I do love a good reading challenge, even if I’m bad at the actual follow-through. 😉 So when I read over at Spreading the Feast about the Back to the Classics Challenge, I decided I would jump in. The challenge is hosted at Books and Chocolate, and there are twelve categories of classics (books written at least 50 years ago). Here are my current options for each category, and I can change my mind later if I want, as long as the book fits the category. Sounds like the perfect balance of structure and flexibility to me! 🙂
- A 19th Century Classic: I am thinking either Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore or Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens – both of which are on the AO 8 free read list, and both of which I’d like to read (well, probably listen to on audiobook). Or I might go with another Dickens like Little Dorrit, which I’ve also been wanting to listen to. So many possibilities!
- A 20th Century Classic: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, which I will be reading along with Miss A.
- A classic by a woman author: Jane Eyre? Frankenstein? Or maybe I’ll just read Jane Austen again. 😀
- A classic in translation: The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) by Alessandro Manzoni, again for AO 8. I’ve been looking forward to this one!
- A classic by a non-white author: Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington looks interesting, and would give me another non-fiction title for the challenge.
- An adventure classic: I’m pretty sure The Odyssey would qualify as an adventure classic – perhaps THE adventure classic. 😉 I have a recording narrated by Ian McKellen (!) calling my name. Another option would be Scaramouche by Raphael Sabatini.
- A fantasy, science fiction or dystoptian classic: I have yet to read C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy, so maybe I will give at least the first in the series a try.
- A classic detective novel: I do love my British detectives (Sherlock, Lord Peter, Father Brown, Brother Cadfael…) but I think I will try a classic American detective story and listen to The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (and then watch the movie again, of course!).
- A classic which includes the name of a place in the title: I’d like to read some L.M. Montgomery again, so maybe Anne of Avonlea or Emily of New Moon. Watership Down would fit here, too, but I’d have to re-start it.
- A classic which has been banned or censored: Fahrenheit 451 is one of hubby’s favorites which I haven’t read yet. Apparently Paradise Lost, which I’ll be listening to again along with Miss A, qualifies as well – who knew?
- Re-read a classic which you read in school (high school or college): Maybe another Anne book unless I can think of something else…
- A volume of short stories: Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock.
The full rules for participating and lots of great lists from other participants can be found over at Books and Chocolate!
Oh, some lovely new-to-me books. Your #12 makes my heart smile and I don’t even know what it entails!
Thank you for sharing. 🙂
It’s a collection of humorous short stories by a Canadian author (I’m Canadian-born) that my mom and sisters have enjoyed, but I have yet to read. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!