Classics Club Spin #19!

#ccspin

I wasn't going to participate in this event, but then I saw Karen of BookerTalk 

had posted her listing for the Classics Club Spin #19, and I just couldn't resist! 

After all, we do have until the end of January 2019 to read this one! 

I have had mixed results in the past and haven't always finished these books,

but that doesn't mean I should try again, does it? Of course not... :)

Unlike Karen, I still have oodles of books left on my list. In fact, I need to revise my listing. Perhaps that will be an end-of-year task! 

12-3-18 UPDATE: The spin was #1 so I will be reading
      Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin!
                           Now to make that fit a category for both                              the ATY 2019 and PopSugar 2019 challenges on Goodreads!

Here are my 20 books for this spin:

1) Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
       I loved Go Tell It on the Mountain and want to read this one! I own it, too! :)
2) At Fault by Kate Chopin
3) The Hours by Micheal Cunningham
      I truly know nothing about this one, but so many have recommended it and I have 
      read several references to it lately. Added bonus: picked up a copy in the Half Price 
      Books clearance section for $2!
4) The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens
5) The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
      Really feel the need to read one of her books! So many bloggers reference her work!
6) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
      Have yet to read one of his novels. (I know, I know...) :)
7) The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
     Yeah, I know. Unbelievable that some English/literature teacher in my past never 
     got to this one, but I am very curious.
8) Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
      Can. Not. Wait! I felt drawn to this book and shouldn't delay reading it any longer!!
9) Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter
10) A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
11) Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
12) Mary Ann by Daphne du Maurier
13) Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier
      I finally read Rebecca for the RIP challenge this year and loved it!
14)  A Separate Peace by John Knowles*
      Read this at age 15, loved it, and am anxious to see how I feel about it now, some 
      40+ years later! :)
15) The Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter 
       First read when I was 13. I loved it then and am anxious to see how it resonates 
       for me now.
16) An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
       Read it at 13 and LOVED it! So dramatic! So romantic! So tragic! So sad! Wonder how 
       it will resonate for me now, some almost 47 years later. I am betting much the 
       same. Though I'm sure there are many similarly-themed movies and books, I thought 
       Woody Allen's Match Point (2005) was a well-done similarly-themed movie. Neither           of these works is uplifting in the least, but accurate, in my opinion. 
17) ...And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer
       OMG! I absolutely loved this book when I read it at age 20! The characters were 
       living and breathing right alongside me! Definitely one to revisit!
18) The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov
       Read it for college and was rather lost. Oh, I aced the exam, but hope I can truly 
       understand it this time around, many many years later! (Sometimes life experience 
       really helps with that!)
19) Micah Clarke by Sir Ignatius Arthur Conan Doyle
20) Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
     Feel I should read it so I can understand the references made to it.

So here I go with another spin challenge!

Tomorrow I will know which of these 20 I will be reading and reviewing 

by the end of January 2019!

Plus, as a bonus I did notice that I have read quite a few of the classics on my original list and simply need to complete and post reviews for them! YAY!

How about you? 

Which classic do you wish to read or re-read?

Have you read any of these I have listed?

Happy reading!

--Lynn

Classics Club Spin #10

Once again, I am dealing with a Classics Club spin by making 

my own rules! :)        

        As you can see, I am woefully behind in my Gone With the Wind Read-Along, so that will automatically be my Classics Club Spin #10 selection--regardless of the fact 

it is not even included on the listing below! 

After GWTW, I'll read Gertrude Stein's The Making of Americans for Spin #9! Trust me, lesson learned...I now at least research the length of a selection before placing it on this listing! 

The spin number generated was #5. That means I will be reading Man's Search for Meaning and I cannot wait! That may provide additional motivation to get through the other two books so I can read this one! 

Spin #10 review to be posted by October 23, 2015! (Fingers crossed...) 

