The Classics Club originally a concept by Jillian has been given new lease on life with its own website managed by a group of fine and dedicated bloggers including Jillian and Heather. The managers of the Club have come out with a series of activities from August to December 2012 with the intention of stimulating fun and interesting debate among Clubbers on the Classics they are reading. And so this, month, the Meme is ‘What is your favourite classic book?’
To answer this question is to give a little background information on how I came to love classics or classical books. Everyone who knows a little bit of the history of Ghana would know that the country was formerly a British colony and therefore some of the reading books in the primary, secondary and tertiary schools within pre and post colonial days were spiced with classical literature, mainly British. My mother, a retired teacher introduced me to reading at a very early age. By four years, I was reading Ladybird series. In pre-teen years I had graduated to the abridged version of the Classics and I happily delved into her huge chopbox full of books and voraciously read Classics like Prisoner of Zenda, Nada The Lily, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, David Copperfield, Silas Marner, Heidi, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Count of Monte Cristo, Kidnapped, Treasure Island, and so many more. (I’m sure I’ve mentioned this on the blog somewhere in one of my posts). I loved all that I read in those years.
I followed it up reading more of Shakespeare in secondary and university days. To say therefore that I have a favourite Classic might not be easy as I read a lot of them, but so long a ago. ( since joining the Club, I have read only two). I must say however that a few had great impact on me
Wuthering Heights affected me so much. I felt an attraction for Heathcliff, and for days I would fantasies about his dark and brooding looks. His background and how he suffered at the Earnshaws touched me, though I admit that his cruel vengeance on the family later bordered on the pathological.
I loved Heidi for the grass to grace human element in the story. I remember falling in love with the Swiss Alps and spent days visualising Heidi running up and down the mountain with her goats. Till now, I’ve always had a yearning for fresh milk, freshly milked from a goat.
Little Women I vividly recall my mother’s maroon coloured hard covered Little Women, so squat and square and I used to think that Jo March was as little and squat as the appearance of the book. Funny!
Jane Eyre Even as a young woman growing up, I had always regarded Jane Eyre as too prim and ‘goody goody’ as we say in Ghana. I had wanted her to tick a little. This notwithstanding, I admire her for standing up to her aunt, Mrs. Sarah Reeds after series of abuse; her stance on refusing to be a mistress to Edward Rochester. I felt that Rochester had taken advantage of her love and trust. But I guess love conquers all and her sacrifice in marrying a truly repentant and ‘chagrined’ Rochester should not be held against her for ‘matyring’ herself.
I have my dear mother to thank for this wonderful nurturing and for me, joining the Classics Club is an opportunity for me to re-read these Classics and more, to gain a deeper understanding of themes and gain an appreciative insight into issues that informed those themes. Sharing ideas with fellow Clubbers is also an added and irresistible bonus.
Jillian ♣ said:
I really love hearing about the books your mother inspired you to read. 🙂
readinpleasure said:
She is my inspiration in more ways than one, Jillian. Many thanks.
boomiebol said:
Fine classics here…started collecting some for the girls. Heidi and little women favorites
readinpleasure said:
It’s good you’re introducing them to reading at this early age. I really loved Heidi back then
The Classics Club said:
I love this, and I think I love your mother too. I only hope that I can instill a love of reading in my children as well. Also, quite an impressive list of favorites. I, personally, am looking forward to reading Little Women off my list. I read an abriged version as a child – I think I’m ready for the real thing! – Sarah
readinpleasure said:
I also wish I could instill the love of reading in all my three kids. Only the eldest loves reading and I try to nurture that to the best of my ability. I may just have to review my Classics Club list to add and/or ‘take away’. Thank you so much for coming by, Sarah and I’m happy you love my list, and my mother.
Gilly Gee said:
Oh brilliant Celestine, such fun. My favourite classic and my all time ‘comfort book’ is Emma. I have a small, very old copy that I always take travelling 🙂
readinpleasure said:
lol! I may just add it to my list, Gilly. Many thanks.
The Silver Poet said:
great reminder of good things!
readinpleasure said:
Thanks, Anna.
lostgenerationreader said:
Great selection! I am becoming quite the Bronte fan, though the only books I’ve read are Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. A few more are on my list for The Classics Club! Thanks for sharing your favorites. 🙂
readinpleasure said:
Thanks a million for coming over. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre are both great classics; with some similarities in character portrayal, especially in regard to Heathcliff and Rochester.
Nishita said:
Love all the books you mentioned here. I thought Heathcliff was a pretty romantic character, but Jane Eyre was a bit too goody, goody for me when I read it during my teenage years. I think I would like the book a lot better if I read it now.
readinpleasure said:
lol! Nishita, I thought Jane Eyre was goody too. I was hooked on Heathcliff’s dark and brooding looks and I would love to re-visit those looks again now that I am grown up, though I doubt I would find him so appealing now. Thanks a million for coming by.
pennycoho said:
I’ve found an interesting thing about many classics Celestine. People don’t change much to they? They write of much the same things, each to their own style and purpose and genre of course and idioms of the time period they wrote from and yet the stories stay compelling because the author brings these people, these settings, these experiences and adventures to life in such a wonderful and compelling way that they never really go out of style. Isn’t that just simply wonderful. Okay some definitely are especially gifted in the word department (Shakespeare). 🙂
readinpleasure said:
Penny you’ve just summed up nicely what the whole classics thing is all about, with the canons and all. And as for the word department it is all a matter of semantics. lol! Love your comments!
pennycoho said:
Thanks Celestine, Are you familiar at all with S.I. Hayakawa? I studied his works and studies extensively when it comes to understanding semantics. I do agree with you, my friend! 🙂
readinpleasure said:
Hmm, never heard of him; but I studied English at uni and did a bit on semantics. lol!
pennycoho said:
lol
Claire 'Word by Word' said:
What a great list and how wonderful to have been so inspired by your mother.
My favourite classic has to be Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary which I read 6 years ago expecting it to be hard going, but what a joy it was, his language so poetic and full of exquisite metaphor.
Jane Eyre has a special place for me as well, the first classic I read when I was very young and therefore I remember the immersion into her world, so far from my own, but such a world indeed to escape into and dream about.
readinpleasure said:
Indeed, my mother continues to inspire me, Claire in more ways than one. You know I’ve never read anything by Gustave Flaubert. Will try him out one of these days. Glad to see you here.
Brona said:
I have read and loved all those books… except Wuthering Heights.
I read it but didn’t love.
Cathy and Heathcliff annoyed me from start to finish – I just want to slap them both and tell them to grow up!!
readinpleasure said:
Yes, I can understnd how you felt with those two. But I had a crush on Heathcliff. lol! 🙂 Glad you stopped by, Brona, and thank you for commenting.
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