• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Catherine Gacad

  • About
  • Categories
    • Archives
    • Blogging
    • Burning Man
    • City Guides
    • Education & Politics
    • Favorite Books
    • Finances & Retirement
    • Parenthood
    • Relationships
    • Religion
    • San Francisco Bay Area
    • Travel
  • Hire Me
  • Subscribe
    • Feedburner
    • Bloglovin
    • Feedly
  • Search

All Posts

Take Time to Read the Classics

keep calm and read the classicsWhen was the last time you read a classic? A real classic novel.

I recently finished Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov and it blew me away. I couldn’t believe I’d never read it before. It’s truly a masterpiece. It was never something I was interested in reading, thinking it was pornography in prose. It’s not. It’s very smart and a study in psychology because the book kinda plays a head-trip on you. Even though you know the narrator isn’t someone to be trusted, you start to feel sorry for him, and in the end start rooting for him. Very trippy.

Full disclosure: I did not read it. It was read to me by Jeremy Irons who did the most impressive reading I have ever listened to ever. Best audiobook of all time.

“The Fault in Our Stars.” “Gone Girl.” “The Help.” We’ve all read these books and they’re ok, maybe good, but they’re not exceptional. So why do we limit ourselves to what everyone else is reading? I’m not propositioning that everything we read must be Shakespeare or Ayn Rand or Faulkner, but every once in a while…can we try? Classic literature deserves our time and these books are great for a reason.

I urge you to suggest a classic for your next book club choice and let me know how it goes. Here’s a good site for reference.

What was the last classic novel that you read?

What was the last book that you read?

How does your book club choose what to read?

Related

Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

06.12.15

Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. janine Huldie

    June 13, 2015 at 4:34 am

    I agree and have actually read Lolita and was truly an exceptional read indeed and am very glad I did read it a few years back, too.

    Reply
  2. Savvy

    June 13, 2015 at 4:40 am

    The last classic I read was over 10 years ago when I read Anna Karenina. It took me an entire summer. Lolita is on my reading list. You’ve inspired me to read it next. Thanks for the inspiration. Many people list Lolita as one of their favorite reads.

    Agree with you on the Help, Gone Girl, etc.

    Reply
  3. Karen

    June 13, 2015 at 8:40 am

    I love classics (was an English major in college) but don’t read them often enough. The last great classic I read was a few years ago when i took To Kill a Mocking Bird with me to Hawaii. It’s crazy I had never read it but oh my was it great. I’ve got a few queued up but will add Lolita to the list. 🙂

    Reply
  4. AwesomelyOZ

    June 14, 2015 at 8:00 am

    Yeah I need to get on that.. That sounds like a great book maybe I’ll get the audiobook of it.. I need tot ry out a subscription because I’m not going to lie I don’t have the attention span or time to read on my own. Glad you enjoyed the book and have a great weekend Catherine! -Iva

    Reply
  5. Tamara

    June 15, 2015 at 8:26 am

    I just read “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah. As for the last classic.. is “Cutting For Stone” a classic?

    Reply
  6. Dana

    June 15, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    I just finished “Circling the Sun” – it will be out next month. It was just okay. I added Lolita to my Audible wish list – thanks!

    I can’t remember the last classic that I read; I’m not usually a fan. But my daughter has to read Jane Eyre and Invisible Man this summer for English, and I may read one too.

    Reply
  7. Glenda Solis

    July 21, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    Read Lolita a while back..you know me, I’m all about the classics. Thank you for posting the list, I’ve bookmarked it. xo

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to my site, derived from an advice column I wrote while getting my MBA. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I give helpful, opinionated advice based on my own experience and from the expertise of my extensive network. For more, click here.

Categories

  • Archives
  • Blogging
  • Burning Man
  • City Guides
  • Education & Politics
  • Favorite Books
  • Finances & Retirement
  • Parenthood
  • Relationships
  • Religion
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Travel

Popular Posts

  • An Exploration of World Religions: Zoroastrianism
  • A Flowchart for Choosing Your Religion
  • Why Do Guys Date Girls Who Barely Speak English?
  • Touring Sunnylands, "Camp David of the West," near Palm Springs
  • UC Berkeley English Department
  • How to Avoid Fecal Coliform Bacteria on Your Next Flight
  • What to Know About the Lair of the Golden Bear
  • Daily Interviews
  • Pre-Thanksgiving Not So Good News
  • Oysters at Cafe des Amis

Back to top

© 2025 Catherine Gacad.