I tried to subdivide this topic in a number of ways but quickly came to the conclusion that the only books that truly intimidate me are lengthy classics. I know that I should read them, I actually want to read them, and yet devoting the time and effort to reading them is, frankly, quite intimidating. I tried to stick to books I genuinely am interested in reading some day.
This list could have gone on and on, but I limited myself to eleven here. I adore reading classics, and I do hope I'm able to read these some day. Fingers crossed!
What are some of your most intimidating books?
And in case there was any doubt, I do prefer the Penguin Classics. :)
Yes to all of these! I actually read Anna Karenina earlier this year on my third attempt! I read it on my Kindle along with an audiobook, which made it do-able. Still, Tolstoy rambled on and on and I don't think I could've gotten through it without another reading friend that had previously adored the book to discuss the story with. I went into it completely unknowledgeable about the story, and I think that helped too. Now I want to work up the courage to watch the movie!
ReplyDeleteThird time's the charm, right? I WILL make it work for me when I actually get around to trying to read it a third time. I think I can manage the print, but maybe I need manageable goals like a certain amount of chapters/pages per week. I'll have to plan this out lol. But I think I'd love the story once I get into it.
DeleteI can totally relate, I have a lot of classics I'd like to read too but the length of some of them make me hesitate. Count of Monte Cristo is probably first on my list if I can just get to it. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! It doesn't even bother me I know the plots of all of these. There's just something great about actually having read a classic, you know? I hope you're able to get to some soon!
DeleteI can relate to a lot of them. I really enjoyed Great Expectations and Middlemarch though :). Can't say I'm too fond of Thomas Hardy but Tess is supposed to be really good!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Glad to hear it! Jude the Obscure was an okay read, but I'm hoping Tess is better. Hopefully I'll actually get to determine that soon for myself by actually reading the book. :)
DeleteI agree with all of these, though I do LOVE Great Expectations and though The Counte of Monte Cristo is so long, I remember finishing it in a day since I couldn't put it down. So, so good.
ReplyDeleteA day? Seriously? Keertana, your reading habits amaze me. :) I think I'll love Great Expectations and The Count of Monte Cristo. I'll probably start with Dickens though since I own it!
DeleteI loved Count of Monte Cristo as well! Great Expectations and Anna Karenina are also great. But Cristo is probably the place to start. I've seen it on so many people's lists, we need to start a readalong!
ReplyDeletehaha we totally should. I noticed it quite a bit too. I think it's one of those classics that people think is more accessible, certainly more interesting. Just gotta get past that massive page count.
DeleteIt's funny you say that because with the myriad of reasons out there that a book might be found intimidating, lengthy classics would probably be my number one, as well. Like you, I do want to read them someday, but they would take me sooo long. Though I have found success in taking the audiobook route, helped along by the free weekly classic download from SYNC. I just finished listening to Jane Eyre and I truly loved it! Success. Tess of the d'Ubervilles was up for download last summer and I liked that one, as well. Depressing though.
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is wonderful, although I've only read it. And I've read Hardy's Jude the Obscure, so I have a basic idea of the subject matter/how depressing his books are. But still I'd like to give it a chance. Eventually lol.
DeleteYep, yep and yep. Tolstoy in general scares me. War and Peace, Anna Karenina, etc. Same with Charles Dickens. I have read Collins' The Woman in White and didn't have any problems with it so I say go for The Moonstone next, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteI *like* what I've read of Dickens (except for Bleak House...most boring book ever. I didn't even finish reading it for my one class.), so I think I'd like more. I just have to be in the right mood to deal with the language he uses. I haven't read any Collins yet, though, so I am excited to give him a try! Either The Moonstone or The Woman in White.
Delete