I read this years ago but I still open to the last paragraph and read it now and again. Was anyone as touched by this as me! I have no one in my life who reads classics!

I recently read The Summer Book by Tove Jannson and I was captivated solely because there was not much going on. The story itself was going nowehere -- it was a simple, short and sweet story about a girl and her grandmother living on an island. But the writing itself was so engrossing I was surprised at myself for wanting to flip to the next page.

I felt the same way with Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych". It's a short story about a dying man. On the surface level, that's basically it.

With that said I'd love to read more books that have basically no plot but exceptional writing. It's hard to find since it isn't a genre in itself but any reccomendations would be appreciated!

I have recently been reading some minimalist literature. I really enjoyed Raymond Carver, especially What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, I liked the way Ellis's unsentimental, bare prose in Less Than Zero, and, while I didn't love Ham on Rye as much, I loved the stripped-back writing style and want to read more novels with such a minimalist style.

I know it is not unheard of for anthology editors today to occasionally have their own story or poem put in alongside their peers, but since it seems to me like anthologies of the 18th and 19th centuries collected the works of historical writers and famous people I’m curious if any editors from that era had the balls to put their own stuff alongside that of the greats.

I'm excited! I'm already familiar with Middle English from the Faerie Queen. I'm in pursuit of a Literature degree and this is required reading! Has anyone else read the Canterbury Tales?

I mainly read 19th century classics because I love the time period and the language. While it can be challenging at times, I think the language adds so much character to the time in which the book was conceived.

I decided to pick up a book written in 2021 but set in 1666, and I’m finding that the language is very modern in it/ not close to historically accurate.

Mainly, the characters say modern sayings and phrases. A specific example is, a character describes another as “sadistic”. Sadism as a term is derived from the acts of the Marquis De Sade who wasn’t born until 1740.

However, I also understand that I’m a complete loser for finding this bothersome, and the act of posting this is funny in and of itself. Let me know what y’all think!

I am getting into reading classical books, and I would appreciate some book recommendations. I want to read one of those books that is so good and has such depth that it changes your view on some aspects of life.

I want to take this leap, but the book is huge!

Hey everyone! I recently finished the The Return of Tarzan, and I thought I'd come ask and see if anyone had any recommendations for someone looking for adventure novels!

So far I've read:

• Tarzan I and II
• Jungle Book I and II
• White Fang
• Treasure Island

Edit: These all sound absolutely amazing! Thank you all so much!

What I thought Dracula was going to be: Harker comes to the castle door and it opens on its own in a gust of wind, Dracula grandly descends from a main staircase, intimidating as all hell

Actual Dracula so far: Opens the front door to his own castle and tells Harker to come on in, he’s sure the trip must have been long and he needs to pee pee, so go ahead and go pee pee before we have some dinner

I just want to start by saying I really enjoyed this work, and I think it's more relevant today than ever. Though a bit of a bleak read at times due to its subject matter, I found the commentary on isolation and loneliness thought provoking.

Camus identified as an atheist, and I found his perspective on faith and why bad things happen to innocent people very interesting. I especially enjoyed the character of Cottard, who actually found freedom and solace through the plague.

What did you guys think of this book & what should I read next? Thanks!

I'm already at 70% of the book and I still find her a bit immature and naive still. She'll say she's ignorant of things but then she'll keep on preaching her beliefs on other people. While she makes good points despite her lack of experience, I just can't stand her attitude. For one, she continues to look down on Mr. Thornton despite learning more about him. The prejudice is just so deep rooted in her. Margaret has many good qualities, yes, but I really can't stand her arrogance and preachy attitude. I keep wanting to see her humbled. Maybe I'm just judging her too harshly.

Hi everyone!

I would really appreciate if you could take 5min to complete this anonymous survey that I am doing for a college project!

In a digital age where information is often consumed in short, easily digestible formats, I’m curious to learn how people engage with classic literature. Do you think the appreciation for these timeless works is changing? I would really love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Thank you for your time and insights! 🙏

https://forms.office.com/e/52Xeir6R56

Hi! I need a poem suitable for a 13-year-old on the topic Dreamscapes and Fantasies- Celebrating imagination and dreams. Has to have a suitable length to be recited in three minutes. No suitable Google search results came up, that's why came to reddit. Please suggest poems by renowed poets ONLY, i.e. no self compositions.
Need this urgently. Help would be much appreciated!

Hello everyone!

I just finished a short story collection by Oscar Wilde and now comes the famous question: What should I read next?

I already selected some books for the shortlist, but I’m definitely open for new suggestions!

Here are my selected books (for now!):

“Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo. I would really love to read that book next, but it’s too big to take it with me everywhere I go. I like reading in public traffic or between lectures at the university and this book would just be inconvenient for my purposes. So I’m thinking about waiting on this one until the lectures end in February, but it’s a looong time waiting.

“The Brothers Karamazov” by Dostoevsky. I am really interested in that one! I loved Crime and Punishment, but it was a little too dark here and then. Not too much, but I sometimes had to take a break from reading. I’m a little scared that one will have the same effect on me. Although a friend told me that it isn’t getting darker than Crime and Punishment, can anyone second this?

“The Double” by Dostoevsky. Would like to read that too, especially because it’s way shorter and more “handbag-friendly”. But I’m feeling the same way about this book by Dostoevsky as I do about The Brothers Karamazov.

