I tend to stay strictly with Penguin Classics. But I've found another publisher which may have my heart more. At least when it comes down to cover art. Vintage Classics. I love that the beauty in each one is simplistic, yet tells a bit of the story in what I find to be a very profound way. Before I leave the UK, I would love to build up a collection of Vintage Classic novels, starting with the ones above.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: I was watching the cancelled television show, The Best Years, and the main character, Samantha had to read it for a homework assignment. She found out how strangely it correlated with her life. Now, I'm simply intrigued. I believe I tried reading this as a child and I simply couldn't stomach it. Maybe now, it'll be 'awesomesauce' in binding.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: I was pretty Christmas-crazy as a child, and I find that being away from home makes you want to recreate all of the wonderful traditions you have. I've never read this novel, but of course, most everyone knows the story. Reading this, with a chai tea in hand, while walking the high hills of Bangor in December will be sure to bring back my playful spirit.
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray: I confess that I've only chosen this because Rob (as in Pattinson) was in a deleted scene of the film! Nevertheless, its 'classic-ness' beckons me.
What Maisie Knew by Henry James: Ever since reading Washington Square, I've been quite taken with Henry James! He's a master wordsmith, and I would like to try to read his entire collection. However, his novels seem to become more and more undecipherable in the later half of his career, much to the chagrin of my mind! But this story seems brilliant, and I'm looking forward reading it.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: As I believe I've mentioned here before, I'm an English Major who's never read this novel. I've observed women the world over simply melt at this book. I never thought of reading it until I watched a scene of the movie with Kierra Knightly: The scene where Darcy first tells Elizabeth of his love for her. By the end of it, my mouth was wide open. Lovely scene. And so I venture to read it through. Maybe blog about it!
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: Yes, my attentions were peaked as Bella makes constant allusion to it in Eclipse. I've already read it, but I would love to read it again. There's something psychologically stunning about a two people who both hate each other, and yet cannot live without one another. Thankfully its only a novel!
Happy reading!
Source: Barnes and Noble
Love this post! I usually go with the Barnes & Noble classics series - I love that each novel features introductions and notes by different scholars. It makes the reading experience a bit more enriching when the person writing the notes is really passionate (and learned) about the novel.
ReplyDeleteI've never read any Dickens! I loved the BBC miniseries adaptation of Little Dorrit so I'd like to read that one. I've heard the miniseries of Great Expectations is wonderful as well. I love Pride and Prejudice, but it isn't my favorite Austen novel. I know the scene you're talking about from the 2005 film, I think that's my favorite too. The dialogue is fascinating. And ironically Jane Eyre is my favorite book, but I wasn't a fan of Wuthering Heights. It was so well written, obviously, but I couldn't find anything to like about any of the characters. It was hard to attach myself to it, you know?
I love the Barnes and Noble classics too. They have some beautiful leather bound ones out now. I want to snatch em all up!
ReplyDeleteI've never read Dickens, but it's nothing compared to you not reading P&P yet!! OMGosh!
@Casee Marie: I got the BN Classics of Wuthering Heights, and thought it was pretty cool, but some of my English professors were like, Never choose BN classics as something with scholarly merit, always go with Penguin, or the ever feared, Norton Critical, lol English major spiel! I've never read any of Dickens either, but hopefully I'll enjoy it! I love how most classic movies translate into a novel so well, yet the novels are so varying in opinion, its so ironic. I think with Wuthering, I just looked Catherine and Heathcliff as two characters who were greatly flawed, and I felt sorry for them. Which Jane Austen Novel is your fav?
ReplyDelete@Gab lol, yeah, nothing compares to me never reading it. I've read like 3 or 4 chaps in, but never all the way through!
The Vintage covers are definitely something to behold!
ReplyDeleteI tried to read GREAT EXPECTATIONS back when I was in 6th grade and failed to comprehend what was so good about it when I was a few pages into it. I put it down and did not pick up the story again until much later, in high school. That was when I PLOWED through the novel and ENJOYED it!
I later came to a personal conclusion that some stories can only be handled when one is a bit older. :-) Maybe it will be something to behold in "awesomeness" when you're ready for it, however ready you have to get, in either age or wisdom or knowledge.