#ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge discussion

Looking for a classic in a particular genre, by a specific author, or for something with a certain feel?

Ask for recommendations here and respond to others' requests!

Does anyone know where to start with Elizabeth Glaskell or Antony Trollope?

Rachel wrote: "Does anyone know where to start with Elizabeth Glaskell or Antony Trollope?"

I haven't read any Antony Trollope yet, but I love Elizabeth Gaskell and think the best place to start is by reading North and South. It's one of my favourite books, and the TV series is also one of my favourite book-to-screen adaptations. It's amazing!

You can't go wrong with Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South or Wives and Daughters. Mary Barton wouldn't be a terrible place to start either, but it's not her strongest work in my opinion. As for Anthony Trollope, you should first decide if you are interested in committing to a series or want a stand alone work. I started with The Warden, which is the first in his Chronicles of Barsetshire series. I haven't finished the series yet, but I still highly recommend it. His stand alone novel, The Way We Live Now, is also terrific!

I agree that Great Expectations is a good place to start with Dickens. It’s easy to get into and has great characters.

Lily wrote: "I would like to challenge myself and get into Russian literature next year, any suggestions where to start?"

I read Anna Karenina this year as my second ever Russian classic and I very much enjoyed it! I really stretched it out and savored it, sticking to 15 pages per day, which was a lovely experience. Other than that, I haven't really read enough Russian classics yet to be the best person to make recommendations, I'm sure there are other people here who will help you.
However, whichever book you go for, I'd advice you to do some research into which translation to choose, don't just go for the prettiest cover. Pevear and Volokhonsky is a very popular translating duo, and I've been satisfied with them, although I've read that people sometimes find them hard to understand. I'd google around a bit, and if you're uncertain I'd go on Amazon, where you can have a look inside and read the first chapter or so side by side to compare different versions and find what suits you best. :)

The only book by Dickens I own is A Tale of Two Cities. Is this a bad place to start? Should I get Great Expectations first? I read a Christmas Carol YEARS AGO as a kid so it really feels like I’ll be reading him for the first time, since little me probably didn’t grasp the novel fully.

I found that I enjoyed A Tale of Two Cities more than Great Expectations. I think the biggest difference which I could see was that A Tale of Two Cities is more plot based than Great Expectations.

Hi! I want to read a classic in english but it isn't my first language, would you recommend some classics with simple/common language? like in opposition to sheaksperean english.

@Lily - I think Anna Karenina is a great place to start. it takes a little while for the story to get going, but hang in there. I've also read The Master and Margarita, which is wonderful, but very strange. If you like surreal and unusual novels it would be a good one to go for.

I am planning on attempting Marcel Proust's Swann's Way next year. Any suggestions on what translation to read? Lydia Davis seems to be mentioned a lot. Thoughts?

Elizabeth wrote: "I am planning on attempting Marcel Proust's Swann's Way next year. Any suggestions on what translation to read? Lydia Davis seems to be mentioned a lot. Thoughts?"

The Davis translation is excellent. My main recommendation for Proust is to not give up. Once you get into his language and style, he is very readable. Taking note of the various characters is probably a good idea. Keeping track of everyone can be a little daunting, especially if you decide to read the rest of the books.

Rosario wrote: "Hi! I want to read a classic in english but it isn't my first language, would you recommend some classics with simple/common language? like in opposition to sheaksperean english."

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell is a good classic to start with. It’s not very long and it’s easy to read. It has great characters and a good story, too.

Lily wrote: "I would like to challenge myself and get into Russian literature next year, any suggestions where to start?"
The only Russian book I have ever read is Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, and I loved it! It's a little long, but not too much. It could be boring at first (like the first 30 pages), but then it becomes an amazing story. It is one of my favourite books!

I would like to start reading Virginia Woolf next year. Any recommendations on which of her works is the best to start off with? :)

@Regina! thank you! I'm a bit nervous, but also excited to give it a try. I appreciate the helpful tips!

Kirsten wrote: "I would like to start reading Virginia Woolf next year. Any recommendations on which of her works is the best to start off with? :)"

I would recommend Mrs. Dalloway. I recently read it (never read any Virginia Woolf before that) and I enjoyed it very much. I also read To the lighthouse and would probably not recommend that as a first reading experience, as I found it quite challenging (more so than Mrs. Dalloway), even though it was a very interesting and enjoyable book as well. If you enjoy Mrs Dalloway, I would certainly recommend you picking that one up as well, since it is absolutely brilliant. But for a first read: Mrs Dalloway is the way to go in my opinion. Of course, people who have read more of her work might be able to recommend other texts by her as well. I hope this is helpful!

