Every self-respecting bookworm seems to have read these books. I am both self-respecting and a bookworm … and I haven’t. Ah, paradoxes.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I’ve watched the black and white Laurence Olivier Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 BBC series, the 2005 film, ‘Lost in Austen’ and ‘Austenland’. I have never read the actual book.
Why? Because everyone seemed to swoon at the very thought of Mr Darcy. Being a contrary lass, I decided that I would never do the same.
I shall pick the book up one day, and share the magic with everyone else. Until then, Georgette Heyer and I are getting along swimmingly.
I think I was quite influenced by the 1995 series though. When my sister, her friend and I visited one of the homes used in the series, little me was quite puzzled and asked where Mr Darcy was. (He wasn’t there. It was a bit of a downer.)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. ‘Lots of Rs’ Tolkien
I know what the books are about. Of course I do (*cough* fanfiction *cough). But I’ve never actually read them.
Though I find him to be a fascinating gentleman, I am not particularly enamoured with Tolkien right now. I’ve read his translation of Beowulf, however, his commentary of the thing that has boggled me somewhat. The book is at home. I am not at home at present. (And there lies my excuse.)
Oliver Twist [or basically: Anything by Dickens]
I’m trying to read one of Dicken’s works, but I am feeling rather daunted by his reputation; apparently, the fellow uses lots of characters. Tons of characters. Multitudes of characters.
A Tale of Two Cities is on my readolution list, but I’ve been avoiding it (and doing a splendid job of it, if I do say so myself). Oliver Twist isn’t on that list, but I’ve been quite happily ignoring that too.
But … I will attack a Dickens. Soon. This year, in fact. Not today. But soon.
of words & books 
I have not read anything Jane Austen. The only Dickens I’ve read is A Christmas Carol. The LotR books were a read aloud in our family a long, long time ago, and I’m pretty sure I tried reading them when I was twelve, but the only thing I remember is that I got a third through Return of the King and got really bored, but my brain’s discarded the memory of me reading the other two so I’m not sure at all.
So yeah. You’re not the only one.
This comforts me muchly 😀
Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf sounds super interesting! I should check it out! I have read and enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and LOTR, but I understand that they aren’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Georgette Heyer is amazing, by the way!! 🙂
It is, to be honest. I’m just hoping to reach Sellic Spell (also in the same book) soon – the commentary, though interesting, has been quite difficult to wade through.
YES! Another Georgette Heyer fan! I wholeheartedly agree, my friend. She’s amazing.
Haha! I’m alternating between being completely shocked and completely sympathizing. I have read just about everything written by Jane Austen that is purchasable (seriously. Including her letters). I have also read some works by Charles Dickens, but Oliver Twist I just couldn’t stomach (the reason being that I saw a disturbing version of the movie that put a really bad taste in my mouth for that particular story). I haven’t read the LoTR trilogy either, although I have read The Hobbit more times than I could count. This, at least, I hope to rectify over the summer. Oliver Twist, however, is one I’m not anxious to attend to.
If you do read any Dickens soon, I would recommend starting with The Christmas Carol or A Tale of Two Cities. They aren’t as confusing and are very well written. Dickens can be a chore, I’ll be honest, but for some reason I’m really fond of both of those.
Have you ever watched the 2008 BBC miniseries of Little Dorrit? Also, I’ve heard you talk a lot about Georgette Heyer, but I’ve never read any of her books. Which ones would you recommend starting with? 🙂
Ohhhh, I bet her letters are fascinating. I’ve read Persuasion and have yet to venture further into her written works, though I’ve seen quite a few adaptions.
I shall read A Tale of Two Cities then. I think I’ve watched a little of 2008 Little Dorrit … I might have to dig back and watch the whole thing.
Georgette Heyer recs? MY FRIEND YOU DO ME AN HONOUR. You can’t see me, but I’m rubbing my hands together with glee. Right, any of the three below is (are?) a perfect intro to Heyer.
Devil’s Cub – heroine shoots rake (blog post here: https://nesskingsley.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/recountings-how-do-you-reform-a-rake/)
Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle – heroine writes book, hero is the villain in said book. She meets hero … take it from there. Hijinks! Kidnapping! Accidental country hopping! It’s so much fun.
The Grand Sophy – has quite the fan following. The Whirlwind of Sophy descends on a normal household. Final scene is full of drama, hilarity … and ducklings.
There! I will stop myself before I sit here tapping away all day 😀 I hope the above is helpful!
Oh, oh, oh, some of these are some of my favourite books.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: See, I reckon the only reason girls swoon at Mr Darcy is because Colin Firth and lingering camera shots and diving in lakes. THAT IS NOT AUSTEN. Austen is whip-smart and brutally unsentimental and is in such a different league from Heyer–Heyer writes romances and Austen writes needle-sharp comedies of manners. I actually have a theory the reader is supposed to find Mr Darcy as much of a jerk as Elizabeth does till he begins to realise he needs to change. And he does. And it’s beautiful. So do, do, do read it. I’m sure you’ll love it.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: This IS my favourite book. Believe the hype. I am speaking as someone who doesn’t even like the high fantasy genre: LOTR is the most transcendent experience of sheer beauty that you will ever get inside the pages of a book. Peter Jackson’s movies are, by comparison, the ravings of an orang-utang. No offense meant to Jackson, most people’s art looks amateur next to Tolkien’s.
DICKENS: My mother read us OLIVER TWIST when we were wee little things and I was TRAUMATISED and it has only been within the last 4 years that I’ve plucked up the courage to try Dickens again, and now I have read BLEAK HOUSE and A TALE OF TWO CITIES and while I have a lot of respect for the man as an author…I have a lot of philosophical differences with him.
In conclusion: I think you can live a full and happy life without Dickens. But not without Tolkien. Nuh-uh.
(This said, I also have a stack of famous books I haven’t read. For the last ten or fifteen years I’ve very successfully avoided TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I know I’m probably Missing Out, but I have hype backlash. *born to be wild*)
I never got that lake scene with Firth. It was rather random. Gosh, you’re pushing me closer to reading it P&P ….
Peter Jackson’s movies are, by comparison, the ravings of an orang-utang. The mental image! 😀
In conclusion: I think you can live a full and happy life without Dickens. But not without Tolkien. Nuh-uh. Point taken, my friend. I will heed your advice.
And I picked up To Kill A Mockingbird and I have to say that I really, really enjoyed it.
Hype backlash? You intrigue me … 😀
I have read the first two in the LOTR series, but haven’t gotten to the last yet. Also I LOVE anything Jane Austen on TV, but books, I have them all, yet cannot get into them. I will try though! Also, I have a majority of Dickens, because the copies are so beautiful, and I tried reading Oliver Twist, but all I remember is falling asleep to it, but yet I still wanted to finish it. Lol. I will try again soon, but this was fun reading! You should look into the Popular Opinions Book Tag (mainly on Youtube), it’s similar to what you did here. 🙂
Forgive me for taking so long to reply! Ohh, I will look into that tag.
‘I have a majority of Dickens, because the copies are so beautiful’ I UNDERSTAND. I TOO HAVE BOOKS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH BEAUTY 😀