Hello I'm Sarah. - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

body electric · 08-08-2003, 06:35 PM

Hey. I'm new to this community/site. I love reading and writing and hope to make a career out of it. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm almost 17, going to be a senior in high school, I like classic novels, satire, and juicy peices of journalism. My favourite drinks are green tea (cold) and black tea (hot), and I like Bob Dylan and Elliott Smith.

Nice to meet you. IM me sometime or reply.

I also have a question (sorry for crossposting)

So I have an inquiry. Please comment on why you think it is important to read classic novels, especially for young adults. Include your favorites, why, and what they have done for your life. Thank you so much.

**Penelope** · 08-08-2003, 06:50 PM

I don't believe it's important to suffer through the classics if there is no desire to read them. My favourite classics are The Odyssey and Les Miserables and I don't even know if they qualify. What is important is to be entranced with what you read.

body electric · 08-08-2003, 06:58 PM

but if there is a desire?

the only reason i like the things i do is because at some point, somebody turned me on to it. a few things i found out for myself, but not most.

Arden1528 · 08-08-2003, 08:26 PM

I never read any classic novels in school. I was like you though, letting someone turn me onto a idea. One of the most rewarding things, for me anyway, is finding that one story that no one really knows of and making it your own. It's tough to find authors that you can really relate to, but when you find that one it's great. I do not believe reading the classics is a must at all, however it could be good practice for you in the future. My author was Irvine Welsch, he is famous but I found him on my own. I can really relate with some of his works.
ps. glad to have you on our forum body.

rcallaci · 08-08-2003, 09:45 PM

Hello Sarah

I'm a great believer that reading the classics enriches the mind. I feel it is quite important to explore and attempt to understand the great works of the past. As a young man in high school , I was made to read Dickens and from then on new worlds emerged. I ate up Shakespere, Plato , Homer, the Greek tragidies and comedys, Aristotle, Hesse, Conan Doyle, Poe, Twain, the great poets, philosphiers, and hungered for more and more. I learned to love literature, philosphy and the sciences all because I had to read Dickens in high school. So do I believe that it is important for a young adult in high school to read the classics, Your damn right I do. So crack those books , your mind will love you for it.

Warmest Regards,
Bob

AdamR · 08-09-2003, 12:01 AM

Hey. I'm also new here.

I agree with you fully, rcallaci. The classics are what their 'genre' implies: classic. If it had not been for reading Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in fourth grade, I would have never engaged myself in his many other masterpieces. This got me on a track of reading classic novelists: Twain, Doyle, Homer, Shakespeare, Wells, Tolstoy, Melville, etc.

I've found myself, while writing, adapting to the style of these authors and how the English language was so magnificently expressed through some of their works.

I believe the classics need to be a steady part of your literature reading. I am not at all suggesting that you should solely read classics, as there are many authors today that are excellent as well.

Spudley · 08-09-2003, 04:22 AM

Hello Sarah.

Nice to meet you, and welcome to the site.

To answer your question...

There is a difference between "classic" and just plain "old" (This goes for music as well as books). Classics are the ones that were the best of their time, which is why they survived.

In the literature world, there were plenty of other writers at the same time as Dickins or the Brontes, but most of those others have faded into obscurity because they're simply not as good. The same will apply in the future to books that come out now: only the best will be remembered.

Most Classics are in fact pretty good reads, despite their dry reputation. I think the main reason people get turned off them is being forced to read them in English class - even the best book can become dry if you have to tear every passage apart looking for hidden meaning. A good English teacher can make a big difference, though

Bartleby · 08-09-2003, 11:53 AM

I would have to agree with most of what has been said on this topic, but I would caution you about overlooking more modern classics. To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, Death of a Salesmanand others of that ilk. I would also reccomend anything by Pat Conroy or John Jakes. They may not be recognized as old masters yet, but I'd bet my shirt they will be.

With all that said, it's always good to see a new face. Welcome aboard.

~Bart

mattquarterstein · 08-10-2003, 05:01 AM

I've never been able to get into To Kill A Mockingbird. Courtroom thingies bore me to death, it doesn't matter what they're talking about.

Did you know if Catcher in the Rye had never been written, John Lennon would still be alive. The guy who murdered him was inspired by that book to do so.

hollyoake · 08-10-2003, 11:44 AM

i myself loved 'of mice and men' as well as 'to kill a mockingbird'. it all depends on whether you are taught well or not, and of cause if you like reading for a start!

welcome fellow newbie, (d'ya fancy taking over the world with me?)

Csira · 08-13-2003, 03:54 PM

Hiya! Welcome to the forum, body electric! Delayed, I apologize.

I love reading classic novels, just because I am a fan of their writing styles. Actually I grew up on classic novels since no other books were around my house at the time. And I grew absolutely hungry to read at an early age. My favorites include: Charles Dickens (Great Expectations), Edgar Allan Poe (The Purloined Letter), Mark Twain (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas (The Count of Monte Cristo), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells, Victor Hugo (Les Miserables), (Catcher in the Rye), etc.

I am slightly biased toward male authors, because I have never liked Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters very much. Yes, most people dislike classics since they feel as if being "forced" to read something. And usually when you are "forced" to do something, you are reluctant and sometimes may grow a hatred toward it.

And, you sound like a wonderful character. I would love to talk with you. ^.^ Good luck on your senior year!! See you around the forum. Nyo~