WHY I READ CLASSICS | Classics Series
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- čas přidán 26. 04. 2018
- I talk about why I read classics and how I got into them!
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Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë → www.bookdepository.com/Agnes-...
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen → www.bookdepository.com/Pride-...
Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy → www.bookdepository.com/Tess-o...
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë → www.bookdepository.com/Wuther... - Zábava
Never stop talking about classics! You have given me so many amazing classic recommendations...
Please don't worry about mentioning "the same" authors over and over again! Many Booktubers who read YA mention the same cycle of authors and generally I don't find it half as interesting... I can relate to SO much of this video! Keep doing you, girl! 😊💗
Lucy!! I’ve never commented here but I just wanted to say that it’s so refreshing to see someone around my age feeling passionate about genres that aren’t YA. I totally agree with what you said about classics not being superior to YA, but YA is quite oversaturated on booktube. Appreciate your videos and wish you every success xx
Hi Chloe! I struggle so much with booktube because I find it very difficult to find channels who read what I’m interested in. Even when I do read YA, it’s UKYA rather than big US YA releases, so I can never seem to find the books being talked about that I love. I always like to point out that classics aren’t superior to YA because, at the end of the day, what’s most important is that people love the books they’re reading. However, I always see comments from people - on forums and Twitter and in comments sections - where they moan about how YA isn’t intellectual enough. So I really appreciate your comment and how you tell it like it is, rather than bemoaning YA.
But yes - I do think that YA has become commercial and that’s why most of the bigger booktube channels talk about them, and this filters down to other channels. Whereas with classics I don’t think there is that pressure! I certainly don’t feel any pressure with classics. :)
Thank you for commenting! x
What is YA, young adult? & why young adult?
Some favourites of mine... A study in scarlet, Carmilla, a picture of Dorian Gray, David Copperfield, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Treasure Island, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Jane Eyre, Jamaica Inn, Oliver Twist, Frankenstein, The Mill on the Floss.🥰
As you love the Victorian era, have a look at the same time period in France; the Rougon-Macquart series, by Zola, which covers every aspect of life (shops, mines, church, prostitution, laundry, army, alcoholism, food markets etc) through its characters, in different novels with wonderful stories.
19th Century is my fave! There are so many amazing books in that period.
My love for classics had now increased after watching your videos. And I'm younger than you. Thank you for the spirit and knowledge that you give. 😄
A 49 yr old who loves the Classics, my favourite being Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. It's different everytime I read it. I love the steadyness of them.
Im 20 yo and study English literature in university and ppl always ask why I love classics. I'm so happy you made this video thank you!!
Quite similar to you I was fascinated by the classics because one of the Brontes, and even more similar because it was Jane Eyre that I read, at about 16, one a sudden whim. It was hard graft since my first language was (and still is) not English but I was so fascinated by it that although I did not really breeze through it, the pleasure of the wonderful discovery largely overwhelmed the effort I had to put in. Since then I have read many more English classics, especially in past 7/8 years when I have entered my retirement age. The world would be a much poorer place without the Brontes, the Eliots and (especially) the Hardys of the Victorian age. I guess getting published then was probably even more difficult than now and you have to admire the heroic effort of some of the writers. Bravo and keep going Lucy. I may one day read your book or books. I probably won't, cause at my age time presses and I will probably choose to read or reread more classics before I die hahaha! Best wishes.
Most classics lovers are always happy to meet a fellow traveler. Keep up the good work and making your videos.
I started classics at a ridiculously young age because I got Alcott’s Little Men as a present for my eighth birthday. One book led to another and I’ve been reading them all my life.
I love your accent. I just started re-reading classics recently cause I started reading philosophy and most of the philosophical ideas came from classic authors. So I am looking forward to start rereading classic fiction.
When I was 18 (10 years ago) I loved reading classics as well. I read all of Dracula in high school and p.b shelley was my favorite poet when I was a preteen. I did have my YA phase though, and I think it was because I wanted to fit in with my friends.
