This you knew, of course. I have to be reminded periodically.
Latest reminder: JANE EYRE, by Charlotte Brontë (published in 1847 under pseudonym Currer Bell).
Sure, I have some problems with it. After reading current middle grade and YA novels for a year, the mid-nineteenth-century sentence structure takes some mental adjustment. There seems to be little differentiation in speaking styles among characters. Even very young characters speak with considered grammar and melodramatic passion (and not the kind a kid today uses when he claims to be "starving!" and in need of a Big Mac). There is much laying of heads on sympathetic character's shoulders, chests, knees...whatever's available, really.
But! The story was compelling from the start. I'm not far yet -- Jane's still ten years old and at Lowood -- so I look forward to seeing everything unfold. That the book takes place on England's moors was a huge draw for me; it's an area I want to travel and a big reason I sort of enjoyed The Wolfman.
My positive reading experience got me so pumped, I made a new Twitter icon (above), based on this tweet by fellow Upstart Crow Josh Berk. Metal umlauts have their own Wikipedia page, by the way. Har.
How about you? Has a "classic" book ever surprised you?
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Newsflash: Some Classics Are Good
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4 ate pie:
This is entirely off subject, but.... Have you heard the latest Barenaked Ladies song? It's pretty decent...I wonder if it's about Steven Page?
(And to get back on subject: one of my favorites is Jane Eyre! Love her, even the cheesy ending...Speaking of, have you read Jaspar Fforde's book The Eyre Affair?)
I have not heard it, but now I'm extra intrigued. I hear they're on tour again.
Cheesy ending?! SPOILER. Kidding. No, I also haven't read Fforde's book, but I'm intrigued by his titles.
Basically, I don't actually do things, I'm just intrigued by them. :)
How intriguing!! :)
The song is good, actually, but a little slow...not quite depressing, but it sort of reminds me of some of the stuff they did when Kevin had cancer. I hope it's a real comeback. Heard about the tour earlier today, and that's making me hopeful...
Fforde's first three or so books in the series--brilliant. After that, they peter out.
(OH. And by cheesy ending, I meant literally....cheese. You find out that Mr. Rochester is actually...CHEDDAR! Which is OK because Jane has plenty of crackers.)
HAHA. Totally going to be thinking, Cheddarhead every time he talks now.
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