What I love about classics is how when you read them you realise how human emotion has stayed the same how we want to do well in life work and relationships. Also how little we really have changed and that different generations always think they have the answers. There is a bit in War and Peace that made me laugh. Natasha's mother gives her the 'you young people have it so easy - back in my day' speech made me smile
I feel reading should be fun and to not pressure yourself unnecessary with so-called societies expectations. I think reading is for the reader and complicating it takes some of the enjoyment out of it.
I have both a Bachelor's and a Masters degree in Literature and I still get that feeling at times! One outlook I took is that it's actually great that we don't feel like experts as we have a continual desire to learn!
I'm in exactly the same position! There's still os much about literature that I don't know and didn't have a chance to study and I think it's important to embrace that feeling of "I don't know this".
People hear the word “classic” and instantly assume that it’s only for the smart people. Forgetting that in order to be a classic in the first place, it had to appeal and then stay in public consciousness. I think maybe people try someone like Dickens as their introduction. Which can throw you off if you’re not used to the more stringent and “wordy” approach in Victorian novels. I usually suggest that people either start modern and work their way back, as a way to “practice.” Or they find a genre they really enjoy and try a classic from that genre. Because I think enjoyment takes precedence over analysis. I mean, sure I can wax lyrical about a classic and I often go to Goodreads discussions in order to help myself analyse a classic. But I also read “the canon” because I happen to enjoy a lot of books from it.
Corina Vega Hmm. Well the term classic is extremely broad. Orwell is very easy to read for a modern audience, I find. So any of his stories. If you like dystopian, maybe try Huxley’s Brave New World. Again pretty easy to start you on your journey. If you enjoy Sci Fi, you can start off with like HG Wells The Time Machine. It’s only 100 pages so it shouldn’t feel intimidating. Or maybe even Frankenstein. Again not very long. Treasure Island or The Wind in the Willows is also a good way to get used to the “paid by the word” approach the Victorian authors took in their novels. I mean really it depends on what you personally enjoy. Oh and have google on standby. Your vocabulary will increase over time lol And I also stress that if you do happen to find a classic “hard to read” that is not a reflection of your intelligence. Sometimes we need a little more practice before tackling a book. When I first started I gave up on I think Great Expectations by Dickens. But after some other Victorian novels I was able to come back and finish it much more easily. All it takes is practice, really.
Man i love 19th century lit but i'm having a hard time reading dickens. i started great expectations a month ago and abandoned it because i simply couldn't get into his rambling, digressive style of writing. Will try to read it again,one chapter a day, because i cannot stop thinking about miss havisham.
Lucy, I read classics because I enjoy reading them. The rapture and joy I get from reading always uplifts me. I don’t have a literature degree. I am still a student in school and I spend my free time reading and writing. I feel like I have learned more about the past through reading classics. In many ways, classics feel more real to me than modern novels. Perhaps, classics are my time machine. Literature has taught me to relish the moments in life and spread my passion with others. I used to fret over not knowing everything. However, I have come to realize that learning is ceaseless. I have found kindred spirits in several classic authors including Lucy Maud Montgomery, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, William Shakespeare, and other authors. It really vexes me to think that there are so many of us who choose to judge readers for the number of classics they have read. I endeavor to encourage more people to read classic literature and plunge themselves into a whole new world with immeasurable possibilities. I am thirteen years old. I certainly have a long way to go on my classics journey. I love you
You are thirteen and write so eloquently. My best wishes and appreciations to you. Continue on your journey, I'm sure you'll have lots of happy times ahead!
I can't read that will as a 14 year old girl it is hard. but i am trying to get better, and I'm reading as much as i can. Your videos really help me 😊❤
I have literature degree and sometimes feel like I have imposter syndrome as it’s 9 years since I left an academic environment. I sometimes feel “less” smart now being in a mostly non academic life.
It was really nice to hear your thoughts on this. I love reading and analyzing classics - but I think part of the pressure in reading them is to have such collected and eloquent thoughts (and a historical background). And it seems to sadly turn many people away from reading classics. Once I got past the mindset of having to analyze classics super in depth, I've been able to enjoy them a lot more. I still analyze many of the ones I read and try to gain a historical understanding BUT I feel a lot more free giving myself the option to decide how I want to read a classic.