The Brontës are to you what Jane Austen is too me. She's soo precious to me, theres something about her books that I cant put into words, I love how much depth there is in her books. She's just soo smart and hilarious :)
I've always adored and obsessed over classics since I can remember. They became an integral part of my day to day life that It's hard to imagine reading modern books. They allow me to get emersted in the lifes and relationships of characters who lived in differnt times but more often than not had simmilar experinces snd troubles as me. Classics make me invest in them,use my mental capacity to dive deep into the themes and their structure in order to understand and bring foward emersing and engaging disscussions. They make me quiestion and think on so many different levels,to the point of reevaluating myself more often than I could have anticipated.The ones that really got me hooked were The Buddenbrooks by Mann and Kafka's novels,also the french such as Hugo and Balzac
I've always been so scared to read classics outside of english class because of the language, but your videos and passion for classics inspire me to challenge myself and delve into them more!
Don't mind them, it's not weird at all, I'm also around your age (19) and I've loved classics for a long time. The first classics I remember reading back in 2008-2009 were Shakespeare, (mind you it took some effort to understand his english, I'm from Spain), but I knew his works were amazing and what better way to improve a language (there are probably easier ways but I wouldn't have it, specially because it did not seem that hard to me). My copy of Romeo and Juliet is so battered and loved now it's hilarious, the other ones not so much, Romeo and Juliet is my favourite read it 6 times already and watched it many more times. There are so many good things about classics. The second one I think I read was Pride and Prejudice. I remember walking around my schools hallways with my nose in a copy of Romeo and Juliet or McBeth and it was so funny because no one knew how on earth I understood 16th century english but I did. (I had to use my friends as guides a couple times so as not to fall down the stairs and split my head open, hahahaha). My next objective is to read Les Misérables.
I am like you, when I am obsessed with something I just cant stop. I’ve just reread Wuthering Heights 25 years after my first time and it has been fascinating as this second time was very very different but also awesome! I am reading all the books by the Brontës, and I was surprised in a very good way by The tennant of Wildfell Hall, I loved it. Charlotte, Emily and Anne were such brave women. Thanks for your videos, you are very inspiring.
I've met the same two types of people, I understand! I also tend to read more books of the same author I love because I read classics I genuinely enjoy. It seems to me that the people who've always read exactly one book of each well-known classic author (and usually only the male authors plus Virginia Woolf) are reading them out of a different motivation: they want to be considered well-educated and widely read. I think both approaches have their advantages and drawbacks: sticking to one's favorite authors and authors similar to them pretty much guarantees a good time, BUT reading outside one's comfort zone can also be great and broadens your horizon. Which is why today, I read "The Dead" by James Joyce (which turned out to be a lovely, warm-hearted short story about a party in winter and the people we love, not at all the artsy, morbid work I was expecting) and now I'm reading Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which won lots of prizes in 2006 and is teaching me so much already. Afterwards, I'll return to my comfort food reads for a bit.
I got so excited listening to you talking about the classics! I'm 25 and I've recently delved into the world of classic novels. After reading Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility I became obsessed with them, and it's reached a point where I don't care about modern literature anymore (having endured a ton of crappy modern books doesn't help, either). It's so great to see another young person so excited about classic literature! I have read only a handful of them but I'm slowly expanding my personal library. Emma, Jane Eyre, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame are probably my favourites so far, although the latter involves a lot of mixed feelings. There's so much to learn about these novels and their authors! I just love looking up trivia and learning how the books came to be, who the writers were, what the message of their stories is. Reading about Victor Hugo's novels in particular is such an interesting endeavour imo. Anyway, I'm excited to watch more of your videos!
Oh and ironically I ordered several of the Penguin English Classics (I'm trying to collect all of them, they're beautiful!) right before I watched this lol. It's so exciting to find another reader who is as passionate about classics and the 19th century as I am! Keep up the amazing videos!!
My love for history led to my love of classics, too. They're so transporting. Learning about an era in history is one thing, but reading the literature that was produced and revered (or hated!) at a certain time really gives a glimpse into the inner workings of that society, which I just love. And also, they are just really good stories! Great video, Lucy 😊
Yes, it’s the inner workings I love too! You could sit in a history class all day, and yet just a page of a classic reveals so much more than often we can comprehend.
And yes - great stories are key!
I Love the Russian Classics and Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and Notre dame de Paris , It took the Fire at Notre Dame to prompt me to read it!
