Modern Mommies discussion

Well, I didn't manage to read 7 classics in 2009 but as they say "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." So, I will try again in 2010. I enjoyed the classics I read and without the challenge I don't know if I would have picked them up. I found it worthwhile and rewarding. It at least gives me the allusion of feeling more literate. I have already started my first, a leftover from 2009...Gone With the Wind. I am one-tenth of the way finished already :-)

Finished Gone With The Wind 2/1/2010

Watched the movie of Gone With The Wind yesterday. Scarlett is much more likable in the movie but I was surprised at the character omissions, namely Scarlett's first two children and the man who becomes foreman at Tara after the war and marries Scarlett's sister, Suellen.

Today I finished "To Kill a Mockingbird" but I am not including it in my 7 because I read it previously. I read it in high school and all I really remembered about it was the main characters' names and that I really enjoyed it. Reading it again I realized I had completely forgotten most of the book. I again enjoyed it immensely. I now move onto a classic I can count-Jane Austen's Persuasion.

Finished Persuasion 3/14/2010.

I get a twofer. My library book group is reading "The Mayor of Casterbridge" by Thomas Hardy and since the cover says "Oxford World's Classics" I think I get to count it as one of my 7! :-)

Finished "The Mayor of Casterbridge" 5/1/2010

How was that Shea? It's such a huge book!

It wasn't too bad. I am not sure I would "recommend" it as there are so many classics I have enjoyed more. It was as study of the many flaws of multiple characters with none of them very likable. In order for me to really enjoy the book I find I need to like at least one character. One of the characters was okay but I wasn't cheering for him either. I am trying to decide what my next classic will be and I think it will be another Austen or perhap Jane Eyre.

Oohh, I have Jane Eyre slotted for this year. I've heard such wonderful things about that book.

I find that liking a character, even if they're rotten, is essential to liking a book. This just may be staying on the TBR shelf for a while longer...

Shea wrote: "Finished Persuasion 3/14/2010."

I love this book. But...I really like Jane Austen, and some do not. I would also suggest anythign by John Irving, especially a Prayer or Owen Meany.

Ellen
www.artexperiencesfortots.wordpress.com

I guess since Lansing counted it I can too...I finished A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare on 6/2/2010.

LOL, Shakespeare is definitely in the cannons of great literature! I am listening to Paradise Lost now, so I am making up for the shortness of A Midsummer Night's Dream. ;)

Oh My Gosh! I just got my copy of "Vanity Fair" from the library and it is enormous. On top of that the print is small and single spaced. I think this one is going to take me a while...

LOL. You can do it! And, its just for fun, so if you don't enjoy it you don't have to finish it. Good luck!

Anyone up for War and Peace? Maybe towards winter when it's cold and gloomy? I've failed to read it at least 10 times.

Ok, just thought I would go back and count. I have finished 4 of my 7 classics and am still making my way through "Vanity Fair." I am enjoying it but it is a HUGE book so it will still be some time before I am finished. With school starting there will be more kids activities and less time for reading. I hope I can complete my challenge this year.

Ah, I am reading some modern classics too! I didn't set a goal, but maybe I should.

This week I read "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and next I'm tackling either Henry James or Saul Bellow.

S.

Finished "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde 10/2/10.

I could no longer renew Vanity Fair and I haven't finished it yet. I may have to buy it in order to finish it.

So, I haven't bought Vanity Fair yet but I think I better do it soon or I won't manage to get it read by December 31. I thought about asking for it for Christmas but 600+ pages in 6 days is too ambitious for me. I have a copy of Jane Eyre sitting upstairs and it is calling my name...

I am making good progress on Jane Eyre but I still need a 7th book for this year. I decided I would define a classic as a book to which there are "Cliffs Notes." I am perusing the list on the Cliffs Notes website and "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks is on the list. It was a fine book, but a classic, really?

Ugh! The Notebook??? File that under: "you know you've made it when..." there's Cliffs Notes on your work.

Have you read House of Mirth? I LOVE that book.

S.

Finished Jane Eyre 11/28/2010. LOVED IT!

I needed an easy classic I was sure I could finish before the end of December so I am reading "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Shea wrote: "So, I haven't bought Vanity Fair yet but I think I better do it soon or I won't manage to get it read by December 31. I thought about asking for it for Christmas but 600+ pages in 6 days is too am..."

I bought a copy of Vanity Fair but since I know I couldn't finish it before the end of the year it will be book #1 for 2011.

Finished "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" 12/05/2010.

So, I did it! I read 7 classics in 2010 (among my other reading). They are in order of completion:
Gone With The Wind
Persuasion
The Mayor of Casterbridge
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Canterville Ghost
Jane Eyre
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Now, on to 2011!

What a great idea! You've inspired me to try and do the same for 2011, except I think I'll set my goal a little lower and attempt to read 5 classics.

Also, if you're looking for good book ideas, there are lots of "100 books you should read" lists out there on the net that mix classics with bestsellers and the most "influential" novels, etc.

Thanks for the idea Suzi. I will look for some lists. So far I know I will finish Vanity Fair, and read a Jane Austen novel (probably Emma) and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The rest are to be determined.