Teenagers nowadays and classic books.

[KEVP]

Most Americans will have never heard of Enid Blyton. I am not surprised that Madonna--an American who is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants and who grew up in the suburbs of Detroit--would never have heard of Enid Blyton.

[Darrell71]

*I accidentally edited the post here and deleted everything I'd written. The point was just that I would like to know which classics to start with, as I'm a teen who doesn't really like classics.*

[Courtenay]

As for the original topic of this thread, well, I'm one of those teenagers who doesn't really like classics. That being said, my opinion is entirely based on a labored read of the first few pages of Wuthering Heights...

Don't worry, you haven't missed much.

As Anita said, I think the old fashioned language is what puts me off, but perhaps I should give it another try. If anyone has any suggestions to start with, I shall try to find a copy.

I'd suggest Jane Austen, but that's just me — she's one of my favourite authors of all time, but there aren't that many of the other "classics" I've read and enjoyed (or can really be bothered with) either. If you're interested, I think her best two are easily Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion. The language is difficult to begin with — I remember when I first read P&P at the age of 13 I was having to go over each paragraph twice just to be sure what it was saying — but she has such a distinctive and subtly witty style that you soon get caught up in it, or so I've always found.

[Daisy]

I was completely put off the classics by having to study them at school. It rather kills a story to have to analyse it chapter by chapter! I wasn't interested in what the author was "trying to say" - but wasn't allowed to go on and find out for myself. There was no incentive to continue reading beyond the place we had got to as a class. I was happy feasting on Enid Blyton and other contemporary authors like Malcolm Saville, Arthur Ransome, Monica Edwards and the like. I have read one or two since then, but don't thirst for more!

[Rob Houghton]

I think the old fashioned language is what puts me off, but perhaps I should give it another try. If anyone has any suggestions to start with, I shall try to find a copy.

I recommend you start the way I did - with 'Rebecca' by Daphne DuMaurier. Its not a 'classic' I don't think - or rather its more of a 'modern classic' as it came out in the 1930's - but it is fairly easy to read and the idea of the book (DuMaurier admitted) came from her love of Jane Eyre - so like me you could then go onto read Jane Eyre which is a 'classic' and deservedly so!

[Daisy]

Jane Eyre is one of the few I have read!

[Rob Houghton]

Jane Eyre is one of the few I have read!

Me too!

I read Tom Sawyer, etc but not even many children's classics/ I read Jane Eyre twice, and also read a couple of others but nowhere near as many classics as most people on here.

I've read more 'modern classics' - Rebecca, and Gone With The Wind, the Grapes of Wrath, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the Lord of the Flies, Show Boat, Random Harvest, etc etc. Mainly because I wanted to read books I'd seen films of!

[Machupicchu14]

I feel like I am the only one who believes classics are just the books. Basically the best kind of literature that can ever exist. My mum was like me when she was small, she read classics always and so did my grandfather.
(That is how I inherited my love of reading). And I really give thanks that this was the case, that from an early age I was introduced to the wonderful and welcoming world of classics. (Honestly like classics, you are never going to find)

As for the original topic of this thread, well, I'm one of those teenagers who doesn't really like classics. That being said, my opinion is entirely based on a labored read of the first few pages of Wuthering Heights.

You can't imagine how much you are missing to be honest.

[Machupicchu14]

I think the old fashioned language is what puts me off, but perhaps I should give it another try. If anyone has any suggestions to start with, I shall try to find a copy.

I recommend you start the way I did - with 'Rebecca' by Daphne DuMaurier. Its not a 'classic' I don't think - or rather its more of a 'modern classic' as it came out in the 1930's - but it is fairly easy to read and the idea of the book (DuMaurier admitted) came from her love of Jane Eyre - so like me you could then go onto read Jane Eyre which is a 'classic' and deservedly so!

I would definitely classify Daphne DuMaurier as a classic. I have read "My cousin Rachel" (such a brilliant book) and I would say it's a classic.... after all modern classics are still 'classics' right?

[Machupicchu14]

If you like Romance stories then go ahead with Jane Austen..
But if you are more to do with adventure, mystery and action, ( like me) I would definitely recommend Alexandre Dumas (he is a genius, perfection personified, beauty in itself, excellence, a master of literature) , Emilio Salgari, Robert Louis Stevenson.

[Fiona1986]

I haven't read anything from the list in the first post! I've read plenty of children's classics and I've read the odd adult classic like The Great Gatsby (didn't like it very much). I read what I like, I don't read things just because other people like them.

[Rob Houghton]

I'm the same...but most of the 'classics' I have read were forced upon me at college!

[Anita Bensoussane]

I feel like I am the only one who believes classics are just the books. Basically the best kind of literature that can ever exist.

I love reading classics too, María Esther. Authors of books which have become classics revel in language and their thoughtful, delightful phrasing and vocabulary make as much impression as their plots and characters. Their stories tend to be multi-layered, with recurring and ever-developing themes, and I love the richness of the ideas and associations. I also like the fact that many classics open a window onto the past. As we become involved with the characters, we learn about the living conditions and attitudes of the time.

I'm one of those teenagers who doesn't really like classics. That being said, my opinion is entirely based on a labored read of the first few pages of Wuthering Heights, and similar labored reads of the first few pages of some other Classics. As Anita said, I think the old fashioned language is what puts me off, but perhaps I should give it another try. If anyone has any suggestions to start with, I shall try to find a copy.

I'd recommend starting with novels which have a strong storyline (some classic authors focus on characters and themes rather than on events, but I think having a gripping plot makes readers more eager to persevere with the old-fashioned language). Some suggestions:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (already recommended by Rob)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

[Machupicchu14]

I feel like I am the only one who believes classics are just the books. Basically the best kind of literature that can ever exist.

I love reading classics too, María Esther. Authors of books which have become classics revel in language and their thoughtful, delightful phrasing and vocabulary make as much impression as their plots and characters. Their stories tend to be multi-layered, with recurring and ever-developing themes, and I love the richness of the ideas and associations. I also like the fact that many classics open a window onto the past. As we become involved with the characters, we learn about the living conditions and attitudes of the time.

This description is so beautiful and true! And yes, you have expressed the meaning of classics so well! And I'm so glad you like them Anita!

[KEVP]

I like the suggestions that others have made.

I wonder whether if a modern teenager is having trouble approaching classics because of the old-fashioned language, would it be maybe a good idea to start by reading children's classics, and then gradually move into "adult" classics?