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Original poster

Right-I'm sick of Booker shortlist fiction-so help me, post your all time favourite work of classic fiction

238 replies

DarrellRivers · 09/01/2008 13:36

Ann Enright finished me off finally with the dross that is called 'The Gathering'
So I decided to start reading some more classic works of fiction.
Am currently reading Nana by Zola, it's great [bit suprised]

At least these people seem to be able to write cracking tales (and not just emotional vomit)
I think I read most classic works of fiction when I was a teenager -ie Jane Austen, when I was too young to appreciate anything about life.

So post what should i read next, and what you loved about it.I think anything published in last 20 years should not be allowed but exceptions may be permitted.

OP posts:
seeker · 09/01/2008 14:23

And, of course, In the Fourth at Malory Towers.........

seeker · 09/01/2008 14:22

Brideshead Revisited is wonderful!

Original poster
DarrellRivers · 09/01/2008 14:21

and Les Miserables, (is it a little depressing as a tale)
mind you, a lot of great reads do tend to be dramatic and end messily

OP posts:
seeker · 09/01/2008 14:21

My new year resolution is to read some Dickens - I have been 'bouncing off the surface" since I was a teenager!

I'm currently reading Dombey and Son - cheating really because I recently heard some of it on the radio - but I'm really enjoying it. Much easier, faster reading than I expected.

I think Mill on the Floss is just SLIGHTLY bettet than Middlemarch.

KrippledKerryMum · 09/01/2008 14:21

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Original poster
DarrellRivers · 09/01/2008 14:20

Aha, He who wrote Crime and Punishement, will add

OP posts:
Original poster
DarrellRivers · 09/01/2008 14:19

100x sorry, I had already added it in my mind to the imaginary list, but had not online.
Middlemarch it is

OP posts:
amazonianwoman · 09/01/2008 14:19

Love Madame Bovary, have read it about 5 times, incl for A level & degree French.

A couple of modern authors I like - Kazuo Ishiguro (Remains of the Day, The Unconsoled, Pale View of Hills) and Arundhati Roy (God of Small Things)

Dickens Tale of Two Cities

And anything by John Irving if I want something "easy", I love A Prayer for Owen Meany!

dustystar · 09/01/2008 14:18

Ooh I forgot about evelyn Waugh. i like Deline and Fall and also A handful of Dust

KrippledKerryMum · 09/01/2008 14:18

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psychomum5 · 09/01/2008 14:17

hurrumph.....

KrippledKerryMum · 09/01/2008 14:16

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francagoestohollywood · 09/01/2008 14:16

I'll read it if you wish ahundred, just to please you

ahundredtimes · 09/01/2008 14:15

Right. I'll say it one more time

Middlemarch by George Eliot.

It is my favourite book of all time. Read it.

KrippledKerryMum · 09/01/2008 14:11

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francagoestohollywood · 09/01/2008 14:11

without having read the whole thread:

les miserables by victor hugo

what about pg wodehouse?

Original poster
DarrellRivers · 09/01/2008 14:10

Sorry KKkerry
Who is it by?

OP posts:
KrippledKerryMum · 09/01/2008 14:09

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MegBusset · 09/01/2008 14:08

Kurkov

MegBusset · 09/01/2008 14:08

If you like Russian literature, you should read The Master & Margarita by Mikhael Bulgakov and Death & The Penguin by Andrey kurkiv.

ahundredtimes · 09/01/2008 14:06

Middlemarch

TsarChasm · 09/01/2008 14:05

No Psychomum I was replying to Darrell from earlier but you lot type so blimmin fast! .

Mind you, Harry may very well be a modern classic. I am one of about three people on the planet who haven't read him yet but I'm all in favour if he gets children to pick up a big book enthusiastically.

My dd is mad on Rainbow Magic books - I wish she would get into HP - all these darn fairies seem to be the same story to me.

ArcticRoll · 09/01/2008 14:04

Henry James The Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove.

Original poster
DarrellRivers · 09/01/2008 14:01

psychomum, no, about madame bovary being a mumsnetter for you

OP posts:
psychomum5 · 09/01/2008 13:58

tsarcharm.....is your aimed at my Q. about harry Potter??

if so.....double