Classics Without All the Class discussion

This challenge will involve reading an entire book series with another person, persons, or just yourself if you wish. As you can see so far, there are different variations to this challenge. The series should be 3 books or more and does not have to be a classic.

Here are some examples:

You may buddy up with a member of this group and read a series together.

You may read with a non-member of Good Reads, like a friend, and still report back to us on your experiences...good or bad.

You may read a series with your son or daughter such as Chronicles of Narnia or Lemony Snicket. (what a nice way to encourage reading!)

You may buddy up with a significant other. For instance, one spouse can read Nancy Drew while the other spouse reads The Hardy Boys.

You may even compete to see who can finish their series first!

Even if you and your partner can't get through the whole series, especially with children, that's okay! Try to read just some books together and let us know how you're doing. The idea is to have fun and bond with each other over books.

The only timeframe is the one you wish to enforce yourself, such as to read The Wizard of Oz series in 3 months. Plus, since this is an ongoing challenge, you may do multiple challenges by finishing one and starting another.

I can't wait to see the variations we will come up with and how everyone will put their unique stamp on this challenge!

I have been wanting to re-read the Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings trilogy. I own all of both so I'm flexible with time frame. Just need dance partner(s). Any takers?

I had already set myself a challenge like this, and even though, I'm more than half past it, I'd like to share it with you.
I'm currently reading book #4 of the D'Artagnan Romances. So far I have read
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years After
The Vicomte of Bragelonne
I'm about to finish Ten Years After, and I still have
Louise De la Valliere
The Man in the Iron Mask
ahead of me.

I'm reading one after another along with other books (such as the book of the month). I'm really enjoying these books. They are full of romance, adventures, intrigue, and also funny situations.

For me is a great challenge because I decided to do it in English. My mother tongue is Spanish, so I wanted to spicy it up reading all the books in English.

So far, so good.

Hi Travis. this challenge sounds perfect for you.

Maricarman, that's fantastic! I didn't know The Three Musketeers was part of a series!

Well, it was not a series but a friend of mine and I read some works by the Bronte sisters, recently. We wanted to compare/contrast the styles, characters, and themes of Charlotte and Emily.

We read Wuthering Heights and are halfway through Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is a reread for us and is out favorite book. So we have found the characters Jane and Heathcliff interesting. We found that both are victims of abuse in their childhood, yet both have extremely different outcomes in the ways they let the abuse affect or not affect them.

I guess that could count as variation... :)

Travis of NNY wrote: "I have been wanting to re-read the Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings trilogy. I own all of both so I'm flexible with time frame. Just need dance partner(s). Any takers?"

I am tempted to do this with you, however I am a slower reader and am involved in one other book group outside of this one. We should chat. I will send you a friend request and we can discuss. :)

Jessica wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "I have been wanting to re-read the Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings trilogy. I own all of both so I'm flexible with time frame. Just need dance partner(s). Any takers..."

That would be great. Let us know how you guys do!

I'm wondering if the Bunnicula series would be good to read if you have a little one at home. I remember reading it when I was like 8 years old, and I didn't know it was part of a series until Good Reads.

Bunnicula

Bunnicula Strikes Again!

Howliday Inn

I had no idea that was a series! I read Bunnicula as a child and loved it. I will have to look into the others.

Travis of NNY wrote: "I have been wanting to re-read the Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings trilogy. I own all of both so I'm flexible with time frame. Just need dance partner(s). Any takers?"

I recently read The HObbit and the Fellowship. I'm now starting book 2 of Lord of the Rings. I can join you if you'd like.

My mom and I have been reading the In Death series by J.D. Robb together for years now. :)

that's so sweet, Karena :)

My son and I are 24 books into the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne.

Angie wrote: "My son and I are 24 books into the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne."

My kids loved those!

Angie wrote: "My son and I are 24 books into the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne."

I tried those with my oldest. He wasn't interested, but I think he might have been too young. I'd like to try again. I thought they were fun. Lol

Is there anyone interested in reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with me? I started reading it a few years ago and got as far as the third book; I enjoyed a lot of the humour but other books got in the way so I stopped there. Now I'd love to start again from the beginning and conclude the whole series. Who wants to come along in this journey towards the ultimate answer to Life, the Universe and Everything? (and the ultimate question too:-P)

Oh and way back in the day, Jared and I read Net Force series by Tom Clancy. But we stopped when they swapped off the main characters.

