Reading the Classics discussion

I thought it would be fun if we could have a discussion thread where we could talk about books and other things that we are reading outside of this group, whether in other groups or on our own. This can help us to get to know some other books in the classics genre as well as other genres. Please label or hide spoilers since not everyone has read all the same books!

I am currently reading four books. Of course Brave New World with this group. With the Readers Review they are doing a Dickens project and we are reading Nicholas Nickleby. There is a reading schedule that I am following which means I am only reading about 50 or 60 pages a week from it, which is not much. But I like to stick to reading schedules so I can follow discussions. So far the book is promising and I think I will like it better than the other two Dickens books I have read: The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist. I am also reading another book with the same group: The Mill on the Floss. I really am liking this book. The author is doing very well with character development, which I find important in a good piece of literature. I find it hard to hold back reading ahead of the reading schedule because I have already become so attached to the characters though I am only about a quarter of the way through it. Finally, I am also reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I am enjoying this one very much as well. Betty Smith is another author who does well with character development.

With the 21st Century Liteture group, I'm reading (which I loved) and which I'm greatly enjoying. We're reading and shortly.

In the history book club, reading and both of which are great.

In Brain Pain, reading which causes my brain pain. Reading next.

In the Bookish group, reading and The dorothy parker is a little grim for me, the massive novel I'm enjoying so far.

In my own Classical Self-Education group we just finished off a bunch of Plato, and moving on to today.

Also reading because..well...because I read quickly, so why not?

Wow Will, you are reading quite a lot now. That is great! I can read pretty quickly so I can still get through quite a few books, but my time is limited to when I can actually sit down and read. It helps that I prefer reading to watching television with my husband in the evenings.

You are reading a lot, Will. I am reading of course Brave New World for this group and just finished the Color Purple by Alice Walker for 50 books to read group which I had read before and still liked. I am reading Dracula by Bram Stoker which I am enjoying very much, The Black Echo by Michael Connelley which I don't seem to like as much as I like John Grisham, and Eve and Adam by Kvam, Schearing and Ziegler which is not as easy as I hoped, all just for myself.

I'm reading for a buddy read. for a challenge and because I want to and because it's owed like.. now. And of course

I'm reading:

Anna Karenina
The Iliad and
Cicero's Defence Speeches (I am so surprised ...... I just love it so far!)

I am very impressed by the number of books everyone is reading. I love all the classics on Jen's list and Will's eclectic mix is inspiring. I'll try to pick up the pace! ;-)

I'm so pleased you're reading Defence Speeches by Marcus Tullius Cicero and enjoying it! Cicero was an amazing person. If you skipped the introduction (which in most books, lets be frank, doesn't make a difference) I'd strongly recommend reading the intro to it if you have the edition you linked above. It helps understand the methods of the courts which differ from ours so much.

Oliver Twist is going really well and of course I loved Maze Runner.

Will wrote: "I'm so pleased you're reading Defence Speeches by Marcus Tullius Cicero and enjoying it! Cicero was an amazing person. If you skipped the introduction (which in most bo..."

You know, I've had a mild urge to read Cicero for awhile. I had tried to start "On the Good Life" last year but fizzled out due to distractions. When I saw this book in your Self Education group, it inspired me once more. After reading the first couple of pages of Cicero's defense of Sextus Roscius, I was left with my mouth hanging open. He was brilliant!! Now I want to learn about different rhetorical techniques, logic, fallacies, etc.

Thanks for mentioning about the introduction. Usually I don't read them but in this case, I had a funny feeling I would need all the help I could get so I did read it.

What fun to be transported back to ancient Rome! :-)

I haven't read Cicero since I had to read him in high school for Latin class. Since that was many years ago and most of the time was spent translating, I would enjoy reading again in English as I have forgotten most of my Latin anyway.

This month I have quite a full plate of books to read. Currently I am reading four books: The Mill on the Floss, Nicholas Nickleby, Villette, and of course King Lear with our group. The first two I have been reading with a book group since the beginning of January and we are following a rather slow reading schedule for each.
I plan on reading also this month Mansfield Park, The Name of the Rose, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, The Pilgrim's Progress, and maybe The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for fun if I have the time. I also was planning on reading Slaughterhouse Five as well, but I can't seem to find it in my local library so I might abandon that idea. I don't know how many of these books will actually get read but I hope to get as much reading as I can in before my second baby is born at the end of March. I plan on sacrificing my evening tv time to accomplish all this reading!
I have already read Rebecca this month and thought it was great. It was very well-written and caught and kept my interest right from the start. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who likes books like Jane Eyre, or light suspenseful or gothic reads.

Nicholas Nickleby sounds good. And of course it's by Dickens!

Adriana, are you suggesting that for our group? If so, put it in the March nominations discussion section. A Dickens book would be good.

No. I just liked it but it would be good. It'll take me forever so I rather read it on my own time. I'll have to look at more of Dickens.

I really want to read Nicholas Nickleby!

I've just finished reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - utterly amazing - I recommend it to all!

Currently reading: Pride and Prejudice.

