Comments on: Is Literature Supposed to be Convenient?

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:37:21 +0000

Following these thoughts, I saw this:

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/improve-your-mind-by-reading-the-classics/

jb says: Great link, Mikeachim. Thanks for passing it on.

By: Mikeachim

Mikeachim — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:29:44 +0000

The horror. The *horror*.
The point about the ‘classics’, and indeed Art in general, is that it entertains by challenging, surely? We change ourselves to fit it – not the other way round. That’s how we glean cultural value from the whole exercise. That’s how we grow.
‘Moby Dick’ is a wonderfully challenging read, with its strange initial focus on a character abandoned by the author halfway through….
The classics should be appreciated in the same way as quality contemporary or recent fiction, certainly. And they should enjoy the same rights.
If a publisher blundered in and hacked great lumps out of Lord Of The Rings to make “the story and the characters emerge”, much of the western world would burn for a few unpleasant days. Same for ‘Moby Dick’, in a fair world.

By: Suzan Abrams

Suzan Abrams — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:41:54 +0000

Oh no, John! I’ve cherished every word of the classics. Today, I still stay mesmerised by the quaint charm of a timeless appeal. Me too! Won’t be reading the cut-down version.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:14:25 +0000

If only Melville had these fine fellows' incisive intelligence. Though I do wish he'd been more inclined to write a separate scientific treatise on whales. I admit, though I was otherwise very into the book, it eventually caused me to give up on Moby Dick. Which is nowt to do with the length of the book, though.

jb says: Me too. And it also wasn't to do with the length; and I certainly won't be reading the cut-down version.