Chelsea’s Comments (group member since Dec 29, 2019)

Chelsea’s comments from the #ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge group.

Hello,
My name is Chelsea. I am an American ex-pat living in Belgium. I love classics but got out of reading them for a few years. I am really looking forward to jumping back into them this year. As for my favorite, I can't really choose one but a few I love are: Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, Persuasion by Jane Austen, Shirley by Charlotte Bronte, He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope, Bleak House by Charles Dickens, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and The Blue Castle by L M Montgomery.

My new favorites this year were Shirley by Charlotte Bronte, Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte, The Blue Castle by L M Montgomery and Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope. My favorite classic reread was Little Women & Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott.

Jenna wrote: "The only book by Dickens I own is A Tale of Two Cities. Is this a bad place to start? Should I get Great Expectations first? I read a Christmas Carol YEARS AGO as a kid so it really feels like I’ll..."

I think Tale of Two Cities is a good first Dickens. It isn't his best work, but a good introduction to his writing style and one of his shorter works (so less intimidating). Personally, I liked TOTC better than Great Expectations.

Rachel wrote: "Does anyone know where to start with Elizabeth Glaskell or Antony Trollope?"
For Gaskell I would start with North and South
For Trollope I recommend either He Knew He Was Right or one of his shorter works like Rachel Ray.

This year I want to read at least 24 classic novels, at least 2 classic plays, and 12 collections of poetry. For the novels, I think I want to focus on authors I have read before and want to explore more of.