Reasons 2, 3, and 4 are intertwined, at least for me. Perhaps 4 is less related to 2 than 3 is, but I am so in love with words and how they are used to express a viewpoint or an observation ... it might be an observation I've read before and already "know," but the power of language can make you see a situation or character trait anew, as if you never knew it before, or to see it slightly differently, from a somewhat different angle. It's almost as if, through the words of various authors, we create a painting that at first is a black and white line drawing, then, as we continue our reading, that painting develops shading and color until it becomes a fuller picture.
Amazingly, despite taking years of Latin, I still haven't read The Odyssey. I read The Aeneid in the original Latin, but that was many many sleeps ago. This Substack has inspired me to read The Odyssey this coming year, along with War and Peace, and Tolkien (who, I am ashamed to admit, I have never read). Two years ago I dug into Byron and the romantic poets; last year was a re-read of several Dickens and Bronte works (including "Jane Eyre"); this year, hopefully, I'll have the pleasure of reading the aforementioned works. I loved "Anna Karenina" and look forward to beginning my year with "War and Peace."
I appreciate great literature more since my retirement. I suspect this is because I have more time to consciously read these works thereby creating a more immersive experience. There is nothing more satisfying to me than to curl up in my armchair in front of my wood burner on cold, damp days and simply drift away into my reading. Or to languish in my garden in the summer sun amid the sounds of garden birds and bees. Absolute bliss!
How can an article about great literature employ the following sentence: “Books like Jane Eyre hit differently.” Reeks of AI. I stopped reading, sorry.
Reasons 2, 3, and 4 are intertwined, at least for me. Perhaps 4 is less related to 2 than 3 is, but I am so in love with words and how they are used to express a viewpoint or an observation ... it might be an observation I've read before and already "know," but the power of language can make you see a situation or character trait anew, as if you never knew it before, or to see it slightly differently, from a somewhat different angle. It's almost as if, through the words of various authors, we create a painting that at first is a black and white line drawing, then, as we continue our reading, that painting develops shading and color until it becomes a fuller picture.
Amazingly, despite taking years of Latin, I still haven't read The Odyssey. I read The Aeneid in the original Latin, but that was many many sleeps ago. This Substack has inspired me to read The Odyssey this coming year, along with War and Peace, and Tolkien (who, I am ashamed to admit, I have never read). Two years ago I dug into Byron and the romantic poets; last year was a re-read of several Dickens and Bronte works (including "Jane Eyre"); this year, hopefully, I'll have the pleasure of reading the aforementioned works. I loved "Anna Karenina" and look forward to beginning my year with "War and Peace."
Many thanks.
I find I appreciate great classic literature all the more by reading modern literature in between.
I appreciate great literature more since my retirement. I suspect this is because I have more time to consciously read these works thereby creating a more immersive experience. There is nothing more satisfying to me than to curl up in my armchair in front of my wood burner on cold, damp days and simply drift away into my reading. Or to languish in my garden in the summer sun amid the sounds of garden birds and bees. Absolute bliss!
How can an article about great literature employ the following sentence: “Books like Jane Eyre hit differently.” Reeks of AI. I stopped reading, sorry.
It reeks of the article it was quoting
A mere hint of irony would have had it hit differently.
What a pity there is NOT one Mr Rochester. Self absorbed, narcissistic eejits abound.
Beautiful! #3 and also #10 are closest to me.
Thanks for sharing these! Do you have any ‘intro to literature’ suggestions for newbies? :)