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Abridged Classics
Abridged Classics: Brief Summaries of Books You Were Supposed to Read but Probably Didnt | John Atkinson
37 posts | 19 read | 61 to read
A collection of irreverent summations of more than 100 well-known works of literature, from Anna Karenina to Wuthering Heights, cleverly described in the fewest words possible and accompanied with funny color illustrations. Abridged Classics: Brief Summaries of Books You Were Supposed to Read but Probably Didnt is packed with dozens of humorous super-condensed summations of some of the most famous works of literature from many of the worlds most revered authors, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Emily Bront, Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, J.R.R. Tolkien, Margaret Atwood, James Joyce, Plato, Ernest Hemingway, Dan Brown, Ayn Rand, and Herman Melville. From "Old ladies convince a guy to ruin Scotland" (Macbeth) to "Everyone is sad. It snows." (War and Peace), these clever, humorous synopses are sure to make book lovers smile.
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SarahBookInterrupted
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mrp27
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February #wrapup

Another good reading month. The worst was The Romance Readers Book Club and the best was Legends and Lattes.

TheKidUpstairs Legends and Lattes was one of my favourites of January. Such a soul-warming read! 2y
mrp27 @TheKidUpstairs I agree! Glad I finally got to it! 2y
19 likes2 comments
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Blueberry
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Pickpick

A fun collection of book cartoons. 5 ⭐

@NataliePatalie

dabbe No need to finish War and Peace now! 🤣🤣🤣 2y
Blueberry @dabbe right!? 😆😆 2y
53 likes2 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

So much fun! Admittedly more entertaining to see the take on those few classics I HAVE read. I lost it at The Iliad. 😂

julesG My favourite is Jane Eyre. My daughter giggled at The Bible one. 2y
Robotswithpersonality @julesG It was a particularly nice touch as the parting shot. 😜 2y
3 likes2 comments
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julesG
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Pickpick

Very very quick read.

ellie_ember 😅🤣 2y
RaeLovesToRead 🤣🤣🤣 2y
RaeLovesToRead This looks great. I would get it if I wasn't worried about spoilers 🤭 2y
DivineDiana So funny! 2y
74 likes1 stack add4 comments
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julesG
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#BookMail - ordered this ages ago.

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MaleficentBookDragon
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Pickpick

Thank you so much @Avanders ! This was the perfect sirorise care package. I love everything! You know me so well. I am definitely keeping the Cthulhu tea tin even after the tea is gone. It is fabulous.
I immediately read the tagged book. I snorted I laughed so much. It is a keeper. I will be sharing pages with everyone. I‘m excited for the addition of my Bob Ross collection and all the fun cozies. Now, which one to take to AC next week? 🤔TY. ❤️

Avanders Yay!! 👏🏽👏🏽 I‘m glad you like it ☺️♥️😘 And I agree - the abridged classics are… classic 🤭😂 Also, I know you don‘t generally drink flavored coffees, but I always get so excited when I see a decaf of one of my favorites that I can‘t resist. 😬 You are, of course, free to pass it along! And definitely bring with you 3y
Avanders (I just love the setting so much and want to live there!!) 3y
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Pretty much sums it up!

SauerPatch 😆 5y
Desha 😂🤣 5y
BookishMe Lol 5y
Lcsmcat I love Twain, but the quote always irks me. Classics are classics because they‘re good stories, and I wish people were encouraged to read them as good stories, rather than as some metaphorical cod liver oil. 5y
Freespirit I read a lot of "classics" and am rarely disappointed ? 5y
98 likes5 comments
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cathipink
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I saw this book at Powell's and was intrigued after rifling through a few pages. It's a great library pick, or a fun book for a teacher's library, or a quick smile gift 🙂 some of the summaries were like daggers, some made me laugh, some were fine. Some books chosen made me 🙃 (The DaVinci Code isn't a classic). It was not hard to notice, in such a condensed setting, how male-centric (and female-hating) many classics are.

Tamra It‘s such a fun book! I wish there was a volume 2. 5y
cathipink @Tamra there definitely could be a volume 2. So many books, so little time 🙂 5y
Nute Is that the entire summary of War and Peace on the book cover? lmbo So sad about the observation.🙁 5y
cathipink @Nute yes! 🙂 every book inside is distilled to one or two sentences. It's a fun, very quick read. 5y
23 likes4 comments
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BeansPage
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bewareofwords This are always so funny 😂 6y
Leftcoastzen 😂❤️❤️ 6y
69 likes2 comments
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suvata
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Pickpick

Some of these are funny ...
Really, really funny. I would recommend this to any reader of classic literature. If nothing else, they will get a good laugh.

LauraJ These would be great as framed prints! 6y
suvata @LauraJ They sure would be! 6y
65 likes2 comments
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LA_Mead
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Doing some reading in front of the Christmas tree! “Abridged Classics” is hilarious! #seasonsreadings #festivaloflights @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

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Tamra
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Pickpick

The perfect fun Xmas gift for the book junkie! It‘s hilariously spot on and I soooooo hope Atkinson creates a second volume!

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I need this! And need to buy for friends! 😂 6y
77 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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MrBook
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😂👏🏻 #LitsyHumor

Leftcoastzen I love this! 6y
LoverofLit 😂😂😂 6y
Slajaunie 😂😂😂 6y
BeansPage 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sharing! 6y
AStoriedSoul 😂😂😂😂😂😂 6y
120 likes5 comments
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Amiable
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Browsed through this cheeky book at the store today and burst out laughing in the aisle. Where was this when I was in school??

