Classics

In honor of the news this week about the new printing of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn which removes the "n-word" and replaces it with "slave," my post today addresses classics. Mark Twain called a 'classic.' "A book which people praise and don't read." So in my attempt to combat this, here's a list of "classics" that I have enjoyed.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

While on one hand this is a fantastic adventure story, Twain also paints a vivid portrait of the society of the time in a way that skewers the conventional ideas about slaves and slave-owners.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Many people have seen a movie of this book, but I highly recommend the book. It's easy to be intimidated by a book that was published almost 200 years ago, in 1813; however, if you pick it up and try, you'll find it remarkably easy to read and follow. I'm sure you'll find that many other books and films have been influenced by the characters and situations in this book.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

This book takes a little bit of history knowledge to fully grasp the implications. It takes place during the French Revolution, approximately ten years after the American Revolution. The two cities are London and Paris. So think about the tensions that existed between these two countries. But even if all you know about the French Revolution is what you read on Wikipedia, you can still enjoy the characters. This is a love story on many levels: father-daughter, husband-wife, and friend-friend.

Any of Shakespeare's comedies

A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest, to name a few. Once you get past the language barrier, and trust me you will, you will see the humor and love in these plays. Many of these have been adapted into modern movies and the story lines influence many books. Give it a shot, you'll be glad you did.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

If you've seen the movies, it's time to read the books. If you like heroes and adventures, it's time to read the books. If you call yourself a nerd, geek, or dork, it's time to read the books.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

If you think you love vampires, you need to read this first. If you like to scare your pants off, you need to read this. I was surprised by how much this book sucked me in. It's also written as a series of journals, letters, and telegrams, which allows you to get into the heads of the different characters in unique ways.

Great Classics to Read with Children:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Try one of these, and then you can praise the classics, and still know what you're talking about. And let me know which ones you like. I'm sure that I've left out many worth reading. Enlighten me.