Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

That time of year has arrived to plan for 2024 nonfiction reads.

Guidelines for NONFICTION titles still use the 50 year mark of 1974 like other areas we read in such as genres and author lists:

-- Biographies: The person(s) focused on should have passed away at least 50 years ago, although the title may have been written more recently. Example - Biographies on American Jazz musician Duke Ellington or German Oskar Schindler who both died in 1974 would be acceptable. While Queen Elizabeth II has passed away and was a notable figure by 1974, she was also very much alive for 48 years after that time, which means biographies about her do not work for our group.

-- History / Events: The history / event should have occurred at least 50 years ago, although the title may have been written more recently. Consider history and events that ended before or by 1974 such as the Korean War, which occurred in the 1950s; the Vietnam War did not end until 1975.

-- General subject matter: The title should have been written at least 50 years ago. You're welcome to be creative with this one as long as the original publication date of the book is at the latest 1974.

We need 12 titles, one for each month of 2024. Suggestions need at least 3 votes.

Suggestions & Votes:

1. XX - The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre by Jean-Paul Sartre (~256 pg)
originally published 1964

2. XXX - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X (~466 pg)
originally published 1965

3. XX - Mythologies by Roland Barthes (~160 pg)
originally published 1957

4. XX - Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff (~369 pg)
originally published 2010

5. XXX - The Letters of Vincent van Gogh by Vincent van Gogh (~528 pg)
originally published 1914 (posthumous)

6. XXXX - Fillets of Plaice (~216 pg) OR A Zoo in My Luggage (~198 pg) by Gerald Durrell
originally published 1971

7. XXX - Yours, Plum The Letters of P.G. Wodehouse by P.G. Wodehouse (~269 pg)
originally published 1990 (posthumous)

8. XXXXXX - The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (~560 pg)
originally published 1869

9. XX - The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson (~622 pg)
originally published 2010

10. XX - Letters Written During A Short Residence In Sweden, Norway And Denmark by Mary Wollstonecraft (~129 pg)
originally published 1795

11. New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton (~297 pg)
originally published 1962

12. XX - Plutarch's Lives: Volume I by Plutarch (~766 pg)
originally published 100

13. XX - All Art is Propaganda: Critical Essays by George Orwell (~374 pages)
originally published 1941

14. X - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown (~509 pages)
originally published 1970

May I suggest philosophy books?

Of course, Luis, you may suggest philosophy books.

So, I suggest Sartre's books—any book I'll recommend.

Luís wrote: "So, I suggest Sartre's books—any book I'll recommend."

Is there a title or two by Jean-Paul Sartre that you are particularly interested in reading with the group?

Samantha wrote: "Luís wrote: "So, I suggest Sartre's books—any book I'll recommend."

Is there a title or two by Jean-Paul Sartre that you are particularly interested in reading with the group?"

Yes. Two of them are Dirty Hands and The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre

Excellent. Thank you, Luis!

My suggetion is Notes from the Underground of Dostoievsk. Thanks!

Elianne wrote: "My suggetion is Notes from the Underground of Dostoievsk. Thanks!"

I looked this up- it's labelled fiction. And is very short- was it meant for the short story thread?

I've had The Autobiography of Malcolm X (written in part by Alex Haley) on my shelf for some years, unread. I'd like to nominate this...

I suggest Mythologies by Roland Barthes for non fiction.

And Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
for biography.

Thank you, Jen. I looked up Notes from the Underground as well and saw it's a fictional novella. Elianne, it would work for short stories, not nonfiction, but we also covered The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky in April-June of this year. Ideally, we would like to cover new authors we have not read a collection of already.

Luís wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Luís wrote: "So, I suggest Sartre's books—any book I'll recommend."

Is there a title or two by Jean-Paul Sartre that you are particularly interested in reading with ..."

I support The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre.

Luis, I looked into Dirty Hands by Sartre and noticed that it's a play. We have done plays in the past but with little participation in the discussion. Based on that and your additional pick of the autobiography already having a vote by Kathy, we will run with The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre.

Suggestions and vote added to msg 2

I too would like to read Malcolm X.

I'd also like to suggest The Letters of Vincent van Gogh.

Are we allowed to suggest more than one title?

I support Cleopatra: A Life

Excellent question, Christy. Ideally, it would be best to let others get suggestions in before providing more than one title. If we have trouble getting 12 suggestions with enough votes, then anyone is encouraged to add more suggestions. Thank you for asking!

Votes added.

Would like to suggest Gerald Durrell's

Fillets of Plaice (1971 at 189 pages) The Durrells in Corfu--here's what happened next After leaving the island of Corfu, Durrell, his mother, his brother Leslie and their Greek maid Maria Kondos moved back to Britain in 1939.

A Zoo in My Luggage (1960 at 198 pages) Hilarious tale, which finds the author as an adult still charmed by his beloved animals. A Zoo in My Luggage begins with an account of Durrell's third trip to the British Cameroons in West Africa, during which he and his wife capture animals to start their own zoo.

Maybe do it as an "Or" whatever you think Samantha is fine :)

Christy wrote: "I too would like to read Malcolm X.

I'd also like to suggest The Letters of Vincent van Gogh.

Are we allowed to suggest more than one title?"

