The Classics Tag

I first saw this tag at Risa’s Breadcrumbs, who got it from Jillian (I really can’t keep track of what Jillian calls her blog), who in turn got it from Shannon’s Reflections of a Reader ad infinitum. And now ***drumroll please*** The Wanderer’s response.

Question #1: an overhyped classic you really didn’t like

I’m tempted to say Ulysses, yeah ya know what? I’m gonna say Ulysses, but with a caveat. I will happily concede that Joyce is brilliant, perhaps the best read novelist I’ve read, and that his book is a rather astonishing achievement – but not an enjoyable read. And now that I’ve assuaged my conscience for disliking “the greatest novel of all time” I’ll add, I did like the only other work I’ve read by Joyce: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Question #2: favourite time period to read about

I don’t think I have a favorite period (what’s with the British spelling here anyway Shannon?) But I have read a couple recently about the Napoleonic era: War and Peace and The Count of Monte Cristo. I thoroughly enjoyed both.

Question #3: Favourite Favorite fairytale

I feel like The Lord of the Rings is cheating, but by Professor Tolkien’s definition somewhere in his authoritative essay On Fairy-Stories it fits the bill, so that’s my answer. Don’t complain to me; argue with Prof T. if you want – good luck with that.

Question #4: What is the classic you are most embarrassed about not having read?

Either The Epic of Gilgamesh or The Wind in the Willows. My understanding is they are pretty much the same story.

Question #5: Top 5 classics you would like to read soon

This one is easy, since I am on a schedule. The next 5 will be: 

     Atlas Shrugged

     Great Expectations

     The Fountainhead

     The Wings of the Dove

     Les Misérables

Question #6: Favourite Favorite modern book/series based on a classic

I got nothing.

Question #7: favourite Favorite movie / TV series based on a classic

OK, so I’ve already shown myself a Tolkienophile, but the LOTR movies were superb (The Hobbit, not so much). A few others that are excellent:

--Gone with the Wind

--The Grapes of Wrath

--Beloved

(I didn’t mention year/version as I’m pretty certain there is only one film

rendering – and let’s hope it stays that way.)

And as Monte Python would say – now for something completely different – I’m also going to mention Apocalypse Now which is based on Heart of Darkness, though the period and setting is completely changed. The film is a masterpiece.

Question #8: Worst classic-to-movie adaptation

There are quite a few awful adaptations: Animal Farm (any version), Lord of the Flies (any version), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 PLEASE – don’t watch this), The Scarlet Letter (1995, ugh), but the Grand-Prize Winner, worst adaptation

Dune (1984) Very unfortunate as this is arguably the Gold-Standard of Sci-Fi novels.

Question #9: favourite Favorite edition(s) you’d like to collect more classics from

I have hard-cover editions of all the Classics I read. The Everyman’s Library editions are my favorites. I don’t like the dustjackets, which merely have a picture of the author, I prefer some scene or impression of the story, as in the Penguin Classics, but otherwise the binding, print, paper, and attached silk book marker are excellent.

Questions #10: An under hyped classic you would like to recommend to everyone

Invisible Man

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

This is not from the original tag – I’m adding it, cuz it’s my blog and I can. Questions #11: A Classic film that is better than the book

Because we all know the book is better than the movie, but there is one classic that stands out as the exception:  The Godfather