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.