Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

My 2018 Old and New Challenge is all about
writing
and women
and women writers!
(And also about some unfinished carryovers from my 2017 Old and New.)




Old School (1899 and earlier):
Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole Finished 2/24/18 ★★★★
Spiridion by George Sand Finished 11/16/18 ★★★★
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen Finished 8/18/18 ★★★★★

New School (1900-1999):
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison Finished 12/1/18 ★★★★★
The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks by Gwendolyn Brooks Finished 6/30/18 ★★★
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor Finished 2/8/18 ★★★★★

Wildcards (Writing):
Moments of Being by Virginia Woolf Finished 10/28/18 ★★★★
Silences by Tillie Olsen Finished 5/2/18 ★★★★
Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places by Ursula K. Le Guin Finished 2/11/18 ★★★★★
Let Me Tell You: New Stories, Essays, and Other Writings by Shirley Jackson
Devotion by Patti Smith Finished 8/27/18 ★★★★
The Hidden Machinery: Essays on Writing by Margot Livesey

Alternates:
Summer by Edith Wharton Finished 8/11/18 ★★★★★
Light by Eva Figes Finished 6/26/18 ★★★★

Looks great Kathleen! I'm hoping to read Summer and Mansfield Park next year especially if I can work them into a challenge.

I'm going to look more closely at some of your choices later to see if they fit in my Women's Quest challenge.

Super list. I think I will have a lot of women writers in 2018.

Welcome to the challenge!

I read Summer when it was the group read and really enjoyed it.

Thanks Sara and Melanti, and I look forward to sharing Summer and Mansfield Park, Sue!

I didn't intend to do all women on this challenge too, it just worked out that way so thought I'd celebrate it. I think I'll be in a similar situation, Sara. So many great women author ideas flying around our group right now!

I discovered Le Guin this year while reading a blog post about women writers... I wasn't even reading it to find authors for this group's women challenge. I have two of her novels in my 2018 reading plans, and I think the one you have in your list will make its way into my tbr.

Good luck with your list!

MJ wrote: "I discovered Le Guin this year while reading a blog post about women writers... I wasn't even reading it to find authors for this group's women challenge. I have two of her novels in my 2018 readin..."

A very belated thank you, MJ! I'm way behind on my Le Guin reading--I've only read The Beginning Place. I hope to get to more of her, but will start with this one.

Just doing a review ... thinking ... can I do it this time? Will this challenge work? Should I make some changes? Think I'm going to keep it as is. SO excited to start! :-)

I'm reading The Women of Brewster Place for my A-Z challenge next year I'm happy to read it with you if it means getting this challenge done.

Wow! Impressive list!

Yay for you! Now I will have women books if I want to add more books to my neverending tbr 😊

Thank you Melissa and Vero and Brina!

I'm having a hard time deciding which of these to start with. Am overloaded with other books at the moment, but always thinking ahead ... Maybe Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands--I've been wanting to read that for ages, and I could do with some traveling. :-)

I may be getting a late start to this challenge, but it's a good start.

The Women of Brewster Place is my favorite book so far this year! What a talent Gloria Naylor had. I had no idea this book was so good. It's just my kind of thing--very emotionally revealing. One of the best books about "womanhood" I've ever read, so fits in perfectly with this women-focused challenge.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sounds really good!

A book I have long meant to read, but don't even have on my TBR...well, until now. Thanks, Kathleen.

It is really good! And I'm happy to have helped you add another one, Sara--you've been responsible for quite a few on my TBR. :-)

I'm just about to finish Ursula Le Guin's essays--she is phenomenal. I think this is going to be a very enjoyable set of challenge books for me. ♥♥

I look forward to your thoughts on Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, Kathleen. The current rating for it on this site is a travesty.

I'm looking forward to it even more after your review, Aubrey. It's right on top. :-)

Le Guin is another author I HAVE to get to. I wonder if her essays wouldn't be the right place to start.

Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places was fabulous. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'd say there's something in here for everyone, but her feminism comes through the strongest. The Bryn Mawr Commencement speech is not to be missed. These are of their time--the 1980's--but still so relevant today.

Sara wrote: "Le Guin is another author I HAVE to get to. I wonder if her essays wouldn't be the right place to start."

I'm not sure if it's the best place to start, Sara, but for me, it really helped to sort of get a feel for her as a person, what mattered to her, and what she was trying to do with her writing.

To bring in the Old School, I've finished Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, and I am full of wonder at her adventures.

Mary Seacole is an inspiration--a mixed race woman of the 1850's who defied boundaries of all kinds. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

That link doesn't take me to your review, Kathleen.

