A Classic a day ...no chance (once possibly but that was long ago when I was single and solitary.)
A Classic a Week ? ...Possible ...especially if I include audio books ..probably audiobook are the only way this will be possible. Modern day life doesn't really accommodate long stretches of uninterrupted reading does it ?
I seem to have little patience lately with writing that is Ok but not really "Good". When time to read is precious. I must confess that "meh" is not enough of a comment , and a flick of the wrist and a good throw of the offending tome to the other side of the room would be far more satisfying.
But, darn it, as I wish my ereader to last restraint must be the order of the day and evil muttering the outlet varied by much humphing and tutting. (Much as I appreciate growing Old ...it so beats the alternative...I don't wish to grow Grumpy and Old !)
It's tricky, because I know there are good authors that I haven't met yet (reading wise ..I'm not that ambitious) but it's rather like looking for your Prince ...you have to kiss such a lot of frogs..and I'm not in the mood to kiss frogs.
So what do I do? ...much pondering and the result is these possible options....
1.Stick to known fail safe authors (and if they are living.... will them to write faster)
2.Carefully peruse wonderful blogs and benefit from their Prince detection skills (Special shout out to Cath here ..Thanks Cath! ..but she is not alone ...Danielle, Liz, Nan and Cheryl also deserve bouquets..thanks ladies)
3.Explore the lovely variety of Classics available. ( On an ereader these can be especially easily available via Project Gutenberg and similar sites. Not forgetting amazon where they often offer discounted audio narrations with the ebook at least they do in the US. Do they in the UK? and elsewhere? I'm afraid I don't know)
Pondering on this problem, whilst enjoying the Sun pouring in through the window this morning and whilst waiting for the temperature to rise outside to a level that encourages me to stick my nose out of the door., I suddenly thought. What if I set myself a mild challenge ..all of my own ..read/or listen to... A Classic each Week ......
Because, after all, I know there are Wonderful books out there that I may enjoy and that I will never pick up without a prod of some sort. A daft self challenge may be just enough of a shove. Lets face it if I don't manage it ...well such is life.... but if I do ....well I may have some enjoyable times and stretch my imagination a little. Who knows?
It won't stop me sneaking in some new novels (I'm thinking of Mr O'Brian's here) but it will stop me potluck buying cheap ebooks that have been wafted in front of my nose as bargains that I impulsively snap up and find are totally unsatisfying and frustrating, and a waste of pennies.... I'm afraid I just don't have the patience for less than great at the moment. The 'they can tell a story but have poor writing skill's ...'yes it has potential but it needs work'... 'wow it started well but then it died a death'. ...etc etc
I have read a variety of Classics in the past ..not so much at school but when living in the country and working on farms ...They kept me company and stretched my brain in the evenings and ultimately introduced me to a study of literature and history at University which I really enjoyed. I have to confess though, that during my entrance interview, when the Lecturer who was questioning me on my interests, probably assumed my expressed enjoyment of Auden was related to his serious poetry and not, as was the actual case, my love of Old Possum's book of Practical Cats...still such are the strange ways of fate and it got me in. But this was all a long time ago ....calculating how time has flown by I'd better say a Very long time ago.
So enough Woffle ...just between you me and the gatepost I shall give A Classic a week a go and see what I find (and I shall continue to be thankful for all the kind people out there prepared to not only kiss lots of frogs but to also kindly let the World know when they find a Prince.) Oh and if I fail miserably you may feel free to laugh at my foolishness ....because I will. ....haha
A Classic a Week ? ...Possible ...especially if I include audio books ..probably audiobook are the only way this will be possible. Modern day life doesn't really accommodate long stretches of uninterrupted reading does it ?
I seem to have little patience lately with writing that is Ok but not really "Good". When time to read is precious. I must confess that "meh" is not enough of a comment , and a flick of the wrist and a good throw of the offending tome to the other side of the room would be far more satisfying.
But, darn it, as I wish my ereader to last restraint must be the order of the day and evil muttering the outlet varied by much humphing and tutting. (Much as I appreciate growing Old ...it so beats the alternative...I don't wish to grow Grumpy and Old !)
It's tricky, because I know there are good authors that I haven't met yet (reading wise ..I'm not that ambitious) but it's rather like looking for your Prince ...you have to kiss such a lot of frogs..and I'm not in the mood to kiss frogs.
So what do I do? ...much pondering and the result is these possible options....
