Armchair BEA Discussion: Classic Literature Pt. 2 (Pride and Prejudice)

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

Armchair BEA asked:

Why, reader, do you love classics?

Today, tell us all the reasons why you love classic literature. What are your favorite classics? If you could give a list of classics to someone who claims to hate them to make them change their mind, what would be on it? How would you convince them to give classics a try? And why do you keep coming back to those old favorites? - Genre: Classic Literature (Classics)

I like classics because they give me a picture of a time and place very different from my own.

I admittedly don't read a lot of classics. Therefore, I can't say that I am a lover of classic books. Unless I can count 84 Charing Cross Road, which is an epistolary novel about a woman who loves classic books. But I digress... With so many new books coming out each month, I find it hard to pick up classics on a consistent basis. There is just too much to read. On the other hand, I am not a hater of them either (they are in my TBR list).

For those who claim to hate the classics, I would suggest mixing it up. Read classics that have been adapted by radio, film and/or television and then listening to/watching the adaptations. I find the varying interpretations fascinating. They usually shed a different light on how I originally saw the classic. Two classics that I enjoyed but probably wouldn't have reached for at the bookstore are Dracula by Bram Stoker and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

PART 2 - Pride and Prejudice

I would recommend reading some of Jane Austen's novels. Although I came to my blog's name in a roundabout way due to Austen, I must confess that I am not the biggest Austen lover. I read Pride and Prejudice in high school and didn't feel compelled to read any of her other books.*  

As an adult, I decided to read all of her novels after watching the movie adaption of The Jane Austen Book Club and later reading the book. Her works are referenced numerous other books. They seem show up in my reading every few months, regardless of genre. Many movies and television shows have been based on Austen's novels.

Why should you read Pride and Prejudice?

• It's on Helene Hanff's list in 84, Charing Cross. If Helene says so, it must be good.
• P&P is #2 on the American Book Review's list of the 100 best first lines from novels.
• There are quite a few movie adaptations for you to judge and review. You can see how each portrayal of Elizabeth brings something different to the character in the movie adaptations. 
• You might have something a common with an Austen character. Take this quiz below. I am Elizabeth Bennet from Pride And Prejudice.

Read the book. Get your favorite snack. Watch the adaption(s). Let me know what you think.


Which Jane Austen Character Are YOU? [quiz]

What is you favorite book written by Jane Austen? [poll]

 

Ronnie Taheny's amazing Mr Darcy poem performed at The Gov in Adelaide, South Australia on Feb 3rd, 2008. - posted on YouTube by futzmasterpro

* I re-read Pride and Prejudice and changed my mind about it. See Dr. Darcy is my new literary boyfriend.

Armchair BEA Discussion: Classic Literature Pt. 1 (Dracula)

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

Armchair BEA asked:

Why, reader, do you love classics?

Today, tell us all the reasons why you love classic literature. What are your favorite classics? If you could give a list of classics to someone who claims to hate them to make them change their mind, what would be on it? How would you convince them to give classics a try? And why do you keep coming back to those old favorites? - Genre: Classic Literature (Classics)

I like classics because they give me a picture of a time and place very different from my own.

I admittedly don't read a lot of classics. Therefore, I can't say that I am a lover of classic books. Unless I can count 84 Charing Cross Road, which is an epistolary novel about a woman who loves classic books. But I digress... With so many new books coming out each month, I find it hard to pick up classics on a consistent basis. There is just too much to read. On the other hand, I am not a hater of them either (they are in my TBR list).

For those who claim to hate the classics, I would suggest mixing it up. Read classics that have been adapted by radio, film and/or television and then listen to/watch the adaptations. I find the varying interpretations fascinating. They usually shed a different light on how I originally saw the classic. Two classics that I enjoyed but probably wouldn't have reached for at the bookstore are Dracula by Bram Stoker and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

 

Part 1 - Dracula

I would argue that Dracula, in one way or another, is the source of most of the vampire stories told since its publishing in 1897. In general, I am not a huge fan of vampire books or movies. Honestly, the only vampire that I love is the Count from Sesame Street. I am however, a Nosey Nelly. I like to be at least a little "in the know" about what other people are reading. Dracula is the granddaddy of all vampire books. Come on, classic hater. You gotta read it, if only for its staying power and influence.

While checking my Twitter timeline during Bout of Books 7.0 earlier this month, I realized that I had missed the start of Bite-Sized Dracula's Dracula read-along. So instead of starting Dark Origins - my pre-selected read - I started reading Dracula. [I already had the Dracula ebook pictured above.]

Do consider joining in the read-along. You can read at your own pace, at any time (don't worry that it has already started). It's a neat way to read this classic. The actual text of the novel is posted on the blog, so you don't need a copy. The BSD blog posts a new portion daily with tweets from the characters.