Reaad Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. you have probably read Robinson Crusoe, it is one of my favourite books and Daniel Defoe one of my favourite authors. Moll Flanders feels a lot like Tess D'urbevilles. And your so right about classics having this whole school of knowledge that has sprung up around them simply becuase theyve been loved and thought about and written about for so long and it makes it so you can enjoy and become involved with them to a higher degree because you can delve so deeply into there minutia.
I don’t know how I haven’t found your channel way before now, nothing wrong with anybody of any age to enjoy classics, I’m a 25 year old guy and I’ve been reading them ever since my GCSE literature teacher recommended Jane Eyre to me when I asked what his favourite classic ever was when I was 13, been a huge lover of the Bronte sisters ever since and would love to visit the parsonage and the moors one day but I live so far away :(
Reading Agnes Grey now and I love it.
You're only 18!?!?!
I thought she must be in her early twenties from how mature she looks and act! 😂 the "classic readers must be mostly adults" natural reaction tbh :P
I'll be 17 in a few months so I do get it. If I look at any readers my age I mostly see YA books and even I myself often make that assumption. Hopefully one day no one will fall into that belief uwu
(Her points were proven exactly since we still were surprised by her age lol)
I love classics and I love how you talk about them so much :)
I’m so glad to hear that! x
I miss meeting people like yourself all the time when I was at university. The world of work isn’t as enriching
I think it's wonderful having someone young bringing a new life and passion to the classics! Your videos must have inspired so many people to pick up the Brontes that wouldn't have otherwise.
That is definitely a highlight of the job - inspiring other people to love the books that I love!
AH I'm so happy that I've found someone around my age who also likes classics!! very few of my friends read, and only a couple of those friends are interested in reading classics - and it's always lovely to discover booktubers who share similar interests with me :)
I've always been sort of daunted by the bronte sisters (and not by the language or the length, or anything - the longer the better, in my opinion, and if the writing style forces me to think harder to process information, GOOD!!!) but after watching several of your videos I think I might give them a shot. I've had 'wuthering heights' on my kobo for some time now, and I plan to begin reading it after my exams :D
It's like, I love the *idea* of reading classics. Especially Jane Austen books. Those interest me so much. But I find the wording difficult to understand sometimes or even just get through and read at a somewhat decent pace.
This is such a lovely video, Pride and Prejudice got me into classics too and I'm just about to read Agnes Grey for the first time, I'm so excited. I think you're incredibly well read for 18, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'm doing an MA in Victorian lit and you've read more Hardy than me! Also, your hair looks nice ☺
I hope you enjoy Agnes Grey! It’s such a charming book. I’d love to know your thoughts once you’ve read it!
I am on a one woman mission to read all of Thomas Hardy’s books - I’m obsessed!
Thank you! x
I read almost all the genres (excluding horror rs), and I think I read my first classic when I was 12 y old. I don’t really know if it was Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice. With 11y I read many Agatha Christie, all that have in the library on my school - almost all of them lol.
Many classics I still haven’t read, I don’t know really why. Maybe because I tend too much of rereading my favorites. I have 39 y now and I can’t count how many times I read Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Wuthering Heights.... But I never read Mansfield Park for example, or Agnes Grey. They are in my TBR for this year, along with War and Peace and The Count of Mont Christo. And I’m reading all the Dostoyevsky works as well. Let’s see how it goes. Because when I’m in pain I tend to reread a lot. It’s my comfort read period, as my psychologist says. 😂 Anyway... As I pass a lot time in pain lately (I have a chronic and degenerative disease) I’m tending to reread a lot! But, I recently read, or listen, most of it, Northanger Abbey for the first time. Not my favorite, but I liked. I started Agnes Grey and I’m reading slowly the poems of Emily Brontë. Got these indications here in your channel. Thank you.
By the way, the first book I read in English (I’m Brazilian, so I speak Portuguese) was Jane Eyre. I think I should have found a more easier book to start 😆 but I basically knew by heart by that time. I was about 18, I think. I started reading in English because I really wanted to read Harry Potter in the original and as soon they released. 😉Love HP. One of my many comfort rereads.
I always loved classics, since I was really young. Now I’m branching out in new authors mainly because of your channel. It keeps motivated. Thank you!
