Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Are there any trends in your reading selections? Do you have a goal in mind and has that goal changed? I am not making this a question for just one month. I think most of us here are planning at least part of our reading. This is a place to talk about what you consider when making your lists. Because we are nearing the end of the year, which means it's planning time, I wanted to make this open-ended until the end of 2025.

Each year I reflect over what I have done and determine what might be changed. As I added books to my bookshelf over the years I noticed a few trends:

1. We used to consider if authors were male or female. I keep a steady ratio of about 60% male and 40% female. That has never been a big motivator for me.

2. After joining this group I started to think more about the dates books were written and the location of the author. 2022 was about reading more books from the 19th Century and that was the theme of several of my Buffet challenges.

3. I realized that I had read very few British authors, so since I joined here in 2018 I have read 128 books by British authors.

4. I like Science Fiction but had not read a lot of it. There were other "more important" things to read. I now read Science Fiction and use it for a theme in the Buffet Challenges.

The things that still motivate me are British Literature and Science Fiction. I did switch to Old School because I want to return to more Victorian or 19th Century Fiction. Perhaps someday I will exhaust those themes, but I'm not there yet. I prefer to read deeply through an author's catalog once I find someone I like.

I know I will never exhaust my 19th Century and earlier list, but lately I have found that I am gravitating toward mid-20th Century novels that I missed along the way. I have especially discovered some marvelous women writers whose work, I think, has simply resurfaced. I have no idea what the ratio of women to men would be for me. I never select a book based on that criteria.

I am trying to read more non-fiction and biography. I find it very interesting, but I always manage to forget or overlook it. I did better, but not very well, this year. I hope 2026 will be the year that I tackle it in a serious way. I am trying to sample some writing outside the genres that feel like home to me. The group always helps me with that!

I love making lists and become a little fanatic about checking them off, but this year I read far more randomly and I hope to do the same in 2026.

Sara wrote: "I know I will never exhaust my 19th Century and earlier list, but lately I have found that I am gravitating toward mid-20th Century novels that I missed along the way. I have especially discovered ..."

Oh you reminded me Sara that I did spend most of the summer reading history of Ancient Empires. Much of it was online research or chapters from books that pertained to the time periods.

My reading interest has mostly been 20th Century and contemporary literary fiction. It still is, but this group has opened many other genres to me, and I have selectively stepped back in time as well. This next year, I hope to work in more books written by authors from non-English speaking countries.

Compared to 2024 when I read quite a bit from the 19th Century, in 2025 I read largely from the 20th Century. I also tried to concentrate on books I thought I had a good chance of enjoying, rather than choosing so often based on the fame of the classic and the sense that one ought to have read it by now. And I noticed that I read more plays and short stories this past year, which definitely made some of my challenges a bit easier.

Apart from concentrating on authors I know I like (A.A. Milne, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, etc.), for my 2025 planning (and now my 2026 planning) I tried to work in books that were recommended by people in the group. These are often found when I read through other people's challenges through the year, and they say something particularly persuasive about a book. This is how I found some of my best reads this year, such as My Brother Michael and Way Station.

I have learned that I am an undisciplined reader. Not only is my to-read growing but also my currently-reading. I am currently-reading‎ 17 books! I plan (or dream) that I will finished them someday. I am like a 3 year old that see a new shinning bling and head in that direction....

Just last month I saw Matilde Kimer published a new book. She is a seriously awesome Danish journalist who has been working in Ukraine for many years. To get an idea about how awesome: One review just says When I grow up, I want to be Matilde Kimer. It took some restraint, but I did not buy it. Only put it on my to-read.

Then my local newspaper gave a rare 6-heart rating to If Russia Wins: A Scenario. Again. It took some restraint, but I did not buy it. Only put it on my to-read.

Then …. wow! ... Eliezer Yudkowsky published a real book (most of his stuff is unpublished free downloads) If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All. By now I had used up all resistance and it went on top of currently-reading‎.

At the least I have stopped buying books, I don’t read. (We have about 1000 paper books, and I have around 300 unread paper books)..... at least not so often.

My reading seems to be 1/3 classics, 1/3 non-fiction (mostly science/philosophy and a little bit of history) and 1/3 everything-else mostly science fiction.

J_Blueflower, I understand the allure of the next book. There was a month this year where all I did was try to complete at least one of the seven partially read books on my nightstand. I managed to complete a few!!

