One of my favorite parts of reading the NYT Book Review is reading the interview in the ‘By the Book’ section (you may also recall some controversy when an author poo-poo’d genre fiction in one such interview). I love seeing that other writers have far too many unread books on their nightstands and that, quite often, are as disappointed by some of the so-called ‘great books’ as we all are – it’s also a great way to get insight into the workings of a writer’s mind, their literary loves and hates, their passions as well as their favorite authors.
One of this week’s questions prompted this particular blog post – after all it’s Memorial Day weekend so most of us are enjoying a long weekend, hopefully spending at least some time thinking about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country (and saying a thank you to all that have and who continue to serve) as well as setting some time aside for reading and/or writing.
The question this week was: What’s your ‘go to’ classic? And your favorite book no one else has heard of…
For me, my ‘go to’ classic is Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. I studied it in my final year of high school and fell in love with it (so much so that my husband even bought me one of those prints that recreates the entire book in the shape of the continent of Africa). There’s something about the journey itself (both physical and metaphysical) as well as the lush, powerful prose that lured me in and wouldn’t let go. If I was asked to take one book to a desert island, Heart of Darkness would be it (despite the fact that it’s hardly the most uplifting tale to have with you!).
The second question is equally easy for me to answer and stems back to another book I studied in my final year of high school. It’s a book by an Australian author, David Malouf, entitled An Imaginary Life and, although it’s about the Roman poet Ovid in exile who encounters a feral child, it really deals with the whole concept of knowledge, language, imagination, civilization, man’s relationship with nature…you get the picture. Again, the lush, poetic prose is what really drew me in, as well as the amazing ability of David Malouf to describe the most complex, deep rooted concepts in the most simple yet magical terms.
I was recommended this book by my English teacher after I couldn’t get into the assigned text, Fly Away Peter (also by David Malouf). This novel is set in Australia during the First World War and, after being obsessed with British First World War poets and books like Testament of Youth, it seemed too simplistic and understated to appeal to my more dramatic tastes. My teacher, however, wisely told me to read An Imaginary Life first and then re-read Fly Away Peter…and I fell in love not only with An Imaginary Life but also David Malouf (I’ve bought and read every novel of his since). Reading that book was an almost mystical experience and yet (sadly) it’s not a novel I think many people have heard of…
So TKZers in the spirit of ‘By the Book,’ what is your ‘go to’ classic and what is your favorite book that no one else has probably heard of?
The Maltese Falcon, which I hold in higher regard than Gatsby.
For big honkin’ classic, I’d choose The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky.
For the book no one’s heard of, I unashamedly turn to the world of paperback originals from the 1950s and a title by John D. MacDonald: Cancel All Our Vows.
Jim, I still haven’t read anything by John D MacDonald and this is a timely reminder that I must do so!
This is the second time recently that “Heart of Darkness” has come up on my radar. I haven’t read it yet (the aforementioned TBR list is long) but I downloaded a copy (which by the way is free on Kindle right now).
My definition of classic and other people’s is quite different, thanks to being forced to read some of the so-called ‘classics’ in school. After that debacle, I will be curious to see if, during my lifetime, I ever actually do embrace a book that is deemed a classic. Stay tuned! 😎
I think school is responsible for many people dreading any book deemed a ‘classic’! I’m hoping you enjoy Heart of Darkness – even though enjoy might not necessarily be the right word…
I’m always bemused when kids say they were forced to read Fahrenheit 451 in school and hated it. I read it at random at the library and loved it. Some of those scenes still haunt me. I also made the mistake of reading Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes at night. I have not gone on a merry go round to this day.
For books nobody’s ever heard of, The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Gouge is wonderful. There’s a character who talks about overcoming mental illness because the author herself was mentally ill. She talks about “the black days”. It’s a lovely, deeply refreshing book.
As a kid who definitely fell into the “was forced to read” category the difference is all in the freedom to choose your own reading material.
OMG I read Something Wicked this Way Comes and was weirded out for weeks. I told my boys is was one of the scariest books I’d ever read (though I admit I am easily scared – hence no Stephen King for me!). Love Fahrenheit 451 too – but then I was never ‘forced’ to study it at school. I’ll have to check out The Scent of Water as I confess I’d never heard of it!
Classic, I hope – “A Death in the Family” (1957) by James Agee
Perhaps few have heard of – “Hystopia” (2016) by David Means
I confess to not having read either – so two more for the TBR pile!
Wow, one of my favorite books is another by David Malouf, “The Great World,” which takes place during WWI. I picked it for a book club I belonged several ago, based solely on a review–I think in the Wall Street Journal. We all loved it and his prose is beautiful. Even though he has won several writing awards, you are the only person I have heard o –outside of my book club–who has read anything by Malouf. Thanks for reminding me about him, now I’ll have to read the rest of his work.
Another “unsung” book that I think deserves wider recognition is “Bear Down, Bear North: Alaska Stories,” by an Alaskan author, Melinda Moustakis (2011). Although it is classified as a short story collection, I found it to be a novel in stories. Her prose is stark and stunning, teetering on dangerous.
