The Classics Club Spin #3 -I enjoyed Spin #2 although the book chosen by the Spin Doctors wasn't all that great (Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier). Most of the books are ones I actually plan to read this year or am excited about, so the "dreading" category is stretching the feeling a bit.
Here's the format.
- Pick twenty unread books from your list. This could be five you are dreading/hesitant to read, five you can’t WAIT to read, five you are neutral about, and five free choice.
- Number them from one to twenty.
- On Monday, August 19 a number will be drawn.
- That’s the book to read by October 1.
- Mystery Mile, by Margery Allingham
- Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Armin
- In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote
- David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens (reread)
- The Pickwick Papers, by Charles Dickens
- Battle Cry of Freedom, by Bruce Catton
- Trilby, by George du Maurier
- Felix Holt, by George Eliot
- The Art of Eating, M.F.K. Fisher
- The French Lieutenant's Woman, by John Fowles
- The Sybil, by Par Lagerkvist (reread)
- The Leopard, by Guiseppe di Lampedusa
- 1876, by Gore Vidal
- Crossing to Safety, by Wallace Stegner
- Blonde, by Joyce Carol Oates
- Excellent Women, by Barbara Pym
- Waverley, by Sir Walter Scott
- War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy
- Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck (reread)
- Dr. Thorne, by Anthony Trollope
If left to my own devices, I would go with #8, #17, #19, or #20 as they are all on my Back to the Classics Challenge; #12 is on my TBR Pile Challenge, so I would also like to get going on that one as well.
Interestingly, I had to change up this list quite a bit since the last spin, as I had read four of the 20 in the list in the meantime. These were the chosen book (Frenchman's Creek), The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Blue Castle, and I'm just finishing up Beloved.
Another interesting mix! I'm particularly fond of Nos. 2, 6, & 20. I think it's so brave to list books that you dread reading! I'll look forward to seeing what number comes up.
ReplyDeleteYes a good mix. Of the ones I've read my favourite is Elizabeth and Her German Garden, closely followed by 1876. I didn't enjoy Crossing to Safety because of one character I really disliked, she was a carbon copy of someone I knew.
ReplyDeleteDon't you hate it when that happens? :)
DeleteGreat list!
ReplyDeleteI was actually surprised that I have not read any of these however. Looking forward to seeing what the pick will be.
Wow. You have War and Peace on your list. That's brave! The only book on your list which I've read is Excellent Women by Barbara Pym, which I totally loved. Hope you "spin" a good one!
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't be hesitant over The French Lieutenant's Woman! I love that book! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso really enjoyed In Cold Blood and have been wanting to read Blonde.
Such a great list! I like how you mixed it up. I'll have to try that next time. Well, I absolutely loved In Cold Blood, Capote is an amazing writer. Excellent Women is just wonderful, and I just loved Doctor Thorne, one of my favorites by Trollope.
ReplyDeleteI also own an unfinished copy of The Art of Eating. I've read bits and pieces but I'd never finish it by October 1!! I look forward to reading your post, whatever the number.
I haven't read many of these - 10, 14 (I loved this one),15 (very good but took me ages), & 18(which surprised me by how much I liked it because I don't usually like descriptions of war). I hope you get one you want even if it means I have to read Silas Marner (my number 8 - I've started it at least twice).
ReplyDeleteI'm actually wondering why on earth I included #18, War and Peace, on this list. There's no way I could finish it by October 1.
DeleteI really like Silas Marner--has such a fairy tale quality for me.
You're the reason The French Lieutenant's Woman even made it on my TBR list!