Forget-Me-Not Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 I've read, off the top of my head: everything by Jane Austen. Most or several by Elizabeth Gaskell, Thomas Hardy, Edith Wharton, George Eliot, Wilkie Collins. I just finished listening to Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda (both by George Eliot) on audiobook, and I'd like another good, meaty book to dive into. Suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 The Phantom of the Opera is always a bit of fun, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Age of Innocence is my favorite Wharton if you haven't read that one yet, I"d recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 I went through a Dickens phase and quite enjoyed it. It's a plus that they are all free for the Kindle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 The Phantom of the Opera is always a bit of fun, I think. That is a fun one. Alas, I've read it :) Age of Innocence is my favorite Wharton if you haven't read that one yet, I"d recommend it. I loved it too :D. See the problem I'm running into here? Haha! I went through a Dickens phase and quite enjoyed it. It's a plus that they are all free for the Kindle. I have never been able to choke down Dickens. Little Dorrit is the only one I've ever finished. But perhaps he might be better for me on audiobook. . . That was how I finally got through Eliot's Daniel Deronda! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 My Antonia or Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather. These really give a sense of the place and time they were written about. Maybe Anna Karenina? Especially the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Have you read The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 I haven't read any Willa Cather. I'll check her out, thanks. Anna Karenina has been on my mental to-read list but I'm worried about how depressing it could get. My last foray into Russian lit was not favorable (Crime & Punishment). Thanks for the translation tip. It really can make a world of difference! ETA: I haven't read The Name of the Rose. I'll check it out. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 If you like Austen, try Clarissa by Richardson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Vanity Fair or Night and Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 If you like Austen, try Clarissa by Richardson. I was just musing over his Pamela the other day. Vanity Fair or Night and Day I've read Vanity Fair but not the other. I'll check these out, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 VAnity Fair or Les miserables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Debatable whether it's 'a classic', but Rebecca has never let me down. ETA: Whooops....you said 'meaty'. Although lots of fun, I wouldn't call the above that. What about Victor Hugo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 VAnity Fair or Les miserables. I've read both ;) I think Les Mis was abridged. I tried to slog through the unabridged when the last movie came out. Couldn't get past the chapter where Thenardier goes to the battle of Waterloo. Just couldn't do it anymore! LOL Debatable whether it's 'a classic', but Rebecca has never let me down. ETA: Whooops....you said 'meaty'. Although lots of fun, I wouldn't call the above that. It's a classic to me! One of my favorites. Not so much a fan of her other works that I've read though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 How Green Was My Valley The Picture of Dorian Gray Rebecca I Capture the Castle A Room with a View Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I'll also say Dickens. Yes, audio is a great way to do classics. How about Mark Twain? H.G. Wells? Virginia Woolf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Have you read any of Louisa May Alcott? I know it is traditionally for younger ages, but I always found her work to be nice reads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Joan of Arc by Mark Twain The Count of Monte Cristo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 My daughter just said The Scarlet Pimpernel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in TX Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Anna Karenina has been on my mental to-read list but I'm worried about how depressing it could get. My last foray into Russian lit was not favorable (Crime & Punishment). Thanks for the translation tip. It really can make a world of difference! Anna Karenina has its tragedy, certainly, but it also has a parallel romance/spiritual growth story that is very uplifting. I found the book much less "heavy" than Crime and Punishment. Some other classics I've read during the past year and loved: The Grapes of Wrath, Jane Eyre, Les Miserables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Arnold Bennett's, The Old Wives' Tale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 The Jungle. You said, "Meaty." (groan...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 "Far from the Madding Crowd" is wonderful - esp. as an audio book (Nathaniel Parker is the narrator). "Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte is lovely too. It never makes it to any Classics list because she's not as well known as her sister. I don't know if it's available in audio. Did you only want British lit.? If not..... "The Good Earth" is lovely too The Kristin Lavransdatter series is wonderful. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" "Heart of Darkness" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 You said meaty, right? Kristin Lavransdatter fits the bill. I never knew medieval Norway could be so fascinating. :) and add my vote for listening to Dickens - I felt the same way as you, OP, until I started listening to this version of Bleak House. hth! oh, have you seen this book about Middlemarch ? I've read about one-fourth of it and am liking it very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-M- Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I'd like to second (or third) the recommendations of Willa Cather, as well as Daphne du Maurier's a Rebecca. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 The Brothers Karamazov. The Great Gatsby. The Count of Monte Cristo. Don Quixote. Dracula. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Things Fall Apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I love Rebecca but I may love My Cousin Rachel a bit more, actually! I second Bleak House and Far From the Madding Crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 How about Evelina by Frances Burney? It's a great demonstration of what the 19th century novel developed from. It reads pretty well, too. