Hard to believe that anyone would publish, let alone buy, one of these abbreviated "books," which totally defeats the purpose (at least as I see it) of a classic novel. If you're a student you might as well just go for the Cliff Notes (or the on-line equivalent), and if you're a reader simply interested in the plot, a quick trip to Wikipedia would do the trick. Keep up the good fight, Frank!
Frank, good essay ..... and good points made ..... thanks for sharing.
I, too, 'skipped' through "War and Peace" when I was a teen (in Dallas, Pennsylvania) ..... but, as you say, the skipping was mine, and I later went back to read what I had missed before .....
What can I say, as a young teen, I was more interested in following Prince Andre on the battlefield, than I was in following Anna Pavlova in her drawing room!
Frank, a Happy and Blessed, Prosperous and Healthy New Year to you and yours!
Well, GayRecluse, I'm with you: It rather does miss the point of what made the classics, well, classic. And thanks, Jeff. Have a blessed year yourself.
Hard to believe that anyone would publish, let alone buy, one of these abbreviated "books," which totally defeats the purpose (at least as I see it) of a classic novel. If you're a student you might as well just go for the Cliff Notes (or the on-line equivalent), and if you're a reader simply interested in the plot, a quick trip to Wikipedia would do the trick. Keep up the good fight, Frank!
ReplyDeleteFrank, good essay ..... and good points made ..... thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI, too, 'skipped' through "War and Peace" when I was a teen (in Dallas, Pennsylvania) ..... but, as you say, the skipping was mine, and I later went back to read what I had missed before .....
What can I say, as a young teen, I was more interested in following Prince Andre on the battlefield, than I was in following Anna Pavlova in her drawing room!
Frank, a Happy and Blessed, Prosperous and Healthy New Year to you and yours!
Well, GayRecluse, I'm with you: It rather does miss the point of what made the classics, well, classic.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks, Jeff. Have a blessed year yourself.