The Classics Club moderators have once again out done themselves with something deceptively simple. This month’s theme is “Why are you reading the classics?” Simple right? Not so much.
I could give my gut responses: I’ve not read very many, those few I have read were required reading for school and I’ve had a bunch on my to-read list for ages. And although these are true, they’re not the whole picture.
I only started book blogging in 2010 but have been always been a reader. In High School I read hundreds of Star Wars and fantasy novels; in college I obsessed over Harry Potter, LGBT and southern fiction; after college I started to read a lot more British/Irish fiction. And although I read quite a few ‘classics’ within those genres, I never read The Classics other than those for school requirements (at too young of an age).
Spending more time thinking about it (I drafted the first portion at least two weeks before finalizing this last half) I’ve realized that I’m reading The Classics now because I can truly appreciate them and no one is forcing me to read them. In choosing those I want to read and when I want to read them I’m able to find the ones that are intriguing and interesting.
In addition to this, I find it awesome that I’m reading books and authors who have inspired countless other authors, musicians and artists to create even more literature and art. The number of books I’ve read which have allusions to or direct references to older classics is staggering and the more I read the classics the more often I find these allusions and references or question whether an author/artist did do this.
So, although my answer may be as deceptively simple as the question, my thoughts are still evolving on this month’s meme. I will definitely have to revisit it perhaps annually until I finish my list if I stick with it long enough.
I love coming across references to books that I’ve actually read. I love stories, and the fact that these particular stories have stood the test of time makes me want to enjoy them and understand how they’ve influenced other works I enjoy.
I agree! And it’s great the more I realize how many references there are. Makes me feel like I could write a great novel one day with amazing allusions and references.
Harry Potter!!! *fist pump*
Now that that’s out of my system, I love this post. The simple pleasure of reading because it’s a book WE choose to read is wonderful. I also like that you mention how classics inspire other artists. You’re quite right about that, though I didn’t think about it while writing my post.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
It’s funny. I love that. I’m reading a book and the just randomly dropped in mentions of the Brontë sisters and it just makes me smile.
I remember being assigned to read classics in school — I don’t know how I did it and passed, but I never read them. But I did move a lot during my school years, so maybe I just moved to another state shortly after they were assigned and got out of it that way. 🙂 I love what you said and I feel the same way!
Isn’t it amazing how much schoolwork you can get through without doing the work? It’s funny looking back. I know I didn’t read some of the books but I still got decent grades on the test, quizzes and papers.
Yes, amazing and pitiful, too.