List of books - what's next!?

[E65Ross]

Hi guys,

Just after another suggestion on books to read. I've posted here before and have said I'm generally a "classics" fan....love Dickens, also really enjoyed The Count of Monte Cristo (my favourite book...possibly) and The Three Musketeers, have also read and thoroughly enjoyed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and also Huckleberry Finn....loved 1984 by Orwell...just to give you an idea of some of my favourites.

Now....here's a list of a few, if someone could say whether they've read any and if they enjoyed them that'd be great....

Moby Dick, Doctor Zhivago, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Frankenstein, Anna Karenina, Middlemarch, Catch-22... Or any other suggestions?

Also....are any of the Bronte sister books worth a read? I gather they're generally lovey-dovey type novels, so maybe a bit more for the women? Or am I quite mistaken?

Many thanks in advance

[Goaty Bill 2]

The Bronte sisters are well worth reading, as is Thomas Hardy.
Victor Hugo, and Alexander Dumas. - these last two will give you further insights into Dickens Tale of Two Cities and the revolution. The series around the Three Musketeers is fantastic good fun.

[Blue Max]

Trollope's works are an enjoyable read, especially Barchester Towers and the other books about the clergy of Barchester.

[E65Ross]

Goaty Bill 2 said:

The Bronte sisters are well worth reading, as is Thomas Hardy.
Victor Hugo, and Alexander Dumas. - these last two will give you further insights into Dickens Tale of Two Cities and the revolution. The series around the Three Musketeers is fantastic good fun.

Thank you. I've read The Hunchback of Notre Dame and found it pretty hard going to be honest. Worth reading but not one of my faves. Of Dumas I've read 3 of the Musketeer novels but found they seemed to fade a little, the 1st 2 in particular were very enjoyable though.

RE Bronte sisters....I had a look and it appears that Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights seem to be the most popular....so last night I actually started Jane Eyre, only read the 1st 2 chapters but enjoying it so far. In some ways has quite a Dickensian feel to it.

[williredale]

Of your list I've only read Moby Dick and Catch 22. I didn't get on at all with Moby Dick but really enjoyed Catch 22

[E65Ross]

williredale said:

Of your list I've only read Moby Dick and Catch 22. I didn't get on at all with Moby Dick but really enjoyed Catch 22

Thank you for this.

I'm already on chapter 9 of Jane Eyre now and am definitely glad to be reading it.

Another classics author..... Jane Austen.... Are they all lovey/dovey or are they also worth reading? I've read some great novels which have romance as a big underlying theme (a tale of 2 cities, for example)....

Just after some more things to read and generally like classics.

Thanks again

[E65Ross]

Been on a massive reading spree and already finished Anna Karenina....wonderful book! I may read 1 or 2 shorter novels next (I'm tempted by Frankenstein and/or The Scarlet Pimpernel), and I MAY try War and Peace, having enjoyed Anna Karenina. Anyone on here read it? Enjoyable? VERY long, of course! Longest book I've read so far is The Count of Monte Cristo.

[Goaty Bill 2]

E65Ross said:

Been on a massive reading spree and already finished Anna Karenina....wonderful book! I may read 1 or 2 shorter novels next (I'm tempted by Frankenstein and/or The Scarlet Pimpernel), and I MAY try War and Peace, having enjoyed Anna Karenina. Anyone on here read it? Enjoyable? VERY long, of course! Longest book I've read so far is The Count of Monte Cristo.

To state the obvious, War and Peace is epic.
Tolstoy is without doubt one of the greatest writers and social commentators in modern human history.
As you well know from reading Anna Karenina, you become completely immersed in the period and the characters in a way few if any historians could relate the story or the times.
It is for most, a project of some weeks to complete.

Nothing (not even Hammer Horror ) can replace reading the original Frankenstein novel.
If for no other reason that to allow you to sneer at the poorly crafted imitations and modern renditions that lack virtually all that was important to understand from the original, though in fairness, Branagh's 1994 film was probably as good as it will ever get on screen.
The questions Shelly asks, and for which she leaves us to find our own answers, are as relevant today (perhaps more so) as they were when it was written.

