Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2012

November4

Back to the classics challenge 2012 Over the last few years, I’ve let slide reading classics so The Back to Classic Challenge 2012 hosted by SarahReadsTooMuch seems perfect to me.

Just what is a classic? Sarah defines it as “any book that has left its mark on the world.(…)In most cases these books are old.” The only question I have: What constitutes “old”? Something published in the 1950s is over half a century already, but is that a classic?

Nonetheless, I’ve tried (with one exception) to keep to books published before 1930. I admit that I’ve had trouble coming up with ideas to fit these categories (set by Sarah), so if any of you have any suggestions, I’d be glad to hear them.

Any 19th Century Classic
WALDEN by Henry David Thoreau

Any 20th Century Classic
The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
THE INNOCENCE OF FATHER BROWN by G.K. Chesterton

Reread a classic of your choice
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott

A Classic Play
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare

Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction
THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins

Classic Romance
JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

Read a Classic that has been translated from its original language to yours
Essays by Michel de Montaigne

THE STRANGER by Albert Camus

Classic Award Winner
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Pulitzer Prize for Literature 1921
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway (read in December 2012) Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature 1953

Read a Classic set in a Country that you (realistically speaking) will not visit during your lifetime
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (set in China)
THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY by Thornton Wilder (set in Peru)

posted under Reading Challenges 2012

8 Comments to

“Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2012”

On November 4th, 2011 at 5:24 pm Sarah Reads Too Much Says:
Great choices! To answer a question you posed (would something published in 1950 be a classic, even though it wouldn’t be very old?) I think it could. After all, To Kill A Mockingbird is undoubtedly a classic, and it was published in 1960! I think I personally place more emphasis on the imprint it has made in the world, than its publication date. Last year’s challenge included a category “A potential 21st century classic” which produced a wide spectrum of titles!

Thanks so much for joining in – I hope you enjoy it.
On November 4th, 2011 at 8:27 pm Debbie Says:
Thanks, Sarah – I’m so glad you agree about Mockingbird. I think there are lots of classics that were published in the last half of the 20th century – and probably in the 21st as well, although sometimes we need some time to gain perspective. That list from last year would be interesting!

That said, I wanted to keep the spirit of the challenge to more or less what you intended so I tried to pick older books – and I’m sure I WILL enjoy them.
On November 5th, 2011 at 10:40 am Barbara Says:
Jane Eyre is definitely a romance. Just read it recently and since I’m a patient person, I enjoyed it. I rarely reread a book but I would like to read Mockingbird again, partly because I remember the movie better than the book at this point. When I was younger I read all of Pearl Buck’s books, very engrossing books all.
On November 5th, 2011 at 7:31 pm Debbie Says:
I’m in the same boat with Mockingbird, Barbara. And I’m never going to be able to picture Atticus Finch as looking like anybody other than Gregory Peck, if I live to be a hundred (or more).

I just pulled my paperback copy of Jane Eyre off my shelf – I had no idea it was such a chunkster! Maybe I’ll find an Austen for that category: after all, I have to read 150 books next year – lol
On November 6th, 2011 at 8:26 pm Jillian Says:
Great selections! I’m about halfway through Montaigne’s Essays right now. He’s an incredible thinker. So laid-back, you feel like you know him from the start. I hope you enjoy them. He comforts me every time I open the book. 🙂

Yes, Jane Eyre is a love story — and a REALLY good one.

I’ll be reading Walden in about a month — can’t wait.

This post by Dead White Guys might help you define a classic, for your personal reference. But honestly, I’d consider everything you listed above a classic.
On November 6th, 2011 at 11:48 pm Debbie Says:
Thanks, Jillian, for your encouragement. I am really looking forward to Montaigne and Walden, but not so sure about Jane Eyre. I guess the idea to challenge myself, right?

I found the post at Dead White Guys to be extremely helpful. Thanks for the link!
On November 7th, 2011 at 8:23 am Charlotte Says:
I’ve just signed up for this too. I think your list looks really interesting, I’ve gone for a Wilkie Collins too… looking forward to hearing what you think about them all.
On November 7th, 2011 at 10:30 am Jillian Says:
No problem. 🙂 I hope you end up enjoying Jane Eyre. It’s one of my favorites, so I might be biased, ha! Villette is also very good (in my opinion.)