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Classics Month: March 2010

classicsbuttonClassics Month starts in just over a week!  A while back, Tasha at Heidenkind’s Hideaway and I decided we just didn’t read enough classics, so we chose March as the month to read more.  We’re aiming to read four each, challenging each other to read one classic from our own areas of expertise and reading a classic that’s new to us together.

I have quite an overwhelming list of classics to choose from.  At the moment, I’m thinking about:

The Vicar of Wakefield, Oliver Goldsmith
Lorna Doone, R.D. Blackmore
The Warden, Anthony Trollope
Barchester Towers, Anthony Trollope
To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
Shirley, Villette, and/or The Professor, Charlotte Bronte
The Sea, The Sea, Iris Murdoch
East of Eden, John Steinbeck (which I meant to read this month, but I don’t think it’s going to happen!)
Possibly something by D.H. Lawrence, as I have a collection of his books
And Tasha has challenged me to read Nadja by André Breton.

I think it’s going to be great!  If you love classics too, I’d love to feature you for a guest post or guest review.  Just leave a comment about it and I’ll be in touch.  And of course I’d love more recommendations for reading this month.  If it’s not too obscure, my library will probably have it, and I know I need to read more non-Western classics in particular.

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17 comments to Classics Month: March 2010

  • Sounds like a fun month! I’m a huge Steinbeck fan, so East of Eden or anything else by him is good. Actually, you’re list looks good — I haven’t read all those books but I’ve read most of those authors. I’ve never read anything by Breton, so I’ll be looking for review.
    .-= Beth F´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Babette’s Feast (The Film) =-.

  • Sounds like a fun month. I really enjoyed Lady Audley’s Secret last year. There was murder and mayhem and an interesting study of the role of women and capabilities in society. It was great.

    I meant to read East of Eden too. I made it to page 4. It seems like it will be excellent but I have both been in a reading slump and focusing on other things. I love reading classics to see what were concerns in the past and how hey hold up and are relevant today. I discovered the Frankenstein was not. What dates were you looking for posts.
    .-= Nicole´s last blog ..Two Girls Read Shakespeare: Are Will & Brooklyn Rapper, Jay-Z, on the Same Page? =-.

  • I am currently reading Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. I recently read The Pearl by John Steinbeck. I love classic Lit. but have not read in that genre in a while.
    .-= Annette´s last blog ..Sick =-.

  • Sounds like a great month for you! I haven’t read any classics for a while.

  • What a great idea! This sounds like so much fun! How about Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck if you haven’t already read it? Beowulf is great though the right translation is key.
    .-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Saturday read-a-thon =-.

  • Eva

    Enjoy them! I’ve been reading more classics so far this year, and I think it’s made my reading even better. :) Trollope is one of my faves!
    .-= Eva´s last blog ..Tropical Fish (thoughts) =-.

  • I love classics. In fact, that is what makes up most of my literary diet. I especially love Victorian literature, though I am beginning to move into the 20th Century more and more. Of the books you have on your short list, I’ve read “Villette” and “Lorna Doone”. I liked “Lorna Doone”, but “Villette” is the must-read in my opinion, especially for those who have read “Jane Eyre”. It really gives you much more comprehensive look at Charlotte’s style. I have heard good things about Trollope and have him on my TBR list. Here are some various other classics to try:

    -Anything by Charles Dickens (“Bleak House” is my fave!)
    -“I, Claudius” by Robert Graves
    -“North and South” by Elizabeth Gaskell
    -“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
    -“Captain Blood” by Raphael Sabatini
    -“The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins
    -“Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott
    -“Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier

    Happy reading!!
    .-= bookwormans´s last blog ..Weekly Geeks 2010-6: Literary Lovers =-.

  • Beowulf?? Uhg, Vasilly, noooooo. :P
    .-= heidenkind´s last blog ..A Quick Ode to Bookmarks =-.

  • Oh, I love reading classics! I just love John Steinbeck, so I’d definitely recommend him. I recently read and loved Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday. (I haven’t read East of Eden yet, though I *meant* to.)

    I’ll also second Eva’s recommendation of Anthony Trollope! The Warden would be a great place to start :)
    .-= Becky´s last blog ..Looking for Red (MG) =-.

  • What a neat idea! I have been meaning to read some classics and this sounds like the perfect way to do so :)
    .-= Svea @Muse in the Fog´s last blog ..Author Interview: Ciji Ware talks about Island of the Swans =-.

  • I hope you do read Lawrence – I love him!
    .-= Nymeth´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – Classics =-.

  • Pam

    Oh sounds like SO much fun! I’ll be interested to read your East of Eden review. LOVE Steinbeck.
    .-= Pam´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Tummy Bugs and Swedish Thugs =-.

  • Good for you! I feel like I have been doing pretty well this year at reading more classics. I am reading East of Eden right now and highly recommend it!

  • You might have seen my most gushing-est post, but I fell in love with To the Lighthouse. I also liked The Sea, The Sea. I’ll definitely be reading classics every month. Definitely The Good Earth, and then maybe some. Enjoy your classics!
    .-= claire´s last blog ..I’ve Moved =-.

  • East of Eden is fabulous!

    How about Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man…James Joyce

    I think I need to join in on this one. Great idea.
    .-= Wisteria Leigh´s last blog ..ABC Historical Fiction Challenge =-.

  • This sounds like a great idea and something I have been meaning to try.

    I Claudius and Lady Audley’s Secret have long been on my TBR list. This would be a great opportunity to pick them. Would something by Gabriel Garcia Marquez fit the bill as well? If I get to complete any of these books, I would love to do a guest post on your blog

    I am glad you are trying Lorna Doone. I remember really getting into the book when I read it
    .-= Nishita´s last blog ..Going Dark and Some Other Random Blog Changes =-.

  • My plan is to read ‘Howards End’ next month so I’ll be reading classics along with you for at least one week :) I found Lorna Doone sllllooooow, but ultimately good so I hope you enjoy it (and you could find the BBC version with super hot villian). I hope you make it to the Trollope book, which always look like such fun chunky sagas.
    .-= Jodie´s last blog ..Other People’s Words =-.