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Classics to Read

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boswellbaxter
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Post by boswellbaxter » Wed April 21st, 2010, 1:28 pm

[quote=""Jemidar""]The only Hardy I've read is Tess of the D'urbevilles and the Mayor Casterbridge. I found both of them incredibly depressing :( . Are his others any different?

This conversation is making me want to pull out all my fav classics and do a re-read. Classics can be considered historical fiction, can't they?[/quote]

I think Under the Greenwood Tree is more upbeat than the others, but I've never read it. Jude the Obscure is definitely in the depressing category.

My own favorite classic authors are Dickens, Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and Elizabeth Gaskell.
Susan Higginbotham
Coming in October: The Woodvilles


http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/

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Nefret
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Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
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Post by Nefret » Wed April 21st, 2010, 2:37 pm

[quote=""Vanessa""]So did I! Very dark and brooding.

How about Wilkie Collins? I loved The Moonstone and have The Woman in White on my TBR pile. Don't forget Bram Stoker's Dracula either. Are you just in the mood for classics or do you like modern classics, too, Nefret? I can't recommend Daphne du Maurier enough!

[/quote]

Oh, thanks Vanessa. I almost forgot to add those to my list. Pretty sure I've already read Dracula, but won't hurt to have a go again. And I'll have to look for Daphne du Maurier. Tess of the D'urbevilles is coming in the mail soon. boswellbaxter, what are some Elizabeth Gaskell books I should look for? Thanks to you guys for helping with my reading list. And getting suggestions of books I already own, just means I got a good one, right?
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Wed April 21st, 2010, 3:24 pm

[quote=""Nefret""]Oh, thanks Vanessa. I almost forgot to add those to my list. Pretty sure I've already read Dracula, but won't hurt to have a go again. And I'll have to look for Daphne du Maurier. Tess of the D'urbevilles is coming in the mail soon. boswellbaxter, what are some Elizabeth Gaskell books I should look for? Thanks to you guys for helping with my reading list. And getting suggestions of books I already own, just means I got a good one, right?[/quote]

Oh I second the rec on Du Maurier, and they're not all *romantic suspense* like Rebecca either.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

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Nefret
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Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
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Post by Nefret » Wed April 21st, 2010, 3:28 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]Oh I second the rec on Du Maurier, and they're not all *romantic suspense* like Rebecca either.[/quote]

I do want to read Rebecca. I do not remember what other books I want to read by her though. Any suggestions?
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Wed April 21st, 2010, 3:33 pm

[quote=""Nefret""]I do want to read Rebecca. I do not remember what other books I want to read by her though. Any suggestions?[/quote]

So we don't go too far OT, how's about we continue it here?
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

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boswellbaxter
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Post by boswellbaxter » Wed April 21st, 2010, 3:37 pm

[quote=""Nefret""]boswellbaxter, what are some Elizabeth Gaskell books I should look for? Thanks to you guys for helping with my reading list. And getting suggestions of books I already own, just means I got a good one, right?[/quote]

My own favorite Gaskell book is Wives and Daughters (Gaskell died before quite finishing it, but it's clear how things are going to be wrapped up). Gaskell's other novels deal with social issues (industrial unrest, unwed motherhood, etc.); Wives and Daughters is a more domestic story, centering on one girl's family relationships as she grows up and falls in love.

Of Gaskell's other novels, I prefer Ruth and North and South (I didn't like Mary Barton as well as her other books). I also recall Cranford (another domestic novel) as being enjoyable, but it's been years since I've read it.
Susan Higginbotham
Coming in October: The Woodvilles


http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/

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Vanessa
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Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
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Post by Vanessa » Wed April 21st, 2010, 3:39 pm

I'll just quickly say besides Rebecca, some great ones by DduM are My Cousin Rachel, The House on the Strand and The Scapegoat.

I haven't read anything by Elizabeth Gaskell, but the TV series 'North and South' was very good, as was 'Cranford'.
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Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind

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Jemidar
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Post by Jemidar » Wed April 21st, 2010, 5:00 pm

[quote=""boswellbaxter""]My own favorite Gaskell book is Wives and Daughters (Gaskell died before quite finishing it, but it's clear how things are going to be wrapped up). Gaskell's other novels deal with social issues (industrial unrest, unwed motherhood, etc.); Wives and Daughters is a more domestic story, centering on one girl's family relationships as she grows up and falls in love.

Of Gaskell's other novels, I prefer Ruth and North and South (I didn't like Mary Barton as well as her other books). I also recall Cranford (another domestic novel) as being enjoyable, but it's been years since I've read it.[/quote]


I also loved Wives and Daughters :) . And I've been meaning to read Cranford for absolutely ages but never seem to get to it.
Jenny

"Well-behaved women rarely make history."
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

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Nefret
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Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
Location: Temple of Isis

Post by Nefret » Wed April 21st, 2010, 5:14 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]So we don't go too far OT, how's about we continue it here?[/quote]

Good idea. Didn't mean to go so off topic, sorry. :o

My wishlist is getting bigger too.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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Jemidar
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Posts: 397
Joined: February 2010
Location: Adelaide, Australia

Post by Jemidar » Wed April 21st, 2010, 5:20 pm

[quote=""boswellbaxter""]I think Under the Greenwood Tree is more upbeat than the others, but I've never read it. Jude the Obscure is definitely in the depressing category.[/quote]

Thanks Boswell :) . I think I remember catching a bit of the TV series of Under the Greenwood Tree and was surprised that it seemed to have a happy ending. I just thought I must of got it wrong :p .

One of my other favs that's not an English classic as such, is Dangerous Liasions by Choderlos de Laclos. It's an epistolary novel and is definitely worth reading!

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12 ... _de_Laclos
Jenny

"Well-behaved women rarely make history."
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

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