This is the first in an occasional series where I am going to risk ridicule and tell you which books and authors I really ought to have read but haven’t.
I am enjoying the new BBC adaptation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles immensely. Its young star Gemma Arterton is just the part with her Pre-Raphaelite tresses. Here comes my first confession – I’ve never read it. In fact I have never read any Thomas Hardy.
I was talking about this to a friend yesterday and she recommended her favourite which is also one of his darkest – Jude the Obscure. I’m determined to make amends by reading some Hardy so should I take a deep breath and start with Jude, or can you suggest another to me …
We just had a big Hardy discussion over at my blog! My co-blogger, Jenny, hasn’t read any Hardy (aside from an aborted attempt to read Tess), and I’m a Hardy nut, so I’m wanting her to give him another try. The consensus among our readers was that Far From the Madding Crowd is a good place to start. Tess is actually my favorite, but lots of people don’t like it. I think Return of the Native would be another good one to start with.I would probably not start with Jude. It’s marvelous, but I don’t know anyone who likes it who isn’t a confirmed Hardy fan. Anyway, you can check out other’s comments at http://shelflove.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/hit-me-with-a-classic/
Thanks Teresa, some great advice there. I read your blog regularly and am delighted someone’s found mine and commented!
I’m a Hardy fan, but wouldn’t start with Jude either. I’d suggest Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge or Tess to start with, all of which I’ve just enjoyed re-reading.
I haven’t read any Hardy either, but we do have a copy of Far from the Madding Crowd here at home, so that’ll probably be the one I start with! I know some people in my Grade 12 English class read The Mayor of Casterbridge, so I feel that one can’t be all that intimidating!