Classics Club Spin #4

Bookish Stuff / Thursday, November 14th, 2013

The Classics Club is a group of bloggers that try to encourage book lovers to pick up some classics through IMG_2165the year.  I’d mentioned wanting to read more too but as the year 2013 dashes to an end, I realise that I could have read a few more. Sigh.  So here’s my chance to try to redeem myself before December 31, 2013.

Here’s how it works.  Below you will see my list of 20 classics numbered.  On Monday the 18th of November, Sam over at the blog Tiny Library will post the number, from 1-20, generated from random.org.  From there we will read the book that is numbered the same from our respective lists.  I grabbed all the classics that I had in plain view and I secretly hope that Moby Dick doesn’t come up either Sam because no matter how much I want to read it, it intimidates me and it’s hella long!  I need to read eventually.  It’s been sitting on my shelf way too long.  So here’s my list:

1. Les Liaisons Dangereuses – Choderlos de Laclos

2. Bonjour Tristesse – Françoise Sagan

3. Casino Royale – Ian Fleming

4. On the Road – Jack Kerouac

5. Slaughterhouse 5 – Kurt Vonnegut

6. Easter Parade – Richard Yates

7. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

8. Rabbit Run – John Updike

9. Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin

10. The House of Mirth – Edith Wharton

11. The Crying of Lot 49 – Thomas Pynchon

12. Orlando – Virginia Woolf

13. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury

14. Black Boy – Richard Wright

15. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf and Spell #7 – Ntozake

Shange

16. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe – Carson McCullers

17. Persuasion – Jane Austen

18. Sanctuary – William Faulkner

19. Far From the Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy

20. Moby Dick – Herman Melville

Comment below and tell me what you think? Have you read any of these?  If so tell me which ones and if you liked or hated them. I hope some of you will join me in this hazardous reading venture. We’ll have until the end of the year to finish the book. Sounds doable right?

20 Replies to “Classics Club Spin #4”

  1. Some great choices. From your list I’ve read Slaughterhouse 5, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, Persuasion, and Moby Dick. I did not like MD. I couldn’t get past killing of the whales to get into the character developments. All the others I enjoyed immensely. Good luck with the challenge. Sounds like a wonderful chance to read a good book. I got a lot already on my plate, but if the challenge happens again, please blog, and I’ll join in.

    1. You’re not behind. You’re ahead. the idea is to read the book that corresponds to the number on our respective lists. For example if the #4 is chosen. I’ll have to read On the Road. So first you’ll have to make a list of 20 classics and then wait to hear the number to know what book you have to read. Let me know if you decide to join in. 🙂

  4. I really liked Les Liaisons Dangereuses… I felt transported back in time. I tried reading On the Road several years ago but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it. I probably should try again at some point as our feelings about certain books can evolve. Good luck with your project!

    1. Les Liaisons Dangereuses will be a reread for me. The first time a read it in French. This time I’ll be reading it in English like that I can check out this Penguin English used copy some one gave me. All will be revealed on Monday. Thanks for the encouragement!

  5. I’ve read Moby Dick, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, Black Boy, Casino Royale and Giovanni’s Room. Of course, Black Boy is one of my favorites having read it many times. I enjoyed them all. However, I did read Moby Dick in high school. I had an enthusiastic teacher who made it an exciting read. Let me say, I liked Casino Royale the least but I know it’s because I saw the film before reading and the book is a completely different animal. The only thing the film and book shared was the character name: Bond. This sounds really great idea. If I can ever come up for air, I would do it also.

    1. I’m secretly hoping for Black Boy because I’ve been dying to read it for a while. I really enjoy Richard Wright’s writing. Casino Royale has been hanging on the shelves now for a year. I’ve always wanted to read an Ian Fleming to see what they’re like. Moby Dick is also another dream read along with War & Peace. One day I’ll have to get to them….

    1. I started reading it at the beginning of this year and stopped because I left it at a friend’s home. By the time I got it back I’d forgotten what I read and needed to start over. So eventually I’ll have to get to it. Maybe Monday?

  7. Moby Dick is so scary! We should bite the bullet and read it together at some point, but just not now. I’m not sure I’m up for endless whale descriptions at the moment….
    I loved Les Liasions Dangereuses when I read it, it’s such a fun classic.

    1. I agree about Moby Dick. Meh! I’m reading David Copperfield and it’s pretty good. Les Liaisons Dangereuses I read in French many years ago so this time will be a reread in English since someone gave me a used Penguin copy. I’m curious about the translation. Let’s read Moby dick together at some point next year. 🙂

  8. Mmm. Have only read the Thomas Hardy because I studied it in school. I really do prefer contemporary fiction and that element of the unknown. I once tried Moby Dick but the print was tiny and the reading dense and in the end I gave the book away so it would stop taunting me from the shelf. But I have read some wonderful reviews that make me wish to be able to access it and gain what those who have appreciated it have discovered.