Keep reading and posting here what makes you happy!!! 😄
Wow, Jane Eyre as your first book in English! That’s impressive!
I find re-reading very comforting too. It’s as if the pages have captured your memories of when you read it the first time and you re-live them all over again. Whenever I feel sad or angry or even confused, I choose a book I’ve already loved and instantly feel better.
I’m glad you liked Northanger Abbey! I don’t think it’s as spectacular as Pride and Prejudice, but I love Catherine Morland. I hope you’re enjoying Agnes Grey and Emily’s poems! Her poems, in particular, I re-read over and over and over again.
Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely comment! It’s put a big smile on my face!
When I was 18 I avoided classics like the plague. I can vividly remember the day in class that Pride and Prejudice was assigned. I opened it up, read that first paragraph and thought, oh HECK no. Now, at 44, I am trying to make my way, albeit slowly, through the classics that I never read.
That’s a brilliant goal to have! I think books affect us differently when we’re at different stages in our lives. Which are you reading?
lucythereader I've not read many. The most recent was Pride and Prejudice. I've really been wanting to pick up The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Great Expectations (I recall enjoying what I did read of it in high school), or Wives and Daughters. But I'm contemplating going with Agnes Grey next after watching your video.
Hello! I am a 60 year old woman in Atlanta in the United states. I am absolutely in love with your blogs. I too love the classics and came to them maybe in my late twenties. When you talked about how you can learn so much about a different era from them I couldn't agree more. My particular favorite is Anna karenina. And it's funny because in that book Anna is not my favorite character. It is actually Levin. And I loved hearing about the Russian farmer lifestyle. Juxtaposed to the Russian Aristocrat lifestyle so interesting. I really knew next to nothing about it. keep doing what you're doing this is a fantastic series and I hope it will get more younger people to read the classics for pleasure and not just because they have to for a class. And 99% of the time I bet they just read the spark notes instead of the actual book. By the way, no movie has been made of Anna Karenina really captures the book in my opinion so I help people will read it.
Unfortunately, I didn't start to read Classics until my 30s, which I regret, because their everlasting themes can teach a young person so much about human nature and life, preparing them for adulthood.
And then, there is the prospect and pleasure of returning to them in future decades.
Have you been to Chawton, Jane Austen's Home ? Worth a visit also Winchester Cathedral where she is buried.
Love your knowledge and passion for the classics for someone so young (or of any age) and your analogy about how the classic is immersed in its historical context like a rock preserves a fossil (and it's something we can discover!) I'm a slow reader who reads primarily for language but you have inspired me to read more classics and hopefully my brain can open up to more.
Don’t stop it! We love it! ❤️📚
Love classic books and I also adore classic mystery novels. Just can't get enough.
I read a little bit from every genre and so I read classics just as a matter of course! I think my favourite books tend to be "modern classics", whatever they are ;D
I love classic tho I have only read about 5 classic books , but I am very intrested in it and I would love to find more classic and read them , because it is one of my favourit genre and because I also like historical fiction I think I would defenitly enjoy it .
Not obsessed but passionate! This is why we love your videos! Looking forward for more and good luck with your book!
Nadezhda Ivanenko exactly! obsessed is more on the unhealthy side but she seems to be well fine :)
Loved this video and enjoyed listening to your obsession with the classics. I read classics years ago but have come back with a new appreciation for them. I also love historical fiction because of all the interesting things you learn during a certain era. Hope you always keep your passion for classics.
I'm so glad I found your channel! Really enjoy your content :) would love to see you do the reading habits tag or the book buying tag! xx
I LOVED this video! Like you, I'm obsessed with the 19th century and anything Victorian. I definitely feel I was born in the wrong era lol. My first classic that hooked me was Wuthering Heights which I read at age 23. From there I moved on to Jane Eyre and many others. I'm 37 now, and my obsession with Victoriana is as strong as ever. I particularly love Victorian gothic and neo Victorian authors like Sarah Waters and Essie Fox. For folks new to classics, I recommend a book such as Jane Austen's England that goes into detail about all the customs and ways of the world in the 19th century. I don't know how I've never seen your channel before, but I'm SO GLAD I found you!! You're certainly a kindred spirit :)
I like reading a lot of different things but in the world of books, classics feel like home to me (that’s the best way for me to describe it lol) there is just so much to them, you reread them and you’ll find something new. I’m so happy you’re enjoying classics, there’s so much out there that I’m sure you’ll love! Looking forward to watch your classics related videos.