I still guide my reading mostly by whichever books that I haven't read happen to win in my Goodreads groups, but I'm trying lately to mix in more buddy reads so that I can read some books that aren't likely to win polls.

I am an eclectic reader but I do trend heavily to nonfiction - mostly history and historical biographies. For the past two years, I've been doing a micro study of the Middle Ages and have read quite a few excellent histories from this time period ( Dan Jones and Marc Morris are two historians that stand out). For a while I was stuck in the Dark Ages; next year I hope to focus on the 14th century.

I also plan to read a selection of histories (right now my number is 5) on the American Revolution since it will be our 250th anniversary. One that has been on my shelf for a while is Ron Chernow's Washington: A Life. It's a hefty biography; I hope to read four or five historical biographies next year that are on my shelves.

Having said all that, I've been pulled toward more fiction lately and I've become very curious about all of the fantasy series that are out there. Several of my favorite young people are into it and I have been following Kistreadsbooks on Facebook. He does talks on his history and fantasy reads.

And I do dip into classics. My two top reads from this year are A Room with a View and The Yearling. Both resonated very viscerally with me. I don't know anyone who is writing like that today.

And, I have just realized that this is a bit long. Sorry, I got carried away!

Donna wrote: "I am an eclectic reader but I do trend heavily to nonfiction - mostly history and historical biographies. For the past two years, I've been doing a micro study of the Middle Ages and have read quit..."

A Room with a View is such a fun read Donna. I love that one!

my planning has remained remarkably consistent over the last 10 years
I read about 120 books per year,
so I choose about 20 categories, limit myself to 6 from each category, and form up a rectangle :



2026's categories are: Mega-Classic, Short, War/Adventure, Film, World, Author-More, 1-Offs (mostly from Guardian 1000 list), Don't Fancy, Non-Fic, Crime, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Re-reads, Book-Group

and, as I say, these categories have proved remarkably consistent in keeping my reading varied/enjoyable

I was very interested in your post, Donna. I often think it would be fun to choose a historical time period and truly explore it. Kudos for you for doing that. If I want to know anything about the Dark Ages, I will now know who to ask!

Darren wrote: "my planning has remained remarkably consistent over the last 10 years I read about 120 books per year, so I choose about 20 categories, limit myself to 6 from each category, and form up a rectangle..."

Wow, this is so organized of you! I'm really impressed you're able to stick with this plan and not get sidetracked.

Donna wrote: "I am an eclectic reader but I do trend heavily to nonfiction - mostly history and historical biographies. For the past two years, I've been doing a micro study of the Middle Ages and have read quit..."

What a nice idea to read American histories for 250th Anniversary.

Darren wrote: "my planning has remained remarkably consistent over the last 10 years
I read about 120 books per year,
so I choose about 20 categories, limit myself to 6 from each category, and form up a
rectan..."



Very cool Darren. I have seen you posting about your choices for years, but the spreadsheet really brings out the logic to it.

My initial focus was to just read. Every book completed was a step forward. I never thouht I'd take to books I have. With confidence this has changed, now I'm trying to strive for books that may have answers to the million questions I have.

I do sometimes regret not discovering books a lot sooner.

This is a great topic, Lynne, and it's so interesting to read everyone's answers.

I think the reason I love planning and making lists is that it helps comfort me regarding the fact I can't read everything I want to. Like, as long as it's on a list, on a tbr, on a spreadsheet, there is hope. As the years fly by, I am seeing the need to prioritize more than I used to, but it's so hard.

So the trend I'm trying to push myself toward is being more selective. Here are some disciplines I've taken up or am considering:
1. DNF isn't a failure, it's like a diet plan.
2. Try to avoid seeking out books just to fill challenges. (I'm on the fence about this. On the one hand, I have too many to read already. On the other, it's so fun to go looking!)
3. Consider reading projects more. I've been inspired by many of you here, and like the idea of studying a certain time period or subject. And have to say I love Darren's categories.
4. Don't forget my favorite authors! I think I'll be focusing on this idea for next year's challenges.

I mostly read what my Goodreads' groups pick. Sometimes the picks are books I have recommended and sometimes the books are books in which I already had an interest but I have reached the stage where it is the act of reading that I enjoy, no matter the book. That said I feel the need to cut back a little on group reads to catch up the tbr a bit and to read some books I want to read but have put off for years.

Sam wrote: "it is the act of reading that I enjoy, no matter the book"

This is a superpower, Sam!!

Kathleen wrote: "1. DNF isn't a failure, it's like a diet plan."

