MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE CLASSICS

Summary

In this video, the host shares her all-time favorite classic novels, starting with 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The Bell Jar' discussing their portrayal of mental health. She then covers 'Anne of Green Gables', 'Mrs. Dalloway', and 'Pride and Prejudice', before delving into the Bronte sisters' works, particularly praising 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Jane Eyre'. The video concludes with 'Shirley' by Charlotte Brontë as her ultimate favorite, reflecting on how these classics have influenced her life and inviting viewers to share their own.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video features a discussion on the host's all-time favorite classic books, which they have been reading for the past three years.
• 🎬 The host shares their personal journey with these classics, highlighting how certain books resonated with them during challenging times.
• 🔟 The list starts with 'The Catcher in the Rye' by JD Salinger and 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath, which are praised for their honest portrayal of mental health.
• 🌟 'Anne of Green Gables' by LM Montgomery is described as a transformative book that changed the host's perspective on the world.
• 🌿 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf is appreciated for its rich detail and stream-of-consciousness narrative style.
• 📖 The video mentions the first two classics the host ever read, 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen and 'Agnes Grey' by Anne Bronte, which sparked a love for classic literature.
• 🌲 'The Woodlanders' by Thomas Hardy is noted for its exploration of difficult themes and its intimate descriptions of the natural landscape.
• 🏰 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen is highlighted for its parody of the Gothic genre and its focus on the protagonist's journey of self-discovery.
• 🌾 'Far from the Madding Crowd' by Thomas Hardy is a favorite for its detailed depiction of rural life and the challenges faced by its female protagonist.
• ⚡ 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë is deeply admired for its complex love story and the emotional impact it had on the host.
• 🌟 'Shirley' by Charlotte Brontë is revealed as the host's ultimate favorite classic, celebrated for its themes of friendship, love, and the impact of life events on mental health.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video is the recommendation of classic books that the speaker believes everyone should read.

How long has the speaker been reading classics?

The speaker has been reading classics seriously for about the last three years.

What is unique about the order in which the books are presented in the video?

The books are presented in order from the speaker's least favorite to their favorite, which is not the speaker's usual approach.

Which two books are mentioned as being in joint 10th place and why are they considered similar?

The two books in joint 10th place are 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger and 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath. They are considered similar because they share themes of mental health, similar main characters, and were written around the same period.

What is the main character's name in 'Anne of Green Gables' and what does the book teach the speaker?

The main character in 'Anne of Green Gables' is Anne Shirley. The book teaches the speaker to see the world differently, with open eyes, and to think about the stories behind things.

How does the speaker describe the writing style of 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf?

The speaker describes 'Mrs. Dalloway' as rich in detail and description, and written in a fascinating stream-of-consciousness style.

What are the two books in seventh and sixth place, and what impact did they have on the speaker's reading journey?

The two books are 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen and 'Agnes Grey' by Anne Brontë. They were the first two classics the speaker read and they changed something for her, making her appreciate and engage critically with books from the past.

What themes are explored in 'The Woodlanders' by Thomas Hardy?

In 'The Woodlanders', themes explored include divorce laws, true love, serendipity, and the importance of farming in rural communities.

Why does the speaker particularly like 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen?

The speaker likes 'Northanger Abbey' for its rich history, its parody of the Gothic genre, and its focus on Catherine Morland's journey to become a heroine despite not fitting the typical mold.

What are the similarities and differences between 'Far from the Madding Crowd' and 'The Woodlanders' by Thomas Hardy?

Both 'Far from the Madding Crowd' and 'The Woodlanders' detail the landscape and evoke strong feelings of nature. However, 'Far from the Madding Crowd' focuses on Bathsheba Everdene's inheritance of a farm and her role as a woman in a traditionally male world, while 'The Woodlanders' is about Grace Melbury and her expectations to marry.

Why does the speaker consider 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë as one of their all-time favorite classics?

