Ranking every classic I read in 2020✒️

TL;DR

Emma ranks the classics she read in 2020 from her favorite to least favorite, discussing each book's plot, her enjoyment, and unique aspects.

Transcript

hey it's really nice to have you here nice to meet you my name is emma if you are new to this channel and if not hi welcome back how have you been i am really looking forward to sitting down with you guys right now and filming this video because i've never done this video before but i thought it would be fun to go through all of the classics that i... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 H.G. Wells' works were difficult for Emma to connect with, except for "The Island of Dr. Moreau."
• 🛟 Voltaire's "Candide" challenges the concept of the best possible outcomes in life.
• 🍰 Sylvia Plath's "Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom" is a beautifully written short story with intense urgency.
• 😫 Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Links" and "Death on the Nile" are classic detective stories set in different locations.
• 🥰 Emma loved Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows" for its cozy and charming prose.
• ❓ Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" was not Emma's favorite Austen novel, but still contained her signature humor.
• 🖐️ Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" is a short and witty play about Victorian society.
• 🍄 Emma enjoyed C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" for its fun and cozy adventure in the fictional world of Narnia.
• 🥰 Plato's "Symposium" was an interesting exploration of love and its effects on humanity.
• 📔 "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky deeply affected Emma, although she is still unsure how to fully interpret her feelings about the book.
• 🥰 James Baldwin's "Giovanni's Room" is a powerful novel about love, sexuality, and identity.
• ❓ William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a lighthearted comedy with beautiful language.
• 🤪 Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto" is a strange and wacky gothic novel, one of the first in the genre.
• ❄️ Rainer Maria Rilke's "If Not Winter" is a collection of translated fragments of Sappho's poetry, filled with beautiful language and emotion.
• 🎄 Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is a heartwarming tale that made Emma emotional.
• ❓ Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" is a favorite of Emma's, with a gripping plot and memorable characters.
• 🫒 "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson is a strange and ambiguous gothic story that Emma enjoyed.
• 🥰 "Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux holds a special place in Emma's heart as a childhood favorite.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was Emma's least favorite classic of 2020?

Emma's least favorite classic of 2020 was H.G. Wells' "Strange Fiction" as she struggled to connect with his works, although she generally enjoys his novel "The Island of Dr. Moreau."

Q: What is the premise of Voltaire's "Candide"?

"Candide" is a satire that challenges the idea that all outcomes are the best possible outcomes in the best of all possible worlds. It follows the protagonist, Candide, who experiences every horrible thing imaginable, questioning the notion that everything happens for a reason.

Q: What is unique about Sylvia Plath's "Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom"?

"Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom" is a short story packed with dense prose. It follows Mary as she boards a train to a frightening destination, desperately trying to find a way to escape. Emma loved the beautifully written sentences and the sense of urgency in the story.

Q: How does Emma rank Agatha Christie's novels "Murder on the Links" and "Death on the Nile"?

Emma ranks "Murder on the Links" higher than "Death on the Nile." She enjoyed the mystery and classic detective story in "Murder on the Links," set in France. "Death on the Nile," set in Egypt, was also enjoyable, with a historic backdrop, but didn't rank as high as "Murder on the Links."

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Emma reads and ranks 27 classics from her favorite to least favorite, discussing each book briefly.

• H.G. Wells' "Strange Fiction" ranks as her least favorite due to her difficulty connecting with his works.

• Voltaire's "Candide" is a satire that challenges the idea that all outcomes are the best possible outcomes in the best of all possible worlds.

• Sylvia Plath's "Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom" is a short, densely packed story about a girl's frightening train journey.