Classic Spin 13 List...

Another classic spin will be determined on Monday, June 6th and the book will need to be read by August 1st. Here are the rules for more information.

Here is my list, in no certain order;

1. The Outsiders
2. North and South
3. Wives and Daughters
4. Treasure Island
5. Little Dorritt
6. The Pioneers
7. Jane Eyre
8. My Antonia
9. Larkrise to Candleford
10. The House of Mirth
11. The Rights of Man
12. The Grapes of Wrath
13. Little Women
14. The Secret Women
15. Kidnapped
16. Barnaby Rudge
17. The Oregon Trail
18. Northanger Abbey
19. Private Yankee Doodle
20. The Prince and the Pauper

Late on my Spin Results!

 
I am late on this post but the lucky Spin number was 8, which for me is Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I do not know much about this book and never seen any movie about it before. All I know it is seems sort of like a mystery/ghost type book. I need to have the book read by May 2. We shall see how far along I get.

Classics Club Spin Eleven!

 The Classics Club is having another spin! You have until Monday December 7th in order to join and list your 20 books. Then once the winning number has been announced then you have until Feb. 1, 2016 to finish and review that book. I have enjoyed previous spins and sometimes haven't gotten to finish the book, but this time I think that I will have plenty of time to do that. Here is my list! Join it is a lot of fun!

1. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
2. Treasure Island
3. Kidnapped
4. Wives and Daughters
5. The Secret Garden
6. Little Women
7. War and Peace
8. Little Dorrit
9. Adventures of Tom Sawyer
10. North and South
11. Northanger Abbey
12. Eight Cousins
13. Barnaby Rudge
14. The House of the Dead
15. Rights of Man
16. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
17. Poor Folk
18. House of Mirth
19. Larkrise to Candleford
20. The Pioneers

Classics Club August Meme and overall progress

  The Classics Club is revisiting some of their previous meme's and for the month of August the question to answer is by BookerTalk, "Have you made changes to your list since you first created it? If you added any new titles or removed some, why did you make those changes?”

I have not added any to my list, but of course added books to my overall bookcases that I want to read in the future. So far I haven't removed any as of yet, although perhaps there is one that I might end up doing. I have tried to read this book a few times and just can't get into it, The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I was previously reading the books in the order that it is on my list, but have given up on that. The last two years or less I haven't read as much as I would like, but recently did finish reading Persuasion, so far since August 2012 I have finished 11 books out of 67. I of course have quite a ways to go. Currently, I have started reading Little Dorrit for the spin that is due in October. What are you currently reading? Have you changed your list? If your not already a member you can join at anytime.

Persuasion Review

The Jane Austen book Persuasion is the shortest out of all of her works, however it is also the most unique writing style as well. There is very little dialogue at all in this book, which may bother some people, but I found it to be interesting. The book is told in a background story and the views of the main character Anne Elliot. She happens to be in her late 20's and in previous years was in love with Frederick Wentworth, however at the time this occurred a relationship was out of the question. Anne's father is a Baron and known as Sir Walter Elliot and puts great stock in the nobility. However, he only has daughters and is currently in bad financial circumstances. On the other hand Frederick Wentworth has returned and is now a Navy Captain that has made his fortune. We meet several different characters in this book friends or in-laws of young people a few are shallow or vain, while others are quiet or overlooked.  Anne Elliot was a quiet character who seemed to keep most of her opinions to herself, perhaps this is why her family often takes her for granted or they seem not to notice her at all. I wasn't a fan of most of her relatives. I am sure though that in writing the characters of the sisters that status and money were mostly all that was thought of at the time, especially in real life, women in the nobility/aristocracy needed to uphold or further advance themselves or their family by both status and financially. This book takes place in several locations including Bath in England, which from the previous Jane Austen books I have read is unusual. I did like the writing style but did wish this book was a little more in-depth in some instances and that the ending of it wasn't so rushed (this maybe because Jane Austen died and this book was actually published after her death). I was a little surprised though that for quite a while Frederick was nowhere around physically.

This book will be part of my Austen in August and The Classics Club review.

