I haven't yet finished up my reading for the 2020 version of Back to the Classics, but I'm already chomping on the bit to get going with the Back to the Classics Challenge 2021, hosted again by Karen of Books and Chocolate.
Here's my tentative lineup.
1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899 - The Eustace Diamonds, by Anthony Trollope, 3rd in the Palliser series.
2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971 - The Painted Veil, by W. Somerset Maugham
3. A classic by a woman author - Giant, by Edna Ferber
4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language - Pot Luck, by Emile Zola
5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author - To Sir, With Love, by E.R. Braithwaite
6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read - Christ Stopped at Eboli, by Carlo Levi
7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author -- a new book by an author whose works you have already read - Martin Chuzzlewit, by Charles Dickens
8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title - Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell
9. A children's classic- I scanned the Newbury winners and selected Adam of the Road, by Elizabeth Janet Gray
10. A humorous or satirical classic - The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, by Henry Fielding
11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction) - Pictures from Italy, by Charles Dickens
12. A classic play - Inherit the Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Karen did a great job in selecting this year's categories, including my favorites from years past and adding some new twists to keep it fresh.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone else will be reading from the classics shelves.
So many great books on your list! I haven't read that Steinbeck but I've read his Russian Journal and loved it. I also read So Big for the challenge this year, wonderful. And Trollope is one of my all-time favorite authors, The Eustace Diamonds is a great choice. Thanks for signing up for the challenge!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good line up of classics for next year! I do like this reading challenge a lot. I don't know if I'll join in this year, but I always love seeing what others choose to read. Good luck...and happy reading! :D
ReplyDeleteThe Eustice Diamonds was indeed fun to read. I thought that t was the most entertaining Anthony Trollope book that I have read. I am curious as to what you will think of it.
ReplyDeleteYour other choices look great.
Happy reading.
Hi Jane, Great list of books. I always find the satire/comedic category difficult but then again one can expand the definition of a humorous novel. I must read something by Emile Zola. Also Log of Sea of Cortez a good choice. Ed Ricketts was John Steinbeck's great friend. Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteSome authors I'm not familiar with here. Always good prompts for feeding the TBR beast. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good list. I remember those Herman Wouk books! We even watched the TV series a couple years ago of Winds of War and War & Remembrance which was dated but entertaining to see.
ReplyDeleteOh golly, I was thinking I should jump in on this but I'm thinking that if I can just up my classics reading, it will be a plus.
ReplyDelete