I have been rereading all the classics that was required to read in high school and college (somehow not as interesting then :smirk: ).

Just finished reading "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen. SOOOO much better than the film prefer the BBC doing Brit authors really). The movie follows the book very well; however, makes Sir Thomas much more obtuse and creepy than Austen made his character to be in the book.

Also re-read "Great Expectations" (my oldest dd says all Dickens books are the same :) )I don't even remember that one, but know I read it to pass English in hs. Anyway, fantastic but tedious read. What an exercise for the brain! I had to consult Mr. Webster about every third paragraph.

Now am starting "Crime and Punishment." I am having a difficult time starting it, but will force myself through. Rule of thumb, give it 100 pages, then give up if nothing interesting turns up by then.

Oh! How interesting! I keep thinking of doing this very thing. I don't believe Jane Austen was on our required reading lists, though. But, I've read a few of her books as an adult (ones I couldn't get into as a child), and I've enjoyed them.

We had a lot of John Steinbeck and authors like that on our lists. Let's see...we read The Invisible Man, the book the movie Apocalypse Now! is based on, and things like that. I remember reading All Quiet on the Western Front and a book about a boy and his dogs...I've seen it in Barnes & Noble, but can't think of the title. Also, Of Mice and Men(that's Steinbeck, isn't it?).

Tooo Coool!

I've been meaning to get my hands on a "100 books every person should read" type list and start going through it. Alas, between gardening and homeschooling research, book club and my "California as 7 States" book the classics are in the back seat for now.

I heard about an eccentric millionarie who lived very spartan. He catalogued everybook he ever read (checked every single one out at the library) on white index cards and gave a little critique about each.

I thought about doing something similar.

Oh, yes, John Steinback! Grapes of Wrath. We actually had to read that one in college Geography. All Quiet on the Western Front was in hs, I think.

Soul mama, I meant that you liked English, not are English :) Sounds like you are quite the anglophile, too, though :D
I absolutely loved The Invisible Man and Black Like Me.

Understand Bona Dea (This mama is a home educator, too), not much time, but mama, gotta make the time! DH and I read every night in bed together. I always out last him, though, lol.

sigh, soooooo many books, so little time......

I really like John Irving, too. I have never laughed to hard in my life than when I read A Prayer for Owen Meany , well, maybe when I read Bridget Jones' Diary or well, wait a minute, there is a lot of good humorous literature out there, but those are a few that really gave my tummy an exercise.

I just bought Gods and Generals and hope to read it before I see the film.


Can a dollar be better spent than on a book? (tax dollars included)

Originally posted by ilovecake
Understand Bona Dea (This mama is a home educator, too), not much time, but mama, gotta make the time!

:D I do make the time :D I've got 3 *me* books going this week ( lol that doesn't include the harliquine I powered through last night) and that doesn't include the Charolotte Mason and gardening research. I check everything out at the library so letting them sit around or paceing myself is not an option. 3 weeks is the check out period I like to have most things back in 1 week and everything back by 2... I really dislike fines. Naaaaw I'm not obsessive.

I had a wonderful post written, but I had too many smilies and underlined words, so it couldn't be posted. *blah*

OK, Bonadea, I would suggest looking at your library for a list of "must-read" classics. I know my library has lists for all sorts of reading material suggestions.

Can a dollar be better spent than on a book? (tax dollars included)
nope.
:D