Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Hooked on Classics


Sarah at Sarah Reads Too Much is hosting a “Back to the Classics”  reading challenge for 2011.  This challenge is open to anyone who would like to participate.  I’ve decided to take a stab at it.  This will be my first go at a reading challenge, but I think I can do it.  The Challenge is open from January - June 2011.  If I can write a book in one month (jury’s still out on that one), I think I can read eight in six months.  I actually have my selections for each category save one.  These are all books I’ve been wanting to read for years, but haven’t for one reason or another.  They all have the added virtue of being books I already own.
Click the link above or the picture in the sidebar to sign up yourself.
The goals to complete:
  1. A Banned BookSlaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut  
  2. A Book with a Wartime Setting (can be any war)Schindler’s List (originally published as Schindler’s Ark, but my copy’s called Schindler’s List, so I’m going with that) by Thomas Keneally
  3. A Pulitzer Prize (Fiction) Winner or Runner Up:  a list can be found hereThe Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
  4. A Children's/Young Adult ClassicAlice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
  5. 19th Century ClassicMoby Dick by Hermann Melville
  6. 20th Century ClassicThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  7. A Book you think should be considered a 21st Century Classic – Open, see below
  8. Re-Read a book from your High School/College Classes – The Scarlett Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne
There are too many good options for number seven for me to decide.  Besides, I won’t know if it’s a classic until I read it, right?  Because of that, I’ve decided to let you, fearless readers, decide for me.  If I get enough feedback in the comments, I’ll pick the one that gets suggested the most. 

If you all gang up on me and pick Going Rogue, I’m going to be very upset.

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for joining in! You have a great list going!

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  2. Oh man, I should've pikced Moby Dick for no.7. At 7, well...from your list I'd recommend Franzen's "The Corrections"

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  3. Thanks for the suggestion, Ben. I haven't read anything by him yet. There seems to be so many strong feelings toward him one way or another, you almost have read him just to see what the fuss is about.

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  4. For #7, I included The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It's been a while since I read it but I have fond memories of it.

    I found your blog by way of this challenge and I've passed along a blogger award to you. I've included a link to my post below:

    Versatile Blogger Award
    Cheers!

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  5. I LOVE classics. Was actually kind of a literature snob in highschool but alas, all my copies are back at my parents house...sounds like a fun challenge! Good luck!

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  6. Thanks, Katie! I was into the classics in high school, too, but for whatever reason they got away from. I still have too long list of classics (old and new) I want to tackle before too long.

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