I aim for this too, Kathleen, and I'm a lot better than I used to be, but I don't always succeed -- sometimes I still force myself to finish ;)

Kathleen wrote: "This is a great topic, Lynne, and it's so interesting to read everyone's answers.

I think the reason I love planning and making lists is that it helps comfort me regarding the fact I can't read ev..."

Favorite authors would be a really good theme for a challenge. Hmmm. I'll think about that one.

I've accepted that I'm a total mood reader. I can pick up my all-time favorite book for a reread and realize I'm not enjoying it. If I try and force myself to finish a book that isn't working for me I always end up disliking it, so I've learned to put those aside for later.

That said, I love to plan for challenges, monthly reading, etc. But it's always just a Pile of Possibilities, never really a "must read". If I'm down I read happy books, if I'm curious about something I pick up more nonfiction, etc.

I used to feel bad about my "lack of discipline" in reading, but someone suggested that I think of it as "self-guided bibliotherapy" instead. So I'm sticking with that. lol

When I first joined years ago I was whittling down my TBR list. Next the challenges caused that list to grow and grow. Now I'm taking a year of "selfish" reading. I have followed the group's lead so much that I was putting down books I started due to lack of time. I want to read some that I didn't finished in the past few years, plus other books on my full kindle. I have set 4 themes in my Personal Challenges Thread. Once I read a bit then those books can fill the Challenge Buffet and Bingo.

I have a couple of TBR lists plus book clubs that I belong to. I used to read Gothic novels but have always gravitated to mysteries and history. I have also kept a list of what I have read since 9th grade and I am getting ready to retire.

Kathleen wrote: "1. DNF isn't a failure, it's like a diet plan...."

This is my favorite line from 2025.
Thank you for making my year.

Interesting topic and I like how it is such an open ended question. I feel, aside from trying to read a certain amount of books per year, I am a very spontaneous reader and will try to work in some of the books on my to-read, books I own category and also join in some of the monthly reads from the various groups I am in. I am very fiction heavy (really am not that much of a nonfiction fan with a few exceptions).

I love classics of all types, and many genres in general, but I have been trending and interested more of the science fiction and fantasy variety in recent years. I started a few series that I want to continue on with, like the Dune series and The Wheel of Time series for example. I like to be reading a few books at a time, and have them be different from one another (for example, one science fiction, one classic, one mystery). Anyhow, interesting question and enjoyed reading the responses.

Klowey wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "1. DNF isn't a failure, it's like a diet plan...."

This is my favorite line from 2025.
Thank you for making my year."

Ha! Thanks, Klowey. I feel like drastic measures are called for. Reading leads to more books to read and more and more ... This thread is very helpful in considering some different ways to get a handle on it!

My personal page has a list of the unread books that I own in physical or digital form, and lists of most/all of the work of my three favorite authors. Reading as much as I can fit in from those lists are my general ongoing goals.

Over the last few years I've been in some buddy reads on those three authors, each of which greatly expanded my understanding and appreciation of their writing (and them).

When the BINGO and challenges come out each year, I first try to fill in the slots with books I own. I use the monthly poll winners that interest me to fill in the empty slots. It's satisfying to both read from my 'todo' list and also to discover new authors or books that I enjoy.

Unfortunately I keep buyings books, so the list isn't shrinking as fast as I'd hoped. But I'll give it another go for 2026.

I like a lot of science and cultural history. I used to rarely read fiction but now that's maybe 3/4 of what I've been reading. Nearly everything I read is 19th c. on, and largely 20th c. I think it's getting harder for science and non-fiction (containing new research) to compete in book form as opposed to that information being presented via other forms of social media. That may be why my fiction reading has overtaken it.

Kathleen wrote: "I have a couple of TBR lists plus book clubs that I belong to. I used to read Gothic novels but have always gravitated to mysteries and history. I have also kept a list of what I have read since 9t..."

I think it is beyond amazing that you have lists from when you were in high school. I have to rely on my memory, which is pretty sketchy at times. I started keeping a reading journal when I was in my 30s, and even that is hit and miss.

Klowey wrote: Unfortunately I keep buyings books, so the list isn't shrinking as fast as I'd hoped. But I'll give it another go for 2026.

So, I have a theory about this phenomenon. Recently, we culled about 250 books from our physical shelves. Since that time, I’ve been (not so) slowly but surely replacing them with new ones. So, my theory is that I have to have a critical mass of books on my shelves at all times, or things just aren’t right in the universe.

