Tips for reading classic literature
If you’re just getting started
Some classics are definitely harder than others, and it’s best not to start with something that will overwhelm you. I made the mistake of starting with Moby-Dick when I was eleven and it took me, like, three years to actually finish. Here are some of the easier classics I know:
The rest of this article would be less necessary to read unless you’re already on your literary journey and had some other problems and questions in mind.
Forming reading habits
There are some classics that are really short, but I’d say your average classic is somewhere between 400-600 pages. Some of the crazier ones can be 1,000, 1,400 pages — so how do you even find the time to read that stuff? Find a time of day when you have a clear mind (maybe in the morning or evening) and try to read ten, fifteen pages each day. If you read fifteen a day, you’ll finish the book in roughly a month. Also, the more you read, the faster you’ll get.
As for heavier books, they can take an entire season, so people I know read them paired with shorter, easier books, which make them feel like they’re making progress and keep them interested in reading as a whole. If you’re a student, you can also schedule them for winter or summer break. Over the summer of ‘24, depending on my mood, I would read ten to sixty pages a day, and eventually I burned through around 1,100.
Annotation, analysis
You don’t have to scour every corner of a book for symbolism if you don’t want to, but the more you put into the book, the more you get out of it. The first rule of classic literature is to always ask why. Why did this author bother to write a chapter about x? Why did the author describe something as y, and not z? Why does a certain character act the way they do? What reaction was the author trying to get from you, and why? How does the first chapter set up the rest of the book? Ask yourself these over and over and write any answers you concieve all over your book so you don’t forget them. Underline anything you think might contribute to the mood or themes. As they say, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but other times, these analyses may lead to a much deeper and more interesting interpretation.
The second rule is that different authors have different styles which determine what’s worth annotating and paying attention to. Some authors like to use a lot of symbolism and allusions, whereas others make themselves clear by stating their beliefs over and over. Some authors make every little detail and description significant in later events, whereas others write those descriptions mostly as fluff. Some books focus on the outside world, others on the psychology and beliefs of their characters; analyze the books in ways that complement this. For example, Dostoyevsky often gives his characters last names that (in Russian) say something about their personality; “Raskolnikov” refers to the schism between the character’s mind and heart, “Karamazov” refers to the inclination to let dark desires prevail. But in Tolstoy’s books, he usually chooses more normal names (besides “Levin”, who is merely named after him.) So it’d be much more useful to analyze Dostoyevsky’s characters’ names than Tolstoy’s. You should be able to gauge the author’s style after a few dozen pages.
Types of classics
Oftentimes you hear from literati that they have special interests in, say, Victorian literature, or Russian literature. Classic literature is just a blanket term for all books that have a lot of layers, have original themes or characters, or were historically significant. Besides by genre, classic literature can be categorized by time and place.
Different books are heavily influenced by national values. Across the several centuries of American literature, you can often find themes related to the American Dream, the belief you can be or have anything you want if you work hard enough. Russian literature is said to be distinctly grim, hopeless, and existential, but also very funny. Time periods also influence books a lot — books are all, to a degree, of the world around them. Victorian literature comes from a time when there were very sharp divides between the rich and the poor, so there’s a lot of commentary on social classes. Postmodern literature, which arose with the horrors of W.W.II and the huge shifts in national power, stems ultimately from the destruction of the traditional, shining ideals of truth and meaning, and the embracing of the structureless and random.
Publishing
Penguin Classics is one I do recommend — their spines are nice and floppy, although very similar-looking. Everyman’s Library has great pages and spines as well, at affordable prices.
I would strongly advise against buying Clothbound Classics. Their spines are stiff and their designs wear off over time. Their pages fall out, and for some reason my Anna Karenina smelled like a dead animal. I can’t believe they’re sold everywhere, and that they’re as expensive as they are.
Honestly, I (personally) think a lot of modern publishers suck, so I personally just buy old books off eBay. If you want a cheesy, nostalgic cover, look for Bantam Classics or Oxford World Classics. If you want a fancy, vintage, gilded hardcover, try Franklin Library or Longmeadow Press — they’re often sold around $20-30. International Collectors’ Library is often even cheaper, but they’re more brittle.
Why even read classics?
My mom asked me once why I was so fond of “miserable” Russian poetry, and a kid in my class once said people only read Pride and Prejudice to sound sophisticated and intelligent. The intense, poetic style of many classics can give a voice to emotions you’ve never been able to properly describe. The depth of the characters can make you feel seen and understood like never before — I knew a guy who said No Longer Human was practically his biography and that he thought about the book every day. It can teach you more about history, about the things people felt and experienced in long-gone times and faraway places.
But most importantly (in my opinion), it changes your way of thinking, often for the better. The authors have very complex worldviews, and oftentimes a passion and love for ideals that is contagious. Victor Hugo inspired me with his characters’ willingness to sacrifice everything — their safety, lives, and happiness — for a better tomorrow and a better France. The chapter of Moby-Dick, “The Lee Shore”, serves to this day to help me face my fears and constantly push my limits. Dostoyevsky and Steinbeck taught me the beauty of unconditional love, which I now try my best to pursue. These books have changed my life so much, and I am only a casual reader with a little time to read!
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Page created November 30, 2024.