Oh, That's Classic.
You're telling me a penguin wrote all these?
It’s been a second since I’ve posted here, and I owe an update on my revisiting the classics “odyssey” if you will. So here’s the breakdown for the first half of 2026. Honestly, in the words of Springsteen, “I’m On Fire.” We’re really tearing through the backlist.
JANUARY
The Odyssey. I read whatever the standard high school translation was in 2010? To age myself. I liked it, but am definitely a little more partial to the Emily Wilson translation. Worth reading her notes on the process of translating. I feel like I’ve waited about the same time for a text back that Penelope waited for her husband so, good on her. Shit’s rough.
FEBRUARY
Wuthering Heights. This was a reread for work and one I’m glad I was forced to undertake. The first time I read Brontë’s 1847 classic I was so bored and vexed by the novel that my friend’s husband took a photo of the agony I was in reading it. (Reader: I don’t have the photo and I just can’t be arsed to ask for it right now.) The second time I kind of got the wind knocked out of me. Could be the fact that I had just been ghosted again, but: “Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
I mean, what’s hotter than a little obsession? If we’re ghosting at least make it kind of sexy and intense.
Sense and Sensibility. Went with a friend to the anniversary screening of the film since it has weirdly been a blind spot of mine. Loved the movie, less charmed by the novel. Could be that I often feel that you read one Austen and you read them all (don’t yell at me, it’s one woman’s lazy opinion). I do relate to the feeling that you encroach upon the end of your writing and want to just sum it all up really fast.
Northanger Abbey. Another Austen right after I said “read one…read them all” is a little silly but this was pitched to me as the satirical Gothic. Hard to resist. Austen is always very clever and funny, but this was her at her sharpest I think. If you have found yourself wanting more in other Austen novels humor wise you might be into this one.
The Sun Also Rises. I hated this one haha. My issue is within myself though, and not Hemingway per se. I really can’t handle the Gatsby “old-sport” kind of chatter and sharing bottles of wine with war repressed characters just trying to get into the very modern slacks a woman is bold enough to wear. I can see why others like it, sure.
MARCH
Pride and Prejudice. I am 30% sure I read this in college but 70% sure I lied. I definitely did an extensive project on it. Do with this information what you will. Anyway, I liked it a lot the “second” time around. As a devoted fan of the Joe Wright adaptation and hot off the heels of the Austen heavy February, I picked it up. Happy I did. I unfortunately see a lot of myself in Lizzie Bennet so here’s hoping for a mansion one day as a result of all this stubbornness. Of all the Austen catalogue, I do think this is the most approachable and deeply enjoyable.
Agnes Grey. Anne Brontë on aux. Forgettable. (Sorry).
MAY
A Study in Scarlet. I lived near Baker Street for a few years as a kid but never read any Sherlock Holmes. A free PDF made its way to my desk so I picked it up. Totally fine book, but I feel like none of you are going to believe me that at the 50% mark it becomes a Mormon manifesto with Brigham Young and Joseph Smith making appearances. It didn’t occur to me that we knew much about Utah in London.
JULY
East of Eden. I thought this rocked. I feel like Steinbeck would maybe roll over at that review but genuinely this was one of the more engaging classics I have read. I read a good chunk of it in California which felt very fitting. I look forward to the adaptation and the day I stop processing “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.”
Of Mice and Men. Saw this on Broadway years ago and it made me just as nauseous then as it did now reading this slim little number. Worth a read, but I think do as I say and not as I did (i.e. don’t read it immediately after East of Eden.)
The Hobbit. I looked it up and this is technically a classic? I liked it. It’s fun, engaging, and a little silly. I think the man I was flirting with in my DMs hyped it up a bit too much, but happy for him that it’s an all-timer. I’ll probably read the rest, why not.
The Wrath of Achilles. This is an abridged section of The Iliad I picked up in London a few months back. It was a good refresher before The Odyssey.
Housekeeping:
Watching: Furious (I worked on it, I am biased, but Rotten Tomatoes isn’t.) I’m also hoping to tap into Mary Beth Barone’s Galaxy Brain. I saw her do standup last year in Chelsea and it was great. I also just saw The Invite and if you have any playwright in you, it should be activated. (Could be 15 min shorter, but a high recommendation.)
Reading: Circe by Madeline Miller if I ever actually surface from work to finish it. Ideally next up is Lonesome Dove.