Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Back to the Classics 2019: My List

Happy New Year everyone! I am the worst at making resolutions and sticking to them BUT I have successfully completed the Back to the Classics Challenge ever since 2014 when Karen at Books and Chocolate took it over from blogger Sarah at Sarah Reads Too Much.  Below is my proposed list for the Back to the Back to the Classic Challenge 2019


1. 19th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1800 and 1899. 
Because I can use Trollope for another prompt below, I think I am going to choose Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens for this category. 

20th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1900 and 1969.  
I will continue to chip away at the Modern Library’s 100 Best of  the 20th century list. I have 26 titles left to go! I might choose Native Son by Richard Wright since I own a copy. 

Classic by a Female Author.
I think I will read  A Glass of Blessings by Barbra Pym.  I own a copy and weirdly, though I love Babs, I only read her it seems when this particular challenge “makes me” do it. Same with Dorothy Whipple. 😟

Classic in Translation. 
Maybe that copy of Suite Française translated from the French in to English that has been languishing on my shelf for ages? On the other hand, Sylvia at silviacachia is going to host a Don Quixote read-along which would fit perfectly in this category if for some reason I STILL don't get to the Némirovsky title.

Classic Comedy.    
I think I might go for Three Men in a Boat. I have a copy already -are you sensing a trend here?  😃

Classic Tragedy.  
I may have to *gasp* get a book from the library or buy one to fit this category.  I do have a copy of The Wings of the Dove, which I think would probably qualify (as Karen points out in the introductory post, comedy and tragedy are subjective.  But I have never read any Hardy and maybe I should? On the other hand, other than The Turning of the Screw, I’ve never read any Henry James…

Very Long Classic. Any classic single work 500 pages or longer, not including introductions or end notes.
And here’s where I get my Trollope in. (There was one year where I could have actually read a Trollope for almost every category and I’m kind of sorry I didn’t! LOL).  Either I will read The Way We Live Now or my next in the Pallliser Series which is Phineas Redux

Classic Novella. Any work of narrative fiction shorter than 250 pages
I’ve got a few from my shelves that would fit here: The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh, Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis (would work for the comedy prompt too) or The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. 

Classic from the Americas (includes the Caribbean). 
Possibly I will read One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I own a copy that I found on the street walking my dogs (don’t worry, it was probably left over from a yard sale…I didn’t quite pick it out of someone’s trash can).  

Classic from Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes Australia). 
I have to buy or borrow for this category.  I really do want to read more Elizabeth Goudge so I might steal the idea of reading Green Dolphin Street from Karen.  On the other hand, I am interested in reading anything from Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. He has at least three titles older than 50 years and all are published in the beautiful Penguin Black Spine editions…so tempting!  

Classic from a Place You've Lived. 
If only I’d lived in the UK so I could pick another Trollope title. 😁 I might go super specific here and pick Cannery Row since I lived for a year in Monterey, California.  Or maybe I'll read the second Philip Marlow book in the series by Raymond Chandler. Either way, I will borrow the book from the library.

Classic Play.
I think I will pick something from Oscar Wilde again because he is so much damn fun!  Again, I will have to borrow from the library, but that’s OK. I own a couple of Shakespeare’s plays but frankly don’t enjoy reading them. I prefer to see them performed

18 comments:

  1. I'm planning on reading a Trollope for my very long classic...I've had one of his books sitting on my shelf for several years and it's probably time to read it. And I think I'll do a Thomas Hardy for my tragedy. Though I do love Henry James. But I've already read all of his books. :D

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    1. Thanks for the comment Lark! I wish I could say I'd already read all of Henry James! That's quite an accomplishment. :D I hope you enjoy the Trollope. I think you will. He is such a charming author.

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  2. Native Son was very powerful...though you may want to follow it quickly with Three Men in a Boat to cheer you up a bit. Great choices.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Joseph and for the advice! :D

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  3. Hi Ruthiella, great list. We'll be reading some of the same authors specifically Anthony Trollope and Barbara Pym. I've never read them before so I'm excited and I've heard so many great things. I've been having debates with myself about what constitutes a classic but I also want to read books I enjoy for the challenge.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Kathy! I just use the 50 year rule and don't think too hard about the "classic" status. I use this challenge to push me to read things I have been meaning to get to but....

      Glad you are trying out Trollope and Pym!

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  4. Three Men in a Boat is sooo funny!! Save it for when you need laughs. You can't go wrong with Goudge or Trollope. I love your list! I hope you have a great challenge and reading year!

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    1. Thanks for the comment Cleo! I think Three Men in a Boat will appeal to me. I think I will probably go for Goudge because I can borrow it from the library. Glad that you also give her your vote of approval.:D

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  5. I have read very few of these books, but have to put in some encouragement for The Loved One! I've read five Waughs and it's the only one I really loved. And I've had Cannery Row for SO long that I might join you on that one.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Simon! I will definitely try The Loved One first then! I'm pretty sure I picked it up on your recommendation. :D

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  6. I will eagerly await your classic reviews this year. Maybe you will inspire me to read some of these!

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    1. Thanks for the comment jenclair! I hope at the very least you enjoy reading the reviews! :D

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  7. I love Cannery Row so much and the fact that you lived in Monterey means you really have to read it! One of my favorite Steinbeck novels. Barnaby Rudge is one of the Dickens novels I have yet to read--I just hate the title, so unmotivating! Three Men in a Boat is such a fun book--I've read it twice and it's such a pleasure. I was thinking about rereading 100 Years of Solitude because it's been so long since I read it that I don't remember much except that it introduced me to magical realism, which I enjoy.

    You've got some great titles--like reading from my shelves too, but love having a library when I need it.

    Good luck with the challenge.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Jane! I agree, Barnaby Rudge is NOT an appealing title. :D You've sold me on Cannery Row. I will read it FOR SURE. I am really looking forward to Three Men in a Boat...I think its absurd humor will appeal to me.

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  8. Some lesser known titles, Ruthiella - to me, at least. Typical of me, I’m one book into the challenge & it’s not a book that was on my original list.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Carol! I know, Barnaby Rudge is like the Dickens that nobody reads! LOL. I am so impressed you have already completed one book...and it was a long one too!

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  9. Nice list. I chuckled reading how you got your One Hundred... copy. I'm glad we both are reading this. It's a re-read for me. In truth, once the book was read over 20 years ago, I don't think I should call it re-read, ha ha ha.

    I've read and laughed tremendoulsy with 3 Men. It's more than funny, it's a bit philosophical, which I love. When you read it, remember 'uncle Podger', and the first episode with the butter and the packing in general. Years after I read it, the funny scenes keep popping in my head!

    Either classic in translation will be great. And as you say, if you go with DQ, you know where to find us, ha ha ha.

    Cannery Row is a book I'd read. As for Dolphin Street, I have a copy of it, but I'm going to be honest and say that I'm right now put off by it for some unknown reason. I'm lazy to get back to Gaudge, and I don't know why.

    Eager to hear your reviews through the year, on these and other titles.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Silvia. I am glad you are reading One Hundred Years of Solitude as well. It will be interesting to read your review and compare it to my experience.

      I really liked the one Goudge book that I have read so I do want to try another.

      I am definitely reading DQ! :) The question is whether or not I use it for the challenge or try and slip in something else!

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