Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Hi all! It's time for us to plan the Hefty/Husky reads for the coming year. Perhaps, it's a little early, but we have more time that way. :) Many of you are familiar with the format and procedure, but for the benefit of the newbies, I'll briefly explain.

We select 4 Hefty and 4 Husky reads, to be read quarterly, for every year. And we chose them through member suggestions. The set page limit is 800 pages for the present, which means you may suggest novels over 800 pages for the Hefty category and less than 800 for the Husky. The novels should be classics written 50 years before, which means classics that are written on or before 1972.

Here are what we've chosen for 2023 and the order in which we'll read them.

January - March
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (867 pages) - Hefty
The Sagas of Icelanders by Various (782 pages) - Husky

April - June
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (1144 pages) - Hefty
The Red and the Black by Stendhal (608 pages) - Husky

July - September
Fortunata and Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós (818 pages) - Hefty
Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (656 pages) - Husky

October - December
Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann AND The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning - Hefty
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell (608 pages) - Husky

Hefty:
1. The Mysteries of Paris by Eugène Sue 1392 pages - 2
2. The Man Without Qualities: Volume I and The Man Without Qualities: Volume II by Robert Musil 752 pages and 1072 pages - 2
3. Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann 1492 pages - 2
4. Fortunata and Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós 818 pages - 5
5. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray 867 pages - 6
6. Shōgun by James Clavell 1152 pages - 3
7. Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset 1144 pages - 4
8. From the Terrace by John O'Hara 912 pages - 2
9. The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning 924 pages - 2

Husky:
1. Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac 656 pages - 2
2. The Sagas of Icelanders by Various 782 pages - 5
3. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell 608 pages - 3
4. Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau 656 pages - 3.
5. London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins 738 pages - 1
6. The Red and the Black by Stendhal 608 pages - 3
7. Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson - 537 pages - 2

A couple of hefty's:
Mysteries of Paris by Eugène Sue, and,
The Man Without Qualities: Volume I and The Man Without Qualities: Volume II by Robert Musil.

Thanks, Gilbert. I take your second suggestion as one continuous work for Hefty.

I suggest Lost Illusions by Balzac. 656 pages.for husky reads category.

I suggest Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann for the Hefty category - my copy runs to 1492 pages. (This could conceivably also be an option in the German Authors Buddy Read).

I also suggest The Sagas of Icelanders for the Husky (although at 782 pages it just fails to make the grade as a Hefty!

John wrote: "I suggest Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann for the Hefty category - my copy runs to 1492 pages. (This could conceivably also be an option in the German Authors Bud..."

I think Hefty is good. Would need more time to read 1492 pages!
We can find another Mann book for the German reads.

Another suggestion for the Husky category - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - at 608 pages.

Thanks, Nidhi and John.

I suggest:
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray 867 pages

Do we need to second books for selection?

I don't know how much time I'll have but Shōgun by James Clavell sounds interesting to me.

John wrote: "Another suggestion for the Husky category - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - at 608 pages."

That looks very good--something I'd like.

Nidhi wrote: "Do we need to second books for selection?"

Yes, Nidhi, we do.

Thank you for your suggestions, Sandy, Kathy, and Book Nerd.

I second Vanity Fair and The Saga of the Icelanders.

Chrissie wrote: "John wrote: "Another suggestion for the Husky category - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - at 608 pages."

That looks very good--something I'd ..."

I take it as if you are supporting this suggestion, Chrissie.

I've updated all the suggestions and supports in message 2.

I take the liberty to support Vanity Fair.

I would like to second Deerbrook, Vanity Fair, and Shōgun

I suggest Kristin Laveransdatter by Undset for Hefty reads.

It is in three parts, total pages are 1185.

Piyangie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "John wrote: "Another suggestion for the Husky category - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - at 608 pages."

That looks very goo..."

Yes and also Fortunata and Jacinata. Are we to vote for one i n each group? I don't really know how this works

Chrissie wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "John wrote: "Another suggestion for the Husky category - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - at 608 pages."

Th..."

Thank you, Chrissie. No, you don't vote unless we can't decide by the number of supports we get for them. For now, all you should do is to mention which books from the suggested list that you want to read. Hope this explains.

