In October 2012, I signed up for the Classics Club. 50 books seemed too easy – so when I originally made my list it totalled about 130 books. If that wasn’t bad enough I have kept fiddling with the list over the years – you can see the complete list which include links to reviews here. By fiddling, I mean adding books, I thought I wanted to read, deleting things I had changed my mind about reading. I probably fiddled far too much – the list now stands at – well I’m not exactly sure I keep losing count – but I think it’s about 156.
So I there I was editing in links to my classics club page a couple of weeks ago – when I suddenly realised – that I was supposed to be finishing it this year. Thankfully there are only twelve books left on my list – I took a few off last year, and haven’t thought much about it since. My original pledge was to finish my list by 12th October 2017 – that’s less than six months away!
This year, was supposed to be the year of no reading challenges – no lists (as soon as I make a list I don’t want to read anything on it), and here I am suddenly remembering that a pledge I made nearly five years ago needs completing – argh!!
One book – A Note in Music – I don’t even have a copy of yet. Another – Effi Briest is winging its way to me thanks to Persephone books. Many of the others I have had on my book case for years – which is why I added them to the list in the first place.
At the time of writing I am about to start reading Mr Skeffington by Elizabeth von Arnim, but I might need a little inspiration to read 2 a month for the rest of the year. Thankfully all the ones left on the list do look very good – it’s just that list reluctance again which might hold me back.
So which of these books should I be reaching for next?
So here is what is left on that list:
Mr Skeffington – Elizabeth von Arnim
The Caravaners – Elizabeth von Arnim
Agnes Grey – Anne Bronte (a re-read)
Eva Trout – Elizabeth Bowen
The Professor’s House – Willa Cather
Cindie – Jean Devanny
Effi Briest – Theodor Fontane
The Yellow Wallpaper and other writings – Charlotte Perkins Gillman (a re-read of Yellow wallpaper)
The Conservationist – Nadine Gordimer
A Note in Music – Rosamond Lehmann
The Matriarch – G B Stern
The Devastating Boys and other stories – Elizabeth Taylor
My classic club list has provided me with some fantastic reading over the last four and a half years – re-reads of Hardy, Madame Bovary and The Woman in White among my favourites. Modern classics that have delighted me from Elizabeth Taylor, Sylvia Townsend Warner and Willa Cather – novels which have opened my eyes to what incredible writing can look like from people like Virginia Woolf and Elizabeth Bowen. I really do want to complete it by October 12th.
One important question of course of course is:
What happens if I don’t finish, can I get an extension? 😉 (I suppose I could delete the unread books and shout fiiiinshed!)
I’m impressed your list was so huge and that you’re so close to finishing! I would announce yourself finished in October no matter what 🙂
Thank you. Yes I could probably do that , couldn’t I.
On Twitter you said you bought an old Virago paperback for £23.Laura Talbot THE GENTLEWOMEN.Is this true ?pardon my nosiness –EBAY have 4 copies for about £4 including postage.
Well I did yes. I arranged the purchase through a bookseller who is in Devon ( a place I visit two or three times a year). I like to support her. Also I wanted an original vmc green edition in good condition. Those on eBay you refer to don’t look like vmcs and are being sold by a book seller who is renowned among some of us for selling poor quality stuff. I got the book I wanted, the edition I wanted in superb condition, picked it up the other day whilst in Devon on holiday had a nice chat with the bookseller, knowing I have supported a shop which gets little footfall. All good.
I bought the 1952 hardback for £2 a few years ago.Love it.
That’s brilliant, Ali, a lovely experience and supporting the bookseller, too!
Yes, it was worth it for me.
I passed my five-year deadline in March, with six left to go from the original 75. I’ve only given up on one of them (Hunchback) and some of them will qualify for the Victorian Reading Challenge, which behoves me to finish them.
From your list I’ve only read Agnes Grey and The Professor’s House, both of which were OK. The Professor’s House seemed like two different books to me because half of it is told in diary form.
I do love Elizabeth von Arnim and own copies of both of those, so I hope you read those first! I’ve heard The Caravaners is hilarious.
I will probably read The Professor’s house soon because Willa Cather is Librarything Virgo group author of the month either in May or June. It’s the last of her novels I have to read.
I am impressed with the progress you have made on your Classics list. I am sure you will finish the pledge. If not, make another list for the next five years and move the left over ones to that list.
My pick from your list is Agnes Gray. I enjoyed the book as a child but now I have forgotten the story and I would love to re-read it. I have plans to read Effi Briest next month too. So I will be on the look out for your review of the book.
I first read Agnes Grey years ago – I have been meaning to re-read it for years. Looking forward to Effi Briest.
I was not sure I should try the Classics Club pledge because like you I only have to make a list to find reasons why I don’t read the books on it. But I did – 6 months later than you and with just a year to go I still have more than half of them left to read – no way will I make it.
Of the books you have left I see there are two re-reads, Agnes Grey and The Yellow Wallpaper, both of which i have read. Maybe you could legitimately take those off your list?
