What's your favorite classic novel?

[JohnnySic]

2 classic novels I never got the appeal of were The Catcher in the Rye and A River Runs through it.

The former is about some kid who drops out of school (a pretty heady move for his day, I guess) and wanders around and has a few adventures. OK.

The latter is about a family that really enjoys fly fishing. One son gets killed in a brawl or whatever and supposedly there is some major symbolism about this event that goes over my head. The language its written in is pretty though

[warriorfan]

Probably Of Mice and Men.

I really liked Catcher In The Rye too.

Of Mice and Men was very good. Had no idea it was going to go the route it went. That ending is pretty rough though.

[Akrazotile]

I've always liked dystopian settings so 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 really grabbed me as a highschooler.

Most of them are based on hypercollectivism.

So I assume you read them for inspiration?

[Akrazotile]

2 classic novels I never got the appeal of were The Catcher in the Rye and A River Runs through it.

The former is about some kid who drops out of school (a pretty heady move for his day, I guess) and wanders around and has a few adventures. OK.

The latter is about a family that really enjoys fly fishing. One son gets killed in a brawl or whatever and supposedly there is some major symbolism about this event that goes over my head. The language its written in is pretty though

Catcher was pretty remarkable for its time.

Ofc today you hear thousands of distinct voices every time you watch tv or read the internet.

Caulfield’s narrative cadence was not something you would normally get from a novel or a television character of yesteryear. Definitely pioneering.


Ive never read A River Runs Fru Dat Shit, so dunno about that one.

[rufuspaul]

A Confederacy of Dunces
Slaughterhouse 5
Lord of the Flies
Moby Dick
Look Homeward Angel

[Loco 50]

Most of them are based on hypercollectivism.

So I assume you read them for inspiration?

As is the case with most things in life, balance is optimal my unique little snowflake.

[bladefd]

Bunch of other book mentions I read over the years going back to middle school (I have stuff listed on my 'read' list on goodreads.com):

A lot of people seem to like The Great Gatsby, but I was mehh.. Read it twice for 2 different classes, it was okay

Night was decent by Elie Wiesel. It's a heartbreaking story..

I also forgot about The Hobbit..
Day of the Jackal was very good.
The Outsiders
All Quiet on the Western Front
Animal Farm
Julius Caesar .. I never liked reading Shakespeare tbh but Julius Caesar wasn't bad
The Time Machine by HG Wells, The War of the Worlds
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Prince and the Pauper
Hardy Boys series I read as a child

[Akrazotile]

Bunch of other book mentions I read over the years going back to middle school (I have stuff listed on my 'read' list on goodreads.com):

A lot of people seem to like The Great Gatsby, but I was mehh.. Read it twice for 2 different classes, it was okay

Night was decent by Elie Wiesel. It's a heartbreaking story..

I also forgot about The Hobbit..
Day of the Jackal was very good.
The Outsiders
All Quiet on the Western Front
Animal Farm
Julius Caesar .. I never liked reading Shakespeare tbh but Julius Caesar wasn't bad
The Time Machine by HG Wells, The War of the Worlds
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Prince and the Pauper
Hardy Boys series I read as a child

Nikka listed The Hardy Boys....

[Rolando]

For those of you who liked the Catcher In The Rye:

A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man - James Joyce

Also, a nice and edgy novel...was banned for a while in the States:

Tropic Of Capricorn - Henry Miller


I can highly recommend both.

[72-10]

I'm planning on probably delving into some James Joyce at some point.

[MrFonzworth]

How to Bomb the US Government

[bladefd]

I'm planning on probably delving into some James Joyce at some point.

I don't like his writing style personally. I tried Ulysses back in college and didn't finish.. Read couple chapters then put it aside. Couldn't get into it.

I want to try Dostoyevsky, Charles Dickins, and Leo Tolstoy some day.
-Isaac Asimov - didn't like book 1 of his Foundation series then never revisited him. I like his writing style - simple and to the point
-Arthur C Clarke - read 2001 space time odyssey and 2010 odyssey two ... both were fun reads and I want to try more of his stuff. 'Rendezvous with Rama' has been on my list for years

Classic Authors I don't feel like revisiting:
-Frank Herbert - didn't like Dune

[Lakers Legend#32]

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

[Rolando]

I don't like his writing style personally. I tried Ulysses back in college and didn't finish.. Read couple chapters then put it aside. Couldn't get into it.

I want to try Dostoyevsky, Charles Dickins, and Leo Tolstoy some day.
-Isaac Asimov - didn't like book 1 of his Foundation series then never revisited him. I like his writing style - simple and to the point
-Arthur C Clarke - read 2001 space time odyssey and 2010 odyssey two ... both were fun reads and I want to try more of his stuff. 'Rendezvous with Rama' has been on my list for years

Classic Authors I don't feel like revisiting:
-Frank Herbert - didn't like Dune

Regarding Ulysses: That's the same story written from different points of view and in different styles. Probably not the best way to start reading James Joyce. I also could not get through it.

The Idiot by Dostoyevsky was one that I read and can recommend.

[Rolando]

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Excellent novel. I can also recommend.