Donna wrote: "Klowey wroteUnfortunately I keep buyings books, so the list isn't shrinking as fast as I'd hoped. But I'll give it another go for 2026.

So, I have a theory about this phenomenon. Recently, we cull..."

Yes, I thought I felt a shift in the Universal Field. Thanks for correcting that! LOL

Lynn wrote: "Donna wrote: "Klowey wroteUnfortunately I keep buyings books, so the list isn't shrinking as fast as I'd hoped. But I'll give it another go for 2026.

So, I have a theory about this phenomenon. Rec..."

You’re welcome! 😅

I love science fiction, nonfiction, and classics (Just finished Gawain and the Green Knight since I am a huge fan for all King Arthur Legends)


But within the past 6 months, I am gravitating towards fiction written by authors of color. I want to read James Baldwin, Amy Tan, more debut authors to get more of that sense of diversity that my prior reading lacked, being mostly focused on the Western Cannon.

Mira wrote: “But within the past 6 months, I am gravitating towards fiction written by authors of color. I want to read James Baldwin, Amy Tan, more debut authors to get more of that sense of diversity that my prior reading lacked, being mostly focused on the Western Cannon.”

People seem to gravitate toward Baldwin’s novels lately, but I would really recommend his nonfiction and short stories. Going to Meet the Man is a spectacular collection. “Sonny’s Blues” and the title story are two of my all-time favorites.

spoko wrote: "Mira wrote: “But within the past 6 months, I am gravitating towards fiction written by authors of color. I want to read James Baldwin, Amy Tan, more debut authors to get more of that sense of diver..."

Sonny's Blues is my favorite thing I have read by Baldwin. Some of his books I read but later deleted my reviews because they were so negative.

Occasionally there will be a thread with lists of authors who "need" to be on the Group bookshelf. I felt constrained before to speak freely but now.? Often the people in this group have read many of the suggested works. In fact in a recent list I had read 4 and had rated them so low that my review would simply have been a rant. I don't post extremely negative reviews anymore because I think people should be able to approach books with a clean slate. Unfortunately, Baldwin for me can be very high or very low. There's no middle ground with him, in my opinion.

Mira wrote: "I love science fiction, nonfiction, and classics (Just finished Gawain and the Green Knight since I am a huge fan for all King Arthur Legends)


But within the past 6 months, I am gravitating towa..."

Personally, I loved Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation as well as everything I've read by James Baldwin. I've read several of Baldwin's novels, poems, stories, and non-fiction works now, and there hasn't been any I disliked.

But I completely understand why people would dislike him too.

For me, he perfectly crystallizes the social psychology of the time he was writing, at least within the communities and sub-communities he was writing for . . . but a lot of it can be very hard to take. There's a huge depth, in terms of his understanding of why his characters do what they do. But he doesn't craft anything with the idea in mind of how it will look from the outside, and he doesn't soften anything at all, even in places where I might have wanted him to.

I think all of this can make him somewhat hostile to approach from the outside; his works sometimes require a point of access within the reader himself or herself based on the reader's experience, and reading his books can also feel like being under siege. Much as I loved If Beale Street Could Talk, there were a couple passages that really disturbed me. I am not sure if I would recommend it to some of my offline friends because I am not sure how they would take certain parts. I am not shocked when I see his books garner 1 star or 5 stars, even though I am almost always in the 5 star camp. I think you're right that it's hard to have a middle ground with him; for me, his writing is fierce and uncompromising, incredibly powerful and deep but also often highly disturbing.

Years ago, I had a tumor in my parotid gland, close to the facial nerve. It was benign, thank God, but I still needed an operation to remove it because of the location. The doctor told me at the time that the danger of facial paralysis was less now than it used to be because they had a tool nowadays that beeped whenever they got too close to the nerve itself and might damage it.

If Baldwin's books were a surgery, that nerve alarm would be constantly beeping! Sometimes it's necessary to get that close to find the boundaries of the tumor and to understand where it has grown, but it certainly isn't always pleasant. I love his work, but he can be a lot!

Greg wrote: "Mira wrote: "I love science fiction, nonfiction, and classics (Just finished Gawain and the Green Knight since I am a huge fan for all King Arthur Legends)


But within the past 6 months, I am gra..."

Most of the books I have disliked that Baldwin wrote were due to over-familiarity. I lived through the time period he writes about. I watched him many, many times in debate on television. I used to watch a lot of PBS. To read him now feels like revisiting very old, non -productive arguments. That time is past for me.

