Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Thursday Thirteen 90: The Classics




In this post from last week, I mentioned wanting to "read more of those books stagnating in the TBR pile, including a few classics I've been meaning to read." There have been a number of book challenges posted around the blogosphere for 2009. Some I have no interest in, some I know I would never complete (you can find a listing of them here) -- but I did find one I think I can handle: Casual Classics 2009.

All it requires is that one read four -- yes, only four! -- classics before December 31, 2009. Simple, no? If you would like to participate, but do not have any classics in your TBR pile, or are lacking funds, check out a previous Thursday Thirteen, in which I linked a number of free sites where you can read many of the classics online.

Me being me, I naturally have a number of classics I've picked up over the years, or that have been given to me--books I've been meaning to read but have not yet got round to. Here are thirteen moldering in the TBR pile:





* PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

* SENSE AND SENSIBILITY by Jane Austen

* FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley

* THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Edith Wharton

* THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins
(This is one I started many moons ago, but was unable to finish, so would like to re-read)

* DAISY MILLER by Henry James

* THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME by Victor Hugo
(Read Les Mis on my own in HS, but not this one)

* THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING by Carson McCullers

* THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES by Nathaniel Hawthorne
(Have read his collected short stories, and The Scarlet Letter, but not this one)

* ROBINSON CRUSOE by Daniel Dafoe

*
WHITE FANG/CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London
(These are in a 2-in-1 collection)

* THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas

* 1984 by George Orwell
(In HS freshman English, you either read this -- as my sister's class did -- or you read Animal Farm, as my class did.)


What about you? Are there classics you wish you'd read that you've never got round to? Any languishing in your TBR pile?




LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:

Paige Tyler * Alice Audrey * Janice Seagraves
Tempest Knight * Adelle Laudan * Jennifer McKenzie
Stephanie Adkins * Nina Pierce * Eaton Bennet
Betty * Janet

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.


18 comments:

Paige Tyler said...

Great TT! I've read 1984, but not the others!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I've read all of those. I have Adelle Lauden's "Iron Horse Rider" in my TBR pile and I can't wait. But I was in the middle of a research book and nonfiction ALWAYS takes me longer.

Heather said...

Hi Paige! I hopemy list has inspired you to try a classic you haven't read!

Jennifer - Wow! You've read all of these? You rock!

Janet said...

There are some awesome books in that list!

Anonymous said...

I loved half the books on your list when I read them. The other half is still waiting for me.

Heather said...

Thanks Janet!

Hi Alice! So which ones did you especially like or recommend? Inquiring minds want to know! ;)

Eaton Bennett aka Berenice Albrecht said...

I actually have read some of the books on your list. This is rare, usually I can't tick one on peoples lists. #1, #3, #4 & #13. Your TBR pile must be frighteningly awesome.

I'm feeling more like me today! Thanks for visiting. :) Happy TT!

Heather said...

Eaton - Yes, my TBR is indeed "frighteningly awesome." I could not buy books for a decade and not run out of something to read. While I do buy fewer books than I used to, there are always a couple each month that you feel you "have" to buy.

Not to mention the backlists of new-to-you authors you must go in search of (thank heavens for used book stores!). Last year it was Kay Hooper and MJ Davidson. This year, I've just discovered Lisa Gardner and looking forward to finding more of hers. I feel a trip to Frugal Muse coming on...

Glad you're feeling in better spirits today!

Anonymous said...

I've read only three of the books you listed; The Count of Monte Cristo is amazing!

I'm still working on the others. LOL! I'm taking the Casual Classics challenge too, so maybe I'll get some of them this year.

Heather said...

Betty - Yay, someone else taking the challenge! Here's to some great reading this year!

Tink said...

Wow, I've read all of those! Good reads await you. :)
Thanks for visiting my TT!

kandyblossom said...

Sounds like a good book challenge. I used to read the classics more, but seems all of my reading in the last few years have been the quick, light stuff.

1984 is one of my all time favorites. Loved the Jack London books too.

Thanks for stopping by my page.

http://kandyblossom-gnomesweetgnome.blogspot.com/

Heather said...

Tink - Wow, someone who has read all of them. I am impressed! *vbg* Thanks for stopping by.

Kandy - I used to read more of the classics, too...and then I becamse an Eng major. After reading a lot of books I didn't like, I was turned off of them a bit. Now I'm trying to pick a few up here and there that I missed. Thanks for visiting!

The Bumbles said...

I'm reading Anna Karenina right now actually. One thing I have noticed about classics - they seem to be a lot longer than current fare!!!

Heather said...

Bumbles - Yikes, I've been afraid to attempt that one, having seen how long it is. I do agree, though, that some of the classics do seem longer than current literary fiction. They also tend to have longer and more descriptive narrative passages than current fare - in any genre - while modern publications seem heavier on dialogue.

Thanks for visiting and contributing to the topic!

Angela's Designs said...

I wish Paige. I read 1984 but never finished the others if I started them. Some a free eBooks on the Gutenberg Project. I have a few downloaded but I never manage to read them.

dmarks said...

"Robinson Crusoe" is hard to get into.

Janice Seagraves said...

I have the Jane Austin collection and Mark Tawain's to read ... some day.

BTW, I'm sorry I'm late posting this comment for TT, but all I have is a dial-up server and my landline was down for three days, argh. But it was fix today so I'm . . . ba-aa-ck!

Janice~