I am 16 and I love classic books!!!!!!!!!
Your passion for classics (and the other books you read) is what makes you one of the best booktuber in the community. You are genuine and lovely in your videos and that’s what makes them top of the class.
Also, Jane Austen has a-lot to answer for, she was the first classic I read (aged 13) and I’ve been hooked ever since. She is my absolute favourite author of all times and I even planned to name my baby “Jane” at one point.
I totally agree with you on so many marks as I too just am in love with the classics. It was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Dicken's Great Expectations that really drew me into reading and loving the classics. I had to read these in High School honors English; however, I ate these stories up and began collecting and reading even more classics! I find it a great way to study history and also the changes in literature and language over the years. Also, many of these authors' just had an innate ability to write good characters and plot-driven tales that just draw one in. So wonderful to connect with another lover of the Classics!
Well, I actually started reading classics in second or third grade because it was obligatory - but I liked reading them anyway. However, the first sign of true enthusiasm started to show up in fifth grade, when I was 11 and I read Jane Eyre for the first time (which is one of my all-time favourite novels now). From that moment, I've become an avid classic-reader, I love reading about each era, each culture and each idea. Right now I'm trying to indulge in different countries' ancient literature (like The Kalevala and Shahnameh). It's so great hearing about people - like you - whom I can share my passion with! Thank you😊
I love classics and watching period tv shows and movies and all things old fashioned. I have always loved them. I'm not exactly sure why, it just mesmerizes me. It's like going back in time, when life was simpler. Wuthering Heights is my favorite classic, too. I love all your videos. Don't doubt yourself or feel like you are being repetitive. Most of your subscribers, including me, come to your channel because we love your classic videos! Keep doing what you are doing. You love what you love and you shouldn't apologize for it.
I like how you describe it as “mesmerising”! I feel the same way! It’s interesting you mention about going back in time to when life was simpler: it reminds me of the fact that, during the World Wars, Jane Austen’s books were more popular than ever because they were given to soldiers because they allowed them to escape from reality.
Thank you! x
We have a uni course now regarding the representation of childhood in different periods and eras. In this course some of my student colleagues are writing their term papers of modern ya novels or also movies like Frozen or Brave. Really interesting. Childhood studies is also quite the new field in literary and cultural studies. But ol' me of course writes her term paper on Wuthering Heights and Oliver Twist, lol xD.
Like Kate Howe said, the classics give back so much.” More than other stories I’m assuming. I agree with her. I love Thomas Hardy. 😊
Watch 'The Victorians' on PBS America. IT is presented by Jeremy Paxman and at times it does not paint a rose coloured picture of that period.
I loved your video! And I read classics also :) they're so amazing! Yes, how great and ful of knowledge my brain feels after reading a classic... i personally dont read YA because I find it as a waste of time, just a story that I forget to quickly...so.
Love love loooove your videos and recommendations! :) thank you!
I'm still trying to read all the really popular well known classics bc we never read a large majority of them in school and I feel soooo far behind than most ppl lol but I read Great Expectations recently and really enjoyed it, it just gets soooo overwhelming when an author has several books like Dickens, Austen, Bronte etc. but I'm trying! Haha.
I'm super glad to have found your channel - it will help me choose my next read!
It started with Kate Bush, then curiosity of the book Wuthering Heights, the tragedy of the Bronte's themselves had me hooked and led the way to classics. In a part-time job, that involved a small room and a computer and a looooot of time I turned to classics inbetween work. I could lose myself in fantastical worlds, voices from another generation now gone but not lost to us. And yeah, sometimes characters kiss or more and I've missed it completely more than once. lol.
Well done!
I've read four („Jane Eyre”, „Wuthering Heights”, „Agnes Grey”, „The Tenant of Wildfell Hall”) of seven of Brontë sisters books.
