Classics and the Western Canon discussion

It is past time to announce the nominees for our second group read of 2025! A poll will be posted later today, so take a look at the list and get ready to cast your vote. Please use this discussion to comment on the nominees and lobby for your favorites.

Mary Barton - Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, offering a working-class perspective on industrial Manchester. A blend of social realism and melodrama.

Tartuffe & The Misanthrope &The Imaginary Invalid - Molière's thee satirical comedies skewering hypocrisy (Tartuffe), misanthropy (The Misanthrope), and quack medicine (The Imaginary Invalid). Good options for a lighter, theatrical read.

Confessions - Augustine of Hippo's introspective, philosophical memoir—part autobiography, part theological reflection. A foundational work in Western thought.

Animal Farm & 1984 - George Orwell's dystopian critiques of totalitarianism. A powerful pairing that resonates with modern politics.

The Origins of Totalitarianism - Hannah Arendt's rigorous, in-depth analysis of authoritarian regimes by Arendt. One of the most influential political philosophy texts of the 20th century.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain’s blend of satire, fantasy, and social commentary, critiquing both medieval and modern society.

The Bhagavad Gita - Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa's classic of Hindu philosophy, offering meditations on duty, fate, and the self.

Tusculan Disputations - Marcus Tullius Cicero’s philosophical reflections on Stoicism, virtue, and how to handle adversity. A great choice for those interested in classical wisdom.

Upcoming Schedule

Mar 12	Gilgamesh Week 5	& Next read poll
Mar 19	Gilgamesh Week 6	& Run-off if needed
Mar 26	Interim Week 1	
Apr 2	Interim Week 2	
Apr 9	Next Major Read	

The poll is up and may be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Voting started on: Mar 13, 2025 12:00AM PDT - OPEN NOW!
Voting Ends on: Mar 19, 2025 at 11:59PM PDT

Thanks to everyone who has voted so far. Give yourselves a pat on the back for setting a new high record for number of votes.

If you have not voted and would like to, time is running out. The poll is will be closed tomorrow, March 19th, at 11:59 PM Pacific time.

such a close vote

how are the interim reads decided?

Michael wrote: "how are the interim reads decided?"

It is done by a complex equation involving the positions of Jupiter, the phases of the moon, and if a new and distant supernova is first detected. Since this usually takes millions of years, the moderator shrugs and picks at random.

In truth, (view spoiler)[interim reads are chosen by any moderator who wants to lead one. They are always short, announced the day the interim read starts, and freely available on the interwebs - links provided for free. (hide spoiler)]

cool beans, thanks for doing what you do

The votes are counted, and the next major reads will be Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell, which received 20 total raw votes/26 weighted votes. A schedule will be posted April 2, and the read will begin April 9.

Votes are weighted to promote discussion. A summary of the raw and weighted votes is here in the comments to the poll: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Sorry, was the schedule posted? If yes, where can I find it? Thanks!

Hi, Monica, The full schedule will be posted shortly today, but the reading will start with Animal Farm:
April 9 — Chapters I-VI
April 16 - Chapters VII - X and the book as a whole.

My apologies for the delay, which was due to a personal emergency.

The schedule for our reading of “Animal Farm” and “1984” is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Susan wrote: "Hi, Monica, The full schedule will be posted shortly today, but the reading will start with Animal Farm:
April 9 — Chapters I-VI
April 16 - Chapters VII - X and the book as a whole.

My apologies ..."

Thank you very much, Susan! I was just afraid that once again I was having cache problems and therefore I was missing on some information.