Evening all, I received a Kindle for Christmas and I really do like it especially as classic books are available for free from the gutenberg project. I have recently finished the entire Sherlock Holmes collection, the complete d'Artagnan series and I am currently working my way through The Count of Monte Christo which I think is my favourite Dumas novel so far. So my question is, what should I read next? I do really enjoy classic literature like the books mentioned above and I would ideally like it to be available for free! I have started Don Quixote and found it quite hard going... I will return to it and put in the initial effort required with all older books. Has anyone here ever read any of Dumas's other novels? Thanks!
All literature is very much decided by personal taste of course but I find that classic literature is even more so. I say that because I am very much a fan of fantasy and sci-fi however with the brilliance of the gutenberg project I found myself trying older stuff and loving it, despite it being totally different to what I usually read. I found myself just reading anything and usually enjoying it so, personally, I would suggest just picking anything and going for it. You might be pleasantly surprised Hell, I even read some Austen and enjoyed it (I now realise that what the TV networks have done to the original literature with costume dramas is a travesty). The only Dumas novel I've read however was The Count of Monte Christo so can't help you there, sorry One suggestion would be to try some of the original novels for things which have been ripped to pieces so much by more modern media. The Jungle Book, Treasure Island, Alice In Wonderland and Black Beauty were so much more in there original forms, so, so much more. Kudos for helping to keep classic reading going too by the way
I've had much the same idea though haven't gotten around to it yet because it takes me ages to read a book (I never have/make the time). However I have selected some books. Great Expectations, because of the new Dickens adaptations on the BBC in the Winter there. John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath (might not be free though). Jules Verne - Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Remember that you can (easily) download a trial version from Amazon to your Kindle as well. I'm currently reading a Game of Thrones. Almost a quarter of the way in and it's very good.
Thanks I spent a few years reading lots of Physics and Maths so I am giving myself a year off to read some literature I will have a look at some of the childhood classics, I did try Jane Eyre but the language was just too much! I might give it another go soon though. A Tale of Two Cities was an amazing read, have you read any other Dickens? I really enjoyed the H.G. Wells collection, brilliant books!
I have heard bad things about the later GoT books so I am a bit unsure whether I want to start. If you do enjoy it then you will love the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb, gripped me from the first page of the trilogy till the last! I always forget to read Verne, will download it tomorrow and add it to the list
Oi! Robin Hobb isn't classic literature Got to agree though, the first 15 pages of Assassins Apprentice had me hooked. +1 to Steinbeck, might not be free but won't be a lot and he was a fantastic author.
It isn't free I will buy a paper copy when I next need a book to read, I hate the idea of buying ebooks!
If you like Robin Hobb (good on you ) then you should read The Liveship Traders, fantastic books (in my opinion). I think I've also read the Farseer trilogy, or the fools one, can't remember I personally am a fan on Bernard Cornwell, and since if you like Robin Hobb you're not limiting yourself to classics, then I highly recommend his Arther Trilogy, and Stonehenge, and Azincourt (that's how it's spelt on the front cover of the copy I have), awesome books based around historical events, gripping stuff
I heard that the other two trilogies aren't very good if you have read the farseer trilogy, do they stand up against it? I do like Cornwell but I always feel that the second book in his trilogies fall a bit flat.
Its a shame you didn't get on with Don Quixote. I was going to recommend it. I'm going to put Dracula forward for consideration. I'm not sure if it's free or not but it's well worth a read. Horror might not be your thing but the first section at castle Dracula is just some of the best atmospheric sriting I've ever encountered. Another worth a thought is Moby Dick. It's quite slow but Ahab is one of the great characters in literature. On the subject of Dumas I always wanted to read The Three Musketeers but never seem to get around to it. I really should make time for it.
I read the Liveship Traders first, and loved it, but haven't read any of his stuff for a while, so not sure if I enjoyed the other trilogy more. Which of Cornwell's books have you read? Stonehenge and Azincourt are standalones.
I think they problem I had with Don Quixote was that I started reading it just after I finished the Three Musketeers and the sudden change in writing style and language didn't agree with me! I have read Dracula, very strange way to write a book but I did enjoy it! And yes you should make time for it!
Oh now there is a question! Probably 4 or 5 of his trilogies, will give Stonehenge and Azincourt a look
I don't think I know that many trilogies by him The Grail Quest series wasn't quite as good as the Arther in my opinion, and the Saxon Tales have been good for me overall, although haven't read the latest (got it, but want to reread them all to make sure I don't forget anything) His Starbuck quadrilogy was really good in my opinion, was a nice change from his usual setting, however Recoat, a standalone based around a similar time, I didn't enjoy anywhere near as much. Not read any of his Sharpe books, since I'd have to start from the beginning, and that would be a bit of a commitment
I'm reading Martin Eden (by Jack London) at the moment and quite enjoying it. It is one of the free electronic books and is available on the Gutenberg Project site. Wasn't sure I'd take to Ebooks but I've got a load on my HTC Wildfire and now have no qualms about reading even on that small and low-res screen. Means I've got the book I'm currently reading wherever I go and is great for reading in bed without disturbing the other-half with a bedside lamp. As such I don't think I'll ever bother with an E-reader like the Kindle. As for Steinbeck... I would currently say he is my favourite author because of my attachment to Of Mice & Men, Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. However, from the small collection of other books of his that I've read I would say that I think those three are his best work. I've read a few shorter books and found them largely lacking in anything to get me going. Winter of Our Discontent got me engaged just as Steinbeck does with his best work but ultimately I found the story undwerwhelming. I think I perhaps need to re-read it to work out why but I remember expecting it to culminate in some big event and it just didn't so was bit of an anti-climax. Also, by and large Steinbeck's books are set in the same location & era (west coast US, 1930s depression) so it gets a bit samey in that respect. I started using the site Good Reads a little while back to keep track of what I've read and find other books. It seems the majority of users are women but this hasn't stopped me finding the site useful reviews-wise for my more masculine tastes.
Yeah i've found the having Aldiko on my phone lets me read a little more than i've been able to in the past. The Kinlde app would let you sync between devices which is a bonus if you have two. I've worked my way through Dr. Watsons remembrances regarding his adventures with Mr. Sherlock Holmes a couple of times (before they were cool again...) being short stories they are better suited to burst reading on the phone, ime. I've also read a couple of Well's novels; War of the Worlds is very interesting to compare to later invasion stories.
Oscar Wilde is incredible and free for the kindle, I particularly like The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Ernest and Lady Windemere's Fan. Otherwise, just browse through Amazon's top 100 free books
So I finished the Count of Monte Cristo! Amazing book and I really enjoyed it. I have downloaded the free books that people have recommended in this thread There are some titles that I would like to own a physical copy of, does anybody have any of the Barnes & Noble leather bound collection? What is the quality like?
Hmm literature. Robert Louis Stevenson? You say you read the sherlock holmes books, did you download the entire Conan Doyle collection or just the Sherlock Holmes stuff? I really enjoyed The White Company. Also found his book on the Boer War really interesting.
