Karen at Books and Chocolate is hosting Back to the Classics again in 2019, and I cannot resist signing up. I have most of the categories filled in, with a couple of open slots for mood-strikers.
1. 19th Century Classic: Can You Forgive Her?, by Anthony Trollope
2. 20th Century Classic: Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh
3. Classic by a Woman Author: Agnes Grey, by Anne Bronte
4. Classic in Translation: War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy
5. Classic Comic Novel: My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell
6. Classic Tragic Novel: Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy
7. Very Long Classic: Daniel Deronda, by George Eliot
8. Classic Novella: Brat Farrar, by Josephine Tey
9. Classic From the Americas (includes the Caribbean): Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck
10. Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania: Picnic at Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay
11. Classic From a Place You've Lived: Song of the Lark, by Willa Cather
12. Classic Play: St. Joan, George Bernard Shaw
You have chosen a very interesting bunch of books. I highly recommend Can You Forgive Her? It is one of my favorite Trollope books. The only problem is that it is the first of the Palliser books and there are five more after that. You might be tempted to continue :)
ReplyDeleteI've read two from your list and was quite pleased. I'll be following this meme as I am sure the recommendations will all be good.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great year! I love the British flavour of many of your choices :) And like you, I daresay I'll be savouring W&P for most of the year, with the others wedged between. I'm reading Cold Comfort Farm as my comedy, but might have chosen Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson, except I knocked it off in December before I knew the categories. Picnic at Hanging Rock is atmospheric and great. I'll look forward to your reviews.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased to see Trollope on your list! Can You Forgive Her? is wonderful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Agnes Grey is a good read, though I much prefer The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. One of these years I'll get to War and Peace... Good luck with the challenge.
ReplyDeleteYes, on #6! I read all of my Hardy's, so I could not add one for the Tragedy category, unless I wanted to reread, which I do not...YET. I do not own Mayor of Casterbridge, which is the one I need to get!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great list of books! I'm signing up for this challenge, too, and Can You Forgive Her by Anthony Trollope is one I'm hoping to read, but I think I'll use it for my Very Long Classic. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to join challenges but I do hope 2019 is a year for at least 4 classics - we shall see. Happy New Year Jane and good luck with the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great list. And War and Peace is a huge commitment. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I also found Agnes Grey quite enjoyable. I think Anne Bronte is the best of the Bronte sisters. Many would argue that point.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy this challenge though I haven't done too well on my classics reading in the last few years. In 2019 I want to read Trollope as well as Brideshead Revisited and Les Miserables. I'm impressed that you've figured out all the categories in advance. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I ran into the same problem in coming up with a classic comic novel. Karen K mentioned the Mr Jeeves series and I remember sampling a few pages of Jeeves in the Morning years ago and boy is that series funny but otherwise I am drawing a bit of a blank regarding comic classics.
ReplyDeleteI might do this challenge simply because it will help me cross off books on my Classics Club list. Still trying to decide on challenges. I always fail so miserably so I will probably try to limit myself to five maximum (not including challenges I host). You have some great selections. I really want to read Picnic at Hanging Rock.
ReplyDeleteNice choices. Enjoy W&P. I found it more accessible than I expected.
ReplyDeleteGreat List! I too am a little wary of unfinished books so I will be interested in your review of The Buccaneers.
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