Of all the classics you've read this year is there an author or literary movement that has become your new favourite? Which book did you enjoy the most? Or were baffled by? Who's the best character? The most exasperating? From reading other participants posts which book do you plan to read and are most intrigued by?
Most of the authors I read this year were already favourites whose work I wanted to read more of but of the authors who were new to me one stands head and shoulders above the others. With my love of Victorian literature and all things British I can't quite believe I'm going to write this but joining my Hall of Favourites is John Steinbeck and East of Eden is probably the book I enjoyed the most. I think part of the reason is because I began it with doubts that I would like it and to find I loved it was so unexpected.
I'd never given much thought to Literary Movements before we did the prompt earlier in the year. I had just read Howards End by E.M.Forster and since then I've been exploring the Bloomsbury Group. I wouldn't say it's a favourite literary movement but it has been interesting and I have finally read Virginia Woolf - Mrs Dalloway.
There are so many wonderful characters it's impossible to choose only one. A few I loved are Gabriel Oak in Far From the Madding Crowd, Maggie Tulliver in The Mill on the Floss , Samuel and Lee in East of Eden and Mina Harker in Dracula.
Then there are the memorable but not so loveable like Mrs Proudie and Rev. Slope in Barchester Towers.
The most exasperating character has to be Lily Bart in The House of Mirth.
One of the books I'm most looking forward to reading is Dr Zhivago by Boris Pasternak which I added to my Classics Club list after reading Jean's review. She also has a review of The Master and Margarita - that one intrigues me but I'm not sure I'll like it as it sounds very strange. It does look as though Russian literature will be on the agenda for next year.
I loved East of Eden too!!! (Jane Seymour was terrific in the movie)
ReplyDeleteBest classic for me last year:The Mists of Avalon
Book that I was baffled by:Lord Jim..what is the big deal about Joseph Conrad? yuk!
Best Character: Sidney Carton when I re-read A Tale of Two Cities
Most Exasperating: Tomas, the main character in The Unbearable Lightness of Being
I thought this was a very interesting prompt as it made me think about what I had read and what were the strengths and weaknesses of the books. I chose East of Eden because I loved everything about it.
DeleteIt's a long time since I read Mists of Avalon but it's a book I usually mention when asked for a favourite.
interesting list you have here considering that i haven't read most of them. i love The Master & The Margarita. i've read it twice already and yes, it is a strange book but still fun to read.
ReplyDeleteby the way, thanks for stopping by my blog. enjoy the books by E.F. Benson. hope you'll be able to find a copy of David Blaize as well. :)
I will have to overcome my doubts and give The Master and Margarita a try. One of the best things of these prompt posts has been the books mentioned by others and adding so many to the TBR. Looking forward to E F Benson.
DeleteWow! Most of the books you mention don't ring a bell at all. You reminds me that there are so many things out there that I still need to read.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling - I keep adding titles to the TBR and loving the enthusiasm everyone has for their favourites.
DeleteI remember reading Steinbeck's novella The Pearl at school and I didn't like it much, but I do want to try one of his longer novels and give him another chance. It sounds like East of Eden might be a good one to start with. And I loved The Master and Margarita - it was one of my favourite books that I read last year!
ReplyDeleteI hope you will give East of Eden a try - I'm sure you'll love it. I am definitely going to have to read The Master.. after all these recommendations.
DeleteEast of Eden is one of my all time favourite books. I read that about three years ago. It was such a wonderful book filled with lots of fantastic characters. I wish I could read it again as though it was the first time. I will give a re-read at some point.
ReplyDeleteI need to read House of Mirth. I loved The Age of Innocence.
East of Eden quite blew me away - fantastic! I'm sure you will love The House of Mirth too.
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