Free Choice:

 1.  A Separate Peace by John Knowles
      Read this at age 15, loved it, and am anxious to see how I feel about it now, some 
      44 years later! :)
 2.  The Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter 
       First read when I was 13. I loved it then and am anxious to see how it resonates 
       for me now.
 3.  Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
       I loved Go Tell It on the Mountain and want to read this one! I own it, too! :)
 4.  The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study by W.E.B. Du Bois
      Have always said I wanted to read something he'd written. I admire his 
      accomplishments with regard to the NAACP, etc.
 5.  Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl
      So many have mentioned that this is a "must-read" book and there are so many    
      references to it.

Books I rather dread, but for whatever reason wish to read:

 6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
      I feel as if I really should read this if I haven't yet...
 7. The Hours by Micheal Cunningham
      I truly know nothing about this one, but so many have recommended it and I have read 
      several references to it lately. Added bonus: picked up a copy in the Half Price Books 
      clearance section for $2!
 8. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
      I'm sure this is going to gross me out, but I think we all need to read it...
 9.  Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
      So many references that I feel I need to have at least read it.
10. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
      Loved The Grapes of Wrath, but have never been attracted to this one, though I feel I 
      should read it. It is referred to so often and by so many!! And is loved by many readers 
      whose opinion I value! 

Those books about which I am relatively neutral:
11. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
      Really feel the need to read one of her books!
12. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
      Have yet to read one of his novels.
13. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
      Just keep seeing references to this one all over the place and am definitely curious! 
      And I own a copy now!
14. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
       Loved An American Tragedy when I read it at the age of 15. 
15. The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
       Fascinated by the concept.

Those I cannot wait to read:
16. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
     Feel I should read it so I can understand the references made to it.
17. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
     Loved the movie and would like to read the book, which is virtually always better, 
     in my opinion!
18. The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes
     Love Hughes, and want to read what he had to say...
19. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
     Love his short stories and this will be the first full-length novel of his for me to have 
     read. (The Last Tycoon doesn't count, since it was unfinished.)
20. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
     Yeah, I know. Unbelievable that some English/literature teacher in my past never 
     got to this one, but I am very curious.

Classics Club Spin #8

Ahhhh...#8 coming up on Monday, November 10!

Here is my list! I even switched sections around and renumbered...truly random! 

And the lucky spin number this morning was "unlucky" #13!! Ooooohhhh...a James Baldwin!! I can't wait to read this one! Yay!! Have you read it? Any thoughts?

Those I cannot wait to read:
1. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
     Feel I should read it so I can understand the references made to it.
2. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
     Loved the movie and would like to read the book, which is virtually always better, 
     in my opinion!
3. The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes
     Love Hughes, and want to read what he had to say...
4. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
     Love his short stories and this will be the first full-length novel of his for me to have 
     read. (The Last Tycoon doesn't count, since it was unfinished.)
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
     Yeah, I know. Unbelievable that some English/literature teacher in my past never 
     got to this one, but I am very curious.

Those books about which I am relatively neutral:
6. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
     Really feel the need to read one of her books!
7. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
     Have yet to read one of his novels.
8. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
     Just keep seeing references to this one all over the place and am definitely curious!
9. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
    Loved An American Tragedy when I read it at the age of 15. 
10. The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
     Fascinated by the concept.

Free Choice:
11. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
     Read this at age 15, loved it, and am anxious to see how I feel about it now, some 
     42 years later! :)
12. The Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter 
     First read when I was 13. I loved it then and am anxious to see how it resonates 
     for me now.
13. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
     I like his writing; so intense and emotional...heartfelt!
14. The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study by W.E.B. Du Bois
     Have always said I wanted to read something he'd written. I admire his 
     accomplishments with regard to the NAACP, etc.
15. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl
     So many have mentioned that this is a "must-read" book and there are so many    
      references to it.

Okay, the ones I rather dread, but for whatever reason wish to read:
16. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
     I feel as if I really should read this if I haven't yet...
17. The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein
     I want to read something written by her, but really have no idea what to expect.
18. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
     I'm sure this is going to gross me out, but I think we all need to read it...
19. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
     So many references that I feel I need to have at least read it.
20. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
     Loved The Grapes of Wrath, but have never been attracted to this one, though I feel I 
     should read it. It is referred to so often and by so many!!