Just joined this group and hoping to read Mansfield Park for the March read! :)

Lois wrote: "I really want to read Nicholas Nickleby!

I've just finished reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - utterly amazing - I recommend it to all!

Currently reading: Pr..."</i>

Hi, Lois. I will be reading [book:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall after I finish Villette, which should be pretty soon. I'm glad you recommend it. I really look forward to reading it. Mansfield Park is currently in the lead on the polls, so maybe you'll be able to read it with us. Either way, I look forward to you joining us in our March group read!

I can't wait to read Mansfield Park!

I just finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It was mesmerizing and beautiful, and inspiring despite the ending. I have a long list of books I want to read this month but there doesn't seem to be enough time in the day!

Christine, I know how you feel!

I just started reading Atlas Shrugged. I'd love it if this book could be added to the book list as an option. It's probably more of a modern classic, but does does fall outside the 50 year marker.

Our group reads are not limited to what is on the group's to read shelf. Anyone can feel free to add any books to the shelf as long as they are classics, as well as nominate books for group reads that are not yet on the shelf. Modern classics count as long as they are at least 50 years old, give or take.

Okay, I'm sorry I haven't participating in this group. I'm an opera performance major with a minor in English. I only had time for my English class in regards to reading. But now that I'm done for the semester, I am so happy to say that I'll be an active participant!! I can't wait to start reading next month's book!!!

On my bedside table, I've currently got Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life by George Eliot, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. As well as the June read The Picture of Dorian Gray. I started Middlemarch two weeks ago, and have only got to page 105 (well below my average reading speed). Has anyone else had this problem with Middlemarch? I'm not sure if it's the writing, or just the story that is slowing me down.

I started reading Middlemarch a few weeks ago too and I'm in the same situation. I have set it aside to go ahead with other books. Every time I think I want to go back to it another book seems to distract me. I'm not sure what it is either. The story seems interesting enough and it is well written. I even read The Mill on the Floss also by George Eliot and found it immensely enjoyable. Can't figure out why I am struggling either but I feel your pain Sarah. Lol.

i am reading and side by side . since they are short stories they are getting over pretty fast.

As a new member, I will tell you that I'm currently reading . It's kind of a pain, because I'm torn as to seeing the vagueness with which Karen Blixen wrote was a function of her not being a native English speaker or purely intentional. Overall, I'm pretty happy that this will be the 14th book I've read this year.

I've always been a non-fiction reader, but about a year ago I decided to expand my horizons a bit and try to find my feet in fiction. I'm not really sure what I like yet, but an active search is continuing! Right now I'm reading Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet(which makes me feel guilty for liking something so light) and Slaughterhouse-Five(which I absolutely hate!)

I read quite the variety of books, but not nearly as many classics as I would like. I'm currently reading A Clash of Kings and I love the series. A bit darker than your average fantasy, but well written and I highly recommend it. I'm also reading In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin and I must say I am a huge fan of Larson. If you have any interest in popular history his books are the way to go. I finally started Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and find it disappointing. It's hard to read and not at all what I expected. I will finish it and plan on giving it a chance, but the writing style is so random and scatterbrained. However, I may not be far enough into the book to actually understand the plot...! I met with a book club today, and we are planning on reading The Great Gatsby and The Friday Night Knitting Club for the June/July months. As always, just reading along.

Kelsi- I am also a huge fan of Larson. I've been struggling to find other books similar to his style. He can't write them fast enough for me. The one you are reading is my favorite of his. I hope you really enjoy it!

Million Dollar Agent: Brokering the Dream has to be one of my favorite autobiographies ever

another great book is Marlon Brando: The Way It's Never Been Done Before if you like brando you'll love his autobiography written by his bffl george englund

I'm reading Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I just started The Book of Atrix Wolfe. It seems really good so far.

I have so many books on my currently reading list that it's almost embarrassing. I have The Dovekeepers on audiobook in my car, Anna Karenina on audio in the house (I love to "read" while I clean the kitchen or other household stuff), a First Reads (A Woman Called:Piecing Together the Ministry Puzzle) that I'm devouring, Saving Savvy: Smart and Easy Ways to Cut Your Spending in Half and Raise Your Standard of Living and Giving for keeping in my purse to read when I'm stuck waiting somewhere and to help me save money, and several checked out from the library to get started on for July book club reads. At least now that I'm in this group I will KNOW which classic to fit in each month instead of poring over my stack trying to decide which one I can fit with all the other reads I have!

Currently, I'm reading 2 books. This happens quite often for me. I'm reading:


I Don't Want to Kill You - Dan Wells (The 3rd in the Mr. Monster series. Great books!)


The Princess of Burundi - Kjell Eriksson (So far pretty good, I'm having a bit of trouble getting into it but that happens quite often for me....)

In the past few weeks I have finished reading, "The Phantom of the Opera", "The Moonstone", "Under Western Eyes", and "The Four Feathers". I am nearly finished with, "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds". I have enjoyed them all. "North and South" is up next, at my daughter's request.