And last but not least. “An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde. He’s one of my favorite authors, so I’m definitely hyped about that one. And it’s also handbag friendly 😅. I just don’t wanna overstimulate myself with his works, after I’ve just finished a short story collection by him. I’m afraid if I’m reading too much by him without any alternation, that I’m getting burned out by Wilde and couldn’t enjoy it the way I do now. And I definitely don’t want that!

I am grateful for any help in my decision making process or maybe also new suggestions.

Hello!! For my class we are reading The Scarlet Letter, and the chapter we have recently left off was the chapter “The Minister’s Vigil.” A question we had to answer is “What is the ministers vigil?” and I thought that Dimmesdale’s vigil would be the act of standing on top of the scaffold, however, my teacher says that there is no way to logically come to this conclusion. In the chapter prior, it was said the vigils he held did not “purify him,” and during one of vigils he comes up with the idea of going on to the scaffold believing, “There might be a moment’s peace in it.” I interpreted this as being another vigil for Dimmesdale, considering he is seeking for these vigils to purify him, and it seems that is what he deeply wants to do, “Without any effort of his will, or power to restrain himself, he shrieked aloud: an outcry that went pealing through the night,” however he can’t bring himself to truly confess. So, if him standing upon the scaffold is not the vigil, what is? I’ll admit I am not the best reader so I definitely could be missing something, so any incite is very much appreciated :)

Listening to The Old Man and the Sea narrated by Donald Sutherland was a real surprise. Typically, I don’t listen to fiction audiobooks, but I was looking for something short while preparing dinner and came across it. Sutherland’s voice suited the story wonderfully, adding great depth to the experience. Although he reads slowly, carefully enunciating each word, this pace gives space to appreciate the simplicity and weight of Hemingway's writing.

I didn’t realize the book was so short—the version I listened to was only around two and a half hours. Yet, despite its brevity, it has a timeless, classic feel. The writing is straightforward, not overly descriptive, yet it holds a surprising depth. Told primarily from the perspective of one character, the story pulls you into his mind, letting you feel his inner monologue and sparse responses to his own thoughts. It was reminiscent of The Road by Cormac McCarthy; I wouldn’t be surprised if McCarthy took some inspiration from Hemingway, or even directly from The Old Man and the Sea.

While on the surface it’s about fishing, the story feels like a metaphor for life itself, making it surprisingly emotional and impactful. There’s a meditative quality to it, as we follow the old man and his quiet, solitary thoughts. The violence also took me by surprise. The details of killing fish and other sea creatures aren’t overly graphic, but they’re striking and intentional, adding layers to the story. This brutality underscores both the harsh realities of life and the resilience of the human spirit. In impossible situations, Hemingway seems to say, a person can find the strength to push forward.

The prose is beautiful, creating vivid imagery of the man’s struggle at sea. Though it’s a tragedy, I found it unexpectedly optimistic. Despite how things turned out, his effort wasn’t in vain. The old man’s struggle profoundly impacts the boy, and that alone makes his journey worth it. There’s something timeless in the idea that hardship makes us stronger, and this story is a powerful depiction of that truth.

Alone, with no food or sleep, it’s just the old man, the fish, and his thoughts on the boat. The Old Man and the Sea is perfectly written in its simplicity. If classics aren’t usually your thing, this book might not completely change your mind, but it’s a fantastic, short, and powerful one to try. Straightforward and deeply resonant, I highly recommend it.

I recently created a blog where I discuss books. If anyone is interested I can share the link!

So I’ve decided to give William Faulkner a try, but have never read any of his books. I understand that he is ‘difficult’ though I am unclear as to to why.

So I guess I have two questions.

Why is he regarded as difficult?

And….

Do you have any suggestions as to 2-3 of his novels to start with? I like to set myself up for success, so I’d love to read a few of his ´easier’ novels to start with. I don’t really care if they are somewhat lesser known. The goal is to enjoy and grow in my reading of him.

Thanks for any assistance.

what’s your favorite classic that was so captivating you literally couldn’t put it down?

After reading some of your guy’s comments I’ve decided I’m gonna try to re-read Wuthering Heights. I think I have a better grasp on the point of the story and the overall plot now. Thanks for all your feedback! I’ll make sure to let you guys know how it goes. 👍

In a winter mood. Open to anything

I like it so far, a good slice of life story, Becky Sharp is quite sassy for a Victorian heroine, especially in comparison to Amelia.Was this usual for the time period?

The recent hurricane in Asheville, North Carolina, hometown of Thomas Wolfe, has led me to want to re-read either Look Homeward Angel or You Can't Go Home Again. Any suggestions for one versus the other? I read them both (I think!) a zillion years ago. I know that I have not read anything else by him.

Over the last few years I have gotten really into 19th century literature. Seems like, for my money, the novel really hit its apex in this period. I have read and loved books from this period by American (William Dean Howells), British (Trollope, the Brontë sisters, George Gissing, even Sir Walter Scott), French (reading my first Balzac right now; haven’t read Zola yet), and Spanish (Perez Galdós, Blasco-Ibanez) authors. Also have picked up and am excited to read a couple books by the Portuguese Eca de Queiros. Definitely haven’t read enough Russian lit from this period outside of some Gogol and Lermontov when I was much younger.

Wondering if people can recommend some great 19th century novels and authors. Especially from some other parts of Europe and the Americas! Obviously I’d be reading translations, except for things written originally in English or Spanish.

Thanks!