Which of these would you prefer? Or refuse to read?

https://theclassicsclubblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/the-classics-spin-8/

Classics Club Spin #7

This is the listing I should have posted by Monday, August 11, 2014 for the Classics Club Spin #7. (Yes, Doris Lessing has delayed me...but I am determined if nothing else!!)

Oh, boy...I have "re-organized" my listing to include The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, conveniently in slot #17, which just so happens to be the number for Classics Club Spin #7! (Yes, I cheated and made sure this is the book I would read for the 7th spin!) I had begun rereading this in the spring and due to travel and other time-limiting factors had to abandon it so I could read other books to stay current with book club reads, etc. I am anxious to complete this reading, so will do so in the very near future and post a review!

Those books about which I am relatively neutral:
1. The Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter 
     First read when I was 13. I loved it then and am anxious to see how it resonates 
     for me now.
2. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
     Have yet to read one of his novels.
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
     Just keep seeing references to this one all over the place and am definitely curious!
4. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
    Loved An American Tragedy when I read it at the age of 15. 
5. The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
     Fascinated by the concept.

Okay, the ones I rather dread, but for whatever reason wish to read:
6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
     I feel as if I really should read this if I haven't yet...
7. The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein
     I want to read something written by her, but really have no idea what to expect.
8. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
     I'm sure this is going to gross me out, but I think we all need to read it...
9. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
     So many references that I feel I need to have at least read it.
10. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
     Loved The Grapes of Wrath, but have never been attracted to this one, though I feel I 
     should read it.

Those I cannot wait to read:
11. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
     Feel I should read it so I can understand the references made to it.
12. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
     Loved the movie and would like to read the book, which is virtually always better, 
     in my opinion!
13. The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes
     Love Hughes, and want to read what he had to say...
14. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
     Love his short stories and this will be the first full-length novel of his for me to have 
     read. (The Last Tycoon doesn't count, since it was unfinished.)
15. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
     Yeah, I know. Unbelievable that some English/literature teacher in my past never 
     got to this one, but I am very curious.

Free Choice:
16. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
     Read this at age 15, loved it, and am anxious to see how I feel about it now, some 
     42 years later! :)
17. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
      Started rereading this for the NPR follow-along this spring and had to abandon to 
      keep current with book club reads while traveling, etc. :( I first read this at age 15 
      and am anxious to see how it resonates for me now that I am just a few years 
      older...okay, decades older! lol
18. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
     I like his writing; so intense and emotional...heartfelt!
19. The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study by W.E.B. Du Bois
     Have always said I wanted to read something he'd written. I admire his 
     accomplishments with regard to the NAACP, etc.
20. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl
     So many have mentioned that this is a "must-read" book and there are so many    
      references to it.

Which of these have you read? Or would you like to read/reread? 

Classics Club Spin #6...A Notebook

The Golden Notebook 

by Doris Lessing

Ah, the dangers of reading "classics"! 
This is one of the first times I have felt 
the need to complete reading a book 
simply to have completed it...
just because I made a commitment 
to myself to do so!

It may have taken months, but finally...
I reached my goal!

Do I feel enlightened as a result of having read this book? Yes. 

Am I glad I read it? Somewhat. At least now I know what others are referring to when they mention this book, and after all, that is much of my goal when reading "classics." 

So, while I totally agree with Lessing, I truly believe she could have created a much more readable tome in about half as many pages and still conveyed the same themes and opinions just as effectively, perhaps more so. However, that is just my opinion, take it as you may. I kept repeating to myself as I read the last half of the book--"Consider the date of publication and the impact this book had on typical readers of the time." Trust me, that was my mantra and that was the main reason I was determined to complete this read! While I have read others' recommendations for this book as a "must-read" for girls/women, I heartily commend anyone who has read this book through to the bitter end. It was such a task of pure unadulterated determination on my part...