I must say that TTWH is my favourite, despite the fact I loved JE more. I think that Anne was realistic than her sisters and her books shows how healthy was her mentality for that age, experience and century. For example, TWH can taught someone the difference between abusive relationship and a health one (someone who loves you, trust you, treat you respectfully, is faithful, never manipulates you, never lies you*), the difference between a toxic friendship and a healthy one (a friend helps you to get through difficulties, helps you to get rid of vices, etc.).
Mister Huntington always have promised Helen that he will return to her in a few days, but he, like a dumbass, never respects his word."
I think it's fascinating that Agnes Grey was the book that sparked your interest in classics! I always view it as one of the more obscure Bronte books, but I'm so glad that you found it! I can't point to my first classic exactly. Perhaps it was Heidi or The Secret Garden or Little Women? One of those three most likely. I echo so many of the sentiments that you expressed in this video! Classics are just the perfect combination of history and knowledge. I find myself taking a long time to read classics because I keep pausing to look up everything from the author's biography, to different locations (usually in England), to rather obscure details. I love how classics are a reflection of their time period, and yet serve as a lens to examine our own society and culture. I love the direction that your channel has taken lately, and I never tire of hearing you chat about "the same authors." :D
I find it fascinating too! I can’t for the life of me figure out where I came across it but I’d been staring at it on my bookcase for years, so I feel like it was serendipitous!
I can totally relate - I love looking at the author’s biography and then other factual information, and watching adaptations to get an idea of costumes and hair, and then reading other books set or written during the same period. It’s never as simple as just reading the book! But that’s how I love it!
Fabulous video Lucy! Very interesting thoughts. I'm currently reading Pride and Prejudice, I'll let you know how I get on as I'm a newbie to classics! :-)
I'm so glad I found your channel because lately I've been wanting to read some good classics and I also want to read the majority of the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge books, and most of them are classics :)
It is funny that you prefaced the video with your explanation about your interest in the classics. I am a pretty big book nerd (no where near on your level though I aspire to be) but you are the only reader CZcamsr I am subscribed to BECAUSE you emphasize the classics. I am so sick of hearing about dystopian novels. LOL so please continue to share your classics with us!
Loved this video! Could totally relate to your love of history, learning and books! From one Downton fan to another: who are your favourite characters?
This is a really good question, and I would say that I read classics because I like them; however, there is something more.
Firstly, It seems to me that with classics you have the opportunity to discover a how thing has changed and how we have changed, and that is very interesting. Secondly, I believe that is a good way to discover new authors, there many writers who love the classics and have taken them as their source of inspiration. To conclude, I reckon that reading classics is like reading a crime novel; once you have started you want to read more classics and read all the books that your favourite author wrote. Best regards!
Hi! I'm 🇮🇹 Italian, I'm 29 years old and I'm like you. I've just discovered your channel and my eyes 👀 did this: 😍 I prefer to read classics instead of go to the disco and something like that. I will try to watch your videos, I have to put English subtitles because there aren't in Italian. Good, good work, girl!
Classics over the disco any day of the week! My English subtitles aren’t amazing at the moment but I am working on improving them in the next few months, once I have more time to dedicate to my videos. So sorry for the inconvenience at the moment!
lucythereader Don't worry, I'm getting it... I really have to revise English because I haven't using it for years... Sorry for mistakes.
I'm a Joycean and I read post-modernism, too (currently in a read-thru of Gravity's Rainbow on BookTube, haven't read it in 15 year's). Thx for all you do, Lucy . . .
I’m wondering (and perhaps you’ve done a video on this that I’ve yet to discover) what are a handful of classics you disliked or even hated? Essentially, what are some of your least favorite classics?
I haven’t done a video on that, but I’m going to add it to my list to do over the summer, if that’s okay with you! There aren’t many I dislike - or even hate - but I can definitely think of some. And when I hate them, I hate them *with a vengeance*, haha!
I look forward to it. 😎
I've read some classics I like (like Jane Eyre and Ethan Frome), but not that many. I try to read books from diverse time periods, but even when I try I usually just go as far back as 1920. I don't actively avoid them, but I find I gravitate towards more modern classics. It's not so much the language that keeps me from reading classics, but I find it hard to relate to characters and thus less invested in the novel and it's themes. That said, I do like poetry from the time period of the classics.