Spin Results and Review

 I am only two days late in finishing and three late in posting my progress on the Classics Spin results that ended on May 15th. It has been quite a few spins since I was able to finish a book. My book for this spin was The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. So what are my thoughts for this book? It was ok wasn't the best book but wasn't horrible either. This is of course a child's book and I can see how it would be appealing to children who loved trains or a little adventure. Basically, the story entails about a few siblings who for unknown reasons to them, are made to leave London with their mother and move to the country. It is then about the people they met and a few adventures, which as an adult become rather predicable, but to a child might not be. Even though later on you find out why they moved and how come the father was no longer involved in their lives, one issue isn't quite resolved for sure, they give you a hint who you assume is correct later on but never say for sure. I give it a 3 out of 5, perhaps if I was younger it would have been given a higher rating. The next book I will be reading for the Classics Club is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

Classic Spin #8 Age of Innocence Review

 I finished reading this book last night for the latest classic spin. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.  The main characters are Archer Newland and May Welland along with her cousin the Countess Ellen Olenska. The setting takes place in the 1870's in New York's old money society with the books main focus on family morals and standards of the day. Does one follow their heart or go by what is expected of them? It took me a couple of chapters to get interested in this book. Some of the characters I was on the fence about, although I can see their point of views, so for me I was more interested in seeing what they would end up doing more than anything else. The author Edith Wharton knew society well during the time this story she wrote takes place, as her own wealthy family came from New York. I think this does add to the book as some of the society manners and etiquette was quite fascinating to learn, however some of them were quite ludicrous by today's standards. I didn't feel that I really connected with the characters though, I think this is because the book was so much about society in general. I rank this book 3 out of 5, an ok read but not one I would want to reread.

Classic Club Survey - Part V

 Here are the last answers to the classic club survey.

42. Classic you are NOT GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN next year?

I probably won't be able to finish a either Heart of Darkness nor want to start reading Lord Jim (assuming Joseph Conrad's writing style is the same for both books).

43. Favorite thing about being a member of the Classics Club?

I love reading the reviews, classic spins, read challenges, and other events

44. List Five fellow clubbers whose blogs you frequent. What makes you love their blogs?

There are a few that I read off and on. Mostly I either am interested in the books they read and what to see their reviews, or I also enjoy the reading challenges they host. These are not in any particular order.

Adam - Roof Beam Reader

Brona - Brona's Book

Sam - Tiny Library

Fanda - Fanda

Marianne - Common Placing Books

45. Favorite post you’ve read by a fellow clubber?

I haven't kept track but perhaps I should.

46. If you’ve ever participated in a readalong on a classic, tell about the experience? If you’ve participated in more than one, what’s the very best experience? the best title you’ve completed? a fond memory? a good friend made?

I really liked doing a read along for To Kill A Mockingbird, it was really interesting and quite a bit of fun. Although this book isn't on my classic club list. I also enjoy readalongs or readathons where everyone picks their own pick or has the same theme, this way you can see all of the different books other people are reading. You never know when you might find a new author or another good book to read.

47. If you could appeal for a readalong with others for any classic title, which title would you name? Why?

Well I can think of a few, but if I ever hosted one it would have simple rules such as you have a year to finish it (no matter what the length), have a monthly check in, and review of the book once they have finished. This way to get more people involved who met want to participate but couldn't due to time contstraints (there have been times where I wanted to participate in a readalong but couldn't because the dates didn't work for me or they were only given a month to read a big book. Anyways, my picks would be Grapes of Wrath, War and Peace and Ivanhoe. I like cultural and historical type books (not textbook though), and with Grapes of Wrath I think you can compare somethings from the time frame to know so it would just be to get people thinking more. Maybe I should do one, would anyone be interested in joining if I made a readalong for any of those books for next year?

48. How long have you been reading classic literature?

Not counting when I was a kid, as I only read a few, then I would say almost three years.

49. Share up to five posts you’ve written that tell a bit about your reading story. Reviews, journal entries, posts on novels you loved or didn’t love, lists, etc.
Why I Read The Classics
Emma Review
Pride and Prejudice Review
Oliver Twist Review
Ivanhoe Review

50. Question you wish was on this questionnaire? (Ask and answer it!)

If you have a book that is not a keeper, than what do you do with it? I give mine to friends who I think will enjoy it, donate to local library, used bookstore, non-profit organization or church library. I always hope that even if a book might not be my cup of tea, that someone else will enjoy it.

