Modern Mommies discussion

I am continuing my quest to read classics. Sadly, I have not read even one yet this year. I must get on that. I only have two for sure for 2011. I will finish Vanity Fair and I want to read Emma.

Those are good choices.

I think I am going to add "To the Lighthouse" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" to my reading list. I have been writing about influential women writers on my blog for Women's History Month, and it rekindled my interest in Woolf and Stowe.

Karen
A Whisper To A Scream

How about something short to get you going? Edith Wharton wrote some good (shorter) books- under 200 pages. Like Ethan Frome, Summer. Even The Age of Innocence or The House of Mirth are relatively short.

Thanks for the suggestions Shay. I am still in the middle of Vanity Fair and have begun Emma. I am reading Emma like I have never read a book before. If I am at work and have a little downtime (I don't get a lunch break) I read it online at Project Gutenberg, when I am at home I read my hardcover copy and when I am on the go I am reading it on my Nook. It has been interesting but I think I will finish it soon. I am really enjoying it, but I enjoy all Jane Austen.

After meeting with my library book discussion group tonight I was assured that the book we just finished could definitely be considered a classic. So, here it is my first for 2011.

The House on Mango Street finished 4-23-2011.

Shea, I do a classic challenge each year of 7 books. I only have two so far: and so I need to get hustling as well :) is the one that I will tackle next so I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying it.

Oh, I actually have 3 - yay! I forgot to add .

Sera,
I read Great Expectations last year. I only have 7 chapters left of Emma so I should be done with it soon. I am still enjoying it although Pride and Prejudice is still my favorite Austen. I will also be getting back to and finishing Vanity Fair soon. I joined another group "Reading the Chunksters" and they are doing "Vanity Fair" now. I want to stay on their schedule for completing it.

Great idea on joining a group to help you stay on schedule. I may check it out myself.

Emma finished 5/1/2011

I joined the group, Shea. Thanks again for the information. Also, congrats on finishing Emma :)

Sera,
I saw your post on the Chunksters group. I am glad you joined that group also. I hope it will help me with my classics. I was really stuck in Vanity Fair but now that the Chunksters group is caught up to where I am I think I will be able to press on much easier.

Shea, it's kind of like working out - sometimes we need a buddy or a group of buddies.

Animal Farm finished 5/21/2011

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare finished 6/19/2011.

Three down, four to go!

Still plugging away at Vanity Fair. I will be finished in about 4 weeks. The Chunkster's group will be starting The Three Musketeers soon so I am going to try to read that one too.

Vanity Fair finished 8/9/2011.

While reading with the Chunkster's group I am now reading classics numbers 5 & 6. We are reading "Uncle Silas" in addition to "The Three Musketeers." This may be the first year I finish all 7 of my classics without cramming at the end of the year.

Way to go, Shea! You are doing great.

I still have 3 classics to go myself with technically 4 months to go, since I start my reading year at the beginning of December.

I'm lagging behind on my Chunkster's read of Pillars, but I hope to catch up later this month after I finish my book club read for August.

I thought I wouldn't be cramming this year but alas I fell behind in the chunksters group with both "Uncle Silas" and "The Three Musketeers." I think I will finish "Uncle Silas" and then try to squeeze in a non-chunkster classic. Perhaps "The Three Musketeers" will be on the docket for 2012.

Whew! I did it! Drumroll please, here they are for 2011:
completed 4/23/11
completed 5/1/11
completed 5/21/11
completed 6/19/11
completed 8/9/11
completed 12/31/11
Last but not least, chosen because it was short and squeezed in under the wire

Turn of the Screw was also finished 12/31/11.