Reading the Classics discussion

Hi, my name is Jenn. I am a stay-at-home Mom of a sweet little toddler. I love to read, and I devote any spare-time I have to reading. I graduated from college with a degree in English Education, so I have read plenty of books, but my to-read list is still huge! I created this group for people who want to have a somewhat structured setting to get together and read and discuss classic literature. Hopefully this can be a place to have fun, make some friends, and read some great books!

Hello I'm Adriana and I don't usually read classics but I want to expand my horizons so I'm giving this a shot. I'm a teenager so close to graduating!

Hi! My name is Dolores and I am a grandmother of a sweet little toddler. I love to read mostly mysteries, but have read a lot of the classics in the past and want to read more now and reread some of the ones I read before. I am continually expanding my to-read list.

Hi Adriana! I'm glad you joined our new little group. Hopefully we will grow as time goes on. Feel free to invite any friends to this group as well. I would love this group to be full of people who love reading as much as I do! And I welcome any ideas on how to make this group better for everyone! :)

Hi Jenn
I would love to help but none of my friends read classics. ):
Just give it some time.

Hi I'm Alex, I've been reading classic literature since I was twelve. Homeschooling has it's benefits! I'm a college student now, and I read daily.

Welcome to the group Alex! And welcome to other members who have recently joined: Aathos, Bilge, Michael, Lisa, and Jackie. I look forward to hearing all your opinions and perceptions of the literature we discuss in this group!

Hi everyone! I would just like to also welcome all the new members to our group as we start a new year and a new book.

Hi! I'm Cleo and I just joined your group. I homeschool my daughter (yes, homeschooling is great, isn't it, Alex? :-) ) and am a great lover of books! My goal this year is to focus on reading more classics. I saw Jenn's post about reading more than just novels and I think that's a great idea. I am looking forward to having many wonderful discussions about the classics.

Welcome Cleo! We look forward to your input in our discussions! There is still time to read Brave New World and join those discussions. And thank you for supporting my idea about reading more than just novels! If you have any ideas about poetry, short stories, or nonfiction that you would like to read or have read, please let me know in the discussion thread I set up. Hopefully our group will help you to reach your goal!

Yes Cleo. Homeschooling was great! I owe homeschooling my life, pretty much.

Hi! I'm Ashley and I would love to read more classics. I'm a stay at home wife who has a husband that goes to medical school. I have a ton of classics to read, but I always pick something else to read. Perhaps this group will help me read more classic books!

Welcome to the group, Ashley! We just started reading King Lear for February, so feel free to join in.

Hello everyone!

I'm Lois - a freelance writer and jewellery/craft-making-person (http://petaljewellery.etsy.com - not trying to spamfully promote - just not quite sure how to define that side of me, as it's relatively new!). I'm an avid reader and LOVE classics above all other genres, though I do quite like some historical fiction. The writing has to be good - if it isn't, it doesn't matter how good the plot is!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all a bit better as we read some excellent books together! :)

Welcome to the group, Lois. What have you written? We are voting for the book for the March read. Please vote for the one you want. Thanks.

Welcome Lois. So glad to have you in the group! We look forward to getting to know you as well!

Thank you, Dolores and Jenn. I've voted in the poll and look forward to finding out the results!

I've written a novella that I'm currently editing (once it's fit for reading, I'll be approaching some publishers), and a lot of short stories and poetry. I've had a good few bits and pieces published, and one of my poems came 2nd in a competition run by Writing Magazine (UK magazine). Working to get another short story finished this week.

Hey all, I'm Catherine. I love reading the classics, though I don't know how well I'll be able to keep up with the reading here since I'm in college at the moment. (Tons of required reading.) But I'll do my best. :]

Hi Catherine, Welcome to the group. We wil be reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen for our March read if you want to join in with us.

Hello everyone :)
I am a high school student and a great lover of literature. Unfortunately, I don't really know anyone who shares my passion for classics, so I am very excited for a place to truly discuss and explore my reading and be challenged by books I would not usually attempt.

(I have already read Mansfield Park, I'm so happy for this ideal time to join the group, as I can participate in this month's discussion without playing catch up)

Welcome Christine! We look forward to your input in our discussion of Mansfield Park. We are currently nominating our April group read so if you have any classics you want to read, please nominate it in the nomination thread.

Welcome Christine! Please join our discussion of Mansfield Park. I look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions.

Hi everyone!
My name is Sarah. I love reading, and have recently been trying to get through the classics. I'm doing my masters in ecology and luckily I am busy waiting for my project to grow. So I have plenty of time for my favourite pastime. Luckily, i have started Mansfield park this month.
Looking forward to talking to others about this!

Welcome to the group, Sarah! Join our discussions on Mansfield Park. We will be voting on a new book for April once I set up the poll, so be sure to vote.

Hi! My name is Andrea and I'm an artist who lives in Ft. Worth, Texas. I have always been a big reader and of late I've been reading a lot of classics I had never had the chance to read. I am so looking forward to being able to discuss the books I read with other people as my friends and family have different tastes in books than I do.

Welcome Andrea to our group! I look forward also to discussing books with you. Please vote in the poll for our April group read if you haven't already done so.

Hi, I'm Laurie. I like most genres but one of my favourite books is Pride and Prejudice; I imagine I'm not the only girl to fall for Mr. Darcy.

I'm looking foward to reading more classics and am currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray.