This is a fun idea but I have too many other books going on right now, otherwise I would love to do it. I was trying to think of a series to read with my kids but I can't come up with anything, and they are pretty full up with books right now too. I'll enjoy this vicariously through posts here!

Karena wrote: "Oh and way back in the day, Jared and I read Net Force series by Tom Clancy. But we stopped when they swapped off the main characters."

my husband and I are trying to think of a series. maybe I'll suggest that

Margaret wrote: "This is a fun idea but I have too many other books going on right now, otherwise I would love to do it. I was trying to think of a series to read with my kids but I can't come up with anything, and..."

Enjoy, Margaret!

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "Karena wrote: "Oh and way back in the day, Jared and I read Net Force series by Tom Clancy. But we stopped when they swapped off the main characters."

my husband and I are trying to think of a ser..."

An enjoyable series is the sigma force novels by James Rollins. historical/archaological thriller type books. kind of like indiana jones hops into a tom clancy book.

thank you, Travis of NNY!

Travis of NNY wrote: "An enjoyable series is the sigma force novels by James Rollins. historical/archaological thriller type books. kind of like indiana jones hops into a tom clancy book."

These don't sound like my kind of book, but I think my 15-year-old would love them. He eats up Tom Clancy novels and of course loves Indiana Jones. Thanks for the mention; I will check it out for him.

I might do this after the Fellowship trilogy with @Travis and @holly rose...Would anyone be interested in starting/rereading A Song of Ice and Fire with me?

Alessia wrote: "Is there anyone interested in reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with me? I started reading it a few years ago and got as far as the third book; I enjoyed a lot of the humour but..."
I'd be interested, but I've recently read the first three books.

My older son, who is 15, and I often read books together and have read several series at the same time. Some of the partner reads we have done are The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset, The Maze Runner trilogy, and BEST of all Chaos Walking: A Trilogy. The next break he has from class books, we will start the Divergent series together. It is a great way for us to bond. We absolutely love talking about books, so when everything else seems to be pushing us apart because of his growth through adolescence to adulthood, we still can have this conversation. :)

oh Angie. that is so amazing! made me tear up a little.

Love it, Angie! Books are a great way to keep families bonded. And it is one of the great things about kids growing up - being able to read, enjoy and discuss the same books! I'll look for the Chaos Walking trilogy.

Margaret wrote: "Love it, Angie! Books are a great way to keep families bonded. And it is one of the great things about kids growing up - being able to read, enjoy and discuss the same books! I'll look for the Ch..."

Oh my gosh, Margaret. You won't regret it. That series is so good.

My best friend and I are reading the Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin. I picked up a copy of the first four books and after devouring the first one, I passed it along to my best friend/roommate and he devoured it as well.
I'm now about to read the third one, and he is about to read the second one (we're sharing my copies). We enjoy discussing it as well. Especially since we wait to watch the HBO series and criticize that as well.

Personally, I've covered The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien), the Millenium Trilogy (Steig Larsson), the Hannibal Series (Thomas Harris), The Forbidden Game series (LJ Smith) and The Dark Tower Series (Stephen King) in their entirety.
I'm working on the Scarpetta Series (Patricia Cornwell), and the Outlander series (Diana Gabaldon).
The series that I'd like to get into are Narnia (CS Lewis), The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), Divergent (Veronica Roth), and the Empire Series (Gore Vidal). I'd also like to read the Rabbit Series (John Updike) and the whole of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams).

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "Maricarman, that's fantastic! I didn't know The Three Musketeers was part of a series!"

Thank you! and yes, it´s a really great series. I can say that Alexandre Dumas is one of my favorite authors, so much fun to read.

I just wanted to give an invitation to other group memebers...
@Travis of NNY, @holly rose, and I are starting the Lord of the Rings trilogy. All 3 of us have read The Hobbit , recently so we are starting with the trilogy. If anyone else wants to join, give us a holler and let us know!

:)

Alessia wrote: "Is there anyone interested in reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with me? I started reading it a few years ago and got as far as the third book; I enjoyed a lot of the humour but..."

Alessia, I turned the bookstores here upside down for the complete series, but they seem to have a thing for The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, because that's all I was able to find. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of using e-readers, so I'm kind of making it harder to find :).

However, I was able to find the Millenium triology by Stieg Larsson, and I was wondering if you guys recommend it. I mean should I go for it??? Does anyone want to join reading it??