Here's my personal hint on how I read my classics. I literally slow down my reading a bit. When I begin a new paragraph I count two seconds and then continue. I've read the brothers K novel three times. I am now reading the Pevear/Volokhonsky version. What an extraordinary difference. Every classic Enthusiast should read this gigantic piece of writing.
I have a Masters degree in literature and sometimes I'll find myself reading a classic and thinking "I have no idea what's happening right now". Loved this video, Lucy!
I thought I was not smart enough to read classics and now I am starting to change that as I read Pride and Prejudice and although enjoyed it I got confused and just the other day I read Frankenstein and couldn't put it down. I loved it so much. So delving deeper into the world of classics.
Kate A Dale Something interesting I’ve found is going back to your “starter classics” after you’ve read some more of the Canon. I don’t have a degree or anything but I have noticed just how much I’ve learned just by reading random books from the canon I thought would be fun. I think one of the first classics I read of my own choosing was Wurthering Heights. I liked it but I didn’t really think about it at the time. I reread it recently and I realised that I now notice things I didn’t before. It’s cool.
Such a good take on the subject! Literary snobbery has no place in today’s world. Let’s celebrate the freedoms we have to research. So different to just 30 years ago 📚🤓💕
I’m in seventh grade and really want to start reading classics but I feel like I would not be able to understand them so your channel is really helping me pick out a few that I can start with. Thx💕
I almost became an English teacher, but life happened and I had to switch to a business degree. Even after studying literary analysis and taking a couple literature courses, it improved my personal reading experience. While knowing how to read well and understand the context more was beneficial, it can detract from enjoyment sometimes. At the same time, I wouldn't trade that knowledge for anything!
I love this! Definitely everybody can read and enjoy classic literature. Definitely agree that VictorianWeb is an amazing resource - spent so many hours on that as a teenager!
I wholeheartedly agree. A literature degree does not give you authority over someone who doesn’t in terms of how “smart” or “capable” you are when it comes to reading and analyzing it. My degree is in English literature, but there are so, so many novels that I still have not read and will likely not be able to read in a lifetime. I value my education, but just because I studied specific themes in depth for a few years does not mean they are more valid than another’s interpretations. I definitely understand feeling the imposter syndrome, though, especially because of my degree. I feel like I should know more and should have read more, but there’s no way to keep up with everything. So I read what I can, and I read what I like (gothic romances [romance era, not necessarily love stories] are some of my favorites). I believe classics are for those who enjoy reading them. That’s it. :) Thank you for sharing your perspectives, and I’m thoroughly enjoying all of your videos. All the best! 😊
Great video, I really like your sincerity. I only studied about a year of literature science, while my main focus has been on sustainable development and environmental issues. I'm very interested in things like social issues, ethics and philosophy and always wish to find out why things are as they are in this imperfect world. So for me, reading classics have always been a way of better understanding people and society. Books and stories are such great windows into other worlds and ideas and for gaining more empathy. I also think that overanalysing a book can really ruin your personal experience and enjoyment of it, which a big reason why I personally chose not to study classics more academically.
I couldn’t agree more - reading should always be for enjoyment first. Knowledge can always come later from building and connecting little nuggets piece by piece by piece.
I would say that I am quite new to classical books. And everytime I talk about them, people always said 'oh.. .you are so smart then for reading this book.' and that always makes me uncomfortable. I don't always understand what I read and that would imply that I am not as smart as they perceived me to be. I read and watch a lot of other interpretation or analysis and compare them to my own. Some times I feel like an imposter but it is what works for me at the moment and I enjoy the experiences a lot.
People severely overestimate classics in general. I remember when I read Wurthering Heights for the first time and all the while I was thinking, hey this seems much easier than other people told me it would be. And I know I’m an idiot lol
This is a great video, Lucy, and so encouraging for not just students but readers in general! I teach English and writing, but even teachers sometimes experience that impostor syndrome. (There's an iconic cocktail party "game" in which academics admit to all the books they've never actually read.) I especially love what you said about choosing to study history instead of literature so you could just keep enjoying your reading--very insightful. I hope your degree is going well!