We’re the opposite - even when I’m trying, I tend to go towards Victorian fiction over modern classics, but for the same reasons as you: I find it harder to relate to the characters because I like knowing all the rules and nuances of Victorian society, whereas I find it a lot harder to do so with modern (especially American) classics. How interesting! Thank you for sharing with me! What’s your favourite modern classic?
Classics tell you that things about human nature which are timeless. Particularly good for this are Steinbeck, Tolstoy and Somerset Maugham.
I love your classics series of videos! I fell in love with classics, when I was made to read Wuthering Heights in high school. It's the only one of the books that was chosen for me in school that I loved. My current favorite is Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I have never read Agnes Grey, but now I want to grab a copy. Also, which Hardy book should I start with, since I've never read any of his works?
I recently read a comprehensive autobiography of Queen Victoria that I thought was really well done. It is called Victoria: The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird. I hadn't read many biographies of Queen Victoria until that point and I really enjoyed it, especially the excerpts that the author included from her journals.
Also, have you ever read Anthony Trollope? His series The Barsetshire Chronicles is apparently about church politics in the Victorian era and whether clergymen should be held to a higher moral standard than others, so that might interest you. Katie from Books and Things just did a Barsetshire Week on her channel.
That sounds amazing! Even though I’ve done lots of research, I’ve never actually read a biography of Queen Victoria before. Thank you so much for the recommendation! I’ve just ordered a copy and I eagerly await being able to read it. I’m also fascinated by her journals. I wish the originals were still around, rather than the censored versions! I bet they would have been so insightful.
I haven’t read any Anthony Trollope yet, no, but I have been watching Katie’s videos and I do have The Warden to read, hopefully sometime this year. I watched the most recent adaptation of Doctor Thorne and loved it!
I love this origin story! I can so relate to being a kid and wanting something more from books, which also led me to classics. I felt like I could relate to those characters more than most child protagonists, or contemporary adult protagonists. Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time, but I also adore Alexander Dumas, George Eliot, and Jane Austen. Please don't worry about repeating authors--it's just a sign of genuine enthusiasm, I think, and honestly it's helped me find new classics to read!
also, thank you for having such articulate opinions about YA, and what counts as "literature" generally. I love to read ALL the things, and I don't really get the YA/not YA animosity that comes about on YT sometimes.
I hate the animosity! I read because I love books, not because those books have some “intellectual” power attached to them. As long as people enjoy what they’re reading, I don’t care what that book may be!
i love your videos and what i love most is your passion for literrature, books in general, classic and the Brontë. i have read few famous classics (wuthering heights is one of them and my fav one actually) and i've bought so many (i think i have almost 30books on my shelf, maybe not that much comparing to yours but still) the only thing that is 'scary' for me is literally the language as i speak arabic/french freckently comparing to english which is my 'third language" i'd say that i'm afraid to go read them (knowing that they're all in english obviosuly) but the few that' i've read i fell in love with (except pride and prejudice till now i just CANT finish the book why? i wish i know) hopefully 'i will be able someday and become as passionate as you which is really inspiring for me thank you
It’s amazing that English is your third language - I’m impressed and always in awe of people who speak lots of languages because it’s something I’d love to be able to do. Could you find any translations of the books you’d like to read? I know other people have commented on my videos before, saying that they’ve read translations first and then the originals.
I’m probably not the best person to offer advice, but it does sound like you’re incredibly dedicated and intelligent. Best of luck with reading classics - and I’m always here if you need to chat through your fear/need recommendations!
thank you so much it really means a lot!! actually yes i found some classics i wanted to read in french which is much easier for me to read but as i found some in the 'uk edition' i couldn't resist and just bought them hah, thank you again for your advice really appreciate you reading my comment and all, never stop posting your videos i LOVE them, sending all my love x
I love your channel
I love watching your videos because they really inspire and motivate me too try classics. Honestly, I find it difficult to read classics because of the language. I'm reading Pride and Prejudice right now and I can't read a lot in the same sitting because the words overwhelm me a little bit. Did you have the same difficulties? If so, do you have any tips?
Hi 🙂 this was a great video. I do love some classics, but always feel like I want to read more. Might you have a Thomas Hardy recommendation to read first?