The speaker considers 'Wuthering Heights' as one of their all-time favorite classics because it provided them with hope during a difficult time, it is a complicated love story with a dark atmosphere that resonated with the speaker, and it has led them to become a Brontë society young ambassador.

What makes 'Shirley' by Charlotte Brontë the speaker's favorite classic of all time?

'Shirley' is the speaker's favorite classic because it is a story about friendship, intertwined romances, and the psychology of love. It also discusses social issues like milling and the Luddite uprisings. The speaker feels a deep connection to the characters and sees it as a source of inspiration and learning.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Classic Book Recommendations

The speaker expresses excitement for creating a video discussing their all-time favorite classic books. They have been reading classics for three years and have selected books that they believe everyone should read. The video will cover books from their least favorite to their most favorite. The first two books mentioned, 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger and 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath, are discussed as character-driven stories that address mental health during a time when it was not widely acknowledged. Both books are appreciated for their honest portrayal of the characters' emotional struggles.

05:01

🌱 Exploring Themes of Love and Life in Classic Literature

The speaker continues with their top classic book recommendations, discussing 'Anne of Green Gables' by L.M. Montgomery, which left a profound impact on them. They praise the book for its transformative effect on their worldview and its protagonist, Anne, who teaches the reader to perceive the world with open eyes. They also mention 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf, appreciating its rich detail and stream-of-consciousness narrative style. The speaker reflects on the first two classics they ever read, 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen and 'Agnes Grey' by Anne Brontë, noting how these books shaped their love for classic literature and their critical engagement with it.

10:02

🌲 Delving into the Works of Thomas Hardy and the Brontë Sisters

The speaker discusses 'The Woodlanders' by Thomas Hardy, highlighting its exploration of difficult themes in Victorian society and its intimate portrayal of the natural landscape. They also mention 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen, appreciating its rich history, parody of the Gothic genre, and the character development of Catherine Morland. The speaker then talks about 'Far from the Madding Crowd', another Hardy novel, focusing on its strong depiction of the rural landscape and the challenges faced by women in traditionally male-dominated roles.

🏞️ The Power of Nature and Love in 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Shirley'

The speaker shares their love for 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë, describing it as a complex and dark love story that provided them with hope during a difficult time. They also discuss 'Shirley' by Charlotte Brontë, which they consider their favorite classic and book of all time. They appreciate the book's exploration of love, friendship, and the impact of life events on mental health, as well as its historical context. The speaker concludes by expressing gratitude for the Brontë sisters' influence on their life and their anticipation of how their relationship with 'Shirley' might evolve as they grow older.

Keywords

💡Classics

Classics refer to novels or other literary works that are considered to be of high quality and have stood the test of time. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses their favorite classic books, indicating a deep appreciation for literature that has had a significant cultural impact and continues to be relevant. Examples from the script include 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'Pride and Prejudice,' which are highlighted as influential and impactful reads.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is a person's psychological and emotional well-being. The video script mentions that 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The Bell Jar' discuss mental health, which was not widely acknowledged during the time they were written. These books are praised for their candid portrayal of characters struggling with their mental health, providing a voice to feelings that were often suppressed, and offering a sense of understanding and validation to readers who may relate to these experiences.

💡Character-Driven

A character-driven story is one where the focus is on the development and actions of characters rather than the plot. The video script describes 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The Bell Jar' as character-driven, emphasizing the deep exploration of Holden Caulfield's and Esther's mental states and emotions. This approach allows readers to connect with the characters on a personal level and understand their internal struggles.

💡Stream-of-Consciousness

Stream-of-consciousness is a narrative style that attempts to depict the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions in a character's mind. The video references 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf as an example of this style, which challenges readers to engage with the intricate inner workings of the characters' minds, providing a rich and immersive reading experience.

