One of my new years resolutions was to get back onto my Classic Club challenge, which I neglected miserably last year. As we’re already in March I have only started one book from the list (which still isn’t finished), I thought it might be time to join in with the classic club spin again and give my reading the kick up the … it needs.
For the spin, you pick 20 books from your list and then, tomorrow, a number is announced and you read that book. Easy, as long as I don’t get a book I’m dreading! Here’s my list…
- 1984 – George Orwell
- A Farewell to Arms – Ernest Hemingway
- Beloved – Toni Morrison
- Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
- East of Eden – John Steinbeck
- Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
- Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
- Lacuna – Barbara Kingslover
- Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
- On the Road – Jack Kerouac
- Possession – A S Byatt
- Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare
- Sons and Lovers – D H Lawrence
- The Bell Jar – Sylvia Path
- Waiting for Godot – Samuel Beckett
- The Secret History – Donna Tartt
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Truman Capote
- War of the Worlds – H. G. Wells
- Oscar and Lucinda – Peter Carey
I have to admit a few of these are re-reads I’m quite looking forward to revisiting (like Oscar and Lucinda which I haven’t read in over 20 years) and some are by authors I know and trust but just haven’t gotten round to reading (like Barbara Kingslover). A few though I am dreading as I’ve tried and failed to read them before. The biggest of those is Possession (I wrote about my inability to finish it here). So wish me luck and keep your fingers grossed it’s not number 12!
Emma
One Readers Thoughts 
Wow! That’s a great list, Emma. I’m curious though… why are you haviny yet another go at a book you didn’t manage to get through the first time? Is there a stage where you say to yourself ‘Yes, it’s a definitely a great book with some wonderful writing – but not for me…’?
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I have seen this around and was always curious about it. Do you have to put a certain type of classic on there cause I would probably put all classic horror or mysteries…lol. I don’t think I would put anything on my list I didn’t at least think I would want to read. I think if I didn’t like Possession the first time I wouldn’t try again, but fingers crossed that one isn’t your first read. 🙂
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I really tried to read Possession too and just couldn’t get through it! I hope if it the spin does land on the dreaded number 12 you have better luck this go round! Can’t wait to see what you end up reading!
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I wouldn’t mind reading a few of those myself! Good luck! 🙂
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I hope you get a good one Emma – a great list that reminds me of those classics I’ve loved. I want to read Breakfast at Tiffany’s which I’ve never read!
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Good luck with the spin!
We share War of the Worlds this spin, so if #19 spins up we can cheer each other on and boost any flagging interest 🙂
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I have found that sometimes reading books at different times in my life can make all the difference – a book that absolutely doesn’t work the first time sometimes clicks the second time around. Aaaaand…sometimes it doesn’t. 😉 Here’s hoping for good reads! 🙂
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Oh dear, the one book you didn’t want to come up was spun! I happend to really enjoy Possession when I read it (pre-blog), but I can understand how it would be hard to get into. Good luck–I hope you enjoy it this time around.
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I know! I am currently ignoring it and the book which is sat on my bookcase. Some suggested I try an ebook version. Not sure it will make a difference but I’ll try!
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[…] Thursday I did my first Classic Club Spin in a while, hoping to reinvigorate my classic club reading challenge…and ending up getting […]
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