Classic Club Survey - Part IV

Here is part four of my answers for the Classic Club Survey.

31. Favorite memory with a classic? 

I don't really have one, but I guess with all books the first time reading a book and meeting the characters and the word they live in.

32. Classic author you’ve read the most works by? 

I think this is a tie between Laura Ingalls Wilder and L.M. Montgomery.

33. Classic author who has the most works on your club list? 

C.S. Lewis

34. Classic author you own the most books by?

Anthony Trollope

35. Classic title(s) that didn’t make it to your club list that you wish you’d included? (Or, since many people edit their lists as they go, which titles have you added since initially posting your club list?)

I haven't added any new books or changed my original list. I would keep my list the way it is otherwise I might never challenge myself on this task of reading all 67 of them.

36. If you could explore one author’s literary career from first publication to last — meaning you have never read this author and want to explore him or her by reading what s/he wrote in order of publication — who would you explore? Obviously this should be an author you haven’t yet read, since you can’t do this experiment on an author you’re already familiar with. :) Or, which author’s work you are familiar with might it have been fun to approach this way? 

This depends on if the author wrote like a series of books compared to just regular books that didn't have anything to do with each other. I would rather read Sir Walter Scott or Zola in order of publication. If there is a new author and I know their book is part of a series I usually always start from the first book. 

37. How many rereads are on your club list? If none, why? If some, which are you most looking forward to, or did you most enjoy?

I really tried to limit myself on this and have only three. Out of the Grapes of Wrath, The Outsiders, and Treasure Island I am looking most forward to the last book. I vaguely remember Treasure Island but remember I liked it as a kid and it had a lot of adventure, so it will basically be like reading it for the first time. I have the Outsiders basically memorized and read the Grapes of Wrath within the past five years so I remember quite a bit of that as well. 

38. Has there been a classic title you simply could not finish?

I have tried three times and after one more attempt I am going to give up on Heart of Darkness. Also Great Expectations, although this wasn't on my classic club list.

39. Has there been a classic title you expected to dislike and ended up loving? 

Jane Eyre, not completely done but more than halfway.

40.Five things you’re looking forward to next year in classic literature? 

Read more books on my list, participate more and finish reading Spin List books, challenge myself to War and Peace, pick at least four books on my list that I am somewhat dreading and read them (if I end up not liking them than at least they are out of the way), complete reading challenges I have signed up for next year.

41. Classic you are DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN next year?

War and Peace

Classic Club Survey - Part III

 I have previously answered 20 questions but forth by the Classics club in previous posts. Here are my answers to the next ten questions:

21. Which title by one of the five you’ve listed above most excites you and why? 
This was a close one but I would have to say The Memoirs of Gluckel Hameln, just because of the history aspect and insight into someones daily life in the 1690's.

22. Have you read a classic you disliked on first read that you tried again and respected, appreciated, or even ended up loving? (This could be with the club or before it.) 

Nope, but I have read a few books which I thought I would absolutely not like and ended up liking it.

23.Which classic character can’t you get out of your head? 

Off the top of my head I can think of several: Emma Woodhouse, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mr. Darcy, Anne Shirley, Hermoine Granger, Harry Potter, Ponyboy Curtis, and Scout.

24. Which classic character most reminds you of yourself? 
Probably a mix between Laura Ingalls Wilder, Hermione Granger, and Anne Shirley.

25.Which classic character do you most wish you could be like? 
I have never really thought of that and can't immediately think of an answer right now.

26.Which classic character reminds you of your best friend?
 I have not a clue

27.If a sudden announcement was made that 500 more pages had been discovered after the original “THE END” on a classic title you read and loved, which title would you most want to keep reading? Or, would you avoid the augmented manuscript in favor of the original? Why? 

There are so many books that I would have wanted to keep reading after "the end." I guess it depends on what is in the extra 500 pages, does it have more background information and ties of questions never answered or give more insight into a character and their thoughts? Or if the book was more of a mystery at the end as to what really happened, does it answer those questions? If the extra pages didn't answer any of these to add anything extra I don't think I would want to read it then.

 28. Favorite children’s classic? 
How can you only pick one? I think book wise it would be Laura Ingalls Wilder as I enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables miniseries better than the books.