I'm looking to discover some new classics from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially books written by women! Some of my favourite classics are Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables and ALL of Jane Austen, so I'd be interested in anything with a similar feel. I also liked North and South but not sure where to go next with Gaskell. I would love to hear any of your recommendations!

Adrianna wrote: "I'm looking to discover some new classics from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially books written by women! Some of my favourite classics are Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables and ALL of J..."

Highly recommend anything by George Eliot, especially Middlemarch! It's quite long, but Eliot is absolutely brilliant and her characters are fascinating, wonderfully narrated as well

Please recommend a classic that will make me laugh! I have read so many classics that are real tear jerkers. I'd really like to read one that's lighter and causes laughter rather than tears.

I am looking to get into poetry more. The poets I am familiar with now are Plath, Dickinson and Whitman as well as Shakespeare’s sonnets. I know a little bit of Robert Frost as well. Besides them, can anyone recommend some good classical poets? Thanks!!

Flower wrote: "Any 'classic' collections of letters/diaries etc? Epistolary novels?" If you haven't read Dracula that would be a good one as far as a collection of letters/diaries.

Rachel wrote: "I am looking to get into poetry more. The poets I am familiar with now are Plath, Dickinson and Whitman as well as Shakespeare’s sonnets. I know a little bit of Robert Frost as well. Besides them, ..."
Check out Emily Bronte. Her poems are so beautiful. Lord Byron also wrote some really beautiful verse even if he was kind of a jerk. :) Dante and Christina Rossetti are also excellent!

Flower wrote: "Any 'classic' collections of letters/diaries etc? Epistolary novels?"

"Dangerous Liaisons" by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, published in 1782, originally in French. It is an amazing epistolary novel about the decadence of the French aristocracy shortly before the revolution. All characters have their own, distinguishable writing style, the plot is well done. A brilliant example of an epistolary novel that I highly recommend.

Angela wrote: "Please recommend a classic that will make me laugh! I have read so many classics that are real tear jerkers. I'd really like to read one that's lighter and causes laughter rather than tears."
Try reading something by P.G. Wodehouse! I especially like his Jeeves stories which are set in the interwar period. The stories are very clever with lots of hilarious characters. The first book is My Man Jeeves . There is also a TV adaptation from the 1990s starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry that is delightful. I think there are some full episodes available on YouTube

Spencer wrote: "Adrianna wrote: "I'm looking to discover some new classics from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially books written by women! Some of my favourite classics are Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Ga..."

Thank you for the recommendation! I'll have to check it out

Rachel wrote: "I am looking to get into poetry more. The poets I am familiar with now are Plath, Dickinson and Whitman as well as Shakespeare’s sonnets. I know a little bit of Robert Frost as well. Besides them, ..."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote wonderful poetry, she wrote a long poem called Aurora Leigh which is amazing. On a completely different level, I really love Maya Angelou's poetry.

I want to read more Russian classics as I've only read The Master and Margarita. Already planning on getting to Anna Karenina and Crime and Punishment. Does anyone have any less well known Russian suggestions?

Angela wrote: "Please recommend a classic that will make me laugh! I have read so many classics that are real tear jerkers. I'd really like to read one that's lighter and causes laughter rather than tears."

A Room With a View and Northanger Abbey are good reads for this.

I'm looking to get into some Russian Folklore. Any suggestions?

Rachel wrote: "I am looking to get into poetry more. The poets I am familiar with now are Plath, Dickinson and Whitman as well as Shakespeare’s sonnets. I know a little bit of Robert Frost as well. Besides them, ..."

The Romantic Poets for sure! I love Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Rachel wrote: "I am looking to get into poetry more. The poets I am familiar with now are Plath, Dickinson and Whitman as well as Shakespeare’s sonnets. I know a little bit of Robert Frost as well. Besides them, ..."
Important 20th century poets I would include are Wallace Stevens, Carl Sandburg, E. E. Cummings, T. S. Eliot, Theodore Roethke, and Ezra Pound.

@Debra Maya Angelou, Pablo Neruda and Dorothy Parker are some of my favorites.

Hello everybody! Since the Little Women remake is coming soon, I would like to ask you about the best book edition you have read! I’ve tried to read one but it is pretty short and superficial! I would love to read the whole story: little women and good wives I believe it is! Any recommendation will be much appreciated 🙃🥰

Anyone have any tips with how to approach Les Miserables? Because it is so scary to me with the size of it

Caitlyn wrote: "Anyone have any tips with how to approach Les Miserables? Because it is so scary to me with the size of it"

I know that in French there exist editions of the novel that come in three separate volumes. If you could find one of these, that might certainly help since it breaks down the book into three separate books. However, I am not sure if these do exist in English as well but as they do exist in French they might also be published in that format in English, so it seems worth looking for one of these. Hope this helps! Good luck!! I hope you'll enjoy it!

