As an avid reader, whenever I am faced with tantalizing lists like “Books Everyone Should Read at Least Once” and “Books That Changed My Life,” I feel a sudden pressure to read everything all at once. There are so many outstanding books in the world that it can be hard to decide which ones to spend my time with. Plus, there is sometimes a difference between books I think I should be reading and books I actually want to read. A Great Work of Timeless Literature isn’t always something you want to grab when you’ve finally got the free time to cozy up with a new book. Still, it’s hard to ignore the promises of mind-altering experiences that come with reading classic literature. I find the best way to get excited about and get the most out of “the Classics” is to expose myself to the culture that has grown up around the original work. This means getting to know the author’s history or watching a film adaptation that completely modernizes the setting of an old story. So whether you’re a Holden fanatic or someone who just never quite finished the high school reading list, these fresh interpretations of Classics offer a gateway into and even beyond well-worn (and well-loved) literature.
If you like…
1. If you like Pride and Prejudice… try The Real Jane Austen
One reasons Austen’s novels are enticing are that they contain stories about ladies getting decked out in fancy dresses and falling in love. But, more importantly, they offer portrayals of relatable and witty young women who learn from their mistakes. Paula Byrne’s biography of Jane Austen is an excellent companion to Austen’s novels, because it paints a detailed picture of the author’s life using small objects of personal significance, like an East Indian Shawl or the Vellum Notebooks in which she wrote her juvenilia. By telling the stories associated with each object, Byrne weaves a dynamic biography that has no need to follow a strict chronological order, and instead allows for many diversions into little known aspects of Austen’s life.
2. If you like The Odyssey… try O Brother Where Art Thou?
The Odyssey is literally a story of epic proportions. As one of the first works of literature in the Western canon, the story is alluded to in many later works. Therefore, to be a savvy and aware reader, it is essential to familiarize oneself with Odysseus’ master plan of getting a Cyclops drunk and blinding his only eye and with the alluring but dangerous Sirens. This particular film interpretation, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, satirizes the epic adventure with its depiction of escaped convicts who just want to make it home before getting caught by a relentless and cunning lawman. Apart from the hilarious misadventures taking place in the 1930s American South, the film is worth a watch simply for the music, a nod to early American folk.
3. If you like The Catcher in the Rye… try Salinger
Salinger’s masterwork is thought to be one of the (if not the) first novels in the young adult genre. It captures what it means to be young and feel out of control, giving a much-needed, serious consideration of teen angst. Salinger was notoriously private and secluded, so the 2013 documentary, Salinger, is a fascinating and well-researched exploration of the man’s mysterious life. With never-before-seen footage, photographs, and commentary of notable writers and actors who have been influenced by Salinger’s work, this documentary may be the most complete portrait we’ll ever have of the reclusive writer.
4. If you like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table legends… try Guinevere in Baltimore
I’m not sure that the stories surrounding King Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere really count as ‘Classic Literature,’ but the legends have circulated extensively for many, many years and make appearances in many literary (and not so literary) works. A recent adaptation of the legends takes shape in the poetry of Shelley Puhak. Her collection, Guinevere in Baltimore, was awarded the Anthony Hatchet Poetry Prize by modern day poet-celebrity, Charles Simic. These poems modernize the familiar love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere with corporate America as their playground. Witty and sexy, Puhak’s poetry breathes new life into medieval characters while also tinkering with feminist themes.
5. If you like 1920s novels and the Lost Generation… try The Paris Wife
The writings of the Lost Generation, which include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein, contributed to one of the defining eras in America’s literary history. The Paris Wife by Paula McClain is the loosely historical account of Hadley, Hemingway’s first wife. In this fictitious reconstruction of real lives (the likes of Hemingway, Zelda, and F. Scott), readers are given a glimpse into what the tumultuous literary world of the Lost Generation might have been like. What’s more, McClain gives a voice to a lesser known female figure of the time period, whose personal hardships are largely a result of her association with Hemingway. Her story is one often glossed over due to the overpowering fame and reputation of her male contemporaries.
6. If you like Howl and Beat poetry… try Kill Your Darlings
Perhaps most famous for his part in starting the Beat movement, Ginsberg is still one of the most provocative, innovative, and widely read poets today. In my own experience, reading Howl for the first time was a lesson in a new way of looking at poetry. It’s useful for readers and writers alike to understand where such an iconoclastic personality as Ginsberg got his start. In another fictionalized account of a writer’s early life, the film Kill Your Darlings tells the story of Ginsberg during his time as a student at Columbia. Here, the young man, played by none other than Daniel Radcliffe, first finds his footing as a poet and meets some influential friends like Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs.
7. If you like Shakespeare… try Manga Shakespeare
Shakespeare is purportedly the greatest writer of the English language. He might be a hard read, but that’s because his work is intended to be performed on a stage, not read individually before a class discussion. The Manga Shakespeare series contains abridged versions of Shakespeare’s dramatic works that get the famous stories across in a more accessible way, while also still preserving the important visual component of drama. Manga is widely used in Japan as a teaching tool, and is gaining recognition in the UK for helping students learn English. The beautiful illustrations in these books help readers understand the movement of Shakespeare’s intricate plots and allow for a more palatable transition into the full-length works for younger or first-time readers.
Images: amazon.com, wikipedia.com, mangashakespeare.com