20th Century classics are my favourite! :) I also love a lot of gothic literature that I've noticed :D
For me the main thing about a book that matters is quality and no inferiour book becomes a classic so that's why I tend to read them. The same thing of course goes for every book, if it's good I'm interested.
Oliver Twist is very good! Workus!!!
Since you love history so much as I do...have you read Alison Weir or Philippa Gregory...in particular Alison Weir is a historian and I find her books so interesting but love her take on her subjects. In particular I am reading the Tudors wife series...love love them. I love all historical fiction including the classics...great video by he way!
I haven’t, but I do own the first of Alison Weir’s Tudor wife series, which I wish I’d read when I first bought it. I LOVE anything to do with the Tudors, particularly the wives, so it sounds like just my kind of thing.
I did read one of Phillippa Gregory’s YA books a few years ago but didn’t really like it. Where would you recommend I start with her adult books?
As an Arabic fan . The most important thing is that you talk slowly so I can understand
One thing I love about classics is that all the books are out and done, and you never have to wait years for the author to write a new one in the series.
I have something to recommend to you. It's about 5 pages, I think. C. S. Lewis wrote an introduction for Athanasius' book "On the Incarnation". The intro contains a defense of reading old books. I can't recommend it too highly. It should show up with a quick Google.
I am definitely going to check this out - thank you! I’ve managed to find it so I shall sit down today and have a read. It sounds fantastic!
lucythereader How did you like it?
Great! It's also my own experience.
I never read classics but I want to.
I have Evelina by Frances Burney on my bookshelf.
Is it a good start for me to read classics?
Did u try pemberley chronicles of rebecca collins? If so pls give a review... I've got that series last week. I've finished Wuthering heights just before an hour and going to read that series by next week.
well, I guess it's not bad to read them after all. pride and prejudice is the best for me that book is an everlasting one
your focus on classics is why I love your channel and what sets you apart from most booktubers!
Hi Lucy! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about reading books.
Would you please make a video about how can an English learner start reading the British books like a beginner.
Regards
I do have this on my list of videos to film! However, I feel like it would be best if I filmed it alongside someone whose first language isn't English because I can only approach it as someone who speaks English and always has done. But as soon as I find someone to film with, it'll be done, I promise!
lucythereader Thank you, I have really enjoyed and learn a lot from your videos.
Ah I thought you were older! You are so sweet.
Hi Lucy! Have you ever tried a german classic from the 19th century? I guess you would like Theodor Fontane's 'Effi Briest'.
I haven’t, but I’m making it my mission to read LOTS more non-English classics and Effi Briest is one of the ones I’d really like to read. It’s published by Persephone Books in the UK in such a beautiful edition. Thank you for the recommendation!
I've gotten more in to classics lately. What I find hard is the language. I want to read them in their original language if I can but even though I like to think my enlist is quite good, I'ts not my native language and when the english is older and more complicated It takes a lot more effort. I always have multiple books going on and try to make smart moves about them. I always have one in my native language (Swedish) that I tend to pick when I'm tired or for some other reason don´t have the brain power for complicated english. Therefore the english classics tend to take longer than other books for me but that's okay! It''s not a contest after all! :)
I just like to read them when I have the book
It bothers me to read classics on my kindle or hear the audio book
So until I find the money for the books I don't read them
And I have watched the film Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense ans Sensibility, The Importance of being Earnestand Jane Eyre
And because I know what is happening and know the end I don't want to react those books
But somehow I do wanna read them because I know not everything is exactly the same as the book but I kinda am scared that they are gonna bore me because I know what is mostly happening
Also I wanna read those books in English because it is the original but my native language is German so it will be hustle to understand everything and always googleing words
Just 18?! Wow! Fun Fact: I hate Agnes Grey with all my heart and love pride and predjudice as my favorite book of all time
WOW! you’re only 18? you go girl! i thought you were like 23!
Haha, I must have a deceiving face!
Damn girl, I need to make a video about why I like YOU so much.
Haha, thanks, I guess??!
Love you... Have you've read tristram shandy?
I haven’t yet, but I do have a copy and would love to read it soon. :)
Hi just watched you on jailbreak and found your channel. Nice to meet you :-) Catherine
Nice to meet you too, Catherine!