As we celebrate the release of The Wind & the Sun— here's my next guest: Heather was the winner of the wolfies back in March during my anniversary party. She's an avid reader of paranormal stories, and you can find her on Twitter and at her blog:
Heather writes:
I have a bit of a confession to make, and it's a big one —I don't read the classics. The great romances on which many of the male characters I read are based on in some way; I've never read the original books though I love watching the movies or reading the modern adaptations. I'm thinking about Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, or the honorable Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility (though that might have been because he was played by Alan Richman in the movie). Though I did love Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones Diary the most out of my movie Mr. Darcy options. I have a soft spot for Colin Firth and his Christmas jumper. His cold and superior temperament towards Bridget went counter to his declaration”I like you just the way you are”. And his sparkling eyes whenever he saw her — I felt my heart go a pitter patter a bit. The cold and aloof romantic hero who fights his unfavorable attraction to Elizabeth (or Bridget) is a theme I feel that repeats in many paranormal romances but with the twist of the man also being a werewolf or vampire.
Another reworked classic that comes to mind the movie The Ten Things I Hate About You, which is based off William Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. I loved this movie– it takes place at Padua high school rather than the streets of Padua in the play and the “tamer” is bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) and the ansty teenage shrew is Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles). Two suitors for Kat's younger sister Bianca pay Patrick to woo Kat and soon he finds out she might be more than he can handle. Though there are distinct differences from the play — Patrick is a much more sympathetic character than Petruchio – once again we are faced with the alpha male than falls for a women despite himself and then fights his feelings for her.
So now that I've got one of my deep dark literary confessions out of the way — what do you think of modern adaptations in book or movie form versus the classic text? Should I run out now and grab a copy of Pride and Prejudice right now or do you think like modern adaptations like Bridget Jones Diary are the way to go? Do you have any modern adaptation suggestions for me?
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Your answer to Heather's question, or a comment is your entry into the contest for today.
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I don’t read the classics. I also don’t knowingly read or watch adaptations. I don’t know going in that they are – if they are.
So – I can’t help you with your question 😀
I think Tasha- that’s part of it. There are official lists of classics, but there are also other books that become classics for some people and not others.
I hate Wuthering Heights with a passion, but I think everyone should have to read Ender’s Game.
Okay I’m such a big classics reader either. I had this plan a few years back to read a few more English classics(plan was to read on every month) but I stopped after 5 months tops. I just don’t have the time with all the great new releases…
As for a good adaption: I love the Romeo & Juliet adaption with Claire Danes & Leo and I adore Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightly.
Great post hon!
In college I signed up for a great books class and lasted all of a week before I dropped.. btw I love the Claire and Leo version of Romeo & Juliet too!
Oh, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is my favorite book. I watch all the versions of it. The Colin Firth miniseries is my favorite. You should try the LOST IN AUSTEN movie. The heroine is a modern day woman with an love for P&P, who switches places with Elizabeth.
I’ve read some classics but I can’t get inot historicals to save my life. there are to many thy and thee’s for me.
I loved 10 things I hate about you. I also loved the remake of Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Clair Danes!
I think it’s a mix–I do think that reading a little bit of everything at some point gives us a deeper appreciation both for history and for what we like. Also it gives us more context (and sometimes common context) to understand each other as people and fellow book lovers 🙂 That said, I’m not a huge reader of classics. And yes, Ender’s Game is an EXCELLENT book!
I think part of the fun of remakes/twists on classics is knowing what is being remade–if you haven’t read (at least the Cliff’s Notes version ;)), it’s a lot harder to “get”…
I am a contemporary reader-not that I haven’t read classics, but my classics may not be the same as others’. For instance, I believe that Lord of the Rings is a classic, but most people consider it just a fantasy. Yet if you ask most modern writers like Stephen King, or Dean Koontz to name just two-they say that they were influenced to write by Frodo and the Hobbits and their adventure. Kings Dark Tower series (7 books) is loosely based on it, as are the original Star wars (George Lucas said it best-I wanted to do Lord of the Rings in Space). Just because a book is older, doesn’t make it a classic in my view, but whether or not it has a following does.
My kids had to read LoTR before they were allowed to watch the movies. Yes, it’s a classic in my books as well.
I love reading the classics. While getting my English degree in college I took classes focusing on Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters. I adored each and every one of the books I read. While I applaud the creativity of twisting a classic to modernity, I still prefer the originals. The originals just feel more honest to me.
I read all the classics during my high school and college years, and now I tend to grab more paranormal and contemporary romance stories.
I thought Clueless was a pretty funny take on the classic Emma.
Good call with Clueless – I loved that one too..so funny!
I’m not used to read classics, so this would be a good opportunity to start.
I have not read that many classics… I do not care to compare books to movies… because the movies usually are not as good as the books, but I do enjoy movies with the twists… you do not make a direct comparison…
Something must be wrong with me because I never read Pride and Predjudice or anything of that sort. The ones I love are Shakespeare, Beowulf and The Odyssey and to Kill a Mockingbird. Everything else forget it. The movies that to me mean more than the some of the stuff that was made in the last 10-15 years is Brigadoon or Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I can understand why people like the new takes on the old classics but I LOVE the old stuff just certain ones. I am a little picky.
I’m with you and have not read the classics. I’ve always thought I was the only one. A friend gave me Pride and Prejudice to read but it is not on the top of my to be read pile. I’m so happy to see that I am not the only one:)
I read some of the classics like Beuwulf and Shakespeare but only because of classwork. Have never tried to read the romance classics, too many new releases I want to read more.