Classic #1: Shakespeare's King Lear

I've chosen King Lear to begin my year of classics. It's one of Shakespeare's I know nothing about, which means I probably watched the movie last year.
It's an adventure not knowing, especially while stretching my 17th century English muscles after so many years. I do have one thing going for me. Thanks to my King James Version upbringing, I'm good with my "thees" and "thous".
Act II is on the menu for tonight. Lear seems to be losing his mind or has already lost it. Is he faking it, or am I just confusing the plot with Hamlet? And how does the Fool get away with being so insulting? Kent was banished for a lot less. Guess it pays to be a court jester!

Have you started your book yet? If so, let me know which one you chose and how it's going.

Merry Christmas!!

Comments on the Classics--What IS a Classic Anyway?

Good question.

After a little research, I found there's no hard and fast rule on this. Much discussion involves which books should/shouldn't be considered "classics". We'd all agree the original classics were Greek/Latin--think "The Iliad and the Odyssey". But what about all the other great books written since?

How about we set a few guidelines for what can be considered classic literature for our...what shall we call it..."2010 Classic Literature Challenge"?

1) Known/printed world-wide.
2) Been in continuous print since its original publication.
3) At least 50 years old. (There go Nicholas Sparks and Stephanie Meyer.)
4) Often used in education.

That should help us choose!

I won't be making a list of the books I plan to read. If you're a list-maker, go for it, but I plan to go where the wind (or my mood!) takes me from month to month, book to book.

There are so many great books to pick from. So, where should you start? Well, of course, I'd like you ALL to read along with me, but that's just my selfish nature coming through! My suggestion for you--start with whatever you have immediately available. We all have a few good classics on our shelves we've been meaning to get around to.

Just start!

A Year of Comments on the Classics

oreI couldn't tell you how many books I've read over the last decade. Countless. What I can tell you is how many have been classics.

Exactly zero...since highschool, that is, and not counting the children's classics the kids and I have read together in school. Still, it's shameful. I know.

In the past, I've been too busy wading through piles of books given to me for review. Not complaining, mind you. It's a pleasure helping authors get the word out on their books. But this year, the year before my own book is published, I plan to make time to dust off a couple of my favorite classics (the ones collecting dust since highschool) and read at least 12 new ones.

I'll be posting periodically to share thoughts. No reviews, I promise--just insights, comments, and the like.

Shakespeare's "King Lear" is is first on my list. It's a new one for me, and five pages in, I'm already enjoying it. (More on that later!)I hope someone out there will join me. I'd love to hear your thoughts too. It's always more fun to read a book when you have someone to share it with.

Don't want to start with "King Lear"? No problem. Pick your own classic, drop by, and leave a comment. Maybe I'll start on your pick next!

So head over to your library or bookstore, grab a book you've always wanted to read and get started!

Just don't forget to tell us about it!!

Happy Reading!