I work a lot, enjoy painting and have a large dog and garden so my time is sometimes limited, but would like to take part in your group as time allows.

Welcome to our group, Laurie! I look forward to your discussions in our group. We are reading The Grapes of Wrath for April. Please feel free to comment on the discussions for it or in any other discussions. Have fun reading!

hello my name is Sary and i absolutely am fascinated by classic books! :D

Hi Sary, welcome to our group. Please feel free to participate in our discussion this month on our group read of " The Grapes of Wrath". I noticed you commented in our group read nominations for May. You can also suggest any books you may want to read. And be sure to vote later when the poll is set up. Have fun reading!

Hi, I'm Cindy, a high-school English teacher. I enjoy reading the classics (it's kind of a job requirement!) and would enjoy discussing them with other people who like to read them. I look forward to participating in the June read (whatever it is)!

hi I am Jennifer, most people call me Jen. I am a single parent to my gorgeous but hormonal son, Taylor, who is 13! We live in a lovely area in London and I am about to return to school to study Drama and Applied Theatre degree, very exciting.

I have rediscovered the classics in a new and deeper level in the last 5 years and reading Les miserables was a huge ambition of mine which I finally completed earlier this month. I've been digging into Dickens a lot as well as EM Forster and love discovering the jewels that can only be found in the classics.

I have never been part of a reading group before and thought this would be a great opportunity!

Welcome to our group Cindy. I am looking forward to your discussing and participating in the June group read. Make sure to vote!

Welcome to our group Jen. Hope you will enjoy it and discussing the books we read. Make sure to vote for the June book and look forward to your participation.

thanks for the welcome Delores. Can you tell me how I can vote as I can't see an obvious link? Thx Jx

Hi, I'm Sankalp. I have been reading classics over the last one year. I am currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray which I think is going to be the June read for this group. I wish to read as many classics as possible but don't get much time due to my job in a corporate company. This is my first group and I hope this is a great place to help me in fulfilling my wish!!!

Jen, I'm sorry that I wasn't clearer about the voting and I didn't get back to you yesterday before it was over. Anyway, The Picture of Dorian Gray was way ahead in votes. But in the future, the polls are at the bottom of the group home page. Just keep scrolling all the way down and you will see it or you can also click on polls and you can see all the past polls, too. I hope this helps.

Welcome to our group, Sankalp. I look forward to your participation in our June book discussion. I think this group should help you fulfill your wish to read more classics... it has helped me!

Hello! I'm Bridget. I'm a college student so I tend to do most of my reading during the summer. I have a huge to-read list (mostly classics) for this summer and I hope to get more recommendations and discuss some books in this group.

Welcome to our group, Bridget. Join our June reading and discussion which is The Picture of Dorian Gray. I hope you will find other books that you will enjoy to read this summer from your to-read list with our group.

thank Dolores, I am go the middle of reading The kindly ones by Jonathan littel. it's an incredibly challenging read and I am pretty stubborn about finishing a book I've started before picking up a new one but I think I'll try reading the groups choice for June alongside it! Looking forward to 'reading along' with you all! Jx

Hey I'm Shannon! I am a high school junior (about to be senior now ahh) who wants to read more classic's and discuss them! Of the 5 books you guys have already read I've read two (Lolita and Brave New World) so thank goodness I don't feel "behind" per se. Anyways, I shall get The Picture of Dorian Gray and get to reading it.

Welcome Shannon! I hope you enjoy reading and discussing the classics with us! Look forward to your perspective on The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Hello, I'm Kelsi! I'll be starting my senior year of college in the fall, with a double major in History and Political Science. I read to keep my sanity and love that this group is focused on the classics. I'll become active in the group when the July read is decided! I have a couple of books I would like to finish before I commit! Of the books read so far, I have read Lolita, Brave New World and King Lear. I have quite the pile of classics on my book shelf that haven't been touched just yet including: Anna Karenina, War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Madame Bovary, The Great Gatsby, and the complete works of Jane Austen. This book club is just screaming my name!

Welcome Kelsi! I completely understand reading to keep your sanity. I need to read every evening to help me relax from my crazy busy days.
You have some great books that you want to read. I have been wanting to read Anna Karenina for a long time but never seem to find time to fit it in with all the reading I do for my book groups. We look forward to you joining in on our July read and I hope you enjoy this group!

Welcome to our group, Shannon! I will enjoy your participating in the discussions with Dorian Gray.

Welcome to our group Kelsi! Feel free to nominate any of the books you mentioned in your pile of classics on your bookshelf for our July read when the time comes up. They are all good ones. Looking forward to your activity in July.

Hello! I read a few classics in high school as requirements (almost 20 years ago) and recently ignited a new interest in classics after reading Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights. :) I look forward to participating in this group and expanding my exposure to some GREAT reads! On a more personal note, I am a wife of 17 years, and a mother of two beautiful children - an eleven year old son and a 20 month old daughter. I live in California. :)

Hello, my name is Sunni. I am attending college right now, but still make plenty of time for reading, even if that means putting off my homework! I love to read a variety of books but the classics are one of my favorite types of books to read. I don't have many friends that like to read them, so I am looking forward to the discussions and getting other peoples insights and opinions. I have been married for just over 5 years, no kids, but 2 dogs and they are enough for now! :)

Welcome to our group Melissa! I hope you will join in our reading and discussing this month of The Picture of Dorian Gray. I also read most of my classics in high school many years ago and have been trying to expand my classics reading.