1.Stick to known fail safe authors (and if they are living.... will them to write faster)
2.Carefully peruse wonderful blogs and benefit from their Prince detection skills (Special shout out to Cath here ..Thanks Cath! ..but she is not alone ...Danielle, Liz, Nan and Cheryl also deserve bouquets..thanks ladies)
3.Explore the lovely variety of Classics available. ( On an ereader these can be especially easily available via Project Gutenberg and similar sites. Not forgetting amazon where they often offer discounted audio narrations with the ebook at least they do in the US. Do they in the UK? and elsewhere? I'm afraid I don't know)
Pondering on this problem, whilst enjoying the Sun pouring in through the window this morning and whilst waiting for the temperature to rise outside to a level that encourages me to stick my nose out of the door., I suddenly thought. What if I set myself a mild challenge ..all of my own ..read/or listen to... A Classic each Week ......
Because, after all, I know there are Wonderful books out there that I may enjoy and that I will never pick up without a prod of some sort. A daft self challenge may be just enough of a shove. Lets face it if I don't manage it ...well such is life.... but if I do ....well I may have some enjoyable times and stretch my imagination a little. Who knows?
It won't stop me sneaking in some new novels (I'm thinking of Mr O'Brian's here) but it will stop me potluck buying cheap ebooks that have been wafted in front of my nose as bargains that I impulsively snap up and find are totally unsatisfying and frustrating, and a waste of pennies.... I'm afraid I just don't have the patience for less than great at the moment. The 'they can tell a story but have poor writing skill's ...'yes it has potential but it needs work'... 'wow it started well but then it died a death'. ...etc etc
I have read a variety of Classics in the past ..not so much at school but when living in the country and working on farms ...They kept me company and stretched my brain in the evenings and ultimately introduced me to a study of literature and history at University which I really enjoyed. I have to confess though, that during my entrance interview, when the Lecturer who was questioning me on my interests, probably assumed my expressed enjoyment of Auden was related to his serious poetry and not, as was the actual case, my love of Old Possum's book of Practical Cats...still such are the strange ways of fate and it got me in. But this was all a long time ago ....calculating how time has flown by I'd better say a Very long time ago.
So enough Woffle ...just between you me and the gatepost I shall give A Classic a week a go and see what I find (and I shall continue to be thankful for all the kind people out there prepared to not only kiss lots of frogs but to also kindly let the World know when they find a Prince.) Oh and if I fail miserably you may feel free to laugh at my foolishness ....because I will. ....haha
Gosh, I am so with you. I was wondering if it was my age. You know... knockin' on a bit and less and less years left to read everything I want to read. But I'm not so sure. I just think I'm losing patience with books where the writing is such that I wonder how they got published. Compare some of these books to Mr. O'Brien's writing, or Mark Douglas Home (have you tired him?) or yes, the classics. I've just started North Face by Mary Renault, written in 1949 and the writing is sublime. I must read her Alexander the Great trilogy as I think I've missed a trick there. I'm waffling. Thanks for the shout-out and good luck with your Classic a week. I'll be watching with interest.
ReplyDeleteMary Renault ..there's a name I've heard of but never tried. I shall add her to my list. Thanks Cath. The school teacher in me wants to start marking some books "Promising start but needs work" ,"Interesting idea would benefit from input from an editor" Have you any other Career ideas? " Gosh I think I need more Coffee this morning! Was it Mark DH who wrote the India/Sea/Trafficking book ? I loved it. If an author writes well (Elly Griffith springs to mind as ticking this box for me )then you can plunge straight into the story and be in another World until the last page. Bliss.
DeleteYes, MD-H is the Sea Detective writer. Book 2 is also excellent but with just the one plotline going on rather than several.
ReplyDeleteI'd never tried Mary Renault either. I used to see her books in the library *years* ago and not once picked one up. Strange.
Yes, Elly Griffiths writes books that the minute you start reading you're there in Norfolk in Ruth's world. I have a friend who can't stand these books and I'm dumbfounded by her reaction.
It can be very surprising sometimes when someone really dislikes what we love and sometimes I guess it's what they bring to the experience that is so personal to them that influences their reactions. I love the African Queen as a Movie but my OH couldn't cope with even a few moments and it puzzled me until I finally realised the female lead reminded him so strongly of someone he knew in his childhood that they took on their personality and motivations in his mind and he couldn't get past that. It was quite startling to realise how we can view the same picture so differently.
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