Marwa, I absolutely loved that series. I am tempted to take you up on the partner read as re-read. How does that sound?

I'd be in for the Millenium Trilogy too.
I love me a good re-read.

Angie wrote: "My older son, who is 15, and I often read books together and have read several series at the same time."

As others have said, this is so wonderful and inspirational! What a great way to bond with a teenager. There's a tendency among some adults to trash whatever teens are into, so I bet it means a lot to your son that you're willing to engage in YA fiction (a lot of which is really great stuff anyway) instead of trashing it.

I ove reading with my 2 1/2 year-old, and I hope when she's 15 we'll be reading together, too.

...I read to my dogs.
One of them is 12 and just las October, he lost his lifelong mate who was 11. Since then, I've read to him almost daily for 15 mins at a time about 3 times a day.
He gets super cozy and buried, with his head poking out (he's a dashchund), and he smiles and listens. He doesn't fall asleep or get bored. He listens quite intently.
I started doing it to make him feel better about losing his 'wife' but it ended up helping me feel more centered and patient.
We welcomed a new, boy mate in mid January who has taken to storytime with much curiosity and affection.

...yes. I know I'm odd.
...and yes. I am, in fact, single. Couldn't you tell? I read to my dogs.
:)

@Angie @Tanya
That's great and very encouraging. Thank you guys.
BTW Tanya, you make me want to have a pet. :D

Marwa wrote: "Alessia wrote: "Is there anyone interested in reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with me? I started reading it a few years ago and got as far as the third book; I enjoyed a lot o..."

I'd be interested in re-reading The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide and continuing on with the series. I found that the local library seemed to carry them or I could order it in. Would you like to give that a go?

Tanya, that is so sweet

Ckopphills wrote: "Angie wrote: "My older son, who is 15, and I often read books together and have read several series at the same time."

As others have said, this is so wonderful and inspirational! What a great way..."

Thanks so much! The only advice I have is, "keep on reading!" I'm hoping that as my son gets even older, we can continue to read books together, even from separate households. :)

Angie wrote: "Ckopphills wrote: "Angie wrote: "My older son, who is 15, and I often read books together and have read several series at the same time."

As others have said, this is so wonderful and inspirationa..."

AWWWW.. That is sweet!!!

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "I'm wondering if the Bunnicula series would be good to read if you have a little one at home. I remember reading it when I was like 8 years old, and I didn't know it was part of a series until Goo..."

I've heard of those books, but haven't ever read them. My youngest and I have just started The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I think they are a little more advanced and complex than the Magic Treehouse series, or at least more complex than the first 24... :) Parker really seems to enjoy the first one right now.

Tanya wrote: "...I read to my dogs.
One of them is 12 and just las October, he lost his lifelong mate who was 11. Since then, I've read to him almost daily for 15 mins at a time about 3 times a day.
He gets su..."

Your story put a smile on my face!

sounds good. thanks,Angie!!

Tanya wrote: "...I read to my dogs.
One of them is 12 and just las October, he lost his lifelong mate who was 11. Since then, I've read to him almost daily for 15 mins at a time about 3 times a day.
He gets su..."


I am of the opinion that you and I are kindred spirits. I LOVE animals. I have a Cairn Terrier who is treated like a little person in my household. I talk to her as if she were my best friend from high school. I am sorry to hear about your loss. It is an emotion only animal lovers/owners can relate to. I believe my relationship with my puppy has shown me how to love and forgive more than any other relationship (except the hubby). I could keep gushing for 4 more paragraphs but I will stop, lol.

I just might start reading to my baby girl. I think that is a great idea! What stories have you read to your babies?

I love Cairn Terriers!!!! Toto was one! (Oz is my all time favourite movie...I, one day, want a Cairn)
I read them ANYthing I'm reading.
They did seem to really love The Hobbit/LotR.

Tanya wrote: "I love Cairn Terriers!!!! Toto was one! (Oz is my all time favourite movie...I, one day, want a Cairn)
I read them ANYthing I'm reading.
They did seem to really love The Hobbit/LotR."

I will have to read LOTR to my pup. I just started Fellowship the other day. Cairns are great dogs. She is full of energy and so talkative. It makes me smile when she does her howl/growl in response to something I say. It's pretty adorable. Her name is Stevie, btw (named after the infamous Stevie Nicks).

That...is...hilarious. My older Doxie is named Paul after the infamous Beatle!!!