I did a video awhile back about this same topic! People will often criticize me for expressing an opinion on classics because I'm not an expert. But experts will critique a book, while average readers will review a book. I think the distinction is important. You don't have to be an expert to enjoy classics and have a valid opinion. Critiquing vs. Reviewing Classics: ua-cam.com/video/lzdFd68nlSQ/v-deo.html
Congrats on changing your attitude about being wrong. Being wrong is what spurs on learning and “being wrong” is a subjective idea anyway. What’s neat about learning is that it can occur throughout your whole life and if it’s self-directed YOU decide how deep a dive you want to take. Degrees and experience can both enrich your life. Can you tell I was a long-time teacher?! Learning is the key to enriching your mind and spirit! You are wise beyond your years!
If I don't know something about a period in which I am reading then whatever pops into my mind suffices. A classic is like any other novel in the sense that if you enjoy the characters, the plot and/or the atmosphere then just go with it. All art is in the eye of the beholder. Two people will read a novel and if they then are asked who they saw in their mind's eye a character there will be two different answers. Just relax and read slowly.
I don’t have a degree in literature or history. I am a doctor and have studied medicine all life yet I love to read classics. I few what you mean about the imposter syndrome: feels like I barely know anything about classics yet that’s what I talk about on my channel. It’s because I’m learning about them as a hobby and sharing my love on UA-cam.
Honestly, whether you have a degree or not opinions are still just opinions. Even the most degree-holding professors are only teaching opinions. The only person that really can speak with complete knowledge and correctness about a book is its author. Once you move past the author’s own words, it becomes subjective. I agree that there’s way too much emphasis on having the “right” to talk about books. Anybody that can read can have an opinion on any book. This is a great video. Do you have any nonfiction recs for people who are interested in history but don’t enjoy the dryness of a lot of history books?
Hi Lucy. I think it's very wise of you to study history and not literature at Uni, because history has at least some objectiveness to it, whereas lit is so subjective. I've heard horror stories of people's love of lit being ruined at uni because of things like deconstruction theory and lousy, miserable profs. Ugh. You don't need that.
Hi Lucy, thanks for this motivational video. After watching your many videos, which are very inspiring, I started to read classical books. The authors I enjoy reading are the Bronte sisters, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot and Arthur Conan Doyle. Keep making excellent video as they are really helping and giving people confidence.
I have two literature degrees and managed to obtain both without reading even a quarter of the books Lucy has so far discussed on her channel. The classics I read in high school were required. I didn't have a good experience with them and resented their intrusion into my reading life. Now that I'm in my forties, I'm exploring those classic books I willfully ignored or put off for as long as possible. My literature degrees have nothing to do with how much I'm enjoying these books. Never believe you're not smart enough. Never believe literature is above you because of who you are or where you were born or your level of education.
I adore the thought you put behind your education. A history degree sounds fantastic!!! 💗 It’ll only enrich your understanding of Classics or ANYTHING, really! So proud of you, Lucy! 👏🏽💗
I did an English degree and regretted it, for a similar reason to the one you suggest - although I wouldn't like to say that my experience is typical (I ended up as a mathematician). However, as well as being ultra-interesting in their own right, I think history studies are wonderful support for reading literature. Generally, whenever I read the classics, I feel keenly the inadequacies of my relevant historical knowledge. Excellent video.
I recently found your channel and I really like and applaud your approach to this topic. I am currently doing a PhD in English Literature and the funny part is that I don't perceive this gate-keeping within most of us, PhD students, and the majority of the professors, but I felt it when I was doing my BA, mostly from colleagues at that level, who thought highly about how much they supposedly knew and how much they have read. There are also those academic figures who think that talking with them is an honor by itself. At the end of the day, douchebags are present at every academic level. Literature and art are social activities that deserved to be shared and enjoyed together. Even if someone knows a lot about a work or an author, that person should realize that it was created not for him/her, but for everyone. I can go on but you say it better yourself. Keep enjoying what you enjoy, reading what you like and good luck with your studies.
Wait. U r ... young? For most of ur booktube life, u were a precocious teen. U, young? Never noticed. :-D :-D :-D. And u were NEVER an impostor, u were Lucy, & u were fine just the way u were. And it's OK if u haven't read War and Peace. 1. It's not the be-all & end-all of literature. 2. Most people haven't read it, & that's OK too.