While one can but sympathise with the people of the French revolution, The Scarlet Pimpernel will, while being a classically 'fun' story, remind one of the horrors perpetrated in the names of revolution and necessary change.
Those that are freeing themselves of their oppressors are rarely as merciful as those who were previously oppressing them.

Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Tuesday 28th March 11:54

[E65Ross]

Goaty Bill 2 said:

E65Ross said:

Been on a massive reading spree and already finished Anna Karenina....wonderful book! I may read 1 or 2 shorter novels next (I'm tempted by Frankenstein and/or The Scarlet Pimpernel), and I MAY try War and Peace, having enjoyed Anna Karenina. Anyone on here read it? Enjoyable? VERY long, of course! Longest book I've read so far is The Count of Monte Cristo.

To state the obvious, War and Peace is epic.
Tolstoy is without doubt one of the greatest writers and social commentators in modern human history.
As you well know from reading Anna Karenina, you become completely immersed in the period and the characters in a way few if any historians could relate the story or the times.
It is for most, a project of some weeks to complete.

Nothing (not even Hammer Horror ) can replace reading the original Frankenstein novel.
If for no other reason that to allow you to sneer at the poorly crafted imitations and modern renditions that lack virtually all that was important to understand from the original, though in fairness, Branagh's 1994 film was probably as good as it will ever get on screen.
The questions Shelly asks, and for which she leaves us to find our own answers, are as relevant today (perhaps more so) as they were when it was written.

While one can but sympathise with the people of the French revolution, The Scarlet Pimpernel will, while being a classically 'fun' story, remind one of the horrors perpetrated in the names of revolution and necessary change.
Those that are freeing themselves of their oppressors are rarely as merciful as those who were previously oppressing them.

Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Tuesday 28th March 11:54

Great post, thanks for that!!

[williredale]

E65Ross said:

Been on a massive reading spree and already finished Anna Karenina....wonderful book! I may read 1 or 2 shorter novels next (I'm tempted by Frankenstein and/or The Scarlet Pimpernel), and I MAY try War and Peace, having enjoyed Anna Karenina. Anyone on here read it? Enjoyable? VERY long, of course! Longest book I've read so far is The Count of Monte Cristo.

I read War and Peace years ago at work. When I was supposed to be working!

[E65Ross]

williredale said:

E65Ross said:

Been on a massive reading spree and already finished Anna Karenina....wonderful book! I may read 1 or 2 shorter novels next (I'm tempted by Frankenstein and/or The Scarlet Pimpernel), and I MAY try War and Peace, having enjoyed Anna Karenina. Anyone on here read it? Enjoyable? VERY long, of course! Longest book I've read so far is The Count of Monte Cristo.

I read War and Peace years ago at work. When I was supposed to be working!

I think I'll read Frankenstein next, then PERHAPS the scarlet pimpernel and then I'll tackle war and peace. Frankenstein is nice and short so I could get that done in a few days!

[E65Ross]

The Scarlet Pimpernel.....one of the best books I've ever read. Utterly fantastic!!

Based on the fact I enjoyed that, any potential recommendations??! Really enjoyed it!

[Goaty Bill 2]

The d'Artagnan Romances: 'The Three Musketeers', 'Twenty Years After', 'The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later'.
The Man in the Iron Mask (Dumas again)
Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Hugo)
- at the end you will understand the whole point of the novel - "why the goat?"

And don't forget Frankenstein
Dracula

[55palfers]

If you enjoyed 1984, try "Down & out in Paris and London" also by Orwell.

It's quite short but very entertaining and thought provoking. Still relevant today.

Give "Papillon" a go too. Ripping yarn.