Caitlyn wrote: "Anyone have any tips with how to approach Les Miserables? Because it is so scary to me with the size of it"
The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 group
(https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...) is currently doing a read of Les Misérables. You might like to check out the discussion there.

@caitlyn - I think sometimes audiobooks can be helpful for books of that size. Also setting a goal like a chapter a day can help make it feel manageable.

Caitlyn wrote: "Anyone have any tips with how to approach Les Miserables? Because it is so scary to me with the size of it"

I'm currently reading Les Mis, and I'm nearing the end of it now.
The book is split into 5 main sections, which are again split into 8-ish subsections each, which are again split into chapters, so if you wanna take a break for a few days to blitz through a short, easy, modern read, there are many places to pause. Also, the chapters are very short! Usually two-three pages!
I'm really enjoying the book, and I'd definitely recommend you give it a try! It can, however, drag a bit at some points, so I'm doing what I did with Anna Karenina and some other books that I found a bit challenging, which is to set a daily goal of 10-15 pages, which is something i know I can practically always reach. I figure out how many days it will take me to finish, and I keep track of days and pages on my phone. That way, even if what I've read that day was a bit boring, I can get the satisfaction of making a check in my notes, and if the action is exciting I'll challenge myself to see how many checks I can get in a day. I'll always push myself to read those extra three pages that I wouldn't normally, just so I can make another check. I also keep track of how many days ahead of schedule I am, so that if there are days where I just can't find the time or energy to read, I'll know whether or not I'll fall behind.
That might sound a bit ridiculous or over the top, but I'm someone who kind of struggles with concentration. I get easily distracted, and this really helps me to make consistent progress. It's very satisfying, and it also prevents those big novels from ever becoming too scary. Sounds silly, but to me it's what works!

Adrianna wrote: "I'm looking to discover some new classics from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially books written by women! Some of my favourite classics are Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables and ALL of J..."

If you liked Jane Eyre then I think you will enjoy Agnes Grey just as much! I read both this year and really loved them.

Jenny wrote: "I want to read more Russian classics as I've only read The Master and Margarita. Already planning on getting to Anna Karenina and Crime and Punishment. Does anyone have any less well known Russian ..."

You can try some more by Bulgakov, unlike Master and Margarita his other works don't have any fantastical elements, he wrote a lot about the Russian Civil War but he also has a lot of funny short stories, usually about being a doctor or a writer. I'd recommend A Young Doctor's Notebook, it's a very humorous but also inspiring collection of short stories about the struggles of an absolutely inexpirienced young man just from university who happens to be the only doctor in a small hospital in the middle of Russian cold and snowy nowhere, great winter read too :)

I would also recommend Idiot by Dostoevsky if you'll like his writing.

What classics would you recommend from any country but Russia, the UK, US, France and Germany? Like maybe Spanish, Italian, Japanese, African, whatever you know!

In English-language classics I'd really like to find some from Canada (apart from Lucy Maud Montgomery and Margaret Atwood), Australia and New Zealand. Any ideas?

slowssonne wrote: "What classics would you recommend from any country but Russia, the UK, US, France and Germany? Like maybe Spanish, Italian, Japanese, African, whatever you know!

In English-language classics I'd r..."

For Canadian classic authors try Mordecai Richler. I've only read one of his books so far (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz), but I'm looking forward to getting to more of his novels.

@slowssonne - Dante for Italy and Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes for Spain. They are the first two that spring to mind.

@slowssonne - My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin and Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay for Australia. We studied these in school.

Mary wrote: "slowssonne wrote: "What classics would you recommend from any country but Russia, the UK, US, France and Germany? Like maybe Spanish, Italian, Japanese, African, whatever you know!

In English-lang..."

Thank you!

Emma wrote: "@slowssonne - Dante for Italy and Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes for Spain. They are the first two that spring to mind."

Oh I'm definitely going to read those, and I've also read some Lope de Vega and know some other Spanish playwrights, but don't know where to start with something less known. And especially from the 18-19th centuries! Maybe you know some of those?

Linda wrote: "@slowssonne - My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin and Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay for Australia. We studied these in school."

Thank you!

Jenna wrote: "Adrianna wrote: "I'm looking to discover some new classics from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially books written by women! Some of my favourite classics are Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Ga..."

I'll have to find myself a copy! I've been meaning to give Anne Brontë a try!!

Does anyone have any Christmas book/stories recommendations? I want to start a tradition of reading a Christmas book every year around Christmas and this year I have 'A Christmas coral' and 'Twas the night before Christmas' Collection from Wordsworth but I would love to hear your favorite Christmas stories and add them to my list for the following years!