Great list!! I also read East of Eden for the first time this year and was blown away. Literally couldn’t put the book down and was a bit relieved to be done, only so I could sleep again! Lol!
I know what you mean about having some kind of guide to reading classics. Have you ever listened to The Literary Life podcast? I’m sure you have, but just in case, it is so so so good. I feel that I’ve learned more from the delightful hosts of that show than all college and high school literature classes combined. It gets me so jazzed about story and the Great Conversation, and life! They do series of episodes covering all sorts of books and they are always mind-blowing (“I had no idea that was in the story!!”).
I really need to try some Muriel Spark! Have you read any Barbara Pym ? Her style sounds similar :) sort of a 1940s Jane Austen comedy of manners.
Great list!! I also read East of Eden for the first time this year and was blown away. Literally couldn’t put the book down and was a bit relieved to be done, only so I could sleep again! Lol!
I know what you mean about having some kind of guide to reading classics. Have you ever listened to The Literary Life podcast? I’m sure you have, but just in case, it is so so so good. I feel that I’ve learned more from the delightful hosts of that show than all college and high school literature classes combined. It gets me so jazzed about story and the Great Conversation, and life! They do series of episodes covering all sorts of books and they are always mind-blowing (“I had no idea that was in the story!!”).
I really need to try some Muriel Spark! Have you read any Barbara Pym ? Her style sounds similar :) sort of a 1940s Jane Austen comedy of manners.