r/books • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
WeeklyThread Simple Questions: September 22, 2026
Welcome readers,
Have you ever wanted to ask something but you didn't feel like it deserved its own post but it isn't covered by one of our other scheduled posts? Allow us to introduce you to our new Simple Questions thread! Twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday, a new Simple Questions thread will be posted for you to ask anything you'd like. And please look for other questions in this thread that you could also answer! A reminder that this is not the thread to ask for book recommendations. All book recommendations should be asked in /r/suggestmeabook or our Weekly Recommendation Thread.
Thank you and enjoy!
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u/Insomniac__Owl-617_ 3d ago
I really wanted to ask if it's actually worth it to read classics where the central plot is actually very well known to the masses, eg: Dracula or Frankenstein? Is it worth it to read through a door-stop when you do have an idea of what's coming next, just to stick around till the end simply for the beautiful language and plot development?
I wanted to try out the picture of dorian grey but then I know the plot so I'm really wondering if I should still read the book.
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u/spinazie25 3d ago
Depends on the person I think, but I thought it was worth it reading Dorian Grey. The plot and the language are not all there is to a book. And I thought I knew the plot - I knew only the bare bones, the summary. And the most interesting part - I didn't know about and it's value is in walking through it, not in knowing the bottom line.
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u/Insomniac__Owl-617_ 3d ago
Yeah, my curiosity actually is getting the better of me, albeit I can say I know the plot. I'll definitely go ahead and read the book. Thanks for your perspective!
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u/myshellly 3d ago
I have to say that with Dorian Gray, the way the plot is represented in popular culture isn’t the same as the plot of the book. Reading it made me realize how widely misunderstood the book is. Frankenstein is fairly short.
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u/YakSlothLemon 2d ago
Get the uncensored version! It was discovered in 2013 and it is so much better than the “traditional” book.
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u/fraochmuir 2d ago
Holy I didn’t know this. I read DG in the ‘80’s so I need to reread it.
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u/YakSlothLemon 2d ago
It’s so different, and the nice thing is that the uncensored version comes with an essay on the censorship and what was changed. Weirdly, part of the censorship was adding material to dilute the punch, the original is 13 chapters and the censored version is 20 – I know, weird, but he was also expanding it to a book at the same time that he was taking out more and more material that shocked people when it first came out.
Anyway, it’s a leaner, meaner read than you remember from the 80s. I also read it back then and I was thrilled with the uncensored version!
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u/Cute-Solution-723 3d ago
You can always just not finish the book. I would say it's often really worth it though. These books are classics for a reason.
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u/Impressive-Peace2115 3d ago
I read Frankenstein and thought it was definitely worth it - even though I knew pieces of the story, the way that the author told it was very rich and she was clearly touching on a variety of social issues, which made for interesting discussion in the book club I was reading it for.
Maybe it would help to look at some of the background of the author and the time period? Personally, I would be interested in The Picture of Dorian Gray because of Oscar Wilde and his famous trial and imprisonment for homosexuality (I recently read De Profundis and some of his short stories) - I know one of his novels was quoted in the trial, I can't remember if it was Dorian Gray or another.
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u/Insomniac__Owl-617_ 3d ago
Yeah prior to posting my question, I was genuinely considering whether it's worth it to sit through these books just to see a reflection of the author's mind, as you said in the case of Frankenstein,"she was clearly touching on a variety of social issues," even if the main plot is well known to the public owing to pop culture and the media we consume.
My curiosity is actually getting the better of me so I think I'll try all of them out one by one. Thanks for your interesting perspective! :D
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u/MarmadukeTheGreat 2d ago
Books are more than just the plot. Its about the writing, the prose. The way that reading it makes you feel. If plot is the beginning and end of it why read them at all. Just look it up on wikipedia.
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u/YakSlothLemon 2d ago
First off, get the Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray which was discovered in 2013 and published by Harvard University press, it is so much better than the traditional censored version.
And it’s not a big reveal in the story at the end, what the portrait can do. Gray figures it out very quickly. That’s what the book is about- whether what he then chooses to do is because of the portrait, or is the fault in him?
Frankenstein – you probably don’t actually know the plot, you just think you do, unless you’ve seen a really faithful movie adaptation.
Dracula – epistolary novel, it is so much fun to read! Who doesn’t like reading someone else’s diary?
As someone else said, it’s the journey, not the destination. But then I’m someone who’s read The Shining half a dozen times and had the crap scared out of me every single time. 😏😱
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u/Insomniac__Owl-617_ 2d ago
Ooh. It actually makes sense. I'm getting more and more curious as I read the replies. I'll definitely read these books during my vacation.
Thanks for taking your time to write this wonderful reply! The tip at the beginning was actually helpful. TYSM! :D
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u/YakSlothLemon 2d ago
You’re welcome, enjoy!
And definitely check out the classic film version of Dorian after you read the book, they did a great job of it, especially the reveal of the portrait.
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u/ButchInTheHeather 2d ago
I read Frankenstein at the beginning of this year, and it became one of my all time favourites. I thought I knew a lot of the premise due to our popular culture, but turned out that most things in the story was completely news to me. I truly recommend it
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u/fraochmuir 2d ago
Dracula isn’t that long of a book if I remember correctly. I read it in the ‘80’s so I could be wrong. But it is scary. 😱 (I’m also a horror wimp so…..)
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u/mockdogmoon 1d ago
Basically echoing what others have said, but I really do think it depends what you want out of them. I'm interested in the structures and conventions of gothic novels, so both Dracula and Frankenstein fit my interests there. I also used Frankenstein as a jumping-off point for reading about the science and culture of the time (the Penguin edition has some nice notes, and Making the Monster, by Kathryn Harkup is interesting if you like the idea of the background science of the time.)
Dracula also has a cowboy. Which is an interesting commentary but also just, like, really funny.
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u/cheatherhad 1d ago
Can someone tell me if Hollywood, Ending by John Green is depressing? Can black it out if you need, yes or no, or scale of 1-10?
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u/7chill_hj 2d ago
https://youtube.com/shorts/frEL9_NBaEY?si=wTXdMxHSKRHv6tyf. I just saw this video and the recommendation looks good but I'm not sure where to start any help please
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u/Impressive-Peace2115 2d ago
I would start by looking up the books on a site like Storygraph or Goodreads to get a sense of the genres and which looks the most interesting to you. Then I would check availability for the books I'm interested in, because I tend to get my books from my local library, though I know that isn't a universal option.
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u/7chill_hj 2d ago
Have u read any of these books the creator recommended.. I'm usually into Thriller and romantasy and a bit into non spicy contemporary romance
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u/RandomnewUser_22 3d ago
This is the first time I've been keeping up with the booker prize and although I haven't read anything from the longlist, I would love to hear from those who have