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Thanks all! I can't multi quote on my phone. Lots of good suggestions. I have read several (probably 1/2) so that leaves me a good selection to look at :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 You said meaty, right? Kristin Lavransdatter fits the bill. I never knew medieval Norway could be so fascinating. :) and add my vote for listening to Dickens - I felt the same way as you, OP, until I started listening to this version of Bleak House. hth! oh, have you seen this book about Middlemarch ? I've read about one-fourth of it and am liking it very much. I did say meaty :D. I've seen Kristin L. recommended here several times. I tried it once, but didn't get very far. Does it pick up? I loved the BBC production of Bleak House. I didn't care for the narrator you linked, but Audible has a version by Simon Vance who is one of my all-time favorite readers. That Middlemarch book looks AMAZING. Thank-you! I'm putting a sample on my iPad now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 I love Rebecca but I may love My Cousin Rachel a bit more, actually! I second Bleak House and Far From the Madding Crowd. I've read all but Bleak House, but I had completely forgotten about "My Cousin Rachel"! I read that years ago and really liked it. I see there are more than a few Du Maurier's I've overlooked. I may have to revisit her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 . Did you only want British lit.? If not..... "The Good Earth" is lovely too The Kristin Lavransdatter series is wonderful. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" "Heart of Darkness" Thanks! Definitely not only British. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 I'll take any opportunity to recommend The Makioka Sisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 I'll take any opportunity to recommend The Makioka Sisters. Ooh, that looks lovely and different! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Also Bronte's, 'Villette'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Dickens is my go-to classic. He is also my all-time favorite author. If you've read the more popular ones like David Copperfield and Tale of Two Cities already, you could try Little Dorrit or Bleak House. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieMarie Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Have you read Steinbeck? I love all his work, but especially "The Moon is Down". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieMarie Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 "Far from the Madding Crowd" is wonderful - esp. as an audio book (Nathaniel Parker is the narrator). "Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte is lovely too. It never makes it to any Classics list because she's not as well known as her sister. I don't know if it's available in audio. Did you only want British lit.? If not..... "The Good Earth" is lovely too The Kristin Lavransdatter series is wonderful. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" "Heart of Darkness" I love Pearl Buck and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is one of my top ten most loved books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 Also Bronte's, 'Villette'. I read that one a while back. Whatever version I bought had long passages in French with no translation. I've often thought I should get a better annotated copy and reread it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 Have you read Steinbeck? I love all his work, but especially "The Moon is Down". I've read a few of his things--I'll have to check that one out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 I did say meaty :D. I've seen Kristin L. recommended here several times. I tried it once, but didn't get very far. Does it pick up? I loved the BBC production of Bleak House. I didn't care for the narrator you linked, but Audible has a version by Simon Vance who is one of my all-time favorite readers. That Middlemarch book looks AMAZING. Thank-you! I'm putting a sample on my iPad now! Yes, it really gets going. Every now and then I had to do a little skimming but it really is a great read. :) I've heard of Simon Vance but haven't ever listened to him, lol. I'll have to try him out. Middlemarch is one of my favorites - I can't wait to get back to that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Kristin Lavransdatter fits the bill. I never knew medieval Norway could be so fascinating. :) Yes, a great read, and I recommend this translation (Tiina Nunnally) as it's very readable. The other translation (Charles Archer) is the fake antiquated style and it was really a slog for me to get through the first book. Then I switched over to Nunnally's translation and really enjoyed the second and third books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 How about a modern classic? Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 The Three Musketeers! I love that book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmgirl70 Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 I'll give a shout for a podcast I love called "Craftlit". She walks you through classics with a little discussion and an audio format. I really enjoy it! She's got lots of books completed on the podcast, including "Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share Posted June 7, 2014 I'll give a shout for a podcast I love called "Craftlit". She walks you through classics with a little discussion and an audio format. I really enjoy it! She's got lots of books completed on the podcast, including "Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens. Oh thanks! That sounds interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 (I know this thread is a couple months old!) Just wanted to mention Emily Eden's The Semi-Attached Couple and The Semi-Detached House. (These are actually separate books, but the edition I have has both.) I was about halfway through with Cranford a few months ago, and then stopped...I think these are sort of along the same lines as the OP's recent reads. Not a classic, but I enjoyed Jo Baker's Longbourn so consider it if you'd like to revisit the Bennett household. It wasn't so much a rehashing of P&P because it's about the servants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 Thanks for the bump! I was thinking recently that I should find this and revisit the suggestions :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 "The Magnificent Ambersons" by Tarkington. I read the answers too rapidly. Has anyone yet recommended the novels of Anthony Trollope? I fell so hard for these that I scoured the used book market until I had acquired a complete hardback set of the six "Barchester" novels, and a complete hb set of the six "Palliser" novels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Call it Sleep by Henry Roth Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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