Rick, I want to read The Moonstone, how is it so far?
I'm currently reading Brave New World and The Great Gatsby (again)

I'm currently reading Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe'. I can't blame Ryleigh for re-reading 'The Great Gatsby' for even up until now, Nick Carraway remains to be one of the most eloquent narrator/character ever created for a novel, well, at least for me. I'm going to read Fitzgerald's 'The Beautiful and the Damned' next week since I'm slowly becoming a fan of the guy.

Arnold John wrote: "I'm currently reading Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe'. I can't blame Ryleigh for re-reading 'The Great Gatsby' for even up until now, Nick Carraway remains to be one of the most eloquent narrator/char..."

I've always wanted to read Ivanhoe. I had exposure to that as well as Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Huckleberry Finn as a child with a bunch of abridged versions done for kids and I hate that because it's like I read them enough to be familiar with the story but didn't really READ them. I don't even know how long Ivanhoe actually is! Hope you're enjoying the read, though. :)

Alana wrote: "Arnold John wrote: "I'm currently reading Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe'. I can't blame Ryleigh for re-reading 'The Great Gatsby' for even up until now, Nick Carraway remains to be one of the most el..."

Hi, Alana! Yep, Ivanhoe's a great read, albeit, not an easy one. Most conversations contain medieval English words that I am now used to reading it with often a dictionary at hand. In spite of them, Scott's writing style is impeccably exciting and worth any knights-and-robin-hood-loving person's time! :)

Ryleigh, "The Moonstone" was well written. Collins uses the narrative device of unfolding the story from the 'written' perspective of the characters involved. It kept me interested till the end.

"Ivanhoe" is also a great read; I loved the humor and consider Wamba one of the best characters providing comic relief in a novel.

I am currently reading The Prince and the Pauper and after that I'm going to read, I mean listen to, A Room With a View. Does anyone else enjoy audio books? I've listened to 2 classics recently, The Woman in White and Frankenstein.

Karen wrote: "I am currently reading The Prince and the Pauper and after that I'm going to read, I mean listen to, A Room With a View. Does anyone else enjoy audio books? I've listened to 2 classics recently, ..."

I do it all the time. I can't do it with all books, it depends on the book and the reader. If the reader is boring or hard to understand, I can't listen, and if the book is such that I need to see character names and such, I can't do it either. Example: I've been really enjoying listening to Anna Karenina because I got an MP3 book (I think done by the BBC) that has a great, enthusiastic reader and the book is moving along nicely. I tried listening to Atlas Shrugged, however, and the reader was so boring I couldn't do it. I also tried Beloved by Toni Morrison, but the plot was sounding so complicated I knew I needed to see the words on paper.

I love putting a book on in the car while I drive and run errands or in my house while I'm working in the kitchen or doing other chores because it makes those tasks more pleasant, plus I can do two things at once. I love it! :)

I am currently reading A Confederacy of Dunces and The Twelve Chairs. I'm still fairly early into Dunces. It's funny but the main character is infuriating. I've barely started Chairs so I can't really say much about it.

On the topic of audiobooks though, I love them. I'm listening to Dunces via audiobook, in fact most of what I "read" is via audiobook. It's so convenient and I get to "read" so much more now. I mostly listen on my work commute (20m). Discovering that you could speed up the narrator was probably the most exciting moment of my year, although I had to ease it back down because I was finishing faster than I was getting new audible credits (I still am but it's not as bad).

I just started listening to audio books this past year and have increased my reading by 50%. I didn't think I would like them, but with my hour round trip commute, it has helped the time to pass quickly while making my time feel productive. I still love reading books the old fashioned way, but have found that audio books can enhance my reading time.

Cynthia wrote: "I just started listening to audio books this past year and have increased my reading by 50%. I didn't think I would like them, but with my hour round trip commute, it has helped the time to pass qu..."

Exactly! I will be driving about 20-30 minutes one way (or longer, depending on traffic) in a week or two and even now on just little trips for errands, I love having a book on instead of just songs on the radio. For one, I can't afford an iPod so I can't take my playlist with me and two, I hate constantly changing channels because there's another commercial or song I don't like. Means I mess with the dial less and probably makes me a safer driver. I actually started listening to them initially for long drives because just listening to loud music puts me to sleep, but listening to a book (especially a mystery I'm trying to figure out) actually keeps me mentally engaged so I don't fall asleep driving. Besides, makes me feel like I'm being productive and even if I get caught in traffic and driving takes a little longer than I planned, I never feel like the time is wasted, because I got to get a little more "reading" done. Great for road rage :).

I just finished Mansfield Park this morning and am thinking of starting A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
I really like audio books but with 2 small toddlers its very easier for me to read because they are very noisy and will keep making more and more noise until i can't hear anything else except them.

I enjoyed Dorian Gray so much that I joined a gothic novel reading group, too. So I'm starting a book called The Monk. I don't know if I'll like the genre, but it's worth a try. I also checked out an audio version of Wolf Hall, but quickly learned that I can't concentrate on audio books. My mind just starts wandering and before I know it I've missed half of it!

I know, Denise! The same thing happens to me. That is why I don't like audio books that much. I prefer to have the written word right in front of me.