I think I should fiddle some more with my list (I’ve done that a few times) and take off the really long books – 🙂 but it rather defeats the object doesn’t it!!
I did take some other re-reads off my list last year. Those two survived the cut. I will see how it goes.
I don’t think you should be too hard on yourself when it comes to the timeline for finishing the books on your list – a little flexibility here and there never goes amiss. Of the books you have left, I’ve only read The Professor’s House, which I liked a great deal. The Elizabeth Taylor collection is bound to be a treat, worth saving for the right time!
I don’t know I have left the Elizabeth Taylor so long – something to look forward to I suppose.
Agnes Grey is lovely! I hope you like it. 🙂
I really enjoyed it the first time around, but that was a long time ago.
Your post reminds me that I am way behind in my classics club reading list. So behind it might make sense for me to just ditch the time-period and enjoy them at my own pace.
I haven’t read many of the books on your list, but I think Agnes Grey would be my pick.
Ditching the time period is probably a good idea. Agnes Grey is very over due a re-read.
Madam Solaris–i do not fancy this as i heard its like Henry James.
SOLARIO—i meant to type.
Yes I can see why it is compared to Henry James. It is intense and elusive but I liked it on the whole.
Oh, I sympathise! So many books we want to read and not enough time! That’s a lovely list there and if you don’t finish them I think you should definitely allow yourself an extension. I loved Mr. Skeffington and the Charlotte Perkins Gilman is powerful too. Good luck!
I just started Mr Skeffington, I do so love Elizabeth von Arnim’s voice. I have had that Charlotte Perkin Gilmore collection so long it is certainly time I got around to it.
I’m reading The Professor’s House at the moment and don’t really know what to make of it but it’s not gripping me in the way Death Comes for the Archbishop did. I’ll be interested to know what you think of it.
Ooh that’s interesting. I did adore Death Comes For the Archbishop.
Apparently the punishment for not finishing is that you have to read another fifty… 😉
😂😂 OMG!
150+ in 5 years is still an impressive feat! Of the ones on your list, I can recommend The Conservationist. It’s a challenging but very well written book.
I have that book years I don’t know why I haven’t read it yet. I suppose I must have heard it was challenging. I read The Lying Days a while ago and loved it.
Makes me wish I’d been around on Twitter when you started. Your posts have introduced me to many authors. I really enjoy Elizabeth von Armin. Been reading Brontes since Christmas and just finished Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Ages Grey is on the list. Wonder where I got the idea of reading an author or linked authors f
Managed to post before I finished. Oops. Meant to add : from?
😊 I get inspired by other readers too. Glad you have been enjoying Elizabeth von Arnim.
I was due to finish my list last month but I still had four books left to read from my 100 and didn’t want to rush them. I’ve given myself an extension, which is probably cheating, but I would rather finish the books on my list and not worry too much about deadlines! Of the books you have left, I’ve only read Agnes Grey and The Professor’s House so I’ll look forward to hearing about the others. 🙂
With having just 4 books left I think that was a good decision.
The good news is that if you dont manage to finish by October the Classics Club police will not be knocking on your door with handcuffs in hand. So give yourself a break and finish them at your own pace….
Of the remaining titles that are not re-reads the only one I’m familiar with is The Conservationist which I started late last year and got as far as page 70 something but wasn’t motivated to read further. I know I have to go back to it since its on my remaining Booker prize winner list but I’m not looking forward to it
I think you did very well considering how many books you have on your list.
Thank you. I did keeping adding books and adding books – all my own fault.
I’m like you, making lists of books only repels me from those same books, ha ha! I’ve thought about joining the Classics Club – some lovely posts reminding me about it from my favorite bloggers – but haven’t yet committed to the idea. Personally I think you should get some sort of bonus prize for reading more than 50 books. 🙂
🙂 what? More books? Ha! 😀
Cindie is very good, in fact I suspect I gave you that one at some stage?
I can’t remember but I thought I had bought it. Had it a while though so not sure.
My Classics Club challenge came to end back in March and while I made good progress through out the end date still managed to sneak up on me. I just squeezed in my last book!
Sadly, I haven’t read any of the books left on your list, however I think starting with a re-read would be good to build your interest. Good luck with finishing your own list but more importantly enjoy your reading 🙂
Wow, so you have finished well done. I hope I will enjoy all the books left on my list. 😊
Thank you 🙂
I empathize with your feelings about making reading lists only to feel rebellious about following them. Good luck to you on finishing and well done!
I recommend the Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She puts forward a lot of interesting social reform ideas in her stories in an amusing and entertaining way.
Yes, I will be very interested in reading the Perkins Gilman. Thank you.
Great post! I just love ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’. Despite its gothic tone, I think the most frightening aspect of the text is that is discussing the very REAL ‘rest cure’ that was forced on so many women!
Thank you. Yes, I really need to get around to that book. I imagine the story is very disturbing in parts.
Indeed it is. It is so tragic how female malady used to be treated.