the Humanist view

What’s a classic book that you think is overrated?

My younger self encountered certain classic in a way that did not inspire.

To this day, I think they are overrated. A perception that is mostly based on insufficient reading and understanding of the said classics.

Wuthering Heights

Taught to us, mostly, in my view, as a legacy of colonialism. Picture us, living in completely different settings, conditions, and culture, trying to make sense of it.

I honestly think, in my adult life, if I choose to read it I may actually understand it and perhaps even appreciate it. But, I am afraid, I was likely put off it for life, because of the manner it was forced upon us.

Just saying.

I have never heard any of my contemporaries here on our motherland quote from Wuthering Heights. to support a point in popular discourse.

Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm

However, I have heard some of my contemporaries quote often from George Orwell’s books, which I think are considered classics – “1984” and “Animal Farm.”

Animal Farm is among classics that were forced on our young minds.

I honestly believe that some of my contemporaries who quote Orwell’s books do so for show, kind of. I honestly do not think that they fully understand the conceptual and analytical frameworks of Orwell’s books.

If they truly understood Orwell’s books, then they would know not to quote them. Many times when they do, they inadvertently bring attention to their actions which contradict the principles in Orwell’s books.

Full disclosure, I honestly cannot say that I have fully read Orwell’s books in a manner that I fully understand them. It is on this basis that I add them to books that I think overrated classics.

Just saying.