Gilbert wrote: "A couple of hefty's:
Mysteries of Paris by Eugène Sue

I second at 1392 pages
Seems to be an interesting read!!

Piyangie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "John wrote: "Another suggestion for the Husky category - The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - a..."

Yes. I am also interested in Joseph and His Brothers, but I have two short ones by the author I want to read first.

Updated.

I second Fortunata and Jacinta, Vanity Fair, Lost Illusions and Deerbrook. Is that too many? They all look so good!

I’m interested in Fortunata and Jacinta. I’ve read Vanity Fair and recommend it!

Updated.

It looks like Vanity Fair, Fortunata and Jacinta, and Deerbrook might safely make through. :)

I second Vanity Fair, Shōgun, The Saga of the Icelanders and Kristin Laveransdatter

Thanks, Shaina. Updated above.

I recommend London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins definitely worth the read, 738 pages with the notes

Updated above.

I suggest The Red and the Black by Stendhal, 608 pages, for husky.

I second The Red and the Black...it's on my tbr since a while now

Thanks, Shaina. Updated.

I like several of these suggestions but I’m going to refrain from voting for more than one since I’m terrible about finishing long classics! I still have 2 I started in 2021 that I’m hoping to finish this year and several on the 2022 list that I still plan to read! I added a few of these suggestions to my TBR so thank you to the suggesters for the titles.

I've no books related to this topic - to read books, especially - but I want to acquire one or another.

Luís wrote: "I've no books related to this topic - to read books, especially - but I want to acquire one or another."

Welcome Luis! Maybe you will run across a Husky at 500 or more pages!

Lesle wrote: "Luís wrote: "I've no books related to this topic - to read books, especially - but I want to acquire one or another."

Welcome Luis! Maybe you will run across a Husky at 500 or more pages!"

Maybe, maybe.

I'll support The Red and the Black

Kathy wrote: "I'll support The Red and the Black"

Thanks, Kathy. Updated above.

Yes to Sagas of the Icelanders which has more than one entry because some say it was by various due to all of the contemporary people who have added stuff before and after, but some editions attribute it to my ancestor (and many others!) Snorri Sturluson which is how it has always been done. So I just linked the regular ones, but it's the same book already mentioned, Íslendingasögur is the Icelandic name :) (cut and pasted that from GR, I don't know the language!!)

FYI Icelanders back then did not put their names on their works (it was considered egotistical) but most of the time people at the time knew who wrote what. In any event, I have been meaning to read this for some years now.

Thanks, Karin, for sharing all that information with us. Your preference is updated above.

If it's not too late Piyangie, could I propose From the Terrace by John O'Hara as a Hefty read? (It runs to 912 pages).

O'Hara has been mentioned in a number of different NTLTRC threads recently.

John wrote: "If it's not too late Piyangie, could I propose From the Terrace by John O'Hara as a Hefty read? (It runs to 912 pages).

O'Hara has been mentioned in a number of differ..."

Not at all, John. Updated above.

Piyangie wrote: "John wrote: "If it's not too late Piyangie, could I propose From the Terrace by John O'Hara as a Hefty read? (It runs to 912 pages)..."

If it's required, I'll second From the Terrace. As his fourth post popualar in GR, I've wanted to read it since reading O'Hara's three most read novels, but the length scares me away from it. I've stayed content watching the movie but would definitely read it as a 3-month Hefty.

I'll suggest The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds and the Laws of Physics as a Husky.

I have 2 trilogies I already own and plan to read in the next year so will nominate them, similar to how we'd do the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy:

As a 537 HUSKY - Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson, consisting of Lark Rise, Over to Candleford and Candleford Green

As a 924 page HEFTY - Fortunes of War: The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning consisting of "Great Fortune", "Spoilt City" and "Friends and Heroes"

Luís wrote: "I'll suggest The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds and the Laws of Physics as a Husky."

Unfortunately Luis this one would not qualify in our Classic world as it was first published in 1989.

Standard Classics for our Group are 50 years or older. 1972 and before.

I'd support Fortunes of War: The Balkan Trilogy.

Updated in message 2