But his pieces that are true prose can be heart-wrenching and relatable in my opinion. He can build such sympathy for his characters.

Lynn wrote: "Most of the books I have disliked that Baldwin wrote were due to over-familiarity. I lived through the time period he writes about. I watched him many, many times in debate on television. I used to watch a lot of PBS. To read him now feels like revisiting very old, non -productive arguments. That time is past for me."

I can understand that Lynn. I wasn't alive during some of the period he writes about, and I'm approaching him from an entirely different angle.

I can instantly recognize some of the psychological and sociological aspects in his fiction within my own psychology and within the lives of people I know, despite not having lived at that time. There are things Baldwin understands about me as a social and spiritual being that I couldn't articulate myself until I read him. But for the most part, I don't approach him from a political perspective, and of course, since he lived his life as a fierce advocate and political activist, I don't know if I'm approaching him exactly as he would have intended either.

There are many sides to him as a writer. What appeals to me most is the psychology, sociology, and social psychology within his fiction, his understanding of how cultures shape the way his characters (and I) think. That and the gorgeous prose itself, which for me is pure beauty!

Darren wrote: "my planning has remained remarkably consistent over the last 10 years
I read about 120 books per year,
so I choose about 20 categories, limit myself to 6 from each category, and form up a
rectan..."

I've been thinking and thinking about this spreadsheet of yours, Darren. And now I've made one for myself, and just have to share how excited I am. I came up with 5 major categories and 4 minor ones, and plan to read 4 in each of the major, and 2 in each of the minor. That will give me 28 books that I MOST want to read next year.

I usually read 60-70 books a year (including stories I review as singles), but next year, I'm actually going to try to cut back, to keep from feeling rushed. So it really helped to think hard about the categories I most want to read, and prioritize the books in each category, and still have room for some of the many group and buddy reads I'll surely want to join.

Hopefully it will help me keep things balanced, and develop some kind of discipline instead of always wanting to read everything. 😊

So a huge thank you for the inspiration!

Kathleen - great to hear that you are a convert to spreadsheets (I maintain that they are the greatest invention of mankind) and that they are already helping your reading :o)

what I find most helpful in planning, is filling the cells with book titles, colour-coding them, then moving them all about to make pretty patterns! :oD

Darren wrote: "Kathleen - great to hear that you are a convert to spreadsheets (I maintain that they are the greatest invention of mankind) and that they are already helping your reading :o)

what I find most hel..."

Definitely, Darren. I've long used a colorful reading spreadsheet, but what your idea gave me was a way to zero in on the books I most want to read, especially the use of categories. (Maybe it's drawing a box around them that sort of protects them!) But making patterns sounds like great fun too--that will be my next stage. :-)

I was half joking about the pretty patterns, but the rectangle is good - I initially visualised it like a "zombie attack" scenario in which a horde of books try to gain the safety of the "compound"!
i.e. start with an empty rectangle and surround it with all the (far too many) books that might be in contention, then move the definites inside, then the probables... then the possibles... then review how well-balanced the contents are... then tweak... etc... (you get the idea)

Now we will all be required to join another group: Spreadsheets Anonymous.

Zombie attack is about what my planning was starting to feel like, Darren! Hopefully now my most-want-to-reads are safe.

Sara, that scares me a little bit. Am I just adding another layer to my planning-obsession? Oh well. God grant me the serenity to accept the number of books I can actually read, courage to read the ones I can, and the wisdom to know which ones to pick!

Kathleen wrote: "God grant me the serenity to accept the number of books I can actually read, courage to read the ones I can, and the wisdom to know which ones to pick!"

LOL. Oh, Kathleen, I do so love that!

On YouTube, the channel Hannah's Books just popped up with "The Reading Shifts tag, talking about how her reading has shifted, and asking interesting questions to think about. I can recommend this for anyone who wants to think more about this topic of reading trends in our lives.

I've been focused on translated lit over the last several years. I've acquired quite a few books that have been accumulating on my bookshelves! Every year I plan to read them but I get distracted by library books, usually on the new books shelf. I plan my annual reading to include books that I own and group reads classics and library book clubs (mostly the sci-fi group). I make a point of reading a few non-fiction but always hope to read more. I like to find new authors, topics, settings, cultures, countries, etc. I want to feel like I've learned or experienced something, after finishing a book.