Put my classics to read list in order please.

[Me76]

So I did an eng lit degree and didn't read any classics for ages after finishing it as a rest. In the last few years I have made myself read at least two a year, on the premise that they are supposed to be good and I do enjoy them mostly.

So below is my list of unread (not exhaustive). Please can you put them in the order I should read them.

Fahrenheit 451
Don Quixote
War and Peace
Catch 22
The Scarlet Letter
The Count of Monte Cristo
David Copperfield
Tess of the d'urbervilles
Moby dick
A Tale of Two Cities
Madam bovary
The Trail
Northanger abbey

 

[Santino]

Start with The Count of Monte Cristo because it's ace.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Having only read the top one, I say start with that cos it's the only one I can say for sure is terrific.

 

[Me76]

Having only read the top one, I say start with that cos it's the only one I can say for sure is terrific.

I have that one thanks to ringo due to it being short and a cheeky one if needed later in the year to hit my target for the reading challenge, so that might actually need to wait.

 

[weltweit]

I have read Fahrenheit 451 and Catch 22 and can recommend both, whereas I started but did not finish War & Peace. I think I got a third into it and stopped.

 

[JimW]

Wot no Middlemarch? I'd go for Moby Dick first from your list.

 

[pennimania]

I do love David Copperfield, if you were reading only one Dickens that's the one.
Catch 22 - well, you just have to.

I wouldn't bother with Tale of a Two Cities, bit that's just me. I hated it.

 

[Pickman's model]

Another vote for count of monte crisis first then moby dick

 

[billy_bob]

Fahrenheit is very easy to read, if you need one to ease you in. I think Tale of Two Cities is Dickens' paciest, so I'd put that before Copperfield, although both are enthralling compared to the torment that is Martin Chuzzlewit.

 

[weltweit]

What about:

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

I read them in 2016 and can recommend them.

 

[redsquirrel]

I'd stick Don Quixote at the end (well in the bin actually).

Most over rated crap I've ever had the misfortune of plodding through. The 'joke' is mildly amusing the first time, unfunny the second and fucking crap the twelfth. Couldn't even be bothered with the second volume.

Also have you read Anna Karenina? If not, I you should swap out definitely swap out War and Peace for it, by far the better (and more enjoyable) of the two.

I'd also recommend The Moonstone, "the first and greatest of English detective novels", and re Dickens' Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House are the two for me.

 

[May Kasahara]

Having only read the top one, I say start with that cos it's the only one I can say for sure is terrific.

I've read a couple of the others too but concur with this - it's an amazing book.

 

[Steel Icarus]

I've read a couple of the others too but concur with this - it's an amazing book.

Only read it for the first time this year

 

[danny la rouge]

So I did an eng lit degree and didn't read any classics for ages after finishing it as a rest. In the last few years I have made myself read at least two a year, on the premise that they are supposed to be good and I do enjoy them mostly.

So below is my list of unread (not exhaustive). Please can you put them in the order I should read them.

Fahrenheit 451
Don Quixote
War and Peace
Catch 22
The Scarlet Letter
The Count of Monte Cristo
David Copperfield
Tess of the d'urbervilles
Moby dick
A Tale of Two Cities
Madam bovary
The Trail
Northanger abbey

I'd read the Scarlet Letter first if I was me, because it's the only one I haven't read (assuming the Trail is Kafka's the Trial. If it isn't, then read that first because I've neither read nor even heard of the Trail).

Other than that, read them in the order you fancy.

 

[pennimania]

A year or three ago, I challenged myself to read all Dickens'; guess where I foundered ?

Fahrenheit is very easy to read, if you need one to ease you in. I think Tale of Two Cities is Dickens' paciest, so I'd put that before Copperfield, although both are enthralling compared to the torment that is Martin Chuzzlewit.

 

[pennimania]

I do love David Copperfield, if you were reading only one Dickens that's the one.
Catch 22 - well, you just have to.

I wouldn't bother with Tale of a Two Cities, bit that's just me. I hated it.

I don't much like stuff about the French Revolution tbf so don't take my advice

 

[Me76]

Wot no Middlemarch? I'd go for Moby Dick first from your list.

Read

What about:

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

I read them in 2016 and can recommend them.

Read

I'd stick Don Quixote at the end (well in the bin actually).

Most over rated crap I've ever had the misfortune of plodding through. The 'joke' is mildly amusing the first time, unfunny the second and fucking crap the twelfth. Couldn't even be bothered with the second volume.

Also have you read Anna Karenina? If not, I you should swap out definitely swap out War and Peace for it, by far the better (and more enjoyable) of the two.

I'd also recommend The Moonstone, "the first and greatest of English detective novels", and re Dickens' Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House are the two for me.

Interesting re Don Quixote. I have read Anna Karenina, which is why it's War and Peace on the list

I've never heard of Moonstone, and actually haven't read either of those Dickens, so will add them.

 

[billy_bob]

So, in conclusion, even about eight people can't agree about whether a short list of supposed classics are actually any good or just a load of old shit.

 

[billy_bob]

A year or three ago, I challenged myself to read all Dickens'; guess where I foundered ?

I'm doing the same over several years - just 3 to go. Chuzzlewit was the hardest test so far...

 

[pennimania]

I'm doing the same over several years - just 3 to go. Chuzzlewit was the hardest test so far...

I heard someone on Front Row talking about reading Dickens and they said it was absolutely ok to skip bits in the the text these days, thinking about it, I'm having another go.

 

[B.I.G]

1. Don Quixote
2. David Copperfield
3. The Count of Monte Cristo
4. War and Peace
5. Fahrenheit 451

Dont read catch 22. Its crap.

 

[Ax^]

moby dick meh


add crime and punishment as a replacement



*runs*

 

[shifting gears]

It took me at least 5 attempts to read Catch 22, could never get into it. I didn't help I had a crappy copy with the print too close to the bind, and too small text. When I finally did read it I loved it. brilliant book, once you 'get' it, the humour shines through. Well worth the effort.

 

[ginger_syn]

My advice is read the ones you enjoy, because life's too short to read war and peace unless you really really want to.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Start with Moby Dick - arguably the best novel written in the English language.

I don't think Catch 22 is crap; personally, I think it's brilliant.

 

[evildacat]

Moby dick first.

No 1984 ?

 

[bubblesmcgrath]

I'd start with Dickens and leave War and Peace til the end, only because it's a tome and the requires time and patience to read.

Northanger Abbey and The Count of Monte Cristo are great starters.

After that list I'd head for the Russian classics....but only on sunny days..

 

[Me76]

Moby dick first.

No 1984 ?

Read that.

 

[Sue]

1. Don Quixote
2. David Copperfield
3. The Count of Monte Cristo
4. War and Peace
5. Fahrenheit 451

Don't read catch 22. Its crap.

 

[andysays]

Of the ones I've read and assuming you haven't already read something by the same author I'd say, in no particular order:
David Copperfield, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Madame Bovary and The Trial. All of them are a good introduction to a great author, IMO.

I'd also throw in something by Dostoyevsky and Balzac.

Don Quixote, War and Peace, Catch 22 and A Tale of Two Cities I wouldn't be in any hurry to read, TBH

I've never read Fahrenheit 451, Northanger Abbey, Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter or The Count of Monte Cristo, so can't comment on them