I should have done this tag weeks ago since I'm part of the team at Rebellious Writing and all.
But who has time for tags in the Summer?
Especially when you're busy hiring someone to help with your cleaning, finishing up your fourth (and best) novel, and getting ready to travel to Germany?
Yeah, I think my excuses are quite good ;)
At least I didn't say that the dog ate my laptop ;p
/RULES/
1. Link your post to Rebellious Writing
2. Answer the questions
3. Tag at least 5 bloggers.
What is one classic that hasn’t been made into a movie yet, but really needs to?
You know, there are so many movies out there and I'm sure I don't know all book-to-movie adaptions. But I do think if there is a movie for certain books, it should be more popular so I shouldn't have to wonder about it ;)
But if I had to choose, I'd really love to see a movie of "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens. Hold that. I really want the "Emily of Newmoon" book by L. M. Montgomery to be made into movies. But they must be done right. I adore those books.
What draws you to classics?
You know, it's not so much that I'm drawn to classics as that I'm drawn to old books. Or more like, good wholesome stories, with archaic or romantic language and word choices and people that feel real and mature. I like ready stories that leave me refreshed or inspired or satisfied. Or even if I have a negative feeling at the end, I might like the book because it was so psychologically disturbing that can't help pondering over it for days and learning sooo much.
What is an underrated classic?
I'm going to cheat and say every classic aside from Jack London because I don't like Jack London. Why don't I like Jack London? I find his stories way too bitter, and I dislike how the animal always goes off to be alone.
What is one classic that you didn’t expect to love, but ended up loving anyway?
I never expected to not like a classic. If I expected that I wouldn't have read it ;)
What is your most favorite and least favorite classics?
I can't pick favorites, so I'll do authors: Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Steveson, Louisa May Alcott, Gene Stratton Porter, George MacDonald, O. Henry, and I better stop.
There are many classics I didn't much care for: "The Man In The Iron Mask", "Great Expectations", and anything by Jack London.
I also have a love/ hate relationship with "The Masters of Ballantrae" by Robert Louis Stevenson and "Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens.
What is your favorite character from a classic? Or if that is too hard, one is your favorite classic character trope (e.g. strong and silent, quiet sidekick, etc.)
Wow, there are classic tropes?? I mean, I know each author definitely has their own personal "tropes" but I never thought to that classics overall might ... except for the fact that they are mostly good ;)
Probably one of my all-time favorite characters from classics is David Balfour from "Kidnapped" and "Catriona" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
What’s a popular classic that you felt wasn’t actually that great?
Well, aside from "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang", and the others I've already mentioned, I'd have to say I don't particularly care for "Three Musketeers" ... but then I haven't actually read that book, only seen tons of movies.
Also, "Treasure Island" is dull to me ;p
Who is your favorite classic author?
I'm just going to list more authors since I already answered this question above:
Jules Verne, Harrold Bell Wright (not a classical author but SHOULD be), G. A. Henty, L. M. Montgomery, and MORE.
In your opinion, what makes a classic a classic?
I used to think anything that was super old, as in not much past the 20s and 30s, and preferably older than the 1900s. But, turns out they are making books from the 60s-80s classics now, too. Such as "Witch of Blackbird Pond" and "To Kill A Mockingbird", both amazing books, but not really classics to me.
I mean, you can't even find them with old covers, and you can find first editions of them in paperback. How is that a classic?
I guess, to me, a classic is something that was written a long time ago that is also GOOD. It needs to be both aged and wise to be a classic, I think.
Relating to newer books, what attributes does a book need to have in order to be worthy of the title “classic”?
We need to all die, and all of our children need to have died, and their children, too. Then if it's a good book, it may be a classic ;)
I tag:
Erudessa
Julia
The Doorman
Becca and Bethany
Rakayle
Do you enjoy reading classics? What do you think of my stance on what makes a book qualifies to be a classic? Also, please don't unfollow me if you're a Jack London fan ... we can still be friends ;D
Also, yes, I know this isn't on my regular blogging schedule, but I wanted to post it while I had the time. So I hope you don't mind having an extra post this week ;)
What interesting answers! From the book I read about Jack London's wife, I don't want to read his books because he sounds like an abusive person. Maybe that comes out in his writing!
ReplyDeleteHe had a lot of issues carried over for his time in war. I didn't know he may have been abusive, but I would believe it. But yes, his writing is very violent and dark and hopeless.
DeleteMe, too....I've tried Call of the Wild and Three Musketeers, and I just couldn't. The only reason I finished Treasure Island was bc I was reading it aloud to my kids.
ReplyDeleteWell, kids love Treasure Island, so that's pretty neat! I do love the story behind TI, how Stevenson wrote it with his stepson. I think my main problem was that the story became too common for me ;)
DeleteLoving your answers, especially the one about what makes a classic a classic. <3 I read the abridged kid's version of Call of the Wild . . . I kind of enjoyed it? It was a while ago, though, and I think if I read the actual, full story, I wouldn’t enjoy it as much. XD
ReplyDeleteA lot of people enjoy his stories because they love the animal aspect and the survival bits. And I myself love those parts. What I don't like is how London portrays all men, or that the only good ones are brutally killed, and that the dog is the only good one alive, and that the dog must realize that and often kill others on his path (not all of his stories, but many are that way).
DeleteHa, your requirements for a book to be a classic crack me up. :)
ReplyDeleteI found Treasure Island dull the first time I read it, but now I love it to bits. Still need to give Stevenson's other novels a fighting chance, though. (I was too young for Kidnapped when I read it, methinks.)
They can be both funny and true, yes? ;)
DeleteYou know, his books can be hard to get into. Except for his thrillers ;p Also, some books do seem to do better read at an older age, I think. We appreciate all their beauty more as we can finally understand it.
