Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Paula wrote: "I see that Frankenstein is up for the October group read, but I tried that one and absolutely hated it. Is anyone up for an alternative? Perhaps Dracula? Surely I'm not the only person who has neve..."

I'm planning to read Dracula in October. I have read Frankenstein, but not Dracula. It would be fun to read it together.

I'm reading Frankenstein now and was planning on Dracula at the end of October if I finish everything I've committed to.

Sue wrote: "I'm reading Frankenstein now and was planning on Dracula at the end of October if I finish everything I've committed to."

I've got a couple in line ahead of it, so the end of Oct sounds good to me. Paula, how about you?

Sounds perfect!

Paula wrote: "I see that Frankenstein is up for the October group read, but I tried that one and absolutely hated it. Is anyone up for an alternative? Perhaps Dracula? Surely I'm not the only person who has neve..."

Thankyou! I was beginning to think I was alone in being the only person in this group to've hated Frankenstein

can't fit Dracula in unfortunately, only "Halloweeny" book I'm planning on reading soon is David Lindsay's The Haunted Woman

I'm planning on a very short halloween read of The Vampyre: A Tale by John William Polidori. I think it's sort of the broken link between Frankenstein and Dracula, which came at the other end of the century.

For anyone who isn't aware of how the story came about, here's a great article about the inspiration https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victo...

and here's another about poor Polidori https://theawl.com/how-to-be-a-monste...

Darren wrote: "Paula wrote: "I see that Frankenstein is up for the October group read, but I tried that one and absolutely hated it. Is anyone up for an alternative? Perhaps Dracula? Surely I'm not the only perso..."

I tried Frankenstein once and didn't like it. Didn't get very far at all before I gave up. Not going to try again right now, too many other things I really want to read.

Dracula was pretty good though.

I know it was thrown around a while back, but I figured I'd bring it up again since it is doing poorly in the polls again.

I'm going to start The Divine Comedy next month. I plan to tackle one "book" of it a month.

Would anyone still be interested?

I know a few people mentioned potential interest but weren't sure if they could fit it in.

I liked them both, but found Frankenstein and Dracula worked in opposite ways for me. Frankenstein was a very slow start, but I really loved it by the end and it was completely different from whatI was expecting. Dracula got me hooked from the get go with it's adventures, but I thought it tapered off towards the end.

Pink wrote: "I'm planning on a very short halloween read of The Vampyre: A Tale by John William Polidori. I think it's sort of the broken link between Frankenstein and Dracula, whic..."

Interesting Pink. Thanks for the info. I'll have to add that one as well for October.

I just Finished Frankenstein and I hope all of you who read it already, whether you liked it or not, will participate in the October discussion.

I read the 1818 version and want to compare with those who read the later version. I had some problems with my version but I'm giving it 4 stars for now, mostly accounting for Shelly's age and also because I really loved the concept.

I'm on for end of October Dracula and maybe I can even fit in The Vampyre Tale too.

Sue if you do decide to read it, it's super short, only a handful of pages. It's actually included in the back of my copy of Frankenstein.

Enjoy these scary reads. I will not be participating. I have an overactive imagination and Dracula and to a certain extent Frankenstein give me nightmares.

Pink wrote: "Sue if you do decide to read it, it's super short, only a handful of pages. It's actually included in the back of my copy of Frankenstein."

Wild that it's included in Frankenstein. I read a free Kindle version of the 1818 version only, so it's bare bones. No intro or anything other than Shelly's original forward. I'll have to see if I can find a free version of the short story.

Pink wrote: "I'm planning on a very short halloween read of The Vampyre: A Tale by John William Polidori. I think it's sort of the broken link between Frankenstein and Dracula, whic..."

I got the whispersync of that story for $.49 a couple of months ago, but haven't read/listened to it yet. I think I'll do a Halloween read of that too.

