50 Classics: The War is over and next up is…
I finished reading War and Peace last night (sorry, Leo it was a tough call between that and Anna Karenina) and its time to choose another classic to knock off the list. I have the following at hand without having to drop in the (modest) Buckhead Library or go shopping at the local uber-book chain.
- Huckleberry Finn
- Les Miserables
- To Kill A Mockingbird
Any recommendations? Well, technically I also have Atlas Shrugged, but I’m dreading reading that again.
Don’t bother with Atlas Shrugged. Blech.
I’d say, of those you currently have, To Kill A Mockingbird is your best bet. But then Les Miserables is kind of heavy to follow War & Peace and I actually strongly dislike Huckleberry Finn, so my opinions may not exactly be in sync with yours.
I actually like all three. However, for a change of pace, I’d go with TKaM. Les Mis is good, but it’s really really verbose.
Huckleberry Finn is a good summer read. Personally, I found The Prince and the Pauper a much more fun book by Mark Twain.
It’s strange that many of the “classics” are so depressing. Have you read Treasure Island yet? It’s fun!
I love Huckleberry Finn! 🙂 I also rather liked Les Mis, but French books always have a bonus because of the language for me (I could almost, but not quite, suffer through Madame Bovary again, if I had it in French). It is quite long, of course, and rather depressing, but there’s also a good amount of food for thought there. To Kill a Mockingbird I disliked, but I read it in high school, when I hated everything they made me read. 🙂
I gotta put in a vote for another unread one on the list, The Count of Monte Cristo. In my top 5 ever, and it’s gotta be the best tale of revenge and redemption ever. Get thee to Book Nook!
Wow, thanks for all the great feedback folks. I’ll make a choice by tomorrow and start anew.
I’ll also bump Monte Cristo higher up on the list, Tom. 🙂
Ok, after consideration I decided on To Kill a Mockingbird for the next Classic off the list. I just had to get off the European continent for a bit, but rest assured, I’ll be getting a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo for the near future too.
If Atlas Shrugged is daunting, try The Fountainhead; it is my favorite of Ayn Rand’s work. I usually skip over John Gault’s two chapter monologue unless I’m wearing snowshoes and anxious to slog through it. It’s more manifesto than novel.
After reading your list, I’d suggest The God Delusion; it is on my list of books to read when I can find time between review books.