Yay to another Malouf lover!! He’s sadly less known here in the USA than in Australia (and I worry, even there, he’s hardly a household name). The Alaskan ‘unsung’ book sounds intriguing – so another one for the TBR pile (another yay!).
how fun! About a year ago, Lianne Moriarty was interviewed for “By The Book” and said “Crow Lake” by Mary Lawson was her favorite undiscovered book. I bought it and have to say it’s become mine now. The story centers around the four Morrison siblings, growing up in rural Ontario and struggling to survive after the loss of their parents. Intensely emotional in its depiction of a fractured but loving family, this novel is by turns funny, tragic, and ultimately unforgettable. It is the story of great love and great loss and how the past can reach into the present and affect how we see everything. The minute you read the first chapter, you know you are in the hands of a talented storyteller.
An excerpt:
“I’m aware that we are biologically programmed to do many of the things we do. But within those constraints, I believe we have choice. The idea that we are carried along by fate, unable to resist or change direction, sounds suspiciously like an excuse to me.”
Read this fabulous book, first published in 2002, for lot of reasons, one of which is to get acquainted with Bo, one of the most memorable two-year-olds in literature.
Ooh…that sounds like a wonderful book! Thanks for sharing!
The go-to classic is Madame Bovary. I honestly don’t know why. I guess the woman just fascinates me. As awful-tragic as she was, a part of me always felt sorry for her. As a writer, I think I relate to the way Flaubert handles his characters, like he doesn’t overtly tell us what we are supposed to think or feel or them. We get to decide.
A couple of obscure books I love and have recommended to others: “The Lake, The River and the Other Lake ” by Steve Amick, a quirky domestic comedy set in northern Michigan. “Time and Again” by Jack Finney, about a time-traveling modern artist who goes back to the 1880s — complete with his illustrations. And this might not be obscure but it’s worth a mention for anyone who loves baseball and great characters — “The Art of Fielding” by Chad Harbach.
I am absolutely a kid who’s been forced to read classics, but as a reader I will honestly say the classics are not something I’m interested. I didn’t like any of the characters in Heart of Darkness, too selfish and self righteous. I didn’t mind Fahrenheit 451 or the Great Gatsby, but again, not my cup of tea.
For anyone my age, my favorite classic is the Hunger Games, For before the 21th century, it would have to be the little house on the prairie books.
For my favorite obscure book, the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix. Another Australian writer, but it’s pure epic fantasy.
Yes! Loved the Abhorsen trilogy. It’s a unique take on a fantasy world, with a splash of steampunk thrown in. Solid writing, wonderful characters, all-around great storytelling.
Sounds like I have to give this trilogy a try!
Yes, I liked the Hunger Games. For no reason other than lack of time, I never got around to reading the follow up books, but was impressed with book one.
Cold Sassy Tree
First book I ever read that made me cry. Told through the eyes of a young boy at a bad place in time in a farm community.
Haven’t heard of this book but certainly sounds interesting and I love a good cry!
Desmond Bagley’s “Flyaway” is my favorite unknown. He had a real sense of adventure.
My favorite classic is “Anna Karenina.” Read it in Russian Lit class. Influenced my Russian female character in my first book.
I read “Heart of Darkness” thirty years after traveling in the Congo. He nailed it.
Glad to hear Heart of Darkness rings true – I’ve never been to the Congo but the book certainly evoked the jungle in a way no other book has for me.
Thanks for all the suggestions. As for classics, even though I like war stories, for some reason I’d never gotten around to reading All Quiet on the Western Front. Couldn’t even remember the author’s name (Erich Maria Remarque) but I picked it up last week in a used book store and fell in love with it. I can’t bear to read anything else right away so I guess I will read this one again before I move on.
One of my favorites is The Philadelphian by Richard Powell. I read The Centurions and The Praetorians both by Jean Larteguy before I went to Vietnam; I didn’t understand them till I came back
Favorite book is tough…I love Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, but that’s not fiction. And I love Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, but in re-reading as an adult I see it’s not actually all that well written. I don’t re-read many books, but have read Pride and Prejudice several times.
Favorite less well-known author is Louise Penny. Her Inspector Gamache series is amazing, with the description of Three Pines…and the wonderful and often hilarious characters. Head hopping is excused!!
I’m not much into literary works, though I’ve read many and enjoyed them, and I also seldom re-read books, so when I do, its a special book.
My favorite classic is easy, The Three Musketeers by Dumas. As a fifteen year old boy I loved the swashbuckling adventure. As a fifty-five year old man it’s the political back-stabbing intrigue…and the swashbuckling adventure.
My favorite book no one has heard of is much tougher. My bookshelves are filled with popular genre fiction. However, several years ago the owner of the local mystery book store pointed me to Rain Fall by Barry Eisler, the story of a Tokyo-based assassin (Jonathan Rain) with a code of conduct (no innocents). He is a Viet Nam vet who is half Japanese, half American, with a penchant for jazz and whiskey. Eisler’s martial arts scenes are well done and he does an excellent job of characterizing the introspective, private nature of Rain.