Oh we are on the same page! I was researching books of letters and saw so many appealing possibilities but couldn't decide on one. I love your idea.
I support the Van Gogh Letters!

Staying on the "Letters" theme - I'd like to propose Yours, Plum The Letters of P.G. Wodehouse.

The world feels like a brighter, kinder place after reading anything by Wodehouse - and who can fail to love that title?

He died in Feb 1975, so it's possible that the book contains letters that are outside our timescale, but I hope we can stretch the point slightly?

Samantha wrote: "Luis, I looked into Dirty Hands by Sartre and noticed that it's a play. We have done plays in the past but with little participation in the discussion. Based on that and your additional pick of the..."

Ok. Thank you.

I support Mythologies

I support Yours, Plum The Letters of P.G. Wodehouse and either or both of the Gerald Durrell books.

suggestions & votes updated in msg 2.

I myself am nominating The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. This is Twain's travel book and covers his trip through Europe and the Holy Land. I have yet to read a Twain book I do not like.

I'd also like to support Mythologies please, Samantha

Vote recorded, John.

At least 4 more suggestions are still needed and more votes, of course. Please feel free to supply a suggestion if you have not already and/or vote on any titles already suggested.

I suggest Loitering with Intent: The Child

Luís wrote: "I suggest Loitering with Intent: The Child"

Unfortunately, Luis, Loitering with Intent: The Child does not fit our guidelines for biographies. Please see the note at the top of our NF planning. I hope there's perhaps another biography you might be interested in suggesting that fits the timeframe.

Samantha wrote: "Luís wrote: "I suggest Loitering with Intent: The Child"

Unfortunately, Luis, Loitering with Intent: The Child does not fit our guidelines for biographies. Please see the note at the ..."

Ok. I will check later.

How about James Baldwin essays?

There's Notes of a Native Son, Nobody Knows My Name, and The Fire Next Time. One could also get a collection that includes all of them and more.

James Baldwin is already voted in for Author Reads next year, so maybe it could be coordinated for the same month in this thread. If it gets the votes here and if yall are up for overlap.

I vote for The Fire Next Time

Jen wrote: "James Baldwin is already voted in for Author Reads next year..."

Jen, Since Baldwin will make in for the Author Reads for 2024 and it is an open read of the Authors works for the month, I can add your request as a suggestion read for the month if you would not mind posting it under the Authors for 2024 so I will not forget.

Samantha wrote: "I myself am nominating The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain...."

The Innocents Abroad. The New York Herald as “an oasis in the desert of works on foreign travel,”

I would like to support your request Samantha.

John wrote: "Staying on the "Letters" theme - I'd like to propose Yours, Plum The Letters of P.G. Wodehouse. The world feels like a brighter, kinder place after reading anything by Wodehouse - ..."

I totally agree John and would like to support his request!

Lesle wrote: "Jen wrote: "James Baldwin is already voted in for Author Reads next year..."

Jen, Since Baldwin will make in for the Author Reads for 2024 and it is an open read of the Authors works for the month..."

I also hope to make time for his fiction, but yea, will keep group posted in Authors thread on all my Baldwin planned reads.

Thank you Jen.

All of our threads stay open and under the same topic thread usually a few months past the month of reading. They stay open and active for responses, even in the Archived section.

I support

The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre
The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

Lesle wrote: "Would like to suggest Gerald Durrell's

Fillets of Plaice (1971 at 189 pages) The Durrells in Corfu--here's what happened next After leaving the island of Corfu, Durre..."


I support George Durrel's writings.

My vote for Durrell, also.

I support Gerald Durrell books and Innocents Abroad.

Lesle, I completely agree with John's reasoning. Wodehouse died only a year after our cutoff date, so nearly all if not all of the letters contained within the book should be 1974 or earlier. Actually, he died on Valentine's Day 1975, which is early enough in the year to further cement our logic. :)

Thank you also for the clarification about Baldwin.

Those interested in James Baldwin for next year, please go voice your support in the Author Reads for 2024 thread.

Suggestions & votes are updated.

Samantha wrote: "Lesle, I completely agree with John's reasoning. Wodehouse died only a year after our cutoff date, so nearly all if not all of the letters contained within the book should be 1974 or earlier. Actua..."

James Baldwin is already a go for the Authors 2024 program, but I was suggesting a book of essays for this thread. I did just notice the first book I suggested was read here a few years ago.
So I suggest either The Fire Next Time which Luis has supported. I'd also be up for Nobody Knows My Name.

Two other interests I have:

The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

Who Ate Up All the Shinga?: An Autobiographical Novel by Park Wan-Suh

I know perhaps autobiographical novel sounds questionable. The top review that comes up for me explains:
... this is in many senses closer to a novel than an autobiography. As she admits in a foreword to the Korean original, she relies on imagination as much as recollection for certain parts of the story, and at times her own memory of events differs sharply from that of other family members.
But if we are open to it, same reviewer points out the story covers her life up to 1951. So, timewise I think it works.

I support Malcolm X, Wodehouse, van Gogh and Twain

Just to clarify:
We have had duplicated authors in the past as we did this year with Mann, but we prefer not to-to allow more opportunity to read a different author.
We do keep the Threads open under the topic for several months before moving it to Archive. If you use the website you can see this does take place.

Everyones understanding is much appreciated.
Thank you!

I've often posted on older threads myself!