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BookCat · 07-07-2017, 03:33 PM

Thank you so much for these recommendations.
Here are my thoughts about some of them, and a little more clarification.

D H Lawrence is a great recommendation; I've only read a couple of his books and that was a very long time ago. I wasn't sure he was PD.

War and Peace and Kim are rather longer than I'm looking for at the moment. I read lots of Russian shorts at uni. The plot of Kim does appeal, if only Kipling had edited the book a little!

While I love Dickens' novels, I'm not looking for non fiction. His novels are fairly easy to read imho. Thanks anyway.

Treasure Island is one of those books I've always intended to read, but never got round to. I might try it. As it was written for children, I don't imagine that it's very challenging.

I read Jekyll and Hyde one summer about 20 years ago when I had fun reading lots of classic horrors (including Dracula) in a sunny garden, just for perverse contrast! It might be worth revisiting.

A Modest Proposal is an essay I've had to study twice: for A level and at Uni, all that metaphorical baby eating! I've also read Gulliver several times. I might have a look at his other books.

I've never read a James Fenimore Cooper, but I've been under the impression he wrote westerns (an upmarket Zane Grey). Is he really that painful?

For some reason, I just don't get on with Austen; I've tried several of her books: Emma, Pride and Prejudice .. but find her writing a bit like wading through glue. Imho she needed an editor!

I've read a few Bronte novels: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall; Jane Eyre; and what I later discovered was an abridged version of Wuthering Heights. I do like the Brontes, so might try some of their other works, including the full version of WH.

Thanks for the Jack London recommendation, I haven't read anything by him. I'll take a look at The Signalman too.

I have the pbook of Gone With the Wind but have always been put off by the length. I would love to immerse myself in the story sometime. I've read Little Women.

Thank you.
By 'challenging' I mean in writing style and reading difficulty. The use of complex English grammar and a wide vocabulary. Many self-published, especially romantic, novelists, write poor ungrammatical English and use a very narrow vocabulary - often incorrectly.
I want to avoid authors like Thomas Hardy, who had a gloomy outlook, and find well-written, but positive books (and I love happy endings).
I'm going to cease downloading freebies from Amazon and stick to classics for a while. More recommendations for well-written classics would be very welcome.
I hope I haven't offended anyone with my reactions to the recommendations.

07-07-2017, 03:33 PM	#15
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thank you so much for these recommendations. Here are my thoughts about some of them, and a little more clarification. D H Lawrence is a great recommendation; I've only read a couple of his books and that was a very long time ago. I wasn't sure he was PD. War and Peace and Kim are rather longer than I'm looking for at the moment. I read lots of Russian shorts at uni. The plot of Kim does appeal, if only Kipling had edited the book a little! While I love Dickens' novels, I'm not looking for non fiction. His novels are fairly easy to read imho. Thanks anyway. Treasure Island is one of those books I've always intended to read, but never got round to. I might try it. As it was written for children, I don't imagine that it's very challenging. I read Jekyll and Hyde one summer about 20 years ago when I had fun reading lots of classic horrors (including Dracula) in a sunny garden, just for perverse contrast! It might be worth revisiting. A Modest Proposal is an essay I've had to study twice: for A level and at Uni, all that metaphorical baby eating! I've also read Gulliver several times. I might have a look at his other books. I've never read a James Fenimore Cooper, but I've been under the impression he wrote westerns (an upmarket Zane Grey). Is he really that painful? For some reason, I just don't get on with Austen; I've tried several of her books: Emma, Pride and Prejudice .. but find her writing a bit like wading through glue. Imho she needed an editor! I've read a few Bronte novels: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall; Jane Eyre; and what I later discovered was an abridged version of Wuthering Heights. I do like the Brontes, so might try some of their other works, including the full version of WH. Thanks for the Jack London recommendation, I haven't read anything by him. I'll take a look at The Signalman too. I have the pbook of Gone With the Wind but have always been put off by the length. I would love to immerse myself in the story sometime. I've read Little Women. Thank you. By 'challenging' I mean in writing style and reading difficulty. The use of complex English grammar and a wide vocabulary. Many self-published, especially romantic, novelists, write poor ungrammatical English and use a very narrow vocabulary - often incorrectly. I want to avoid authors like Thomas Hardy, who had a gloomy outlook, and find well-written, but positive books (and I love happy endings). I'm going to cease downloading freebies from Amazon and stick to classics for a while. More recommendations for well-written classics would be very welcome. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my reactions to the recommendations.