I got some paperbacks each for .75 and I'm quite certain, at this point in my collegial career that I will not be reading them for assignments, so which do you recommend I start with?
Pride and Prejidice by Jane Austen
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I'd suggest either Stephen Crane, or Oscar Wilde. I have not read the Kenneth Grahame, but Kim and Pride and Prejudice were slower reads for me, something for a lazy summer afternoon.
Les
What a bargain, Talia!
I'd start with Pride and Prejudice. It will be interesting to see whether you find it slow, as Les did. Possibly something to do with the difference between American and English culture and humour. I introduced my daughter to P&P when she was a young teenager and she couldn't put it down - the first 'serious' quality novel she read. It's set in early 19th Century English society, but the characters and gentle satire (starting from the very first sentence) still add up to an enjoyable read.
Please let us know, after you have read all five, how you rank them for enjoyment.
Ian
Definitely the Wind in the Willows - it's exactly the right thing for horrible winter weather and taking your mind off over-consumption etc. It isn't mentally taxing, just incredibly refreshing and fun!
I'd start with Wind- it's the right time of year for children's lit. Beyond that, I love both P & P and Kim. Red Badge is sad, although an excellent book, and I don't have any particular feeling for Dorian.
Time to dig out and reread all my holiday books!
pam
Yes, I agree with Pam and Marian, Wind is a quick initial read, but you'll want to come back to it later.
As for Christmas reads, I bought my husband "The Chronicles of Narnia" for Christmas. He is not much of a reader (unless Consumer Reports and Motor Trend count) but he loves Fantasy and Adventure books...so anything to get him to read. I have never read it myslef but they just made a movie of it so they are doing up all the big books, figures, audio tapes, and even toys in McDonald's Happy Meals. Is this going on over there in England? Also, I'd like to read it myself sometime.
Also, I heard they just made another "Sense and Sensibility" and it is supposed to be fantastic. Anyone seen it or plan on seeing it. Here in the states it is playing in the theatres.
Alphabetical by author, just as you list them
It's not like you have to read one before the other or you'll miss something
My husband suggests by order of publication.
How about simultaneous?
I'd go with Oscar Wilde too since he's the wildest.
And go see the latest P and P movie out.
It's the best version I've seen yet. Brenda Blethyn is excellent in it.
She makes it so humorous. And Donald Sutherland is excellent in it too.
Have fun,
Lisa
Talia,
Definitely read Narnia- they're wonderful!! The movie is very good and faithful to the spirit of the book- let's hope they keep the series going.
I think it's Pride and Prejudice, not Sense that's the new version. It's also very good, and Colin Firth is hot!
The Sense and Sensibility that came out a few years back with Emma Thompson is also very good.
pam
Throw them up in the air, and read whatever strikes you
Thanks for all the help, guys. Well, the Spring semseter has started and I did not read all of them...I got caught up with some other books, but not bad for a Christmas break. Here is what I did read (in the order of which they were read)
Home Invasion by Rebecca Hagelin (a non-fiction about keeping the culture garbage out of your home)
The Red Badge of Courage ( I didn't find it so sad, I mean at least the ending was happy)
The Kennedy Curse (glad I read this because the first book on my reading list for 20th Cent. American Fiction was "Black Water" by Joyce Carol Oates which is her fiction based on the Ted Kennedy Chappaquiddick incident).
The Wind in the Willows
The Nephew's Magician (Chronicles of Narnia...I knew I wwould read it before my husband)
Now that I'm back in school I'm reading Classic Fairy Tales, Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, and various boring texts on computers and educational jargon.
Ah yes, Jargon, Sargon's brother