CoffeeNBooks 🤣🤣 6y
jillrhudy I‘ve seen this. It‘s so cute. 6y
33 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Purpleness
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tpixie Love these! 6y
108 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Purpleness
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GingerAntics 🤣🤣🤣 6y
AmyG Ha! 6y
merelybookish 😂😂 6y
102 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Purpleness
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GingerAntics 🤣🤣🤣 6y
AmyG Hahaha 6y
See All 10 Comments
anwade88 😂😂 6y
CrowCAH @VioletCavalier thought you‘d enjoy! 6y
Daisey This is great! 😂 6y
sudi 😂😂😂 6y
JazzFeathers 😂😂😂 6y
SW-T 😂😂😂 6y
97 likes10 comments
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Purpleness
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Booksnchill Priceless!😂 6y
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Purpleness
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TheBookStacker I am reading both these right now this is hilarious (edited) 6y
AmyG These are so good. 6y
anwade88 Not the Odyssey 😆😂🤣 6y
tpixie Ha!! 6y
Tanisha_A Oh my god, not the Odyssey! CANNOT stop laughing! 6y
82 likes5 comments
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Purpleness
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Prepare to be spammed; this book is awesome!

anwade88 😂👏🏽 Love it! 6y
CrowCAH Love it!!! 😍 6y
Tanisha_A 😂 6y
87 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Purpleness
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So excited for this one!

KathyWheeler This is a book?! Yes! I love those things. 6y
tpixie This was so awesome! Thanks for all of the photos!! 6y
Purpleness @tpixie No problem! 6y
tpixie 💕 6y
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Amie
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Pickpick

😂😂😂😂😂

AmyG Ha! 6y
Mdargusch I love this! 😂 6y
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DGRachel
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Pickpick

I flew through this. I need to own my own copy. Some of these are so hysterical. Seriously, buy it, you won‘t be sorry. The art is cute and the one-two sentence summaries of classics are brilliant.

Andrew65 😂😂😂 6y
robinb This. Sounds. Awesome. ❤️🤣🤣 6y
DGRachel @Andrew65 @robinb My only complaint is that it is too short. I got through all 160 pages in 10 minutes. 😭 6y
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robinb @DGRachel This sounds like it would be highly addictive...like potato chips, you can‘t eat/read just one! 😳🤷🏻‍♀️🤣🤣 6y
DGRachel @robinb Yes! Exactly! There is no way to pace yourself when reading this one. 6y
robinb @DGRachel I was going to ask if it was an old book but just noticed that it‘s recently out! It has a “vintage” look...#coverlove. 6y
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DGRachel
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Another Saturday, another trip to the library to pick up an available hold. I dropped off two and only picked up my single hold. Yay, me! 😂 (Also, I totally needed something light with all my refugee non-fiction)

ReadingRover So cute!!! 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes! I do the same, serious reading has to be balanced with some light or you‘ll get in a reading slump. 6y
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

I loved this book! So much fun and wit! I'd recommend it for any book lover, and it's perfect as a palette cleanser or for a #Readathon.

julesG Stacked! 6y
LazyDays What a great acknowledgment!💞 6y
SilversReviews Awesome!! Thanks for sharing. 6y
tpixie Great Dedication! 6y
73 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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Hahahahahahaha

Whodunit85 This is my favorite so far. 6y
Clare-Dragonfly That is excellent. 6y
ladym30 😂😂😂 6y
72 likes3 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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I have a confession. A. I watched the movie first (and I loved it). Then I read the novel. Found out a few years latern when my friend complained about how long the book was, that the copy I read and owned was, gasp, abridged! 😱

tournevis The horror! 6y
LaraReads 🙀🙀🙀 Gasp! Yeah, I‘m trying to slog through it now. SO. LONG. But, I too loved the movie, so I‘m trying! 6y
Copwithabook It‘s one of the few books that I enjoyed the movie more than the book. Don‘t feel bad about reading the abridged version. I‘m sure it made it a more pleasant experience. 6y
minkyb 😂😂😂 6y
71 likes4 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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I promise that i didn't take a picture of the entire book, just a few of my favorites.

hgrimes These are amazing!!! I think I need this book! 6y
jpmcwisemorgan This is awesome! I want a copy. 6y
Itchyfeetreader Love this one! 6y
ladym30 These are great! 6y
charl08 I think this is my favourite of the ones you've posted so far. 6y
78 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pretty much.

tournevis Boom 6y
mrozzz 🙌🏻 6y
Jabberwocky WHOMP THERE IT IS 6y
tpixie Lol 6y
75 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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This is hilarious and creepy as hell at the same time. Also it totally sums up Lolita.

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MidnightBookGirl
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I read this book soley because the Hubs likes the movie (Patricia Arquette being the main draw for him) and this abridement just makes me laugh and laugh and laugh (with a slighy morbid edge to it).

CoffeeNBooks Poor Ethan Frome! 😃 6y
Zelma 😂👏 6y
tpixie I‘ve never heard of this one. I need to look it up!! 6y
65 likes1 stack add3 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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Love this!

CoffeeNBooks I'm going to have to buy this book! 🤣 6y
75 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MidnightBookGirl
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So much truth.

tournevis Word 6y
75 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MidnightBookGirl
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I read this yesterday and took tons of pictures becauae i just loved the hell out of it. I'm going to have to own a copy!

Also, I just had the BEST customer service ever at Starbucks. Nicole gave me caffeine and her personality and kindness was off the charts awesome.

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MidnightBookGirl
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This book is too funny! Very brief and witty descriptions of the classics!

tournevis Excellent summary. 6y
68 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Sara_Planz
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War and Peace. Everyone is sad. It snows.

MaleficentBookDragon 🤣🤣🤣 6y
BiblioLitten 😁 6y
Sarah83 😂😂😂 6y
tpixie Lol 6y
53 likes3 stack adds4 comments