Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Note: August AND December each have 2 titles to choose from. Read either or both as you desire. August finds two books by the same author with both at only about 200 pages. December is two books of letters by different authors, both titles relatively short.

January - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X (~466 pg)

February - Mythologies by Roland Barthes (~160 pg)

March - The Letters of Vincent van Gogh by Vincent van Gogh (~528 pg)

April - Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff (~369 pg)

May - The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson (~622 pg)

June - The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre by Jean-Paul Sartre (~256 pg)

July - The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (~560 pg)

August - YOUR CHOICE! Read either or both by Gerald Durrell - Fillets of Plaice (~216 pg) OR A Zoo in My Luggage (~198 pg)

September - Plutarch's Lives: Volume I by Plutarch (~766 pg)

October - All Art is Propaganda: Critical Essays by George Orwell (~374 pages)

November - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown (~509 pages)

December - YOUR CHOICE! Read either of both. Month of letters: Yours, Plum The Letters of P.G. Wodehouse by P.G. Wodehouse (~269 pg) OR Letters Written During A Short Residence In Sweden, Norway And Denmark by Mary Wollstonecraft (~129 pg)

Thanks, Samantha!

Excellent! I have many of these in view.

Luís wrote: "Excellent! I have many of these in view."

I was happy to see you have given 5 stars for the Van Gogh letters :)

Jen wrote: "Luís wrote: "Excellent! I have many of these in view."

I was happy to see you have given 5 stars for the Van Gogh letters :)"

Thanks. But I won't give it a second reading.

Always remember, if you've already read a book previously but do not reread it, feel free to still participate in the discussion when that book's time comes.

I hope everyone appreciates the coupling of 2 books in August and December.

Samantha wrote: "Always remember, if you've already read a book previously but do not reread it, feel free to still participate in the discussion when that book's time comes."

I'm not so sure of that.

I read our January choice some years ago and highly recommend it.

Great list for next year! Thank you for getting this together.

You're welcome, Lesle! I tried to balance book lengths and types of topics.

Thanks for the list! Looking forward to reading some of the shorter works.

I can wholeheartedly recommend The Autobiography of Malcom X and The Warmth of Other Suns. I’ve really enjoyed reading most of Durrell’s writings but I’ve not read Fillets of Plaice; I’ll definitely join in for that one. And I’ll read as many more as I can.

I would highly recommend reading Letters of Vincent Van Gogh. I read them a couple of years ago and enjoyed having an insight into the life of the artist.

To those who read Malcolm X already, I wonder if you would say it's tough to bear, in terms of the content?
I remember starting it some years ago and not getting far for some reason (not that I disliked it though) but I remember him talking about some pretty tragic events from his childhood.

Piyangie wrote: "I would highly recommend reading Letters of Vincent Van Gogh. I read them a couple of years ago and enjoyed having an insight into the life of the artist."

I haven't read the letters book yet, but I did read Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman early last year. It's targeted towards teens but still provides a thorough account of their lives, especially Vincent's from what I remember. He lived a very colorful life.

I've read in this excellent edition:



full of notes and additions.

I read the same, Luis.

I also read Vincent and Theo and enjoyed it! Then, I went to see the Van Gogh immersion exhibit, which I found really interesting!

For what it's worth, folks, Warmth of Other Suns page count includes ~75 pages of acknowledgments, notes, and index ;) I just got my copy in the mail. Just an FYI...

Jen wrote: "For what it's worth, folks, Warmth of Other Suns page count includes ~75 pages of acknowledgments, notes, and index ;) I just got my copy in the mail. Just an FYI..."

Well, that makes it easier than it looks! I just purchased an audiobook for this selection.

Thanks for providing that point, Jen! Many nonfiction books have anywhere from ~30-100 pgs of notes, sources, acknowledgments, and an index. Looking at a physical copy will give you a better idea of the book's true length.

I didn't pay enough attention--I had no idea we were reading a book from 2010! The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration is very good, and I may chime in, but am not going to reread it.

Samantha wrote: "Always remember, if you've already read a book previously but do not reread it, feel free to still participate in the discussion when that book's time comes."

Ah, thanks for that encouragement! I am 75, and was wondering how I would read some of those books again, when I have so much more waiting for me that's new!

Karin, with the nonfiction we decided to get a little mroe flexible and allow titles about events and people from the past. I hope you DO give your thoughts on The Warmth of Other Suns, when it comes up, if you've read it before.

Mbuye, yes, you do not have to reread the books to participate in our discussions! Please join in with book discussions in any genre, if you've already read the book.

I just finished The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh and loved it. I am skipping Cleopatra. Though the subject interests me, I feel a bit discouraged from reviewers who've said it's a bit dry. I will probably start early on The Warmth of Other Suns since it's also rather long but I am guessing it is a faster paced read than something like the VVG letters.

Y'all, I've had a busy day and will have the NF discussion for August posted by lunchtime tomorrow, Friday, August 2nd. So... By around noon CDT, in all hopes.

I just finished G. Orwell's essays and am starting Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee today.
I found this list very late in the year but I DO want to read nr. 3 The Letter of Vincent Van Gogh. I live in the Neterlands (ex-pat USA) and should read this b/c VVG is our national treasure!

Nancy, feel free to still contribute to any discussions about past reads, including the Van Gogh one. We always keep the reading schedules available so everyone can know what's coming or past. :)