Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Meeghan Reads — check out the next batch of upcoming topics here.
The theme for September is classics, and the this week’s topic is Top 5 classics I’m not interested in reading. I struggled at first — I have plenty of classics that I do want to read, but I’ve never really thought about identifying books NOT to read!
After some thought, plus random scrolling through my reading history and a bunch of Goodreads lists, I came up with the following five classics that I just can’t see myself ever picking up:
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Never gonna happen! And I actually read Anna Karenina (many years ago), so it’s not like I refuse this author absolutely. I just can’t see myself feeling motivated enough to try this one.
- The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner: On the other hand, I can safely say that I will never read a Faulkner novel, after a truly dismal experience with one of his books way back in my college days.
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: Honestly, it’s mainly the length of this book that’s so off-putting for me! Someone from my book group keeps suggesting this book as a group read… and if that actually happens, I may give in. But on my own? Nope.
- To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf: Another author I just don’t get along with. I’ve tried!
- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky: No interest whatsoever!
What classics are on your “never gonna read” list? And are there any of mine that you think I should reconsider?
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Bookshelf Fantasies 
I’m with you on the Count of Monte Cristo. It’s huge which is really off putting. The recent TV series was supposed to be quite good so I might just watch that instead. I did enjoy War and Peace though.
A couple of my book group friends also read War and Peace recently and recommended it… but being realistic, I can safely say it just isn’t going to happen!
I cant think of anything worse than reading War and Peace 😂
LOL, I’m sure there are WORSE choices!! 🙂
A friend of mine told me years ago she thought I’d like the Sound and the Fury because one of the characters codes as autistic. I have yet to find the motivation to actually discover if she’s right or not, but I did find an inexpensive copy of it a while ago, so I do have it on hand in case I ever do.
Oh, interesting! It might be worth reading with that perspective… but honestly, I just hated his writing so much the one time I tried that I don’t think I’d ever force myself to try again!
I struggled through Crime and Punishment last year. I’m happy to say I read it… but I don’t think I really got it, so I completely feel you on that book!
I’ve definitely had my share of classics that I’ve struggled through, and I’d rather not experience that again!
There was a time when I said I wouldn’t read/wasn’t interested in Count of Monte Cristo, but I kept getting curious the more I hear about it. So I’d like to try it, to see if it’s a revenge story I’d actually like.
By the way, Frankenstein is haunting me. I keep seeing it mentioned often lately, so I’m taking that as a sign to read it in October. If you’re up for/able to do a buddy read of it then, let me know.
Oh, great idea about Frankenstein! I might be interested — I’ll be away next week, but once I’m back and get a chance to regroup, I’d consider it!
Re Count of Monte Cristo, I do hear good things — it’s really just committing to such a long book that would keep me away.
I have read War and Peace, and Crime and Punishment, and The Count of Monte Cristo.The latter is worth reading. It might be bulky, but really is a fast-paced and entertaining story. Every Dumas’ I have read, I just couldn’t stop after a few chapters, LOL.Tolstoy were a real struggle, I think I’ve skipped at least 25% of it. Crime and Punishment is slightly better, but is quite dark. While The Sound and the Fury, I have tried once, but couldn’t pass more than the first two or three pages.Virginia Woolf, I have stopped reading altogether after Mrs. Dalloway. 😛
Thanks for sharing! Of all of these, I do think Dumas is one I’d actually like, but at this point, with so many other books I want to read, it’s hard to imagine committing to such a big book.
Same when it comes to the Count of Monte Cristo!
I just can’t get excited about reading a book that long!!
I came to reading late in life yet I have read Crime and Punishment and The Count of Monte Cristo because I thought I had to catch up! I enjoyed them both and I would jump at the opportunity to read them, again, with a book club.
That’s great to know. I think reading with a book club would be the only way I’d touch either one!
I don’t think I’d want to read any of these either. Especially the Virginia Woolf. I really don’t care for her writing at all.
I’m not even sure which of her books I tried way back when — I think it may have been Mrs. Dalloway, but I know I couldn’t stand it!
For me it was “OMG, just get to the F*ing POINT already!”
I agree with your list! I tried a Virginia Woolf book once and I didn’t enjoy it. And the others are just too long.
Waaaay too long. There are just so many other books to read!
I went through a Virginia Woolf period for awhile where I read all of her books and some of her journals, too. But she’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. And War and Peace is one classic I will never read either. It’s just too long. But then I feel that way about most Russian classics. ;D
Same, I think I just don’t get along with Russian classics (except I know I liked Anna Karenina… but that’s the only one!)
I don’t think I will ever read these either! Part of me is a bit tempted by The Count Of Monte Cristo, but like you I’m way too intimidated by the page count.
It would be really hard to commit to something that huge — there are just too many other books out there that I want to read!
Same!