I’m doing my Master’s in English Literature and the imposter syndrome is still real. I think a lot of it stems from snobbery at the academy level. English as a discipline of study is still really recent and there’s definitely a chip on its shoulder. My philosophy is to read it, take what you get from it, and be excited about what stirs you. ❤️
You can't read everything; you can't understand everything; some of what you read you forget and change in your head; what you thought you understood suddenly changes.
This video came at exactly the right moment for me. Because of Corona I have a lot of free time on my hands and I thought that I wanted to learn more about history, but the more I get into it the more frustrated I grow because there is so much I don't understand. So, thank you, Lucy, for making me take a step back there and appreciate what I'm doing :)
Thank you for this video!💗 Great discussion! I share some of your reasons of why I read. I learn so much history through classics & Victorian literature.
Such an interesting topic that I've also been thinking about for a while! I found that my first year of a literature degree sucked the fun out of reading, so I switched to my minor history and love it! Hope you enjoy studying your degree!
This was really interesting as someone who loves literature and does read some classics though I'm more likely to read classic poetry than books. Yet for me it is just something I love I'm studying marine biology so this is a passion but not something I've deliberately persuade as wanting to gain knowledge about.
What I love about classics is how when you read them you realise how human emotion has stayed the same how we want to do well in life work and relationships. Also how little we really have changed and that different generations always think they have the answers. There is a bit in War and Peace that made me laugh. Natasha's mother gives her the 'you young people have it so easy - back in my day' speech made me smile
starfire1 haha i had the same thing!
I love this discussion. I love classic , and I read it purely for enjoyment.
I feel reading should be fun and to not pressure yourself unnecessary with so-called societies expectations. I think reading is for the reader and complicating it takes some of the enjoyment out of it.
studying history is a great choice, given the fact that literature and history mostly go together. GOOD LUCK Lucy!
That is very true. But personally I enjoy literature is more interesting than history.
I have both a Bachelor's and a Masters degree in Literature and I still get that feeling at times! One outlook I took is that it's actually great that we don't feel like experts as we have a continual desire to learn!
I'm in exactly the same position! There's still os much about literature that I don't know and didn't have a chance to study and I think it's important to embrace that feeling of "I don't know this".
People hear the word “classic” and instantly assume that it’s only for the smart people. Forgetting that in order to be a classic in the first place, it had to appeal and then stay in public consciousness.
I think maybe people try someone like Dickens as their introduction. Which can throw you off if you’re not used to the more stringent and “wordy” approach in Victorian novels. I usually suggest that people either start modern and work their way back, as a way to “practice.” Or they find a genre they really enjoy and try a classic from that genre. Because I think enjoyment takes precedence over analysis.
I mean, sure I can wax lyrical about a classic and I often go to Goodreads discussions in order to help myself analyse a classic. But I also read “the canon” because I happen to enjoy a lot of books from it.
Someone random hey! What would you recommend as a first 5 classics to read?
Corina Vega Hmm. Well the term classic is extremely broad.
Orwell is very easy to read for a modern audience, I find. So any of his stories. If you like dystopian, maybe try Huxley’s Brave New World. Again pretty easy to start you on your journey. If you enjoy Sci Fi, you can start off with like HG Wells The Time Machine. It’s only 100 pages so it shouldn’t feel intimidating. Or maybe even Frankenstein. Again not very long.
Treasure Island or The Wind in the Willows is also a good way to get used to the “paid by the word” approach the Victorian authors took in their novels.
I mean really it depends on what you personally enjoy. Oh and have google on standby. Your vocabulary will increase over time lol
And I also stress that if you do happen to find a classic “hard to read” that is not a reflection of your intelligence. Sometimes we need a little more practice before tackling a book. When I first started I gave up on I think Great Expectations by Dickens. But after some other Victorian novels I was able to come back and finish it much more easily. All it takes is practice, really.
Someone random thank you
Man i love 19th century lit but i'm having a hard time reading dickens. i started great expectations a month ago and abandoned it because i simply couldn't get into his rambling, digressive style of writing. Will try to read it again,one chapter a day, because i cannot stop thinking about miss havisham.