Sue, it's because they are kind of connected, at least through the story of their conception. The links I posted above explain more about this. There should be a free version somewhere, I know it's on the serial app in only 4 parts.

Brina wrote: "I have decided for all the groups I am in that I am only doing group reads if I actually wanted to read the book anyway. These buddy reads are allowing me to read classics I already had on my TBR p..."

That is such a great way to organize yourself.

Sue, I found a free copy on Amazon of The Vampyre: A Tale. I'm planning to read it before Dracula.

Thank you Newly. I have organized a sketch of my reading schedule through February. If a book on my TBR wins at the poll great. If not I can always buddy read. And if a hidden gem wins the poll I can "find time" to read it if it really is that gem.

Sarah wrote: "I know it was thrown around a while back, but I figured I'd bring it up again since it is doing poorly in the polls again.

I'm going to start The Divine Comedy next month. I plan to ta..."

I would be interested! The Divine Comedy October through December...is anyone else in?

Kristen wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I know it was thrown around a while back, but I figured I'd bring it up again since it is doing poorly in the polls again.

I'm going to start The Divine Comedy next month..."

Kristen I know Sarah is looking for someone to buddy read this. See above...

Sarah and Kristen, let me know if you both want to go ahead with a 3 month buddy read of The Divine Comedy and I can add it to the schedule for Oct-Dec and create a discussion thread for you :)

I know there was a lot of interest in buddy reading several books from the Nov polls. Just a reminder that anything in the revisit category already has a discussion thread available, so you can join in and comment there whenever suits you.

Paula/Susan/Sue, I can add Dracula to the schedule if you want, does October/November suit you all, or would you prefer one or the other month? There's already discussion threads for it, as it's been a past group read, here's the links https://www.goodreads.com/group/comme...

Let me know if I've missed anything above :)

Pink wrote: "Sarah and Kristen, let me know if you both want to go ahead with a 3 month buddy read of The Divine Comedy and I can add it to the schedule for Oct-Dec and create a discussion thread fo..."

Yes, please add DC to the schedule. October is Inferno month.

Pink wrote: "Sarah and Kristen, let me know if you both want to go ahead with a 3 month buddy read of The Divine Comedy and I can add it to the schedule for Oct-Dec and create a discussion thread fo..."

Pink - that sounds great (Oct/Nov). Thanks for adding it and for the links.

I've added The Divine Comedy and Dracula to the buddy read schedule with links to discussion threads :)

Pink wrote: "I've added The Divine Comedy and Dracula to the buddy read schedule with links to discussion threads :)"

Thanks, Pink!

Pink wrote: "Sarah and Kristen, let me know if you both want to go ahead with a 3 month buddy read of The Divine Comedy and I can add it to the schedule for Oct-Dec and create a discussion thread fo..."

Thanks Pink! This will be fun!

Hi Kristen, sorry GR and I are having a disagreement over responding to comments, I'd be happy to have you join me! I definitely think this is one best tackled with others.

Thanks Pink!

Sarah wrote: "Hi Kristen, sorry GR and I are having a disagreement over responding to comments, I'd be happy to have you join me! I definitely think this is one best tackled with others.

Thanks Pink!"

So happy that this buddy read worked out for you Sarah! :)

Loretta wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Hi Kristen, sorry GR and I are having a disagreement over responding to comments, I'd be happy to have you join me! I definitely think this is one best tackled with others.

Thanks Pi..."
Thanks Loretta

Sarah wrote: "Loretta wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Hi Kristen, sorry GR and I are having a disagreement over responding to comments, I'd be happy to have you join me! I definitely think this is one best tackled with ot..."

:)

I would really like to join you all for Dracula ... I just love the book, and a re-read would be nice :)
Anyhow, I just can't see how I could squeeze that one into october as well ... maybe I'll just hopp on and off your thread ...

I'm also in for Dracula since I had already set my mind on reading it this month. I think the end of October would be fine as I'm reading Frankenstein right now and I'll start reading the first book of the Lord of the Rings after that.

