It was a simple task today. The list of the top 100 masterpieces of American Literature were printed in the book and I was to go through and count how many I had read and figure out how long it would take me to read the ones I was missing. Below is my list.
Books with * are ones I have read. I am counting Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for the P&P copy.
Books with - are books I actually want to read.
Books highlighted are books I already own but haven't read yet.
This list doesn't appeal to me very much. Most of these books may be considered classics but that doesn't mean I am going to read them.
That is all,
Newt
9 Ripples in the pond:
Ijoined a book club. A friend of mine asked me to join her group. Since I've been 'part' of said group I have read 7 books. Well not actually read them. 2 I couldn't get past the 10th page. 1 not even the 3rd page.
Is it the group of women? And the books they choose?
Some have been on the "books you must read before you die" list. I'd rather die than spend time reading them.
Bah.
Read what you want.Life is too short to live by someone else's list.
:-)
You know, I can't think of a lot of classics I've actually enjoyed. I had to read a few for school and hated most of them.
I would have to say P&P (okay any Jane Austen) is up there for me, though I haven't read the zombified version.
While I admit the term ‘Western’ is a vague one, I was slightly amused to see the Bible at the head of a list of masterpieces of Western literature. Is it even a masterpiece of literature? It’s of historical importance, but books like Leviticus are not exactly literature.
It’s also a little curious to see The Origin of Species there, but no other scientific work at all.
As S&C says, with certain notable exceptions, these are books you’re made to read as a student: to study rather than enjoy. Of course it depends on your tastes. I voluntarily read Homer’s The Odyssey when I was in my mid teens, and loved it. And Jane Eyre turned out to be an unexpected pleasure to read, though I only got round to it a few years ago.
With most of them however, it’s as you say: ‘Who decides what’s a masterpiece and what isn’t?’
I think the idea on top books is probably what some uppity professors at established colleges think are worthy. That or it may have to do with overall sales from the publication date.
I thought this list was retarded because you never hear anyone recommend The Collected Poems of T.S. Elliot but Harry Potter gets recommended to everyone.
These books are listed because they represent the best and most lasting works from either their time period, genre, or movement or were groundbreaking literature at the time. More than likely, even though some of them would be dreadful to have to read for fun to most of us (I'm looking at your Dickens!), we have probably seen plenty of movies or read plenty of other books that are updated versions of these exact stories.
It is kind of the same as it is for music - I can only handle so much Madonna, but I can't deny her staying power and lasting effects on music.
Did you mean you were looking "at you Dickens" cause otherwise that comment just sounds dirty.
I find the list a little suspect due to The Book itself taking a spot on the list and Shakespeare's inclusion with the very broad "play" and "poems" (come on, commit to a title or two!), but there are quite a few good reads on there, some of which I never would have appreciated had they not been forced on me in high school. What are they teaching you kids in Midland that you can get through without fighting your way through a Greek tragedy or Melville or any poetry at all?
We read some Iliad and some Oddessy but I couldn't remember if we read it all so I kept it off the list of reads. Same with Dante because we Read Inferno but not Paradise or Purgatory.
Also, MISD blows. When football teams get new pads and field houses, but teachers have to use overhead projectors for students to take notes rather than providing them with handouts because there isn't enough money for all that paper, you know your high school education is sub par.
Also, that Dickens comment I made is even funnier than I meant it to be... looking at your Dickens.... tee hee....
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