@@ramyarao4499 But please also give yourself permission to continue disliking Dickens. There shouldn't be any required preferences in literature.
Lucy, I read classics because I enjoy reading them. The rapture and joy I get from reading always uplifts me. I don’t have a literature degree. I am still a student in school and I spend my free time reading and writing. I feel like I have learned more about the past through reading classics. In many ways, classics feel more real to me than modern novels. Perhaps, classics are my time machine. Literature has taught me to relish the moments in life and spread my passion with others. I used to fret over not knowing everything. However, I have come to realize that learning is ceaseless. I have found kindred spirits in several classic authors including Lucy Maud Montgomery, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, William Shakespeare, and other authors. It really vexes me to think that there are so many of us who choose to judge readers for the number of classics they have read. I endeavor to encourage more people to read classic literature and plunge themselves into a whole new world with immeasurable possibilities. I am thirteen years old. I certainly have a long way to go on my classics journey. I love you
Hi shreya!
Booktuber Adrika
Hi Adrika
You are thirteen and write so eloquently. My best wishes and appreciations to you. Continue on your journey, I'm sure you'll have lots of happy times ahead!
hgd
Thank you so much. You are so supportive and I am extremely grateful.
a degree doesn’t immediately make someone smart and you don’t need one to understand classics
I can't read that will as a 14 year old girl it is hard. but i am trying to get better, and I'm reading as much as i can. Your videos really help me 😊❤
I have literature degree and sometimes feel like I have imposter syndrome as it’s 9 years since I left an academic environment. I sometimes feel “less” smart now being in a mostly non academic life.
It was really nice to hear your thoughts on this. I love reading and analyzing classics - but I think part of the pressure in reading them is to have such collected and eloquent thoughts (and a historical background). And it seems to sadly turn many people away from reading classics. Once I got past the mindset of having to analyze classics super in depth, I've been able to enjoy them a lot more. I still analyze many of the ones I read and try to gain a historical understanding BUT I feel a lot more free giving myself the option to decide how I want to read a classic.
elenathegreat sounds good 👍🏻
Here's my personal hint on how I read my classics. I literally slow down my reading a bit. When I begin a new paragraph I count two seconds and then continue. I've read the brothers K novel three times. I am now reading the Pevear/Volokhonsky version. What an extraordinary difference. Every classic Enthusiast should read this gigantic piece of writing.
ken denta good idea to deliberately slow down! What’s your opinion on the p&v translation? I hear such mixed things about it...
I have a Masters degree in literature and sometimes I'll find myself reading a classic and thinking "I have no idea what's happening right now". Loved this video, Lucy!
I thought I was not smart enough to read classics and now I am starting to change that as I read Pride and Prejudice and although enjoyed it I got confused and just the other day I read Frankenstein and couldn't put it down. I loved it so much. So delving deeper into the world of classics.
Kate A Dale Something interesting I’ve found is going back to your “starter classics” after you’ve read some more of the Canon. I don’t have a degree or anything but I have noticed just how much I’ve learned just by reading random books from the canon I thought would be fun.
I think one of the first classics I read of my own choosing was Wurthering Heights. I liked it but I didn’t really think about it at the time. I reread it recently and I realised that I now notice things I didn’t before. It’s cool.
Such a good take on the subject! Literary snobbery has no place in today’s world. Let’s celebrate the freedoms we have to research. So different to just 30 years ago 📚🤓💕
I’m in seventh grade and really want to start reading classics but I feel like I would not be able to understand them so your channel is really helping me pick out a few that I can start with. Thx💕
I almost became an English teacher, but life happened and I had to switch to a business degree. Even after studying literary analysis and taking a couple literature courses, it improved my personal reading experience. While knowing how to read well and understand the context more was beneficial, it can detract from enjoyment sometimes. At the same time, I wouldn't trade that knowledge for anything!
I love this! Definitely everybody can read and enjoy classic literature. Definitely agree that VictorianWeb is an amazing resource - spent so many hours on that as a teenager!
