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So head over there to check out my most recent literary interest. You will find myback to the classics reviews, other reading, and maybe a TV or movie review will pop up.
Showing posts with label Back to the Classics Challenge 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Back to the Classics Challenge 2016. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Sunday, December 13, 2015
My Back To the Classics 2016 Choices
Thinking back I can't remember reading a single classic except some British murder mysteries since I left college. So I am really looking forward to this challenge. My choices aren't all locked down yet and I may end up switching some around. But here goes:
1. A 19th Century Classic - The Chimes (1844) by Charles Dickens, this is his 2nd in the series of 5 Christmas stories. Although it isn't technically a Christmas story. It is a goblin story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in. So I thought it would be a perfect way to start 2016 and my classics challenge off. Besides Audible is offer this one for free. It might not be considered long enough so please let me know if it doesn't qualify but I will still read/listen to it.
2. A 20th Century Classic - TBA
3. A classic by a woman author - Murder on the Orient Express. I have read this one before, in fact, I have read everything Agatha Christie has ever written. Earlier this year I was looking for a copy of this book in hardcover. The only ones I could find were very expensive then on Amazon I discover a version that had just come out. It a reproduction of the 1934 British edition. So I have to read this one.
4. A classic in translation - 20,ooo Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne in French.
5. A classic by a non-white author -The Art of War. I haven't ever read this one but it comes up in conversations often. Plus my son has read it so this will give me something to talk with him about.
6. An adventure classic - TBA
7. A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic - TBA
8. A classic detective novel - The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
9. A classic which includes the name of a place in the title - TBA
10. A classic which has been banned or censored - To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. Like who isn't reading this one or reading it this year? It would be fun if everyone who was reading it in this group did so at the same time. That way we could discuss it together.
11. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college) - The Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Read this one in high school and remember being very angry with the man and crying. Of course, I was a teenager with emotions all over the board.
12. A volume of classic short stories - The Gift of the Magi and Other New York Stories by Henry James.
1. A 19th Century Classic - The Chimes (1844) by Charles Dickens, this is his 2nd in the series of 5 Christmas stories. Although it isn't technically a Christmas story. It is a goblin story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in. So I thought it would be a perfect way to start 2016 and my classics challenge off. Besides Audible is offer this one for free. It might not be considered long enough so please let me know if it doesn't qualify but I will still read/listen to it.
2. A 20th Century Classic - TBA
3. A classic by a woman author - Murder on the Orient Express. I have read this one before, in fact, I have read everything Agatha Christie has ever written. Earlier this year I was looking for a copy of this book in hardcover. The only ones I could find were very expensive then on Amazon I discover a version that had just come out. It a reproduction of the 1934 British edition. So I have to read this one.
4. A classic in translation - 20,ooo Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne in French.
5. A classic by a non-white author -The Art of War. I haven't ever read this one but it comes up in conversations often. Plus my son has read it so this will give me something to talk with him about.
6. An adventure classic - TBA
7. A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic - TBA
8. A classic detective novel - The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
9. A classic which includes the name of a place in the title - TBA
10. A classic which has been banned or censored - To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. Like who isn't reading this one or reading it this year? It would be fun if everyone who was reading it in this group did so at the same time. That way we could discuss it together.
11. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college) - The Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Read this one in high school and remember being very angry with the man and crying. Of course, I was a teenager with emotions all over the board.
12. A volume of classic short stories - The Gift of the Magi and Other New York Stories by Henry James.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Back to the Classics Challenge
I came across this challenge last year but never fit it into my schedule. This year I am taking the plunge. I usually read non fiction, cozy mysteries, and some popular fiction so this will be a good change in my literary diet. Below are the guidelines and the link is on the right of this blog. Think about joining the group and reading a book from each category.
And here are the categories for the 2016 Back to the Classics Challenge:
1. A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899.
2. A 20th Century Classic - any book published between 1900 and 1966. Just like last year, all books MUST have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify. The only exception is books written at least 50 years ago, but published later.
3. A classic by a woman author.
4. A classic in translation. Any book originally written published in a language other than your native language. Feel free to read the book in your language or the original language.
5. A classic by a non-white author. Can be African-American, Asian, Latino, Native American, etc.
6. An adventure classic - can be fiction or non-fiction.
7. A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic. Dystopian could include classics like 1984.
8. A classic detective novel. It must include a detective, amateur or professional. This list of books from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction is a great starting point if you're looking for ideas.
9. A classic which includes the name of a place in the title. It can be the name of a house, a town, a street, etc. Examples include Bleak House, Main Street, The Belly of Paris, or The Vicar of Wakefield.
10. A classic which has been banned or censored. If possible, please mention why this book was banned or censored in your review.
11. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college). If it's a book you loved, does it stand the test of time? If it's a book you disliked, is it any better a second time around?
12. A volume of classic short stories. This must be one complete volume, at least 8 short stories. Children's stories are acceptable in this category only.
And now, the rest of the rules:
And here are the categories for the 2016 Back to the Classics Challenge:
1. A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899.
2. A 20th Century Classic - any book published between 1900 and 1966. Just like last year, all books MUST have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify. The only exception is books written at least 50 years ago, but published later.
3. A classic by a woman author.
4. A classic in translation. Any book originally written published in a language other than your native language. Feel free to read the book in your language or the original language.
5. A classic by a non-white author. Can be African-American, Asian, Latino, Native American, etc.
6. An adventure classic - can be fiction or non-fiction.
7. A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic. Dystopian could include classics like 1984.
8. A classic detective novel. It must include a detective, amateur or professional. This list of books from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction is a great starting point if you're looking for ideas.
9. A classic which includes the name of a place in the title. It can be the name of a house, a town, a street, etc. Examples include Bleak House, Main Street, The Belly of Paris, or The Vicar of Wakefield.
10. A classic which has been banned or censored. If possible, please mention why this book was banned or censored in your review.
11. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college). If it's a book you loved, does it stand the test of time? If it's a book you disliked, is it any better a second time around?
12. A volume of classic short stories. This must be one complete volume, at least 8 short stories. Children's stories are acceptable in this category only.
And now, the rest of the rules:
- All books must be read in 2016. Books started before January 1, 2016 do not qualify. All reviews must be linked to this challenge by December 31, 2016. I'll post links each category the first week of January which will be featured on a sidebar on this blog for the entire year.
- You must also post a wrap-up review and link it to the challenge no later than December 31, 2016. Please include links within your final wrap-up to that I can easily confirm all your categories.
- All books must have been written at least 50 years ago; therefore, books must have been written by1966 to qualify for this challenge. The ONLY exceptions are books published posthumously.
- E-books and audiobooks are eligible! You may also count books that you read for other challenges.
- Books may NOT crossover within this challenge. You must read a different book for EACH category, or it doesn't count.
- If you do not have a blog, you may link to reviews on Goodreads or any other publicly accessible online format.
- The deadline to sign up for the challenge is March 1, 2016. After that I will close the link and you'll have to wait until the next year! Please include a link to your original sign-up post, not your blog URL.
- You do NOT have to list all the books you're going to read for the challenge in your sign-up post, but it's more fun if you do! Of course, you can change your list any time. Books may also be read in any order.
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