While I found Lessing's writing to be well-grounded, the organization of this text was perplexing and confusing for me overall. I had to keep referring back in the text and to the synopsis on the back of the paperback to determine who a character was, etc. And that never ended for me as I continued plodding along. And it did indeed feel as if I was plodding...trudging...through mud, sand, any glutinous mixture that might bog one down as I continued through the second half. 

Before...in the idealistic stage.

I could appreciate how Lessing depicted the initial idealistic enthusiasm of many people for communist/Marxist political systems, believing them to be an answer to the need and/or desire for totally egalitarian division of resources, etc., among all within society. However, as we now know, this system also proved to be flawed, as those "in power" within these political systems were just as corrupt, greedy, tyrannical, and maniacal as any despots who ruled prior to them. Stalin was, of course, the preeminent example of such wicked totalitarianism of that time, ruling the Soviet Union until 1953, having killed many millions (At least 13-14 million, according to Wikipedia!) of Soviets. Although I totally agree that it is grossly unfair for a few to hold all the wealth/power in any society, I believe it is virtually impossible for a greedy few NOT to grab power if they are determined to do so. As much as I believe democracy should work for humanity, it doesn't seem that we have yet perfected this political construct into an effective practice... I believe Capitalism is/can be just as corrupt. Greed, for money, power, status, etc., seems to enable a minority of people in any human society to subjugate the majority. 

After the idealist vision proved
inadequate and flawed...

Comes the disillusionment...

There was a like disillusionment with feminist ideals. Lessing shows the dichotomy of the archetypal woman who engages in casual uncommitted sexual relationships, believing herself to be "free" and acting like a "typical" male, when in 1962, most women were not at all psychologically prepared for this lifestyle as a lifelong behavior, and still found themselves desiring typically traditional relationships, including marriage, children, and commitment. 

          "And what about us? Free, we say, yet the truth is they get erections when they're with a woman 
          they don't give a damn about, but we don't have an orgasm unless we love him. What's free 
          about that?" page 439 
   
So although females had gained some sexual "freedom" at that point in time, they were not necessarily happy with the outcome. I believe this demonstrates the fact that social change requires much time; behaviors may change, but the psychological ramifications take much longer to incorporate into the human psyche overall. Unfortunately, societal expectations can require many decades to achieve much of a shift within the populace...

This reminded me of the time required for U.S. society to change its attitude toward women working outside the home full-time. I was a recent high school graduate in 1974 and although this concept was becoming a bit more acceptable, e.g. there was an expectation that females would "attend" college, (interestingly, not necessarily to "complete" or "graduate" from college) just as a "back-up," in case they were unable to obtain the expected "M-R-S" degree, or if they (Shock!) ended up d-i-v-o-r-c-e-d! It was a rather perplexing situation, and since I was in the Midwest, local society/culture was even more "backward" and much less progressive, and therefore, even more confusing for many of us females entering adulthood! 

A third recurrent theme (definitely related to that listed above regarding feminist ideals), repeated consistently throughout the second half of this book (to ad nauseum, in my opinion) is the idea of sexual attraction to those who have been "unfaithful." Men are portrayed as enjoying the fact they can have sex with another woman and then return to the one woman with whom they are supposedly "in a relationship" to have more sex. However, as Lessing depicts, a woman does not have this same sense of enjoyment:

          "I went over to him, and he gripped my wrist and brought me down 
          beside him. I remember lying there and hating him and wondering 
          why the only time I could remember him making love to me with 
          any conviction was when he knew I had just made love to someone 
          else." page 143

Virtually all of this information was obtained from reading the first half of this book. The second half simply repeated (over and over and over again) these same themes, adding the process of Anna's slide into insanity. For me, it was a very depressing read, however, as I kept telling myself, it was probably a much more enlightening, ground-breaking, even shocking read back in 1962 or even 1974!!

Have you read this classic? What was your take on it? Whew! I'm just glad it's over and done! I was glad I took a break and read other books I enjoyed much more before returning to it and reading the last half--that break seemed to invigorate me enough to push on!