I wholeheartedly agree. A literature degree does not give you authority over someone who doesn’t in terms of how “smart” or “capable” you are when it comes to reading and analyzing it. My degree is in English literature, but there are so, so many novels that I still have not read and will likely not be able to read in a lifetime. I value my education, but just because I studied specific themes in depth for a few years does not mean they are more valid than another’s interpretations. I definitely understand feeling the imposter syndrome, though, especially because of my degree. I feel like I should know more and should have read more, but there’s no way to keep up with everything. So I read what I can, and I read what I like (gothic romances [romance era, not necessarily love stories] are some of my favorites). I believe classics are for those who enjoy reading them. That’s it. :) Thank you for sharing your perspectives, and I’m thoroughly enjoying all of your videos. All the best! 😊
Great video, I really like your sincerity. I only studied about a year of literature science, while my main focus has been on sustainable development and environmental issues. I'm very interested in things like social issues, ethics and philosophy and always wish to find out why things are as they are in this imperfect world. So for me, reading classics have always been a way of better understanding people and society. Books and stories are such great windows into other worlds and ideas and for gaining more empathy. I also think that overanalysing a book can really ruin your personal experience and enjoyment of it, which a big reason why I personally chose not to study classics more academically.
I couldn’t agree more - reading should always be for enjoyment first. Knowledge can always come later from building and connecting little nuggets piece by piece by piece.
I would say that I am quite new to classical books. And everytime I talk about them, people always said 'oh.. .you are so smart then for reading this book.' and that always makes me uncomfortable. I don't always understand what I read and that would imply that I am not as smart as they perceived me to be. I read and watch a lot of other interpretation or analysis and compare them to my own. Some times I feel like an imposter but it is what works for me at the moment and I enjoy the experiences a lot.
People severely overestimate classics in general. I remember when I read Wurthering Heights for the first time and all the while I was thinking, hey this seems much easier than other people told me it would be. And I know I’m an idiot lol
This is a great video, Lucy, and so encouraging for not just students but readers in general! I teach English and writing, but even teachers sometimes experience that impostor syndrome. (There's an iconic cocktail party "game" in which academics admit to all the books they've never actually read.) I especially love what you said about choosing to study history instead of literature so you could just keep enjoying your reading--very insightful. I hope your degree is going well!
I did a video awhile back about this same topic! People will often criticize me for expressing an opinion on classics because I'm not an expert. But experts will critique a book, while average readers will review a book. I think the distinction is important. You don't have to be an expert to enjoy classics and have a valid opinion.
Critiquing vs. Reviewing Classics: ua-cam.com/video/lzdFd68nlSQ/v-deo.html
Congrats on changing your attitude about being wrong. Being wrong is what spurs on learning and “being wrong” is a subjective idea anyway. What’s neat about learning is that it can occur throughout your whole life and if it’s self-directed YOU decide how deep a dive you want to take. Degrees and experience can both enrich your life. Can you tell I was a long-time teacher?! Learning is the key to enriching your mind and spirit! You are wise beyond your years!
If I don't know something about a period in which I am reading then whatever pops into my mind suffices. A classic is like any other novel in the sense that if you enjoy the characters, the plot and/or the atmosphere then just go with it. All art is in the eye of the beholder. Two people will read a novel and if they then are asked who they saw in their mind's eye a character there will be two different answers. Just relax and read slowly.
I don’t have a degree in literature or history. I am a doctor and have studied medicine all life yet I love to read classics. I few what you mean about the imposter syndrome: feels like I barely know anything about classics yet that’s what I talk about on my channel. It’s because I’m learning about them as a hobby and sharing my love on UA-cam.
I got my degree in history but I took English classes to read and discuss books with other.
Interesting video.👍
Love your channel. Keep it up.
Honestly, whether you have a degree or not opinions are still just opinions. Even the most degree-holding professors are only teaching opinions. The only person that really can speak with complete knowledge and correctness about a book is its author. Once you move past the author’s own words, it becomes subjective. I agree that there’s way too much emphasis on having the “right” to talk about books. Anybody that can read can have an opinion on any book. This is a great video. Do you have any nonfiction recs for people who are interested in history but don’t enjoy the dryness of a lot of history books?
