long classic books that are *actually* worth your time (part 2)

Yes please!! The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is arguably my favorite Brontë book, it really deserves more love and recognition 🥹🤍

The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book of all time.

Any time a lengthy book justifies its length, the experience is extraordinary. Rewarding a reader across 700+ pages is something special, which is why it's sometimes heartbreaking how epics intimidate people. As a filmmaker, I have an adaptation bucket list and at a future date when budgets allow me, I intend to produce the definitive film adaptations. Don Quixote (which you mentioned in the part 1 video) and Wuthering Heights are on said bucket list. The stories' possibilities are so vivid to me. Happy July to you, Carolyn.

The Count of Monte Cristo was on my list 4 long books to read in 2024.. I didnt get around to it until after the bookclub because it was intimidating. Hearing all of your reviews I picked it up immediately and you describe it perfectly!

In the third part East of Eden will make this list.

I am so very happy you're enjoying your reading rather than treating it as a chore, job, or duty. Enjoy!

I started reading East of Eden after you mentioned it in your last video, as I also had it sitting on my shelf. I'm 400 pages in and really like it. Going to try and tackle Count of Monte Cristo later this year - I've been avoiding it due to the length.

Lord of the Rings is one my favorite stories (next to the legend of sleepy hollow) and there’s only one person in my life that loves the books. It’s brought me so much joy to see you and Emma love it too.

I'd love to see this video series be a yearly thing even for short classics such as the great gatsby,old man and the sea or the metamorphosis

OMG My Cousin Rachel was so good! I enjoyed it more than Rebecca. My Cousin Rachel is the kind of book that would make you want to re-read it right after you finish it.

Thank you for the recommendations! I'm glad you loved The Count of Monte Cristo - it might be my favourite classic I've read yet, it was just utterly captivating the first time I read it :D

DuMaurier ia amazing. Rebecca is my favorite but My Cousin Rachel is a close second.

Hardy's Return of the Native & The Woodlanders are both beautifully descriptive of the English countryside of old and they will pull at your heart strings, however there is beauty in both aswell. Jude the Obscure will rip your heart, entrails and soul out and leave you exhausted

Yay, so happy to see Far From the Madding Crowd on this list. I love that book. Carolyn, the copy you have, the Penguin English Library edition with the bees on the front, is an edition I've wanted for awhile. I have an older paperback copy. I would love to re-read it. Absolutely worth your time! In the movie, Carey Mulligan plays a wonderful Bathsheba Everdeen.

I’ve read “The Count” twice! It’s my favorite novel. I say this as a Harvard graduate student of literature - someone who reads a LOT of classics.

Your green eyes are popping today! Great list love the Brontes and Du Maurier

I loveeee the Count!! Reading East of Eden now and also enjoying it so so much! Other huge books I love are crime and punishment, Anna Karenina, Gone with the Wind, and a tree grows in Brooklyn! (Gone with the wind was the fastest to get through and most entertaining)

What a great list. I am half way through Anna Karenina and enjoying it very much. I have war and peace on my list thank sto you :) Your list resemble mine lol Count Mounte Cristo is next and Brothers Karamazov fallow. Love Dostoyvsky! Yes, for my cousin Rachel. thank you

Have you ever read Middlemarch? It’s absolutely amazing despite the length. Very worth it!

Everything she says about monte Cristo 🙌🙌🙌👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️😍 it is the best!! I plan to read it in French