Katherine Cox of November's Autumn has organized a reading challenge that is right up my alley, and I simply love the graphic she created for it and will be happy to have that gracing my blog for the next year.
The Challenge: Read seven works of Classic Literature in 2012, but only three of the seven may be re-reads.
How Does it Work? A little like a blog hop. Instead of writing a review as you finish each book (of course, you can do that too), visit November's Autumn on the 4th of each month from January 2012 - December 2012.
You will find a prompt, it will be general enough that no matter which Classic you're reading or how far into it, you will be able to answer. There will be a form for everyone to link to their post.
Join the Challenge: Anyone who loves to read classics and has a blog is invited and can join anytime before December 2012.
My Reading List for this Challenge:
Silas Marner - George Eliot
Reread, but I have to in order to read her major works in order!
Tortilla Flat - John Steinbeck
I reacquainted myself with Steinbeck this past summer and found out how much I like his writing.
Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes - Robert Louis Stevenson
I'm a long-time fan of RLS and I learned that Steinbeck's Travels with Charley was inspired by this RLS book.
Barchester Towers - Anthony Trollope
I enjoyed The Warden, which I read about a year ago, and am looking forward to more in the saga.
Romola - George Eliot
Know nothing about this book, other than I am reading all of Eliot and it comes after Silas Marner.
Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens
I really want to watch the BBC mini-series and I can't until I've read the book first. I haven't read much Dickens in recent years, but looking forward to diving into a good London story since I've been reading up on London history a lot lately.
Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe
I just have to read the book that helped launch the Civil War. Can't believe that I haven't yet. One of the most important books ever written and it will be a nice contrast to my recent rereading of Gone With the Wind.
Thanks, Katherine, for helping me organize the Classics part of my 2012 reading plans. This is equivalent to getting all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving!
Can't wait to hear about Romola. Don't know anything about it either and am curious. And as you mentioned we're both reading Little Dorrit! :) Thank you for the compliment, glad you like the graphic. And thank you for joining the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI will probably join in with this challenge. I was planning on doing a Dickens one anyway, plus a Bronte one - both of which would fit right in!
ReplyDeleteI love Little Dorrit, such a good one.
ReplyDeleteLindsey @ babiesbooksandsigns.com
I've just signed up for it - but I think I'll keep the Dickens challenge separate - I've got several other classics I want to read next year.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane,
ReplyDeleteGreat post will be following to see how you go over the year!
I'm interested to hear what you think of Uncle Tom's Cabin. I'll be reading it soon too. I just visited Harriet Beecher Stowe's house and read the first 40 pages of the book, so I could visit it while "in the middle of the book." :-)
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
You've certainly constructed a great reading list. Two overlaps with my personal reading list for this year are Romola and Little Dorrit. I've made a good start on Little Dorrit and need to get on with it! I'm also delighted to see you'll be reading Barchester Towers. A while back, I was enthralled by Trollope's Barchester books, eagerly read them all, and then went on with the Palliser novels. These 12 books were some of the happiest reading experiences I can recall. Now I pick up Trollope from time to time, hoping to finish his other major novels not in these series. Surely a lifelong project, since he was prolific and never brief! :) Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking about joining this one as well --enjoy
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to join this one too. I thought I wouldn't bother much with challenges next year, but I have a lot of unread classics, so maybe I will.
ReplyDeleteI loved Barchester Towers! I read it a year ago for The Classics Circuit and I just haven't had time to get back to him. I'm definitely putting Trollope on my list for this challenge. And I'm curious about Stevenson -- I just read a contemporary novel set in the Cevennes which mentions it, so that may make it on my list as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll want to read all of the Barchester books after reading Towers. I enjoyed all of your choices apart from the Steinbeck and Dickens which I haven't read. I'm looking forward to the challenge!
ReplyDeleteJust found this challenge...won't be participating, but you chose great books.
ReplyDeleteENJOY!!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com