Is there still a Classics we are reading thread?

[divinemintthins]

I have decided to reread some of my favourite Classics, plus have a go at Trollope (never read). I an currently on The Warden.

My list of books to read in the next couple of months, expect it will take me that long tbh is ...

A Passage to India, Agnes Grey, Out of Africa, My cousin Rachel and something Austen or Hardy.

I haven't read any of them for a few years so am looking forward to it, fire, blanket, tea or wine depending on the night .

I tend to reread Classics in the cold dark Jan/Feb evenings and then forget about them, anyone else?

[MiddlingMum]

Barchester I hope you like Growth of the Soil as much as I do

I'm determined to read 1984 again now, having never read it retrospectively, so to speak.

[Idratherhaveacupoftea]

The Forsyte Saga is a favourite.

[BarchesterFlowers]

I went in 1986 Middling . I read 1984 at secondary school. I hope you like it 11122a. I haven't read The Growth of the Soil, I will add that to my list too.

[MiddlingMum]

I haven't read 1984 since university - I should give it another go. When I was at university, the year 1984 was in the future, not in the past

[11122aa]

I'm reading a Martina Cole book now. I will go to an older book in a couple of week. Thinking of Buying 1984 as I have always wanted to read that.

[MiddlingMum]

11122a What are you going to read next? I don't know why P & P is adored either

[11122aa]

Ive Finished pride and Prejudice. While some chapters were decent I was still glad to get to the end and finish the book and am still puzzled as to why it is adored. Nothing really happens and the love story wasn't exciting.

[MiddlingMum]

Glad he liked it Barchester. I've read most of his books and it's my favourite

Zola is good, although needs good solid chunks of time to get into!

Have you read Hamsun's The Growth of the Soil? Set in Norway, it's on my list of top five books.

Yes, too little time for all these good books .....

[BarchesterFlowers]

He was really pleased Middling. I like your likes, haven't read Zola, will add to my list - I love Gaskell, so many books, so little time.

[MiddlingMum]

11122 I've read a huge amount of classics, both British and European. I really don't "get" Austen either. Yes, I understand all the irony, of course, but really, it's so tedious.

Give me Eliot, Gaskell, Hardy, Zola, Tolstoy etc any day.

BarchesterTowers I hope your DH loves The Remains of the Day. I'm currently reading through the alphabet (see other thread) and that's going to be my choice for I.

[BarchesterFlowers]

That's a shame 11122. Must say that Classics aren't for everyone, my sister would rather pull her teeth out.

I am going away next week and think I will finish two half read non classics the risk thing I mentioned up thread and the Deans Watch which I was enjoying before Christmas and forgot about it!

My Raj Quartet is here, can't wait to start those - they are hardbacks with slip cases so not the best for travelling light.

[11122aa]

Now 18 chapters in of Pride and Prejudice and have so far failed to quite get what is so loved about it. It's must all be going above my head. I've had to use a chapter by chapter summary to understand much of what I have read. I will get to the end through. I have no intention of not finishing the book .

[BarchesterFlowers]

, I have earmarked the Susan Hill book for a weekend in France if I haven't read it already, we go on a four day bike ride and I like to take a book with me.

[DoraChance]

Barchester that's where I first heard of it! The Susan Hill book is fab too, gave me lots of reading ideas.

[BarchesterFlowers]

I looked that up Dora and there was a link to <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Howards-End-Landing-year-reading/dp/1846682665/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X3D64K9PYXNZM4109QJA&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this which looks fun.

I have been distracted by a book on risk called 'Against the Gods' that I heard mentioned on a podcast last week but I will be back to classics soon enough!

I have just bought DH a Folio Society edition of The Remains of the Day - my token 'valentines day' gift and my boxed set of the Raj Quartet should be here by Wednesday.

[DoraChance]

I can highly recommend The Rector's Daughter by FM Mayor. It's not that well known but is absolutely beautifully written. It's on my top five of all time. Set in the 1920s and definitely in the George Eliot/Bronte vein, mild mannered country parsons, busy spinsters, that kind of thing.

[11122aa]

I've just started Pride and Prejudice. Have never read a Jane Austen before.

[flumpsnlumpsnstuff]

Her Benny
My nan's book it's so old it's falling apart but I read it over and over and my DD's both love it as well. Sad but beautiful

[RMC123]

That sounds disappointing. I am definitely saving Haworth for when the weather is better. It's unsurprising that it has become so commercialised I suppose but still sad.
Finished Dr Jekyll. Short but an excellent dark story

[BarchesterFlowers]

Just coming back to update you after my trip to the Parsonage 😀. I almost wished I hadn't gone, phew Haworth is just so commercialised these days, a completely different place from the place I remember.

The museum had the costumes from To Walk Invisible on show, it was very crowded 😳, I guess not much else is open in February. Interesting enough I suppose but a bit rubbish for my ten year old. None of the interactive boards worked, from a slightly knackered rather than a software glitch perspective.

Lots of lovely arty shops in the Main Street, too sleety for a walk (and minus 3 in the wind) so that will have to wait. We will probably go back when it warms up but will park on the moors and walk in to Haworth ..... 5/10.

Made worse by the fact that we visited the Bar Convent in York the previous week and it was fab, lots for a ten year old and we didn't expect much - so unfortunate that we had something unexpectedly fab to compare it to.

[BarchesterFlowers]

I have never read that RMC. My reading has stalled, I have been working 10-12 hour days this week, I am done in.

We are going to Haworth on Sunday. Did you know that To Walk Invisible was co produced by the Open University here.

Did I say that I have got the same fireplace as the Brontes? I can't remember. My house is from a similar period. I have always called it the P&P room, now I know .

[RMC123]

First classic of the year Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Reading as my son is doing this for his GCSE and keeps asking me questions. Problem is I read it 20+ years ago!

[BarchesterFlowers]

blue, I haven't read much Trollope, one book so far so can't comment!

Thank you teddy, I will buy those, it was a lovely used folio boxed set.

[ilovemyteddy]

Barchesterflowers I saw your question about the Raj Quartet. I've read it and it's wonderful, although each book is quite long. They did a great TV adaptation of it in the 1980s.

My favourite classic, which I re-read every couple of years, is Middlemarch. I'm currently reading The Italian by Ann Radcliffe, which I am struggling with TBH.

[BlueOnMondayNight]

The only Trollope I've read is "The Way We Live Now". I really enjoyed it. How does it compare to his Barchester Towers novels?

I remember enjoying Lorna Doone when I was a teenager. Anyone read that anymore?