Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

I'm going to take on the Book Published Every Year since you were born challenge in 2016. And just to make it a little more fun I am going to allow re-reads (not the same as counting books you've already read -- I have to actually re-read them this year) but IN ORDER of Pub Year. So my first book must be a 1965 pub date. My goal is to get to 1976 by the end of the year (what with having other challenges to complete that seems reasonable). At 11 books per year I should complete this challenge in 5 years.

After going through the lists and picking books (something I'm not done with yet), I'm pretty sure that I'm doing this incorrectly. I'm probably supposed to be picking the "classics" that I somehow missed, or that I read long ago. Instead I find myself delighting in the books I loved as a child (remember this list is from the first decade of my life) and cannot make myself choose the obviously better choices. For instance, I should be re-reading Truman Capote's In Cold Blood for 1965 (or 1966, I've seen assorted pub dates) but how can I choose that over the book that starts one of my very favorite series? I might have to do this challenge twice :-).

And who am I kidding? All those "or"s are going to turn into "and"s.

1. 1965 Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper finished 13 Jan 2016
2. 1966 The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman finished 25 January 2016 AND
That Quail, Robert by Margaret A. Stanger finished 13 Jan 2016
3. 1967 The Chosen by Chaim Potok finished 6 February 2016 and Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander finished 2 March 2016
4. 1968 The High King by Lloyd Alexander
5. 1969 The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs or
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou or
In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden or
The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood
6. 1970 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff AND
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach AND
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
1971 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien AND
Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards AND A Gift of Magic by Lois Duncan
1972 Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl AND The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss OR All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot OR Watership Down by Richard Adams or The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth
1973 The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper AND A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle AND The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
1974

Julia wrote: "I'm going to take on the Book Published Every Year since you were born challenge in 2016. And just to make it a little more fun I am going to allow re-reads (not the same as counting books you've a..."

That should be fun and challenging.

You and Bob have inspired me. I would love to do this challenge, but I am maxed out on challenges this year. Maybe I could work some books in with my other challenges.

Laurie wrote: "You and Bob have inspired me. I would love to do this challenge, but I am maxed out on challenges this year. Maybe I could work some books in with my other challenges."

This challenge feels *much* less challenging than my (gulp) four others. Probably because I don't have to read Virginia Woolf. And I totally stack books so they count in multiple challenges.

I haven't read the High King yet (1968) only because I wanted to re-read the 4 books that came before it in the series. I'm ready to start it now.

It's October - time to re-examine where I am in the challenges. I'm still in the same place I was back in March - ready to start the High King, though I did re-read the 4 books that came before it in the series. Time to get back to it...

Julia wrote: "It's October - time to re-examine where I am in the challenges. I'm still in the same place I was back in March - ready to start the High King, though I did re-read the 4 books that came before it ...Time to get back to it... "

Or not -- I like challenges because they help to broaden my reading, but if I change my mind during the year I don't beat myself up about it. Have fun reading.

OMG there's a book version of The Rats of NIHM!? How did I not know this! One of my favourite movies as a child. And still a favourite! I think Justin must have been my first crush. lol

Leni wrote: "OMG there's a book version of The Rats of NIHM!? How did I not know this! One of my favourite movies as a child. And still a favourite! I think Justin must have been my first crush. lol"

I grew up reading the book, an absolute favorite of mine. I hope you liked it!

Kathy wrote: "Julia wrote: "It's October - time to re-examine where I am in the challenges. I'm still in the same place I was back in March - ready to start the High King, though I did re-read the 4 books that c..."

Thank goodness because I never could finish book 5. I finally skimmed it (speed reading is reading too, right?) because I would be stuck here forever otherwise.

So I've decided that for 2017 I'm going to finish THIS list. If I succeed, I'll add some more. Since this is more of a life challenge, I'm ok with letting the calendar slip a bit. If I finish prior to next December, I'll re-group. If I don't finish prior to next December, I'll also re-group. And I'm declaring the High King complete.

Looks like a great idea to extend you challenge, there's no time limit on personal challenges, so you can take as long as you like! Good luck :)

This definitely looks like a challenge to take your time with. And it's sort of a lifetime challenge anyway, isn't it? You add a book to it every year. ;)

Leni wrote: "This definitely looks like a challenge to take your time with. And it's sort of a lifetime challenge anyway, isn't it? You add a book to it every year. ;)"

I hadn't thought of that - as long as I read at least 1 book from the challenge every year I won't fall any (more) behind than I already am!