Monday, February 1, 2021

Back to the Classics Challenge 2021...

 I wasn't sure I wanted to sign up for any reading challenges this year, but then I noticed that six books from my TBR list lined up perfectly with six of the categories from Karen's Back to the Classics Challenge and it felt like a little bookish serendipity. Besides, I really like this challenge. I've done it twice before. And even though I never managed to complete all twelve categories either time, maybe this will be the year I actually do it. 



Here are the 12 categories for this year's challenge...and the six books from my TBR list I'm hoping to read for them. (The remaining six categories I'll have to figure out later.)

A 19th Century Classic:  Can You Forgive Her by Anthony Trollope (I've owned this book for years, but have been too intimidated by it's length to ever try it...until now. Maybe.)
A 20th Century Classic: 
A Classic by a Woman Author:  The Misses Mallett by E. H. Young (This book I only recently acquired.)
A Classic in Translation:
A Classic by a BIPOC Author:
A Classic by a New-to-you Author:
New-to-you Classic by a Favorite Author:
A Classic about an Animal, or with an Animal in the Title: Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
A Children's Classic: Queen Zixi of Ix by L. Frank Baum (I already own this one, too.)
A Humorous or Satirical Classic:
A Travel or Adventure Classic: In Morocco by Edith Wharton (Another book I've owned for years but have never read.)
A Classic Play: Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (Because Sam at Book Chase made it sound so good.)

Wish me luck...
and Happy Reading!

45 comments:

  1. You've reminded me that I have In Morocco by Edith Wharton and must get to it. Good luck with the challenge!

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    1. We do read very similarly, don't we? :D I hope you read In Morocco this year because then we could compare notes.

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    2. We really do have similar tastes. Which is really nice. :-) I'll make sure I get to that this... I will go now and add it to my '2021 plans' shelf on Goodreads.

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  2. Have fun and happy reading, Lark!

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  3. Hi Lark, Good luck with the Challenge and its a good idea to leave some categories open at beginning of year because the books we choose in Jan may not be what we want to read by June. Never heard of Morocco but it reminds me how many Wharton novels are out there. I loved House of Mirth and I need to read more from this author.

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    1. I love Edith Wharton! She's one of my favs. And you're right about how moods can change. I know that happens to me a lot when I make lists of things to read at the beginning of the year.

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  4. This sounds like such a fun challenge! Good luck, Lark! :)

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    1. It's a good one if you're interested in reading more classics. Which I am upon occasion. :)

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  5. Yay, I'm glad you decided to join the challenge again! I enjoy reading your book reviews. :)

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    1. Thanks! :D I just couldn't resist these categories. And I don't think I read any classics last year, which was sad, so I'm rectifying it this year.

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  6. So glad you are doing this one again. I typically don't read that many classics so my goal is to at least complete 6 books. So far two down! Looking forward to your reviews, in particular the Edith Wharton book.

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    1. Two down is awesome! I've got one read and I've started another. Hopefully I'll get able to get at least six classics read this year, too. :)

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  7. Sounds like a fun reading challenge!

    Good luck with your reading goals for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2021.I'm looking forward to reading your reviews of your classics.

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  8. Sounds as if this challenge was meant to be...enjoy.

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  9. Good luck! I'm sure you will nail it!

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    1. Thanks! I always start off gung ho with these challenges, then about halfway through the year my enthusiasm peters out, so we'll see how I do this time. :)

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  10. This is a great choice of books.

    I am a big Anthony Trollope fan. Can You Forgive Her is a great book. I find Trollope very easygoing and accessible. He is a lot like Jane Austen who he was influenced by. If you read this. I would love to know what you thought.

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    1. I'm so glad to hear you like the Trollope I'm hoping to read this year. And if he's as accessible as Austen, I just make make it through all 847 pages. :) I'm definitely going to give him a try.

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  11. I don't enter many challenges either. I don't read many classics, but I know I should. Good luck with your challenge! :)

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    1. I didn't do any challenges last year. The year before that I signed up for two, and that was too many! :)

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  12. Ooh! I'm glad you're joining this year. I liked Can You Forgive Her? & I liked Cyrano de Bergerac a lot. But I've never heard of In Morocco, & I like Wharton, so I'm especially looking forward to what you think of that.

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    1. I've owned that copy of In Morocco for years so it's way past time that I read it. And I'm glad to know you liked Can You Forgive Her?; it gives me hope I'll make it through it. :)

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  13. I should do this one too... :)

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    1. I would love to see which classics you would choose! :)

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  14. Good luck with the challenge, Lark! I tend to take on the challenges that fit in naturally with my reading. You've got some great selections already lined up!

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    1. The only way I'll stick with a challenge these days is if it lines up with books I already want to read. :)

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  15. Good luck with the challenge. Looks like you have a few books that will go great with it.

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    1. I do have a few. If I actually end up reading them all is the real question. ;D

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  16. Good luck with it! I always feel like I should read more classics, but the truth is, I just don't enjoy most of them. I hope you enjoy your picks!

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  17. I love it when a challenge fits really well with my TBR. Best of luck on this one!

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    1. That's really the only way I'll ever get close to finishing one. :)

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  18. Like you, I try to populate my challenge picks with books that have been sitting on my shelf waiting for a good reason for me to pick them up! I hope you like The Way We Live Now. It is a chunkster, but the plots are all so involving, it goes pretty quickly. There is also a miniseries of it with David Suchet as Mr. Melmott. I've not seen it yet, but it looks really good - as in a faithful adaptation.

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    1. Chunksters used to be easier for me, but now they're a little daunting.

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  19. Good luck Lark, hoping you do well and enjoy the books!

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    1. Thanks! I always need luck finishing any and all reading challenges. Even the ones I'm excited about. ;D

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  20. Good luck and glad you're joining in. It's great when your personal list lines up with a challenge!

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    1. I think that's the only way it works for me. :)

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  21. I admire your participation in this challenge as from the looks of it, I think I would struggle a bit. I joined a few informally, one was Vintage Mysteries, but, I can already see that this one will probably not work well for me.

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    1. You have to be in the right mood to tackle some of these classics, that's for sure! There are some years when I can't do it either. The Vintage Mystery reading challenge sounds like a lot of fun. :)

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