💡Gothic Genre

The Gothic genre is a literary genre that combines elements of horror, romance, and the supernatural, often set in gloomy, remote places. The script mentions 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen as a parody of the Gothic genre, which was popular at the time. The book satirizes the conventions of Gothic fiction while also engaging with themes of reading, literature, and the power of imagination.

💡Luddite Uprisings

The Luddite uprisings were a series of protests in early 19th-century England against the increased use of machinery in factories, which workers feared would lead to job losses. The video script refers to 'Shirley' by Charlotte Brontë, which discusses these uprisings, providing historical context and exploring the social and economic tensions of the time.

💡Hate-to-Love Relationship

A hate-to-love relationship is a narrative trope where characters who initially dislike each other eventually develop romantic feelings. The video script highlights 'Pride and Prejudice' as featuring this trope through the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, which is a central aspect of the story and contributes to its enduring popularity.

💡Rural Communities

Rural communities are social groups living in areas that are not urbanized. The video script discusses 'Far from the Madding Crowd' in the context of rural life, exploring the importance of farming and the challenges faced by women in traditionally male-dominated agricultural settings, reflecting the social dynamics and values of the time.

💡Foundling

A foundling is a child whose parentage is unknown or who has been abandoned. The script mentions Heathcliff from 'Wuthering Heights' as a foundling, whose mysterious origins and subsequent rise in status form a central part of the novel's narrative. This aspect of his character adds depth to the story and contributes to the themes of social mobility and self-determination.

💡Romanticism

Romanticism is an artistic and literary movement that emphasizes strong emotion, individualism, and the beauty of the natural world. The video script describes 'Shirley' as embodying romanticism, with its passionate portrayal of love, friendship, and the impact of societal events on personal lives, reflecting the emotional depth and idealism characteristic of the movement.

Highlights

Introduction to a video discussing the presenter's all-time favorite classic books.

The video will list books from least to most favorite, a departure from the usual approach.

Joint 10th place books, 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The Bell Jar', are praised for their character-driven narratives and themes of mental health.

The importance of character development over plot in 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The Bell Jar'.

Recommendation for readers interested in mental health themes, with a caution about sensitive content.

9th place book, 'Anne of Green Gables', is celebrated for its transformative impact on the presenter's worldview.

The character Anne Shirley's influence on the presenter's perspective on life.

8th place book, 'Mrs. Dalloway', is lauded for its rich detail and stream-of-consciousness style.

The unique narrative structure of 'Mrs. Dalloway' that captures a day in the life of various characters.

7th and 6th place books, 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Agnes Grey', are credited with sparking the presenter's love for classics.

The transformative power of 'Pride and Prejudice' and its exploration of societal norms and love.

5th place book, 'The Woodlanders', is highlighted for its exploration of difficult themes and beautiful landscape descriptions.

4th place book, 'Northanger Abbey', is appreciated for its rich history and parody of Gothic literature.

3rd place book, 'Far from the Madding Crowd', is praised for its detailed portrayal of rural life and strong female characters.

2nd place book, 'Wuthering Heights', is described as a complex love story that resonated deeply with the presenter during a difficult time.

The presenter's favorite classic and book of all time, 'Shirley', is in 1st place for its romanticism and impact on the presenter's life.

The Bronte sisters' influence on the presenter's personal growth and love for literature.

A call to action for viewers to share their favorite classics in the comments.

