Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Hello folks! :) It's again the time of the year to plan which hefty and husky classics we will be reading next year.

We read 8 books, 1 hefty and 1 husky, every quarter. The set page limit is 800 - more than 800 pages being counted as hefty and less than 800 pages being counted as husky. The novels should be classics written 50 years before, which means classics that were written in or before 1974.

Please note, however, that we will be continuing with Joseph and His Brothers for the first quarter of 2024 because of its length and difficulty in finishing within a quarter. Consequently, we will be selecting ONLY THREE HEFTY works for next year. So, please keep your suggestions rolling. Members can vote for any number of suggestions.

Here is our list:

January - March: Hefty: Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann
January - March: Husky: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

April - June: Hefty: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
April - June: Husky: The Stars Look Down by A.J. Cronin

July - September: Hefty: The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser
July - September: Husky: Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante

October - December: Hefty: The City of God by Augustine of Hippo
October - December: Husky: Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens

I am interested in reading Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante. 800 pages.

This author is being read in the RatW program for next year, so we could kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Or is overlap avoided? I got the impression in this group that it is, although personally I would like overlap, because I think my interest in the various challenges outweighs my time to read for them all, if that makes sense.

Jen, we do overlap our long reads with Authors from around the world! We've done it a couple of times in the past.

Rosemarie wrote: "Jen, we do overlap our long reads with Authors from around the world! We've done it a couple of times in the past."

Oh cool, I appreciate that. Well FYI, I saw on amazon a long reading sample is available of the Morante, the first 40pages or so!

So how do folks have the discussions when they overlap? A mix of both threads, some here some there?

We have both threads open and members can post on whichever one they feel like. We're very informal here.

I'd like to suggest Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, a hefty coming in at 1232 pages. I have not seen the musical and personally know little about this but it's been on my TBR for sometime.

My other suggestion is The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, another hefty weighing in at 1248 pages. This is an epic poem written in Elizabethan English, in which Shakespeare wrote and is used in the King James translation of the Bible.

I suggest The City of God. I've already read the first volume. I have a three-volume edition. The other two are still on my list.

I support Les Misérables.

Here is the list of suggestions.

Hefty
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - III III II
The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser - III II
The City of God by Augustine of Hippo - III I
He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope - I
Ulysses by James Joyce - II

Husky
Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante - III I
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy - I
The Stars Look Down by A.J. Cronin - III I
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - III I
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing - II
Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens - III III I

I would love to read all three hefty books, and even have them all in Penguin Classics. If I were to do so next year, I doubt I'd read much else!

Mike wrote: "I would love to read all three hefty books, and even have them all in Penguin Classics. If I were to do so next year, I doubt I'd read much else!"

That's a tough challenge!

I suggest He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope 952 pages , for hefty books.

And Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy
562 pages , for husky books.

I support He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope

I support The Faerie Queen and The City of Gods.

I support Lies and Sorcery and Les Miserables.

What about Ulysses by James Joyce for an Hefty?

Msg 9 updated.

Can I take your interest in The City of God as a supportive vote, Mike?

Looks to me like Ulysses is a husky, no?

Jen wrote: "Looks to me like Ulysses is a husky, no?"

The version I have is 980 pages. Ulysses: the 1922 text. Maybe it could be one or the other.

I support Les Miserables

Updated @msg 9. Looks like Les Miserables is a clear winner. :)

There are editions like Penguin which are more than 900 pages. My understanding of it is that it is a hefty. I see many lesser-numbered editions but don't know whether they are abridged.

Rosemarie, can you please help here?

We have two versions of Ulysses in our house. My daughter's version from university is a 1000+ pages and a nice hardcover version which my husband bought has 978 pages.
I'm the only one in my family who read the entire book.
It's definitely a hefty!

Thanks, Rosemarie.

I've been curious about The Faerie Queen since we read an excerpt of it in a British lit college class. I found an audio version of it on hoopla just now that I could dive into. 33 hours, so I hope it's as interesting as it seems!

I suggest The Stars Look Down by A.J. Cronin as a Husky. My edition lists it as 714 pages.

I've been interested in reading this novel because both NTLTRC moderator Rosemarie and active reader Chrissie rate it as 5 stars.

I support The Stars Look Down.

Piyangie wrote: "Can I take your interest in The City of God as a supportive vote, Mike?"

Yes you can, and I'll also add my support to Tolstoy's Resurrection. It's yet another book I already have in Penguin Classics that I've not yet read.

Hello. You, members, didn't add my supportive vote to the City of God. Add it, please! Thanks.

Luís wrote: "Hello. You, members, didn't add my supportive vote to the City of God. Add it, please! Thanks."

I thought you were the one who suggested City of God rather than casting a supportive vote. My understanding it that the suggestion got the book on the list to begin with and then others cast the needed supporting votes. But I could be wrong. There's a first time for everything.

Brian E wrote: "Luís wrote: "Hello. You, members, didn't add my supportive vote to the City of God. Add it, please! Thanks."

I thought you were the one who suggested City of God rather than casting a supportive v..."

Yes, that's correct. Sorry for the mistake! You've got me.

I'd like to support The Stars Look Down please.

I support Les Mis!

I support The Faerie Queene, The City of God, and Lies and Sorcery.

Samantha wrote: "I've been curious about The Faerie Queen since we read an excerpt of it in a British lit college class. I found an audio version of it on hoopla just now that I could dive into. 33 hours, so I hope..."

Will that be a supportive vote, Samantha?

I support The Stars Look Down. It's in my TBR for next year.

Msg 9 updated.

Yes, Piyangie, I support Faerie Queen. I cannot promise I'll finish it, because that depends on how immersed I can get into it.

Piyangie, should The Stars Look Down not have 3 votes? It was nominated by Brian, and supported by Kathy, you and me.

John wrote: "Piyangie, should The Stars Look Down not have 3 votes? It was nominated by Brian, and supported by Kathy, you and me."

Yes, it is, John. I've missed Kathy's supportive vote. Thanks for spotting.

Samantha wrote: "Yes, Piyangie, I support Faerie Queen. I cannot promise I'll finish it, because that depends on how immersed I can get into it."

That's fine, Samantha. We all have that problem, don't we?

I support Les Mis & The Fairie Queen (I'm with Samantha on the reality of finishing it, but...)

Also, can I suggest Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison from 1952.

Also, I highly recommend the Friends of Shakespeare & Company 2022 podcast read of Ulysses. It ran weekly from Feb 2 - Jun 16 with commentary/explanation. It was awesome. We listened and read simultaneously and it was super helpful.

https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com...

Liane wrote: "Also, I highly recommend the Friends of Shakespeare & Company 2022 podcast read of Ulysses. It ran weekly from Feb 2 - Jun 16 with commentary/explanation. It was awesome. We listened and read simul..."

Thank you so much Liane! I intend to read Ulysses in 2024 and will certainly used this.

Liane wrote: "I support Les Mis & The Fairie Queen (I'm with Samantha on the reality of finishing it, but...)

Also, can I suggest Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison from 1952."

I'd be interested in Invisible Man if the nomination is accepted. I see it was in Hefty Archive from end of 2020 and seemed to be no conversation in the thread for it... maybe this time around could be different?

I heartily recommend Invisible Man! I read it last year and thoroughly enjoyed it giving it 5 stars.

I am also interested in Invisible Man.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison was our 2020 last quarter husky read, and there was zero participation in the discussion. We can give it another go since some of you have already expressed interest in reading it. So, it'll be added to the list (msg 9).

Jen and Lorraine, can I take your interest in Invisible Man as supportive votes?