(Oh absolutely. In fact, I don't think anything can be truly funny unless it's true.) (I mean unless it's irony? But even that requires an understanding of the truth.)
DeleteSooo true! One of the many reasons I love satire ;)
DeleteI love your answers to this tag! I'm not super drawn to Jack London myself, mostly because I don't care for animal main characters all that much?? I prefer human characters and more dialogue when it comes to classics - or any book, really. XD
ReplyDeleteThat could be a huge part of it for me, too, as I like human stories better. Though there are a few animal stories I love. But yes, dialogue is necessary ;)
DeleteYou read a lot of classics, I'm working on that.
ReplyDeleteI've also been meaning to read The Witch of Blackbird this fall.
I once read a lot of classics. Now, I'm lucky if I read anything ;p
DeleteI've read that book like three times? It's soooo good!
J+M+J
ReplyDeleteEeeek! I somehow missed this.... *runs to hide near a corner in shame*
Sorry, I'll catch up for my lack of words now....
I can see where you could come from with finding Treasure Island dull... though, that being said, I don't consider it that in the least! (I rather like it I must confess) I merely wish to express an understanding in why it could be thought of so. (I like to try and think from others viewpoints to find out things and understand, I suppose that's one (of many) reason(s) I'm a writer!)
And goodness, your last explanation made me laugh quite a bit! I see a major flaw however....
Supposing an author is single all his life... what then? He has no children, and can't have them. So therefore, if there is none, they can't grow, because they don't exist. And they can't marry to beget more children. Therefore, he can't have grandchildren or great grandchildren..... And so furthertherfore (is that a word??!), the children's children can't die since they aren't alive in the first place, since for something to die, it must be alive first.....
So does that mean single people can't write classics??! Gee... that's really quite saddening....
(And yes, I did make that three-times as long and complicated as it needed to be... *grins in usual mischievous way* ... your welcome!!)
And as to the tag... *desperately looks around for an escape then turns back to give a weary smile upon seeing none* thanks...!
I believe I saw this tag on Catherine Hawthorn's blog first...? I saw it and thought "Oh no... tag five bloggers?? That means I might get tagged, and so I'll have to know enough about classics to answer the questions.... aaah!!" And then I was relieved to find that I didn't get tagged... until I realized that if she tagged other people I knew (which she did), the likely-hood of those people not happening to tag me as well was pretty slim.... And lo and behold, I was right.
No matter though! I'll get to it within t he next millennia... (I hope)
(You know, I'm beginning to think I should put "And now its time for the part of the comment when The Doorman comes out and uses half a page to say what he could have in two sentences...." at the top of all my comments.... Sorry!! Really, I am! If ever it bugs you, tell me and I'll stop!)
The Doorman.
Ha, you are so funny! I don't think I'll ever tire of long comments. It's /why/ I blog, to have interaction with others.
DeleteSo I don't actually find Treasure Island dull because of the story or plot, but because I've seen the movies and read the stories soooo many times. For some books and stories now, that only endears them to us. But for some reason, Treasure Island is the one that became old to me. I think it's still a wonderful story, it's just not something I want to read again. Though, I suspect I'll have to read it to my children someday.
And ... hahaha I see what you did there.
So in that case one needn't actually HAVE children, but become a godparent to a friend's or relatives children. Or just find some random child.
Well, often when you run for something it chases you all the harder ;) Especially when it's such a good tag as this one ;D
Ha, I love your answers for what makes a classic a classic, and I think I agree, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd EMILY OF NEW MOON AS A MOVIE. YES. I need this.
Why don't you like Great Expectations??? I LOVE that book, haha. It's my favorite Dickens, possibly even my favorite classic.
Oh, and I'm curious too about the particulars of your love/hate relationship with The Master of Ballantrae. Because, same, and like...I don't know, it's such a weird, fascinating, disturbing, alternately super interesting and super boring story???
I love that you love David Balfour! He's SUCH a great character, and I think I love him even more in Catriona than in Kidnapped. And no one EVER talks about him, so that made me happy.
So, somebody actually told me there is a series out for Emily of New Moon, but that it's really dark and not as happy as the books. Which is sad, but I'm still going to find them and watch them.
DeleteWell ... it was a dark book. And I hated that Pip couldn't get over Estella even when she was such a jerk. And I hated that Estella had to be a jerk, and couldn't just live her own life separated from the woman. And ... you know, I think I was just too little when I read that book and it disturbed me ;p Yeah, because now as I'm saying why I don't like it I feel a little foolish and am almost thinking it might be a good book after all ;p
Well, I think it was a great story that really showed insight into a messy situation, and I love how it was kinda resolved yet not at the end. Yet, it was so sad and depressing. I think it was written to be hated, because how can you love such misery? Yet it's too beautiful to completely hate. Which makes you hate it even more. At times it was boring, true. But wow those fascinating, disturbing parts sure never let you forget the book ;p
Yes! He is so underrated ;/ and wow you've read Catriona!! That makes me happy! I loved those books so much, I named one of my goats after her ;D
Oh, I would love to see Emily of New Moon as a movie! With some things, like Anne of Green Gables, I love it so much that I don't want to see a movie of it because I want to always picture it the way I do and not be influenced, but with other things I really want to see what they come up with!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely understand not liking Great Expectations. I do, because for me it's like you said: "because it was so psychologically disturbing that can't help pondering over it for days". Yeah, some times I wonder why my mind is like this. XD
I know what you mean wanting to see some books as movies and not others. The Anne books were just so good I never wanted them to end. But the movies were boring, Haha!
DeleteAhh. You know the older I get the more I appreciate disturbing fiction. Such as now, I'm reading Harry's "Jude The Obscure" and wow it's disturbing but I like it. As a kid I would have hated it. I think that's what my problem is with GE.