Transcripts

hi guys and welcome back to my classics

series I am so excited to make today's

video because it is a video I have

wanted to film for so long

it is my all-time favorite classics

video I've been reading classics

seriously for about the last three years

and in that time I've read lots that I

like a lot but there are some in my mind

that are just so special to me and so I

wanted to make a video where I could

recommend you the books that I think

everybody should read so without going

on too much I will get into the video

but I will add that I'm going to go in

order from my least favorite favorite to

my favorite which is not something I

usually do but I have some very clear

favorites and I'm sure you can already

guess what they are and I'm gonna get

into it now and talk to you about my

favorite classics so in joint 10th place

we have two books I think could be

considered books siblings because they

have very similar themes very similar

main characters and were written around

the same period and they are The Catcher

in the Rye by JD Salinger and the bell

jar by Sylvia Plath both of these books

talk about mental health at a time when

it wasn't generally accepted that people

really cared about their minds it was a

time when electroconvulsive therapy was

popular and people weren't really

supposed to talk about their feelings

but in comes Holden Caulfield in The

Catcher in the Rye and Esther in the

bell jar and both of them are very open

in their struggles with mental health

which can be very difficult to read at

times but you explore their feelings and

their emotions and what has led to them

spiraling and also I think it really

focuses on the characters in the story

so some books are very plot driven but

these are definitely character-driven

stories and I think that what I liked

about them so much is that I wrote them

at a time in my life when I really

needed them when I needed someone to

voice how I was feeling in my own head

as I read both of these books and I felt

like somebody understood what I was

going through and for me that is why I

love these so much I'd recommend them to

anybody who is a bit nervous about

reading classics because they are more

recent releases and so they have a much

more accessible style but also for

anybody who is interested in reading

about mental health while still being

cautious that they do discuss suicide

and quite strong emotions so that if

that is something you're not comfortable

with reading then that's okay and this

might not be for you but if it is

something you can handle then I read do

you think that you should read these two

in 9th place we have a book that I read

recently and it captured my imagination

and my heart and it is Anne of Green

Gables by LM Montgomery you know when

some books come along and you just know

this is the book that you have needed

all your life well this is what Anne of

Green Gables was like for me when I

first read it I knew that it was gonna

transform the way I thought about the

world I knew I was gonna fall in love

with the story and the characters and I

know it's something that I'm not gonna

let go for a very long time and if Green

Gables is a children's classic by a

Canadian author and it follows and

surely who is an orphan and each book in

a series fires her at a different point

during her life what I loved about Anne

as a main character is that she taught

me to see the world differently she

taught me to see the world with my eyes

open and to think about the things

around us in terms of the story behind

them and how we can beautify things in

our mind to see them in a different way

and definitely doesn't make the right

decisions all of the time but I think

this is also a moral journey and I'm

really enjoying picking up the next

books in the series in eighth place we

have mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

this was the first Virginia Woolf book I

read and I loved it because it is just

so rich in detail and description and

told in this fascinating

stream-of-consciousness style which i

think is so challenging for the brain to

work around but that's why I loved it so

much

lots of these classics I'm featuring on

this list our concert reads they are

books I would turn to when I don't

really want to think or have the option

of thinking about them but I also don't

have to I can read them and switch off

but mrs. Dalloway is not that kind of

book it's the kind of book that keeps

you on your toes that makes you think

about the imagery she's using and what's

happening to the characters and whereas

a book like The Catcher in the Rye is

very character driven instead of plot

driven mrs. Dalloway is neither it is

slightly about the characters but it's

also about capturing a snippet of life a

snippet of the world as so many

different people see it and so you see

the landscape of London and mrs.