Hi Lucy. I think it's very wise of you to study history and not literature at Uni, because history has at least some objectiveness to it, whereas lit is so subjective. I've heard horror stories of people's love of lit being ruined at uni because of things like deconstruction theory and lousy, miserable profs. Ugh. You don't need that.
Hi Lucy, thanks for this motivational video. After watching your many videos, which are very inspiring, I started to read classical books. The authors I enjoy reading are the Bronte sisters, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot and Arthur Conan Doyle. Keep making excellent video as they are really helping and giving people confidence.
Nice video and I really support this message! 💐
A fellow undergraduate historian. Good choice.
I have two literature degrees and managed to obtain both without reading even a quarter of the books Lucy has so far discussed on her channel. The classics I read in high school were required. I didn't have a good experience with them and resented their intrusion into my reading life. Now that I'm in my forties, I'm exploring those classic books I willfully ignored or put off for as long as possible. My literature degrees have nothing to do with how much I'm enjoying these books. Never believe you're not smart enough. Never believe literature is above you because of who you are or where you were born or your level of education.
I adore the thought you put behind your education. A history degree sounds fantastic!!! 💗 It’ll only enrich your understanding of Classics or ANYTHING, really! So proud of you, Lucy! 👏🏽💗
I did an English degree and regretted it, for a similar reason to the one you suggest - although I wouldn't like to say that my experience is typical (I ended up as a mathematician). However, as well as being ultra-interesting in their own right, I think history studies are wonderful support for reading literature. Generally, whenever I read the classics, I feel keenly the inadequacies of my relevant historical knowledge. Excellent video.
I recently found your channel and I really like and applaud your approach to this topic. I am currently doing a PhD in English Literature and the funny part is that I don't perceive this gate-keeping within most of us, PhD students, and the majority of the professors, but I felt it when I was doing my BA, mostly from colleagues at that level, who thought highly about how much they supposedly knew and how much they have read. There are also those academic figures who think that talking with them is an honor by itself. At the end of the day, douchebags are present at every academic level. Literature and art are social activities that deserved to be shared and enjoyed together. Even if someone knows a lot about a work or an author, that person should realize that it was created not for him/her, but for everyone. I can go on but you say it better yourself. Keep enjoying what you enjoy, reading what you like and good luck with your studies.
Wait. U r ... young? For most of ur booktube life, u were a precocious teen. U, young? Never noticed. :-D :-D :-D. And u were NEVER an impostor, u were Lucy, & u were fine just the way u were. And it's OK if u haven't read War and Peace. 1. It's not the be-all & end-all of literature. 2. Most people haven't read it, & that's OK too.
Great content! History subject is perfect for you. :-)
I’m doing my Master’s in English Literature and the imposter syndrome is still real. I think a lot of it stems from snobbery at the academy level. English as a discipline of study is still really recent and there’s definitely a chip on its shoulder. My philosophy is to read it, take what you get from it, and be excited about what stirs you. ❤️
You can't read everything; you can't understand everything; some of what you read you forget and change in your head; what you thought you understood suddenly changes.
This video came at exactly the right moment for me. Because of Corona I have a lot of free time on my hands and I thought that I wanted to learn more about history, but the more I get into it the more frustrated I grow because there is so much I don't understand. So, thank you, Lucy, for making me take a step back there and appreciate what I'm doing :)
Thank you for this video!💗 Great discussion! I share some of your reasons of why I read. I learn so much history through classics & Victorian literature.
Such an interesting topic that I've also been thinking about for a while! I found that my first year of a literature degree sucked the fun out of reading, so I switched to my minor history and love it! Hope you enjoy studying your degree!
This was really interesting as someone who loves literature and does read some classics though I'm more likely to read classic poetry than books. Yet for me it is just something I love I'm studying marine biology so this is a passion but not something I've deliberately persuade as wanting to gain knowledge about.
What lipstick are you wearing?
Thank you so much for this Lucy. You’re an inspiration. 🙂
Yay I’m starting a history degree this autumn too ! xx
Do you read any "modern" classics? Can u recommend some?
Could you tell us how you go about analysing a book? I would like to learn!
I Just found my favorite accent on internet
Try read Romola by George elloit
I really appreciate this video!
I love your accent.
*Kept looking in your face.....& Forgot the rest.....*