Help me decide what to read next

[Paul__Michaels]

The Count of Monte Cristo

 

[Garolymar]

I really liked The Inheritors. It's kinda confusing and it can take a bit to get used to how the characters talk/think about things (they're Neanderthals) But it's actually really fun. It's by William Golding

 

[LiteraryWho]

A Study in Scarlet was one of Arthur Conan Doyle's few novels - it has Holmes in it very briefly (IIRC twice, kind of a "framing device"). A small section of that novel does criticize unions, and a larger section does attack, IIRC (read it in the 80s so may be blurring details), founder John Smith specifically and Mormonism in general for a good size chunk of the text.

That is kind of hilarious, tbh. I understand the labor union complaints, but I'm not sure why the very British Doyle would have any particular animosity towards the very American Mormons. Maybe they were bigger in England than I thought?

The Count of Monte Cristo

He said shorter, even the abridged Monte Cristo rivals WNs in length (though I guess DQ is in a similar boat, so maybe it's fine?)

 

[Alfir]

Please give a review once you finish?

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Please give a review once you finish?

I will consider it.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Beowulf was short as fuck you can read it in like 10-15 minutes. Read Sherlock Holmes.

You don't read it for the brevity, you read it for the historical record of what people wrote for epic adventure back in the day. ?

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

As a reader of 4 of those selections, here are my thoughts.

Give Sherlock Holmes a chance. You're gonna be amazed.

Also, if you're gonna read Beowulf, read the Seamus Heaney verse translation.

As for The Scarlet Letter and Macbeth, I'd read Macbeth first. It's shorter than The Scarlet Letter, but the density of Shakespeare's language will help you prepare for the verbosity of Hawthorne's novel. Read Sherlock Holmes to decompress if reading the other two gets tiring.

 

[BigBadBoi]

You don't read it for the brevity, you read it for the historical record of what people wrote for epic adventure back in the day. ?

I'll be honedt. I read it back in middle school and it was pretty nice for an old epic but my teacher's dumb as fuck and exaggerated accent completely pulled me out of it.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

That is kind of hilarious, tbh. I understand the labor union complaints, but I'm not sure why the very British Doyle would have any particular animosity towards the very American Mormons. Maybe they were bigger in England than I thought?

It was the only thing I read by Doyle (including his short horror stories) that I didn't like. I have no clue why he picked the "targets" he did, but he did tie it back in to England somewhat. May have to re-read it.

 

[Placeholder]

> I have no clue why he picked the "targets" he did

Mountain Meadows Massacre - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Mormonism and violence - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[SirContro]

Read Sherlock Holmes. Not because it's good, but to spite the author who's appalled by his creation.

 

[melchi]

Search your heart

Follow your soul

 

[lambenttyto]

I voted Sherlock, but why not try Conan the Cimmerian. They're short, and you don't have to read them all. If you do, only read the Howard stories. He wrote them.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I'll be honedt. I read it back in middle school and it was pretty nice for an old epic but my teacher's dumb as fuck and exaggerated accent completely pulled me out of it.

It was required reading in high school. I loved that Olde English dialect. We'd go to the Ren Faire locally here and you were asked to try to address one another in that tongue. Good times. ?

 

[Representing_Tromba]

For some clarification, I have read all of these before at some point in the past 20 years but I am going to reread them with someone who hasn't yet.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

For some clarification, I have read all of these before at some point in the past 20 years but I am going to reread them with someone who hasn't yet.

Are you reading out loud to them? Lots of luck with Beowulf then, that's hard to read to someone else. ?

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Are you reading out loud to them? Lots of luck with Beowulf then, that's hard to read to someone else. ?

Yes, I am. Beowulf shouldn't be an issue as I have read it to my siblings last. It was difficult but considering it is a translation, it is to be expected. Also, generational translator note beef is hilarious to read through.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Yes, I am. Beowulf shouldn't be an issue as I have read it to my siblings last. It was difficult but considering it is a translation, it is to be expected. Also, generational translator note beef is hilarious to read through.

Scholars even today argue over the translations. They'll probably never come to terms on a completely accurate rendition of the poem and we'll never know who wrote it. Kind of humbling. I could see why they'd require this for high school Lit back in the day.

 

[Placeholder]

> Beowulf

The graphic novel treatment is ???!