Dalloway on a single day and you follow

very

characters around and you really hear

their thoughts as you are reading it

which can be tricky at first but I love

the challenge and that's why I like this

book so much in seventh and sixth place

we have two books that I read very close

to each other and they were the first

two classics I ever read and they are

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and

Agnes gray by Anne Bronte and with at

least two books I don't know if I'd be

sitting here today talking so

confidently about the books that I've

read and talking so openly about my

feelings about them because these two

books reading them really did change

something for me it made me really have

an appreciation for books that were

written far in the past and also made me

engaged critically with them in a way

that I hadn't outside of school before

so Pride and Prejudice is a very famous

love story but it is also about Lizzie

Bennet overcoming her prejudices and

also mr. Darcy overcoming his and so you

have two characters who really mirror

each other and one of my favorite tropes

in fiction in general is the hate to

love relationship which is definitely

the vibe that Lizzie and mr. Darcy have

going on it's a story that has captured

so many hearts including mine and I've

loved exploring various adaptations of

course the 1995 BBC version is the best

I won't hear any different but as a

story that I find many layers to every

single time I read it and it's one that

I haven't forgot about even though I

read it many years ago and a Curtis gray

is the same it is a story that really

makes you think and that you can find

different angles every time you read it

and I think that whereas Pride and

Prejudice is a very epic love story

Agnes gray is a much quieter book it's

about morals and finding your own way in

the world and once it does have that

kind of romance aspect to it is about so

much more than that and it follows the

main character Agnes as she becomes a

governess and goes to various families

where she has to look after the children

and it's about her finding who she is

whilst also discovering things about the

world she didn't know about I don't know

if I would love the Bronte's as much if

I hadn't read Agnes gray but more on the

Bronte later down to the final five now

and in fifth place we have the

woodlanders by Thomas Hardy the first

instance or Thomas Hardy appearing on

this list I'd say my two favorite

classic sources are the Bronte sisters

if we can include them as one author the

Bronte sisters as a whole then and also

Thomas Hardy I love his books

I love the settings which is probably my

favorite thing about them I love the way

that he explores such difficult themes

in his books that were such a big issue

in Victorian society and how he really

stands up to the women he's writing

about stored endures is set in a small

hamlet in Hardy's fictional County of

Wessex which is based loosely on Dorset

and it's about grace Melbury and her

expectations to marry after she returns

to her home but also it's about divorce

laws and true love and if we're meant to

be together

I find that a lot of Hardy's books deal

with serendipity and these moments that

are meant to be and moments that aren't

meant to be and I definitely said that

this is one of my favourite books of his

because of the way he writes about the

landscape

I loved the woodland Sutton and I loved

how he describes it in such intimate

detail you really feel like you get to

know her as a place after you finish

reading the book in fourth place now we

actually have a very interesting choice

I'm not exactly sure why I chose this

book as one of my top five favorites

because it is Northanger Abbey by Jane

Austen but I would say that in some ways

I enjoy Pride and Prejudice more than

this book but Northanger Abbey is one of

my favorite books because of the rich

history behind it the way that Jane

Austen talks about lots of different

books in it that she likes reading the

way it draws on lots of different genres

it is a parody of the Gothic genre which

was becoming very popular around the

time that she was writing it and it's

also one of my favorites of her books

because it is about Catherine Morland

and the first line in the book is no one

who had ever seen Catherine Morland in

her infancy would have supposed her to

be born a heroine and I really can

relate to that that feeling of some

people being born heroines and some

people being the secondary characters in

the world and so Catherine really takes

center stage even though she isn't that

kind of character she idolizes the

heroines she reads about but she's not

one herself and yet during the course of

the novel we see her take different

paths

that lead her to really shine and you go

on that journey with her but also as

you're reading this and as you read Jane

Austen other books you can go on that

journey with her writing because this is

one of her first novels but actually it

was published after she died so you can

see the progression she made as a writer

and so I think it has a very rich

history and lots in him that you can

unpick which is why it's one of my

favorite books even though it's not

always an obvious choice top three

classics now which was a very difficult

decision to make but in number three we

have far from the madding crowd by

Thomas Hardy which is by far my favorite

Thomas Hardy Burke has very many

similarities between the woodlanders but

he wrote far for the madding crowd first

and that follows Bathsheba Everdene who

has very many suitors and inherits her

uncle's farm while she takes control and

