco 50]

Most of them are based on hypercollectivism.

So I assume you read them for inspiration?
As is the case with most things in life, balance is optimal my unique little snowflake.

[bladefd]

Bunch of other book mentions I read over the years going back to middle school (I have stuff listed on my 'read' list on goodreads.com):

A lot of people seem to like The Great Gatsby, but I was mehh.. Read it twice for 2 different classes, it was okay

Night was decent by Elie Wiesel. It's a heartbreaking story..

I also forgot about The Hobbit..
Day of the Jackal was very good.
The Outsiders
All Quiet on the Western Front
Animal Farm
Julius Caesar .. I never liked reading Shakespeare tbh but Julius Caesar wasn't bad
The Time Machine by HG Wells, The War of the Worlds
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Prince and the Pauper
Hardy Boys series I read as a child

[Akrazotile]

Bunch of other book mentions I read over the years going back to middle school (I have stuff listed on my 'read' list on goodreads.com):

A lot of people seem to like The Great Gatsby, but I was mehh.. Read it twice for 2 different classes, it was okay

Night was decent by Elie Wiesel. It's a heartbreaking story..

I also forgot about The Hobbit..
Day of the Jackal was very good.
The Outsiders
All Quiet on the Western Front
Animal Farm
Julius Caesar .. I never liked reading Shakespeare tbh but Julius Caesar wasn't bad
The Time Machine by HG Wells, The War of the Worlds
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Prince and the Pauper
Hardy Boys series I read as a child



Nikka listed The Hardy Boys....

[Rolando]

For those of you who liked the Catcher In The Rye:

A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man - James Joyce

Also, a nice and edgy novel...was banned for a while in the States:

Tropic Of Capricorn - Henry Miller


I can highly recommend both.

[72-10]

I'm planning on probably delving into some James Joyce at some point.

[MrFonzworth]

How to Bomb the US Government

[bladefd]

I'm planning on probably delving into some James Joyce at some point.

I don't like his writing style personally. I tried Ulysses back in college and didn't finish.. Read couple chapters then put it aside. Couldn't get into it.

I want to try Dostoyevsky, Charles Dickins, and Leo Tolstoy some day.
-Isaac Asimov - didn't like book 1 of his Foundation series then never revisited him. I like his writing style - simple and to the point
-Arthur C Clarke - read 2001 space time odyssey and 2010 odyssey two ... both were fun reads and I want to try more of his stuff. 'Rendezvous with Rama' has been on my list for years

Classic Authors I don't feel like revisiting:
-Frank Herbert - didn't like Dune

[Lakers Legend#32]

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

[Rolando]

I don't like his writing style personally. I tried Ulysses back in college and didn't finish.. Read couple chapters then put it aside. Couldn't get into it.

I want to try Dostoyevsky, Charles Dickins, and Leo Tolstoy some day.
-Isaac Asimov - didn't like book 1 of his Foundation series then never revisited him. I like his writing style - simple and to the point
-Arthur C Clarke - read 2001 space time odyssey and 2010 odyssey two ... both were fun reads and I want to try more of his stuff. 'Rendezvous with Rama' has been on my list for years

Classic Authors I don't feel like revisiting:
-Frank Herbert - didn't like Dune

Regarding Ulysses: That's the same story written from different points of view and in different styles. Probably not the best way to start reading James Joyce. I also could not get through it.

The Idiot by Dostoyevsky was one that I read and can recommend.

[Rolando]

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Excellent novel. I can also recommend.

[Stephonit]

Why are you guys reading classic novels that were assigned in school?

The Count of Monte Cristo
Quentin Durward
The Talisman
The Black Arrow
Silas Marner
War and Peace
The Forsyte Saga
The Age of Innocence

Is Hyperion already considered a classic? Liked Fall of Hyperion more, but I guess it is best to read all the books in the series.

[masonanddixon]

I'm planning on probably delving into some James Joyce at some point.

All I can say is don't start with Finnegan's Wake.

[masonanddixon]

I don't like his writing style personally. I tried Ulysses back in college and didn't finish.. Read couple chapters then put it aside. Couldn't get into it.

I want to try Dostoyevsky, Charles Dickins, and Leo Tolstoy some day.
-Isaac Asimov - didn't like book 1 of his Foundation series then never revisited him. I like his writing style - simple and to the point
-Arthur C Clarke - read 2001 space time odyssey and 2010 odyssey two ... both were fun reads and I want to try more of his stuff. 'Rendezvous with Rama' has been on my list for years

Classic Authors I don't feel like revisiting:
-Frank Herbert - didn't like Dune

Just re-read the Odyssey and the Iliad and then revisit Ulysses. I re-read it when I was 27 and it made perfect sense after I had gained some life experiences I didn't have in college.

[MaxFly]

Crime and Punishment
Great Expectations
Cry, the Beloved Country
Black Boy
Things Fall Apart
2001: A Space Odessey (In fact, all of the Odysseys)




Hardy Boys series I read as a child

My dude... :applause:

Was Joe's girlfriend Iola or Vanessa in the series you read?

[bladefd]

2001: A Space Odessey (In fact, all of the Odysseys)

It gets wackier and wackier as you go through series. I read first two - enjoyed both - but third one I never finished for some reason. I think it began to drift or something, idk. Maybe Arthur Clarke was getting high more and more while writing :lol Anyways, lost interest reading 3rd book and moved on to another book.



My dude... :applause:

Was Joe's girlfriend Iola or Vanessa in the series you read?

Iola. I read this series between 4th/5th/6th grade in between other books. I tried re-reading through series last year lol - I kind of got bored 4 books in. Very quick reads and not very complex as an adult. It brings back memories though.. Used to love reading this as a child

[FKAri]

The Brothers Karamazov