A Guide: Navigating Classics

I recently tried reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. I had to DNF it because I just didn't like it. I read reviews of it and multiple claim it to be "the best literature ever" and "a book everyone must read". I felt a little weird after this, thinking, what was wrong with me??? Why had I not liked the great Mark Twain's work?? So essentially I emailed my grandmother and grandfather for their wisdom. I gained a lot from this conversation. Here are some things that I hope will comfort you about not liking classics:

The Time Period

Most popular classics that I have read were written during a whole different century and era. This means the way the author writes could be completely different from what we, 21st century readers, are used to. Also, if you can't understand authors like Charles Dickens, that's okay! Dickens' writing is very difficult and takes time to understand. In summary, most classics were written for another time and audience, so don't worry!

Length and Writing Style

Some classics are over 1,000+ pages and that's pretty daunting. So don't torture yourself by reading a classic with a writing style that you can't connect with/understand, especially if it's that long of a book. 

"It should be read by everyone"

I have seen many reviews that say this when they finish a classic. If you find the synopsis interesting, go for it! But want I'm trying to say is don't read a book just because it's been deemed a classic and should be "read by all educated people". 

Main Point

Read stuff that you find interesting and worthwhile. This applies to all media - music, art, tv, film, and books. Don't let anyone tell you what it good or not good. Decide for yourself the good stuff from the crap. And I'll admit, Mark Twain just isn't for me at this point in my life. And I've accepted that, but I can pick up one of his books in the future and might have a whole new opinion on his writing.