[bearman68]

I've read the Orwell stuff, and thought it was fantastic. Moby Dick was brilliant, and I enjoyed it a lot, but War and Peace was awful. Jude the Obscure is worth a read, (and is actually quite decent) but Tess of the D'Urbivilles (sp?) was less interesting. I also rate 'Catcher in the Rye' though I noticed this is one of the books people most dislike (in a different thread). The Grapes of Wrath is fantastic, and well worth 'classic' status. And the original Bram Stokers Dracula is great to. Probably a bit overlooked as a classic in my mind, as it's written in quite a modern style. Have you tried the Hemingway stuff? Never read him myself

[E65Ross]

Thanks chaps, I've read most of the suggestions.....I loved the Muketeer novels, except I found they dragged nearer the end. I didn't like The Hunchback of Notre Dame a massive amount, some of it was very heavy going, although the story was utterly fantastic and I wasn't disappointed for having read it.

Orwell....1984 amongst my favourites, as is Animal Farm. Have also read Frankenstein (brilliant) and Grapes of Wrath (also fantastic), but didn't get on with Catcher in the Rye at all, I found it quite dull.

I've not read Moby Dick, though I've heard it's a bit "hit and miss"....although I guess that's no different to anyone else, we all have differing opinions.

Cheers for any further suggestions

[RobinSullivan]

I have mostly done with reading the books you have suggested.

[E65Ross]

I've recently discovered the crime books by Robert Bryndza, I've read "the girl in the ice" and the "night stalker", both absolutely great and fast moving

[Roofless Toothless]

For me, the biggest missing author in your list would be Joseph Conrad. Start off with the relatively short Heart Of Darkness, in my opinion the greatest book ever written, and see how you get on from there. His English is astounding, considering that it was his third language. Perhaps it explains why the sentences are so carefully constructed and the words so simple yet well chosen - he had to think about it.

I would also have to vote for Dr Zhivago, too, but perhaps only because it was written by my grandfather's cousin!

I am so heartened by your interest In classic literature. For the life of me I can't understand why people spend time on what I would call airport novels when a single lifetime would not suffice to read the great library bequeathed to us by posterity. As an example, I am currently enjoying Gibbons The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. I am not afraid of long books. Have you tried much history? Can be as readable as a novel sometimes. Try Nicholas And Alexandra by Robert Massie. Or Churchill. My Early Life will knock your socks off.

If you ever fancy a 1500 page novel, Thomas Mann's Joseph And His Brothers, might do the job for you. Mann takes the story of Joseph (of the coat of many colours) which occupies just a couple of pages of the bible and turns it into a family saga that, in my opinion, is impossible to put down.

[Goaty Bill 2]

Roofless Toothless said:

For me, the biggest missing author in your list would be Joseph Conrad. Start off with the relatively short Heart Of Darkness, in my opinion the greatest book ever written, and see how you get on from there. His English is astounding, considering that it was his third language. Perhaps it explains why the sentences are so carefully constructed and the words so simple yet well chosen - he had to think about it.

I would also have to vote for Dr Zhivago, too, but perhaps only because it was written by my grandfather's cousin!

I am so heartened by your interest In classic literature. For the life of me I can't understand why people spend time on what I would call airport novels when a single lifetime would not suffice to read the great library bequeathed to us by posterity. As an example, I am currently enjoying Gibbons The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. I am not afraid of long books. Have you tried much history? Can be as readable as a novel sometimes. Try Nicholas And Alexandra by Robert Massie. Or Churchill. My Early Life will knock your socks off.

If you ever fancy a 1500 page novel, Thomas Mann's Joseph And His Brothers, might do the job for you. Mann takes the story of Joseph (of the coat of many colours) which occupies just a couple of pages of the bible and turns it into a family saga that, in my opinion, is impossible to put down.

I have only read 'Lord Jim', ('Heart of Darkness' awaits on the bedside table, but I am in my 'second Russian period' just now ), but I fully concur with your assessment of Conrad's use of English. All the more extraordinary when you take into account, as you say, that it was his third language.
Orwell had a similar talent for great story telling, scathing polemics, and great topical essays in 'plain' language, though no doubt somewhat aided by English being his first language.

I had such a voracious appetite for reading when I was younger, sadly much of it, I won't say 'wasted', but not as well used as it might have been when IQ, eye sight and concentration were all at their peak. So many great and important works, so little time left...