Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Classics

I'm very excited for this topic, I love classic literature and love talking about the classic literature I love. It was difficult to narrow this list down to ten, and these books are in no particular order.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

 

1. Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie This is perhaps my favorite book of all time. I love Peter as a character, I love the story of how this book was written, I love every film adaptation and that J.M. Barrie's grandson writes books on how Neverland came to exist (Peter and the Starcatchers, Dave Barrie and Ridley Pearson). I love everything about this story!

2. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald I have read this book at least three times and each time I read it, my connection with it gets stronger. I love Fitzgerald's writing and have read many of his other works and enjoyed them as well. This is a great classic to start with if you are looking to get into classics.

3. Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote I read this after seeing the Hepburn film, which I really love. Capote's original story is so different from the movie, but they are both so great. If you have watched the film and enjoyed it, read the book. It is a short read and I know you will admire Holly Golightly in film and print. I shared some brief thought on this book here.

  

4. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath This book surprised me. When I read it, I had never read anything by Plath and was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Plath's work is always so haunting and her imagery she creates is genius. I am planning to reread this book in the next few months. If you liked this novel, check out her poetry. Bell Jar Thoughts

5. Passing, Nella Larson This book also surprised me. I had never heard of this piece until I read it in one of my college literature classes. This is a Harlem Renaissance piece about two black women who are friends. One lives her life as a black women, the other is "passing" as a white women. This book's pacing is so quick I flew through it, and the end is really great. Passing Review

6. A Scandal in Bohemia, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle By far my favorite Sherlock Holmes story. I love Irene Adler and Sherlock's respect for Irene. Check this one out if you want to get started in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

 

7. Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson This is one of his many essays Emerson wrote. Let me tell you something, this man is a genius. Everything he says is so wise, he is a real life Dumbledore, everything he says should be taken as grandfatherly advice. Believe me, this dude understands every problem you have, and has an answer for it.

8. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen This book is just so funny and so well thought through and executed. It translates to film so well, and contains so many lovable characters.

9. Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare I know that it might sound a little cliche to say this is my favorite Shakespeare play, but it is. I love how memorable this play is and how it has stood the test of time. The writing is beautiful, the social commentary is poignant, and it translates to film and stage so nicely. Plus this is the most approachable Shakespeare play I have read so far, so it's a great place to start.


10. The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde You knew I couldn't make a list about classics that didn't include Oscar. This play is so funny, but it is witty funny. Every joke is so full of dramatic irony or word play. I love the film version of this play with Collin Firth and Reese Witherspoon from the late 90's. The Importance Of Being Earnest Reveiw

So there's my rambley list. Leave your link in the comments, I'm excited to see what is on other people's lists!    

    

12 comments:

  1. I enjoyed a lot of the classics on your list this week. I really liked Romeo and Juliet too. A very good play!

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    1. I agree, R&J is so enjoyable!

      thanks for the comment!

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  2. Great list. I love Pride and Prejudice and The Importance of Being Earnest. It's funny how a movie adaptation can increase your enthusiasm for a book ... apparently especially if Colin Firth is in that movie adaptation.

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    1. Haha I do like Collin Firth! I think film versions of plays are great to watch because they help you get the visual experience that is intended to accompany a play. P&P has some great movie adaptations... such as the BBC version with Collin Firth :)
      thanks for the comment!

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  3. These lists are reminding me of lots of classics I need to reread (The Great Gatsby, The Bell Jar). Thanks for including Passing, I have not heard of that and it sounds fascinating. My list is ALL classics you might not have heard of. I hope you'll check it out!

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    1. Passing was great, it is so different from anything else I have read, I think you will like it. I'm off to check your list out now!

      Thanks for the comment!

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  4. Great list! The Great Gatsby is one of my favorites as well. I need to read The Bell Jar and Pride and Prejudice - I think i would really love both.

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    1. They are both great! I recommend them very highly.

      thanks for the comment!

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  5. Would you suggest reading A Scandal in Bohemia first in the Sherlock series -- rather than reading in order? I'd love to skip ahead but never knew you could just jump in somewhere. :) Ah, Self-Reliance! I adore that essay & didn't think to add it to my list. :)

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    1. I think you could start anywhere you want to in the Sherlock stories and be perfectly alright. Emerson sure was a smart guy!

      thanks for the comment :)

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  6. Pride & Prejudice made my list too! My Shakespeare pick was Much Ado About Nothing but if I had to pick one of his tragedies, I might choose Romeo & Juliet. It was the very first Shakespeare play I studied so I have some nostalgic sentiment attached to it, lol.

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    1. I'm looking forward to watching Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing movie adaptation, have you seen it?

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