Sir Walter Scott anybody?

I've had a set of the Waverley novels untouched and filling up a bookcase for years - I was actually just about to get rid of them so I could use the bookcase for my growing 1001 Books...Collection - when lo and behold, I find that 3 of his novels are on the list. Has anyone read Ivanhoe, Monastery, or Rob Roy? If I were going to read one of them, which one would you recommend?

I'm guessing that the lack of response is an indication that no one has read or would recommend the Sir Walter Scott titles on the list - but I thought I'd try one more time before getting rid of my SWS set to free up some bookshelves

I like Scott well enough, and he's definitely worth the read if you like 19th C. literature or historical novels. I haven't read any of those, instead I've read the Bride of Lammermoor, Guy Mannering, and Waverley (which I'm surprised isn't on the list). Can't help you choose between those three.

Ivanhoe is good, clean fun. I've read most of his books and it's one of my favorites. Faux-medieval, knights-and-tournaments, etc. Some complain about its anti-semitic under/overtones. I'd agree that they're there, but that's true of most books from that era that touch on anything Jewish, so it's more a fault of the time period than the author. If you like Medieval or Medieval-style books, you may like Ivanhoe.

If you like historical adventure novels (eg 3 Musketeers, Treasure Island, Last of the Mohicans), you should definitely check the Waverly books out. I don't recall which Waverly books I've read but I know I've read several and I liked them too- they're more traditional historical war/adventure books.

I haven't read the other two, but I enjoyed Ivanhoe a great deal when I read it a few years ago. I'm hoping to read more of his works soon, but there are just so many other books getting in my way (not that I mind, really!)

I tried reading Ivanhoe as a child, but didn't get into it. (There was a great series of kids' books by Edward Eager that I loved as a kid and in one of them - Knight's Castle all the children were obsessed with knights and Ivanhoe in particular, so that was my inspiration.) I would like to try it again now I'm all grown up (especially since Kplatypus mentioned two of my favourite childhood adventure novels - The Three Muskeeters and Treasure Island - above), and I think I still have a copy somewhere...

Ivanhoe is the easiest read and the most exciting story I suppose.
Rob Roy was a bit of a disappointment. Lots of dialect,which personally I don't like.
The Monastery is not one that I would chose to get into Scott with at all.
My favorites would be The Antiquary ,Waverley and The Heart of Midlothian
This last title is a particularly good one .

Another vote for giving Ivanhoe a try. I read it last year and enjoyed it. Not read any of Scott's other works but hope to in future.

Ivanhoe is fun. I liked Waverley too, The best Scott in my opinion is not on the list: Old Mortality.

I'll give another vote for Ivanhoe

I'll give another vote for Ivanhoe and also recommend The Talisman

I have read Ivanhoe, Rob Roy and the Monastery. Ivanhoe was the most enjoyable but Rob Roy is more like other Scott novels. The Monastery is wierd.

Good weird or bad weird?

I have read Ivanhoe quite a long time ago and might reread it at some point...I liked it back then. Haven't read other Scott books but Rob Roy doesn't seem that appealing to me...

Ivanhoe was the most widely read novel in the south prior to the civil war. It was one of the few literary works or novels read by Lincoln (though he certainly loved to read plays by Shakespeare). It was also read by Jefferson Davis. It was highly read by Presbyterians in the south and the occasional Baptist who knew how to read. (I know that is a shot at Baptist, but then I figured they would not be able to read this). For me to fully get Rob Roy you need a good glossary to understand all the dialog that takes place.

I recently read Ivanhoe, been putting it off for years! Very good.