I've been meaning to read more classics but somehow they just never find their way into my reading stack. I was thrilled when I saw a post from the Classics expert JoAnn over at Lakeside Musings posted about The Classics Club Spin hosted by The Classics Club. The rules are pretty simple.
Make a list of 20 books by August 11th. That morning a random number will be posted and that book will be the one you read by October 6th. Try and challenge yourself to mix in some books that you're dreading or hesitant about.
This time around I'm focusing on children's books that I somehow missed when I was an actual child with a few others thrown in.
1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
2. Eight Cousins - Louisa May Alcott
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
4. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
5. Back of the North Wind - George MacDonald
6. Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum
7. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
8. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
9. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
10. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
11. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
12. The Borrowers - Mary Norton
13. The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin (technically a reread but it's been at least 20 years since I've read it and it's by daughter's favorite book)
14. The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
15. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Graham
The Tough Ones:
16. Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers - didn't love the first one but don't feel like I should give up on it yet
17. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - also technically a reread but I read it in 9th grade so I'm not sure it counts.
18. Animal Farm by George Orwell - I know this is supposed to be an easy read but I've never really wanted to pick this one up.
19. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
20. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith- I've always been hesitant to read this one for some reason.
I'm so glad you decided to join the fun... and what an excellent idea to focus on children's books. I missed a lot of them when I was growing up, too. From your list, I especially liked Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, and The Woman in White. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is outstanding - no need to hesitate.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what number comes up on Monday!
I'm glad you clued me into this one. The concept is really fun and I'm excited to see what I'll be reading!
DeleteI am also participating in The Classics Club Spin. What a great idea to focus on children's books! I have read a lot of these but I missed some of them too, although just a few months ago I did finally read "The Wind in Willows". And I'm so glad I did. It's a wonderful and unique book. I don't blame you for not wanting to pick up Animal Farm. It is an easy read - it's just that the story is brutal and depressing. Still, it has a message that's worth reading. I'd say that in the category of talking animal stories "The Wind in the Willows" and "Animal Farm" are on two different ends of the spectrum.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I'll have to come check out your list. I've really been enjoying the children's classics I've been either rereading or reading for the first time. I'm really hoping Animal Farm isn't the number called!
DeleteThanks an excellent idea to movitate oneself to read more classics! I myself intend to read one classic a month, I only stick to it every other month, though.
ReplyDeleteI also want to read quite a lot of children’s classics (Peter Pan, Anne of Green Gables and Little Women in particular), because I’ve mainly read German children’s books when I was little.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn has been on my shelf for a really long time, and I feel like it’s going to be a favourite, especially because two of my favourite booktubers (WordsofaReader and MercysBookishMusings) love this novel. But, like you, I’ve somehow been hesitant to pick it up.
The Bell Jar is one of my favourite books, so I recommend you to read it! If you’re even a little bit interested in books revolving around mental health and general struggles in life, I think it’d be an interesting read for you. :)
Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites! Though I love most of Montgomery's work. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! I will read The Bell Jar one of these days even if it isn't the one I start this round. I know there's a book about Silvia Plath herself that came out recently that I'd like to read as well.
DeleteAh, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my favorite younger adult reads! Also read Animal Farm in high school, it's short and an okay read, and I loved Great Expectations in high school. I love Dickens in almost any book. Only book on your list that I actually read but disliked was Huck Finn. Enjoy yourself with this-- sounds like a fun endeavor!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people who love Dickens that I have to be missing something! The randomness of this appeals to me so I'm excited to see what I'll be reading!
DeleteThose are all really great books you can't lose with this list! I haven't read Hitchhikers but I've heard it's great and I haven't read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or The Bell Jar either. Good luck!
ReplyDeletehttp://youmeandacupofteablog.blogspot.com/2014/08/classics-club-spin-2.html
Thanks! I'm interested to see what I end up reading!
DeleteI don't really know if I'd call The Bell Jar a child's book, but it's been a long time since I've read it, so... yeah. Oh, nevermind. Just figured out what you meant, whoops.
ReplyDeleteGood luck reading them!
That made me laugh a little! No The Bell Jar is definitely not a kid's book! I couldn't come up with many children's books I was scared to read.
DeleteYou are so brave! Good luck! You've definitely got some great titles there. I especially would like to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn one of these days. And Sense and Sensibility and The Bell Jar.
ReplyDeleteHitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is such fun! And I really liked Wind in the Willows. It's been so long since I've read that one. The Woman in White is one of my favorites. So good!
If I was really brave I would've put War and Peace and some James Joyce in there! I've read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy but it's probably been 20 years so I'm sure it will be a different reading experience. I'm excited to see what number gets picked!
DeleteWhat a fun list! I feel the same about The Bell Jar ….. I'm not so sure why it intimidates me.
ReplyDeleteAt The Back of the North Wind is a lovely book and I hope you enjoy it when you read it. I can't say enough about it. It leaves you with such a "feel-good" feeling. MacDonald really understands how to instil magic into a story and pass it on to the reader!
I hope you have a great spin, Katherine and best of luck with your choice! :-)
I've had a copy of The Back of the North Wind and have never even so much as picked it up. I'm definitely going to have read it soon.
DeleteI just finished rereading S&S for Austen in August - such a wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rest of your choices - may the spin be ever in your favour!
I've heard great things about it and look forward to reading it eventually! Right now it appears I'll be spending a little time with Dickens.
DeleteGreat list! I actually poached Treasure Island (perfect summer reread) from your list when I was putting together my own spin list. Good luck with Great Expectations! I'll be interested to hear what you think of it, as I am similarly intimidated.
ReplyDeleteSarah @WordHits
Glad I'm not the only the one who hasn't read Treasure Island!
DeleteThanks! I'm trying to go in with as open a mind as possible since I know so many people love it.