And I would like to join in for the Moonstone as well but I don't think I'll be able to squeeze that in.

Dracula is scheduled for Oct/Nov, with most people probably reading towards the end of the month anyway, to tie in with halloween season.

For anyone struggling to read books within the timeframe, remember that buddy reads are just a loose schedule and many people read and comment later. Also, all threads, whether group reads or buddy reads stay open for comment. So even if you get to the book a month or even a year later, you can still join in with your thoughts when it suits you :)

Is anyone still interested in Wide Sargasso Sea, Their Eyes Were Watching God, or Waiting for Godot? Those were on the november polls, but haven't made it ...

I was planning on Their Eyes Were Watching God because there was some talk of it earlier I think. After Oct I'm flexible for timing.

Darren wrote: "Brina - January would be fine for me for One Hundred Years of Solitude

(although I currently still have it down for 2016, I am waaaaay overloaded [blush_smiley], so need to start bootin..."

Darren, Brina, is 100 years still up for january? (It's not on the schedule so far ...)
If it doesn't win the next poll, ...

Susan wrote: "I was planning on Their Eyes Were Watching God because there was some talk of it earlier I think. After Oct I'm flexible for timing."

I think we were planning to read it in November, but then dropped it because of the polls ...

November/december-ish would still be fine with me ... ;)

Lilly wrote: "Is anyone still interested in Wide Sargasso Sea, Their Eyes Were Watching God, or Waiting for Godot? Those were on the november polls, but haven't made it ..."

I recently finished Wide Sargasso Sea, so would probably poke my head in to any discussion on it.

On my personal schedule I still have Their Eyes for November and 100 Years of Solitude for January. I'd like to start my year with it. Anyone still interested in reading either book feel free to join me.

I'm still intending to read One Hundred Years of Solitude in January

Great! I am looking forward.

For those of you who wanted to read Dracula with me, I am planning to start it tomorrow. Thanks again, Pink, for posting the links to the previous discussion thread!

Paula wrote: "For those of you who wanted to read Dracula with me, I am planning to start it tomorrow. Thanks again, Pink, for posting the links to the previous discussion thread!"

Great! I'm starting it today also.

Paula wrote: "For those of you who wanted to read Dracula with me, I am planning to start it tomorrow. Thanks again, Pink, for posting the links to the previous discussion thread!"

I will join you as soon as I've finished the first book of the LotR, Paula. Probably near the end of October.

Paula wrote: "For those of you who wanted to read Dracula with me, I am planning to start it tomorrow. Thanks again, Pink, for posting the links to the previous discussion thread!"

I think I originally told you or someone else here that I might be up for it, but it will have to wait for me. Glad you and others are getting a thread going on it, though. Maybe I'll read it next Halloween. :D

Brina wrote: "Enjoy these scary reads. I will not be participating. I have an overactive imagination and Dracula and to a certain extent Frankenstein give me nightmares."

I don't have many nightmares, but I also prefer to limit my reading of books that I find particularly disturbing, although for me that's more ones along the lines of 1984 and such.

Darren wrote: "I'm still intending to read One Hundred Years of Solitude in January"

I'd like to read One Hundred Years of Solitude with your in January.

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Darren wrote: "I'm still intending to read One Hundred Years of Solitude in January"

I'd like to read One Hundred Years of Solitude with your in January."

You're in luck! It just won the January poll for our revisit the shelf category! Discussion threads will be up on Jan 1st 2017!

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Darren wrote: "I'm still intending to read One Hundred Years of Solitude in January"

I'd like to read One Hundred Years of Solitude with your in January."

as Pink says, it's a Group Read anyway, so that's worked out nicely!

Anyone want to read The Age of Innocence in January? I picked it for my 3-D life book club so I have to read it before Jan 10 when we meet. It's only a 300 page book.

I should note that it's a prior group read for anyone trying to catch up on the group shelf.