29. Who recommended your first classic? 
I can't really remember but assume it would have been my sister or an elementary teacher.

30. Whose advice do you always take when it comes to literature. (Recommends the right editions, suggests great titles, etc.) 
No one really, some people might suggest a book and I look into it, to see if I think I would like it or not. I have had it were sometimes then I enjoyed the book and other times I didn't.

Classic Club Survey - Part II

 Yesterday I posted my answers to the first 10 questions of the classic club survey. So here are my answers for the next 10 questions:

11. Classic that inspired you? or scared you? made you cry? made you angry? 
hmm... The Outsiders, Oliver Twist, Ivanhoe, and Grapes of Wrath.

12. Longest classic you’ve read? Longest classic left on your club list? 
 The longest book I have read so far for the Classic Club I think is Ivanhoe with more than 500 pages. I assume the longest book left on my list would be War and Peace with approximately 1200-1300 pages.

13. Oldest classic you’ve read? Oldest classic left on your club list?
So far the oldest book that I have completed has been Pride and Prejudice, but the oldest on my list is The Republic written in 380 BC.

14. Favorite biography about a classic author you’ve read — or, the biography on a classic author you most want to read, if any? None

15. Which classic do you think EVERYONE should read? Why? 
See my answers to question 11. Sometimes I like books that make you think or give you a broader view of various issues on things, course that means you don't have to agree with what an author wrote but just think more about your own opinion and see what others think.

16. Favorite edition of a classic you own, if any?  
I have some nice hardback issues of War and Peace, Pride and Prejudice, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Northanger Abbey.

17. Favorite movie adaption of a classic? 
The extended version of the Outsiders, Emma with Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller (plays on US version of Elementary), and Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.

18. Classic which hasn’t been adapted yet (that you know of) which you very much wish would be adapted to film. I can't think of one at the moment.

19. Least favorite classic? Why? Heart of Darkness, see part I for my answer as to why

20. Name five authors you haven’t read yet whom you cannot wait to read. 
Thomas Hardy, Gluckel of Hameln, Thomas Paine, Louisa May Alcott, James Fenimore Cooper

Classic Club Survey - Part I

 Here are the first ten answers to the Classic Club Survey, I am doing this in five parts.

1. Share a link to your club list: http://crafts4others.blogspot.com/p/my-classics-club-list.html
2. When did you join The Classics Club? How many titles have you read for the club?  Aug. 2012,  finished eight, and currently reading three. I know slow going lately.:)
3. What are you currently reading? The Age of Innocence, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre.
4. What did you just finish reading and what did you think of it? The last book I finished wasn't on the classic club list, but the last official club book I finished was Emma and I loved it.
5. What are you reading next? Why? After finishing the three books I am currently reading, I will probably go back and finish Germinal (I am only a few chapters in).
6. Best book you’ve read so far with the club, and why? Emma, Oliver Twist,  and Ivanhoe. See my reviews.
7. Book you most anticipate (or, anticipated) on your club list? There are so many left on my list, so this answer will have quite a list (which include rereads and will not count ones I have already read for the club). The Outsiders, North and South, Wives and Daughters, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Little Women, The Memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln, War and Peace, Little Dorritt, Larkrise to Candleford, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
8. Book on your club list you’ve been avoiding, if any? Why? Actually not a book but a particular author Joseph Conrad. I have been trying to read Heart of Darkness and other short stories but cannot get into it. I have tried multiple times, so I will try one more time, the style of writing is really hard to get into and follow. I also have Lord Jim on my list as well.
9. First classic you ever read? I think it would be Little House on the Prairie series as a kid, but for the classic club it was Pat of Silverbush by LM Montgomery.
10. Toughest classic you ever read. So far, which I haven't finished either is Heart of Darkness and War and Peace. As previously stated I can't get into and do not care for the style of writing for Heart of Darkness, in regards to War and Peace it is because of the multiple names for the same person it gets really confusing. I am going to give Heart of Darkness one more time, and in regards to War and Peace I am going to make a cheat sheet of the names as other than that I liked the story of War and Peace (of course I wasn't even a quarter the way through).