The book sounds really interesting. I haven't heard of this one and will try to find a copy. Thanks!

That sounds wonderful! I love finding these little-known historical figures that are such an inspiration :)

Petra wrote: "That link doesn't take me to your review, Kathleen.

The book sounds really interesting. I haven't heard of this one and will try to find a copy. Thanks!"

Thank you Petra! Who knows what I was doing, but fixed now. :-)

Petra and Francisca, I think you'd both enjoy this story. She was a unique and inspiring woman.

You have such a fascinating line up. I am enjoying hearing about all of your reads so far.

Great list and I love your theme! =D I’ve added several to-be-read — thank you for sharing!

Thank you Sara and Erin! I'm so excited about all of them that it's hard to choose what to read next. Silences seems very appropriate for Women's History Month, but Moments of Being is calling to me too ... maybe, both!

Finished Silences. I took my time with this one--lots of references and quotes to ponder. I found this a fascinating study of suppressed creativity. Those interested in women's lit, writing, or creativity in general might enjoy this. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm feeling good about actually completing this challenge this year, even though I'm behind. I'm drawn to all of these books, so not sure what will be next!

Kathleen wrote: "Finished Silences. I took my time with this one--lots of references and quotes to ponder. I found this a fascinating study of suppressed creativity. Those interested in women's lit, w..."

I hope these books are inspiring you Kathleen. You are actually right on track. You've read four books in 4 months, one per month left. I'm jealous! I'm behind on all of my challenges.

Thank you for the encouragement, Sue. I am falling a little behind now, but just finished Light by Eva Figes. A beautiful little novella about Claude Monet. Four stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm slowly reading The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks, and should be done with it soon. Then I might read another alternate Summer, if it wins the August poll!

I agree with Sue that you are making marvelous progress. I do hope you get to Summer. I particularly liked it!

Congratulations on 2 more finished Kathleen! My Old and New challenge is pretty hopeless. I've already resigned it to just getting the top 6 done and starting over with the other 6 for next year.

Summer is on my Quest for Women authors challenge, but Return of the Soldier fits in the same spot. Hopefully one of them wins and I'm reading which ever it is in August.

If Return of the Soldier makes the cut, I will be reading it as well, Sue.

Thank you both. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Return of the Soldier--it may still rally!

Sue, maybe you could just read the books from your challenge you most want to read, and not worry about the rest. I'm making a real effort for this one, since I blew it on this challenge last year, but my other challenges are floundering a bit. I'm itching to get to my quest for women authors challenge books, but falling way behind there. Isn't that the way ...

I took my time reading through The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks, but unfortunately couldn't fully appreciate it. Her subject matter was the everyday, but I often had a hard time comprehending her meaning. A hazard of really good poetry sometimes, that some of us need help to understand it.

I did post a link in my review to a fantastic and famous poem from the collection called A Song in the Front Yard. It's simply worded, with a deep but easier to grasp meaning.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nice reviews :O)

The Return of the Solider is very short and beautiful... Just saying... In case... LOL

Thank you Vero! Good to hear about Return of the Soldier. I've been thinking, wouldn't it be funny--after so much nominating and voting for it--if we all hated it?!

Well, I hope not. Naturally, not all books are going to suit everyone, but this one is rather lyrical. May be tempted to re-read it actually - although, with all the titles waiting for me, maybe not.

lol. perish the thought. If it is not the winner for September, I will be reading it anyway.

:O)

Sara--I'm with you!

Kathleen wrote: "Sara--I'm with you!"

Let's all buddy read in September if it doesn't win.

An absolute plan!

Kathleen wrote: "Thank you Vero! Good to hear about Return of the Soldier. I've been thinking, wouldn't it be funny--after so much nominating and voting for it--if we all hated it?!"

Haha, I've been thinking that too. XD

I've been wanting to read Summer for years, and this was the summer I did! I've had an up and down relationship with Edith Wharton, but all the stars aligned for me with this one. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm now looking forward to reading her novels that gave me trouble before. :-)

But first, this challenge. I'm pretty far behind on my other challenges, but I think I've got this one. I'm in the middle of Mansfield Park, and after that plan to read Song of Solomon. I can do it!

Mansfield Park is my fourth five-star read for this challenge! Loved it, no matter what anyone says about Fanny and Edmund. :-) Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next I'm going to try to sneak in Devotion by Patti Smith before Song of Solomon.

Devotion is a very special little book. It's a unique combo of short story, day-in-the-life and essay. I would call it "artistic show and tell." I understand now why Patti Smith has such "devoted" followers. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Wow, you are almost done with this challenge! I have so enjoyed your reviews of each of these books.