Have found some hope in the Szgany (no clue how to pronounce that) working for Dracula. Gave them letters (and a bribe) to send home.
— Jonathan Harker (@JHarkerEsq) May 28, 2011

Some days there is even an alternate steampunk version of a scene. Although I finished the ebook, I am still reading along with Bite-Sized Dracula. Jonathan Harker's entries are by far the best - both in the classic novel and on Twitter. Vampires are all the rage right now. After reading Dracula, I can kinda see why.



 

When you finish the book, move on to the adaptations. You should listen to the radio adaptation of Dracula by Orson Welles from Adventures in Old Time Radio (1938). You can listen to it for free using the bar below. It's less than an hour long. Don't cheat and only listen to the this version. You still need to read the book. SMH.



Then try a couple of Dracula-based movies, comic books, television shows (Dracula is coming Fridays this fall to NBC) and/or cartoons. OMG! How could you not give Dracula a try?


Your mission, classic hater, should you decide to accept it:

1. Read the book.
2. Get your favorite snack.
3. Check out the adaptions.
4. Swing back by my blog to check out my review (I'm currently working on it).
5. Let me know what you thought of the novel.
6. Let me know what adaptations you liked.

Are you still here? UGH! Go read Dracula! Bramsy and I are waiting...

[ah-hem] Hello #ArmchairBEA! Let Me Introduce Myself.

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

My answers to Armchair BEA is Coming ... Prep Your Introductions! questions:

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Hi. My name is Tallulah. I have had a blog for about two years. I would not saying that I have been "blogging" though. I read a lot of books. I scribble lots of notes (and some reviews) about those books on paper. I started blogging because I thought that it would be cool to move my scribbles online. Sadly, I haven't been good about actually posting them. <sigh> I hope to correct that this summer.

Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures.

I am blogging from Atlanta. Atlanta is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. One of the most famous books set in this city is Gone with the Wind, a novel written by Margaret Mitchell.

 

The story is set in Clayton County, Georgia, and Atlanta during the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the book in 1937. Gone with the Wind was adapted into an American film of the same name in 1939.

Although I have visited the Margaret Mitchell House numerous times for author readings, I have never read Gone with the Wind. After watching the American Masters/PBS documentary Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel it's moved up on my to-be-read list. Along with Margaret Mitchell & John Marsh: The Love Story Behind Gone with the Wind by Marianne Walker.

I think BEA should come to Atlanta. #armchairbea #armchairbea
— Amy (@ladyreaderstuff) May 31, 2013

Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event?

This is my first time participating. I was lurking on Lisa's Just Another Rabid Reader blog and came across her post about Armchair BEA.

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?

I am currently reading The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I am allergic to grass. That's a bad problem to have living in Georgia.

Name your favorite blog(s) and explain why they are your favorite(s).

I don't have any yet. There are so many to see! I usually don't get back to visit more than once or twice. Hopefully, this will change. I recently signed up for GFC and bloglovin' to stay more connected. I am going to try and visit lots of #ArmchairBEA participants' blogs this week. See you soon!

All you people saying you don't have friends... You just gained a blog creeper. You. Will. Love. Me... #boutofbooks
— Amy Tesch (@MissNerdy) May 18, 2013

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

I haven't written it yet. Swing by my blog at the end of the summer. I'll have something fabulous posted by then.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

I would like to dine in a supper club with jazz singer Shug Avery from The Color Purple (by Alice Walker). Shug is a series of fascinating contradictions.

I loved Margaret Avery's musical performances as Shug in the movie adaptation. Check out the movie trailer.

After dessert, Shug and I would "jump up" with the house band and jam the night away. Of course, I would be lip syncing and wearing a shiny red dress.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

I read Back of Beyond (Cody Hoyt #1) by C.J. Box earlier this year. Most of the action is set in Yellowstone National Park. Although it's a murder mystery, my take-away from the book was that Yellowstone is awesome. I felt like an arm chair traveler as I was reading it. I am definitely planning on visiting for real in the future.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community?

Sharing book recommendations. The book blogging community encourages me to read books that I probably wouldn't read if left to my own devices.

Amen! RT @madhoydenish: A2. Surprised @ how much my TBR list has grown. Shame on you all. You shouldn't tempt an addict. #boutofbooks
— Katherine Nabity (@Katen) May 18, 2013

Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

Fewer participants per blog tour. I recently realized that I've started ignoring some featured blog tour books since I keep seeing the same tour on a bazillion sites. Okay, maybe not a bazillion. That's an exaggeration... but still. See Maureen Johnson's blog post BLOG TOURS, AND THE WORD NO from BEA last year.


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