Nowadays how many people read Classics? Do you like Classics?
By sarahrainbow
@sarahrainbow (162)
China
June 11, 2009 3:09am CST
Let me start with my frustration:
Three days ago I started a discussion on the popularity of the most important classical Chinese novel The Story of the Stone(also A Dream of Red Mansions). It's a pity I've only received 4 responses .Now that the discussion is similar to a survey and I need more responses to draw a conclusion.
I feel frustrated and thought perhaps I should have put it in the 'literature' instead of reading. So I searched for literature and added it to my interests. It gave me a shock to merely find all together 5 discussions in the interst of‘literature’! Most posts there are talking about popular readings.
Now I am wondering how many people read Classics nowadays? Do you like Classics? Do you still addict yourself to the works of Shakespear or Tolstoy or Balzac or other literary greats after your graduation?
4 people like this
8 responses
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
13 Jun 09
Hi Sarah. Yes, I certainly read classics as and when time permits. I have sets of Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, Balzac, and others. I would just so much enjoy reading a book like David Copperfield, Anna Karinina.
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
13 Jun 09
hello, greenline. it is really such an enjoyable experience to be reading books which offer us a lot of good sense. i used to have a collection of classical books and music. with the passage of time though, i got beset by so many problems (which mostly involve my own family) i have lost track of where they are now.
my youngest child who loves classics so much also muses, once in a while, on how he has been missing all those items. maybe, they will still be around in the house which we left behind about two years ago. we are planning to get back there by next year. i am hoping that we would still find them intact.
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
17 Jun 09
Hi, you are really well-read, greenline! Nowadays few people would like to spend time reading these voluminous works in your list, though the value of them will never fade.
I think it must be a great surprise if you get the lost books back,trinidadvelasco:), and thank you both for your respondence.
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
11 Jun 09
Wow, you are great.I am afraid apart from professionals, very few people would like read 19th century works now.I also think older English is difficult to understand. When I was reading 'The Return of the Native' from Thomas Hardy, I spent so much time in understanding the first 4 chapters (perhaps not 4? I can't remember exactly) and eventually somewhat failed to catch the exact meaning. Perhaps it's not difficult for you native English speakers.
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
12 Jun 09
Seemingly you take much interest in adventures:)
I don't like science fiction very much, for it's a bit difficult for me to understand the parts relevant to natural science.While I do think Jules Verne is a great writer! So many things he described from his imagination eventually come into being in reality ! I think he is not only a fictionist but also even a prophet.
You said occasionally you read some 19th century works , can you tell me what kind of books are they?
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Jun 09
Hi, sarah. Actually, I think it normal that your discussion on the popularity of the classic "The Story of the Stone" cause only a few mylotters have an idea about that novel since they are mostly foreigners. The novel, indeed, is a masterpieces to almost all Chinese; but in a different culture, it means a different thing. Just like Shakespeare who won a high renown in England, is not so famous in China. People all have their own taste, and we can't force them to like certain types of things. So they are not to blame.
Anyhow, never mind about it. It seems that people around here have no strong interest in talking about literature. They are more willing to talk common issues.
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
17 Jun 09
First thank you for your response.
Perhaps you misunderstand me. I don't force anyone to like any type (it's ridiculous and all impossible:)
I 've said it's a survey and I just want to know the popularity of the book, how many people know it's name, something like that. I don't mean I expect to get many "yes" answers. You can clear up if you see that discussion.
As for Shakespeare, I think he belongs to the whole world. Even in China, his name is well-known.
@cindyhxf (1446)
• China
13 Jun 09
Hi,sarahrainbow,i am sorry to say that i seldome read Classics.i know people must learn more from reading Classics .but i always thought i was so busy in daytime for work and busy for my daughter at night,i really have no much time to read a long classic.but your topic remind me i should read some classic if i could.thanks
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
17 Jun 09
You are quite welcome, cindy:)
As a matter of fact, people can hardly enjoy leisure in such a busy age,it's long since my last reading classics .:)
I start this discussion mainly to find how many people still take interest in classics, since more people enjoy talking about popular novels.
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
17 Jun 09
Hi, I am too busy recently to give comments in time, sorry for that:)
If you just don't read classics, how can you expect to learn from them? That's absurd:)
Never mind, I am only joking. As a matter of fact, few people would keep addicting to classics after leaving school,perhahps,it's partly due to the change of life, partly, the change of mind.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Yes, I love and own many of the "classics" and read them over and over through the years. Some of them I have from long ago when they were required reading in school. I also love modern literary fiction, which will down the road also be considered classics.
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
18 Jun 09
You are quite right:)
The list of classics is updating as time goes by. Most so-called classics today are just popular books in their age.
@vjsinduja (1031)
• Sri Lanka
11 Jun 09
I don't like to classic books at all. I love thrillers,horrors,mysteries,comics and romance......
@sarahrainbow (162)
• China
11 Jun 09
I see. Thank you for your response.
I also enjoy mysteries like Agatha Christie's works, though I think there is something irreplaceable in the classics.
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
13 Jun 09
i have loved reading classics during my younger years. at this time, i find it difficult to be reading as fast as i used to do. this way, i no longer enjoy doing some readings. this is because of my eyesight failing me so much already in most times.
also, reading for long hours and making it fast enough give me headaches. well, this must be due to my advancement in years of having habited the planet earth. no, i don't feel bad that i am forced to leave reading and other interests that involve good pulse and good eyes. i have had my share of my better days after all.
@xiangd (63)
• China
12 Nov 09
This is a serious question for sure, and it's worth to discussion, To be honest, I don't like read book very well, although I had read many book, the school book.Hehe, when I'm a young student, I study day to day and read schoolbook everyday, so at the off hours I don'g want to read book anymore, when I graduated from college, I'm busy to finding a good job and then I fall in love, so it's looks like I have no time to read classics in my rest life.
But I think it;s decide to your family and the environment. If a kid is borned in a highbrow family, for example his parents are teacher or professor, then he would be accustomed to read book including classics and other interesting book. That's all.