has to run it it's a book I try to

return to every spring and just like in

the woodlanders it really details the

landscape that Hardy is writing about

and it really evokes these strong

feelings of nature and the importance of

farming on rural communities but also it

details being a woman in a traditionally

male world and how women had to cope

with the challenges of this in fact I

like this book so much because I also

love the recent adaptation of it

starring Carey Mulligan because it's a

film that I think just sums up what a

good book adaptation should be but I

really like about reading classics is

that there is often a wealth of extra

material relating to them and so you

just read that book and you don't have

to leave it behind you can explore it in

many different ways I think Thomas

Hardy's writing really shines in far for

the madding crowd so if you want someone

to start with his books and this would

not be a bad place to go in second place

we have weathering Heights by Emily

brontë which I'm sure comes as not much

of a surprise to lots of you who have

watched my videos before weathering

Heights is by far one of my favorite

books of all time not just one of my

favorite classics but I think I said

book that everybody should read and it

means so much to me I read this at a

really difficult time I read it when I

thought so alone when my head felt

really dark when it just felt like there

was a cloud living in my brain and so

when I read Wuthering Heights

it made me

like it was okay to feel like I was

feeling it's a very dark book but at the

end there's hope for the future and that

gave me hope reading about it I also

read it on a very rainy November day and

so I really felt like I captured the

atmosphere of the book and I would

describe weathering Heights as a very

complicated love story not necessarily a

romantic love story not a positive love

story but it is about this tumultuous

relationship between Heathcliff and

Cathy and the circumstances surrounding

their lives Heathcliff is a foundling he

is somebody who was found and you don't

know his background but he rises up

throughout the novel and turns himself

into something so much more than anyone

ever thought he would be whilst

Catherine is very spoiled

she knows the direction she wants to go

in line from because of that she doesn't

make the wrong decisions like many other

protagonists I mentioned she makes a

decision that she thinks is best for her

and not necessarily for everybody else I

feel like this is a book that I'm always

going to love and has led me to so many

things like I wouldn't have become the

Bronte society young ambassador if I

didn't love this book so much and that

journey has taken me to so many places I

didn't think I'd ever go and so I owe a

lot to this book and I'm so grateful

that I decided to read it and drumroll

please we have my favorite classic of

all time and my favorite book of all

time it is surely by Charlotte Bronte it

is amazing this is a book that I hope

that everybody reads but I understand

that it's not for everybody but actually

that's why I like it so much because it

is a story about two women Caroline

Houston and Shirley Kilda and their

friendship and intertwined romances and

it's about the perils of love it goes

into the psychology of love as well and

how the events that happen in our lives

can affect our mental health it also

talks about milling and it talks about

the Luddite uprisings in Yorkshire at

the turn of the 19th century but I love

it because it just feels like pure

romanticism for me even though on the

first page charlotte talks about how

it's not a romance and she wants to

write something as cool as Monday

morning for me I think

idolize this book too much I idealize it

as well and for me it just means so much

more than just this book and it wasn't

even about the time that I read it

because I feel like at any point I had

to read this book I would have loved it

as much as I do now but every time I go

back to it it makes me feel so good

inside and it just makes me feel like I

can conquer anything

I love reading back up my favorite

passages I love reading about Caroline

and Shirley I feel like I'm very similar

to Caroline but I want to be like

Shirley and so from a moral point of

view as well I feel like I take a lot

from Shirley and I think I can learn a

lot from this book and it's a book I

can't wait to explore as I get older I

feel like my relationship with it is

going to change because at the start of

the book I'm the same age as Carolina's

and so as I get older I'm wondering how

I will feel about it and whether I will

feel differently and I'm actually really

excited about that possibility so

Shirley is my favorite book of all time

and I can't quite sum up what it means

to me I talk about it so much and I'm

sure it doesn't come as a surprise a lot

of you that weathering Heights and

Shirley are featured as my top of two

books there is just something about the

Bronte's words that means so much to me

something about their story that

enhances their words to I just think

they're incredible when they give me

such power and have taught me so many

life skills I just feel like I wouldn't

be the person I am today without the

Bronte's and that's why I love them so

much

I really hope you enjoyed this video and

picked up lots of recommendations I'd

love to know if any of these books took

you by surprise and also love to know in

the comments or what your favorite

classics are of all time and we can

share recommendations so thank you so

much for watching this video and I will

see you guys soon happy reading