Classic Books (And Its Condensed Versions, Hopefully) Are Forever

 “Sanctuary!”

        --Quasimodo

           Few years ago, I busied myself reading classic books. I then condensed them and rewrote and rephrased them a little to make them more understandable to kids.  A ten-year old child would find it difficult to be entertained by reading the original version of, let’s say, Dracula or Ben-Hur. But the condensed version, he or she would find that book more palatable. The colorful illustrations inside every book I condensed made it more entertaining.

          I enjoyed this work (others of course would find it boring). Imagine being able to read a classic book for free and getting paid for it (right after I condensed it of course; but condensing it after reading it is quite easy, at least for me). Before that, you’d do a lot of convincing before you could persuade me to read The Three Musketeers or The Count of Monte Cristo (which, incidentally, is one of Jose Rizal’s favorite books). I preferred reading contemporary books (and I am quite biased to the works of Stephen King, John Grisham, though I also love Ernest Hemingway’s works).

          Among the classic books that I got my hands on, my favorite is The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. A very entertaining read, it is witty, hilarious at times and tragic. Quasimodo, a hideous bell-ringer who was made deaf by the ringing of the bells,  is definitely one of the most sympathetic tragicomic literary characters ever created. The book’s ending—where they found the skeleton of Quasimodo embracing the gypsy Esmeralda’s skeletons inside her tomb—will put a tear in your eye.

          Esmeralda was the first to die and Quasimodo, who deeply loved her, went to her grave, embraced her corpse and died there.

                   “...when they tried to put his skeletons away from hers, it crumbled into dust...”

          The following are some of the books that I was fortunate to condense:

These condensed versions of classic book are Published by Lampara Books(an affiliate of Precious Pages Corporation) and are still available at Precious Pages Bookstores (which branches are located at SM Malls) and National Bookstore branches.

Do you love books but find the classics too boring? Do yourself a favor, put down the trashy, illogical and shallow book you are currently reading and grab a classic book (or its condensed version)—it will enrich your mind and your soul.