Thursday, September 13, 2012

My Confession on Classic Literature

I have never read The Great Gatsby.  Moby Dick is a vague idea of a tome.  Everyone has lists of the “classics” people should read.  I haven’t.

Antiquated language is one hindrance.  There are no classics with modern words.  It is tiring to decipher everything when you just want to enjoy.  I am sure there are modern interpretations but, if I wanted that, I could just watch the movies based on them.  It is cheating.

Many classics are also BORING!  Oh yes, I’ve said it.  Yawn-fests are more common than anything remotely intriguing in classic literature.  I don’t care if something is a testament to the customs of Victorian life or an animal is a metaphor.  If the story isn’t compelling, no symbolism makes me dig out my intellectualist’s hat and ponder.
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I tend to feel guilty that I haven’t read many of literature’s prized older works.  I can just see a group of snobs in a parlor somewhere, swirling their brandy while discussing Tolstoy, and looking down their noses at me. 

Yes, I admit I am more a fan of genre fiction but I like literary works as well provided they have compelling story.

6 comments:

  1. One modern work that should be a classic is the play Copenhagen. It's based on science, but still is what I would consider one of the best "modern classics".

    I haven't read most classics either, and I understand some of the boredom. But, I do enjoy a good dose of Dickens!

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    1. Well, I have read Dickens before so I am not TOTALLY lost.

      I don't think I have ever heard of "Copenhagen".

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  2. I have not read many classics. Only the ones I'm forced to read in school :)

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    1. I adored Shakespeare when I was thirteen. After that age, I was over him. Oh how brief love affairs are!

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  3. I love some of the classics. Others are boring. I really just depends on the books itself. A lot of the appeal of classic lit for me is getting to see a little window into the past. It's like a snapshot of how things use to be (or how someone wanted things to be.) But I love my genre fiction as well. It's fun and easy and sort of like eating candy. Not a lot of substance, but delicious.

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    1. Some genre has substance but I do enjoy fun. A lot of people encourage me to read books like Pride and Prejudice but I just can't...

      I know, horrible of me.

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