Classics Club Check In - Dec. 2014

 I haven't finished a book on my classics club list in quite awhile, however I have been reading several of them. I am more than halfway on Jane Eyre, halfway through Sense and Sensibility, and not even a quarter of the way through The Age of Innocence (which I am having a hard time getting into). I think I will be starting over on Persuasion as I was almost halfway, but I haven't read it in awhile, so I have forgotten most of the characters. How is your reading going?

Classic Spin Number

 I know that I am a few days late posting but the number for the Spin is 13! I was a little surprised since I had so many previous event/spin books listed that one of them didn't make it. I have started reading The Age of Innocence of Edith Wharton, only about a chapter or so in, to early to see if I will like it or not. Have you read Age of Innocence? If so what are your thoughts? I have until Jan. 5, 2015 to finish it.

Classics Spin #8!!

So I realized I haven't posted on here in a long time. How time flies, anyways it is time for another classic spin.

  If you have read my blog before, then you will recognize the first ten books, were all previous spin list or event books that I have yet to finish. I hope that I get something that is somewhat a light read.

1. Heart of Darkness and selected short stories by Joseph Conrad
2. Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
3. Germinal by Emile Zola
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
5. The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
6. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
7. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
8. Persuasion by Jane Austen
9. Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
10. The Secret Garden by Hodgson Burnett
11. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
12. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
13. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
14. Rights of Man by Thomas Paine
15. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
16. Love Letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn
17. The Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper
18. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
19. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
20. The memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln

What book on your list are you hoping to read or dreading? I have tried to read Conrad's books and gotten stuck. I am in the first part of Walden but not finding it very interesting, and I have heard the second part is better. I am about halfway through Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility, and finding I am liking Jane Eyre more than I originally thought I would. I have read a few chapters in Germinal and found it quite interesting, as well as War and Peace (although trying to remember all of the characters and their nicknames is a huge challenge). I have previously read The Outsiders multiple times, but for books listed 12-20 I have never read and just listed ones that I thought sounded interesting. 

Classic Spin Number......

 The number for the 7th Spin the Classics Club picked was 17! So I will be reading Germinal, I have heard it is good but just haven't read it yet. Have you read Germinal? What were your thoughts? Did you get a good number for the Spin?

Classic Club Spin #7!

Unfortunately, I saw this notice of a new spin early this morning, so I am making a very late post about it. The last few I have participated in I was not able to finish the books. The  books marked with an * are from previous spins that I was unable to finish; because of time, couldn't get through it,etc. The challenge is to read whatever book from my numbered list that the Classic Club picks by October 6.

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte*
2. Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau*
3. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
4. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. The Republic by Plato
6. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
7. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 
8. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
9. The Magican's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
10. The Railway Children by E. Nesbitt*
11. Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
12. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
13. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
14. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
15. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
16. Rights of Man by Thomas Paine
17. Germinal by Zola
18. My Antonia by Willa Cather
19. Heart of Darkness and other stories by Joseph Conrad*
20. Five Little Peppers and How They Grow by Margaret Sidney

Classic Spin Number Announced

 The number that was picked for this spin was number 1, so I will be reading Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau by July 7th since my book only has 260 pages. I plan on having it read by then, but might hold off posting a review as quite a few people wait until July 7th.




Have you read either Walden or Civil Disobedience, what did you think?

Books I will review soon....

I plan on reviewing these books during the next two weeks; 

This is for the book club that I belong too. It looks interesting, but I haven't started to read it yet.

Dear Mr. Knightly will probably be reviewed this week for booksneeze. 

This will be reviewed for the Classics Club.

Have you read any of these books, if so what did you think?

Classics Club Spin 4 List

 

 

The Classics Club is having another Spin! In the past previous Spins I have participated in, I had picked mostly a mixture of books I wanted to really read, so-so, or "scary" books. I need to read a good enjoyable and relaxing book, so I will only add books I want to read on my list. After all there isn't any official "rules", so it is all good. =0) I will find out on Monday what I will be reading and need to finish it by Jan., 1, 2014. Here are the choices it could be:

1. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
3. Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
6. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
7. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
8. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. Persuasion by Jane Austen
11. Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
12. North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell
13. Five Little Peppers & How They Grow by Margaret Sidney
14. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
15. Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
16. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
17. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
18. Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens
19. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
20. Private Yankee Doodle by J.P. Martin