Classics for Beginners discussion

Hi fellow classics readers,
It's time to select our December group read.

Nomination Rules - please read them carefully:
1. One nomination per person.
2. Classic books only (over 50 years old - please check if you are not sure).
3. Books can be of any length, but if a book wins and is over 600 pages, we will read it over a two month period.
4. No book we have read before as a group read.*
5. No book from an author who we have read in the last 10 months.†
6. To facilitate poll creation, please use a Goodreads link to add the nomination by clicking on 'add book/author' above the text box.
7. Please indicate whether or not you would be willing to lead the discussion if your nomination is chosen.

*For a full list of books we have read before please check the master-list:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
(Note: lists sorted by book title, author surname, or date read)

†Authors not to nominate:
H.G. Wells (November 2018)
M. Somerset Maugham (October 2018)
Charles Dickens (September 2018)
Jules Verne (August 2018)
Ray Bradbury (July 2018)
Henry James (June 2018)
E.M. Forster (May 2018)
Kenneth Grahame (April 2018)
Daphne du Maurier (March 2018)
Gaston Leroux (February 2018)

Nominations will close and poll will go up on October 12.


Nominations:
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (Suki can lead)
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Emily can lead)
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde (Gisela can lead)
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (Steven can lead)

I thought it might be fun to read something a little different for Christmas, so I would like to nominate one of Agatha Christie's Christmas books. My first choice would be The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding from 1960 (it's hard to believe that's over 50 years ago!). It is a collection of six short stories. If the group doesn't like short story collections, my alternative choice would be Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938), which has also been published under two alternative titles: A Holiday for Murder, and Murder for Christmas. They are both fun reads, but the alternative titles on my second choice could get confusing for people.

Doctor Zhivago

Suki wrote: "I thought it might be fun to read something a little different for Christmas, so I would like to nominate one of Agatha Christie's Christmas books. My first choice would be [book:The Adventure of t..."

Hi Suki, thanks for the nomination - and yes, I agree 1960s is more than 50 years ago and yet it doesn't seem like...
Anyhow, we've read collections of short stories before, so that's all fine. I understand that this is your preferred choice, so I'll take it on the list. If you decide after all that you prefer the other book, just let me know. Would you be willing to lead the discussion?

Beril wrote: "Doctor Zhivago"

Beril, would you be leading the discussion?

Nina wrote: "Suki wrote: "I thought it might be fun to read something a little different for Christmas, so I would like to nominate one of Agatha Christie's Christmas books. My first choice would be [book:The A..."

Hi Nina! I would be happy to lead the discussion, but I've never led one before, so I'm not quite sure what would be expected.

Suki wrote: "Nina wrote: "Suki wrote: "I thought it might be fun to read something a little different for Christmas, so I would like to nominate one of Agatha Christie's Christmas books. My first choice would b..."

Suki, let me send you a private message on this and we can see whether or not you'd be up for it? You don't have to decide right now, December is still a while to go :-)

Nina wrote: "Suki wrote: "Nina wrote: "Suki wrote: "I thought it might be fun to read something a little different for Christmas, so I would like to nominate one of Agatha Christie's Christmas books. My first c..."

OK! :-)

I am very new here and don't feel ready for it. I didn't participate before and this will be my first reading with you guys. I hope you can understand.

Sure, no worries at all!

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Can lead.

How about An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. I have to admit I never read, only watched, Oscar Wilde. Can lead.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I can lead. I no,instead Shirley Jackson because I was reading a list of December birthdays and she has one. I thought that was pretty cool.

Gisela wrote: "How about An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. I have to admit I never read, only watched, Oscar Wilde. Can lead."

I saw this play in Stratford, Ontario a few weeks ago.

Nominations are closed and poll is up. You can vote here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...