Have you ever read the classics?

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

By which I mean, Shakespeare, Frankenstein, Dracula, and so on? They were my bread and butter when studying for my A Levels and whilst many were slow to start with, they fast became compulsive reading!

 

[lynxstch]

Yes, I was a reader when I was young, and read all of the classics.

 

[NannyBeBe]

Yes I have read many of the classics. In fact, I am re-reading Treasure Island right now.

 

[TCRAIG]

Yes - in school (Jr High and High) and in college.

 

[China Expat]

Absolutely!

 

[DodgerGirl]

My father collects classic books and he has an illustrated version of The Canterbury Tales but when my father was in high school he used to read Shakespeare for his homework assignments and he also read Charles Dickens books too in high school and he thought they were neat. Did you ever read The Canterbury Tales too in high school?

 

[loves to dive]

Yep. Some I read as a child/teenager. Some I read for school, some for pleasure. I worked in the Comparative Literature Dept. at UGA when I was in my early 20s and read everything they taught as well. It just made sense to read them since they were available. I love to read.

 

[Wood Nymph]

There are some classic novels that I am not interested in reading. Books like The Iliad, Crime and Punishment, and Ulysses are in that group. But I have read many of the novels considered classic. Some of them are really good and well worth reading. There have been books that we had to read in school that I read for a second time as an adult. Jane Eyre is an example. I had to read that in grade school. When I reread that book as an adult I enjoyed it a lot.

 

[kanerf]

Of course. I was a voracious reader and read everything I could get my hands on. Including 'The Monk' by Matthew Gregory Lewis. Gothic horror written in 1796, so predates all of the 19th century stuff. Check it out sometime.

 

[lanejudy]

The Iliad

I had to read The Iliad & The Oddyssey in Latin in high school.

As to the OP's question -- yes, I have read many classics. Some in school some on my own. I've actually found them more enjoyable reading as I got older, and have found most enjoyment reading them aloud to DD.

 

[TippyThomas]

I didn't read them early in life, but I am starting to listen to them in audio book format now. It'd take me forever to read them because reading makes me fall asleep too easily these days. Listening to them in audio book format lets me enjoy them while staying active and doing other things.

 

[BrianL]

I read a lot of them in school. Some are better than others, though generally I was happy to have assigned reading books and finished them faster than required.

 

[firefly_ris]

Yep and have been re-reading a lot over the last year, plus some I never read previously like Peter Pan. I try to keep a pretty large library of classics and have my kids read through them.

 

[disneyseniors]

I've recently read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and it has become one of my absolute favorites! I have others to read and catch up on. Strangely, our HS didn't teach any of the classics!

 

[jtopp]

I've committed to a retirement plan. I will start reading one classic per week, and possibly watching the film version of each one. I've also indicated i will watch many of the classic films of the twentieth century, mostly the ones i've always said I wanted to see be never found the time for.

 

[tvguy]

Nope. Went to a private High School my Freshman year, they didn't have students read the classics until Sophomore year. Went back to Public High School my Sophomore year on, Public schools had students read the classics Freshman year. So missed out, shucks. The cirriculums were totally out of synch between those schools. Had to go to summer school to get back on track because I was behind in my science classes.

 

[barkley]

I've recently read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and it has become one of my absolute favorites! I have others to read and catch up on. Strangely, our HS didn't teach any of the classics!

this is one of my favorites of well. it's one of only 2 books that i've ever read and immediately re-read. oddly enough the 2nd is 'in cold blood'-and I did not learn of the connection between the authors until decades later.

 

[disneyseniors]

this is one of my favorites of well. it's one of only 2 books that i've ever read and immediately re-read. oddly enough the 2nd is 'in cold blood'-and I did not learn of the connection between the authors until decades later.

Wow, I didn't know that. I haven't read In Cold Blood and probably won't. But I loved To Kill a Mockingbird. The movie version was very good too.