Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

I haven't finalized the list yet, just toying around possibilities here :) I managed to decrease the list to one entry per decade. It was a difficult undertaking, but it's done :)
Titles in italics mark books I have read before.

1920s: Further Chronicles of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery
1930s: Forbidden Journey by Ella Maillart
1940s: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
1950s: Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar
1960s: They Divided the Sky by Christa Wolf
1970s: Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip
1980s: The Book of Nights by Sylvie Germain
1990s: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
2000s: Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro
2010s: Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Working the possibilities is the best part. This year I worked through 2-3 books for 12 decades to finally make a list of ten. The problem is the ones that didn't make the list are still books I want to read. Just need a few more hours added to the days. Look forward to the finished list.

I need to read Bel Canto!! I have it, but have never read anything by Ann Patchett, even though I hear good things about her. I'll watch for your review in case you get to it before I do :)

Looks like a great selection of books to choose from, good luck!

It's very nice to have options. Good job in putting up a few books to play around with. :)

Happy Reading!

I get so inspired by all your lists, but like Bob I'm lacking hours in the day (and/or an employer who would just pay me to read books...)

Great List Sam. I'm going to take your 80's choice, The Book of Nights for my challenge. It sounds so good.

I'll be reading the Age of Innocence for sure in January and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn at some point in the year.

I read Bel Cannto years ago and liked it and I just finished Out of Africa. I liked it but memoirs and autobiographical books aren't my favorites. If you like those, you're sure to like it even more.

Bel Canto and Out of Africa are both on my list for next year. I see them on so many lists that I thought I'd better get to them!

Bob wrote: "Working the possibilities is the best part. This year I worked through 2-3 books for 12 decades to finally make a list of ten. The problem is the ones that didn't make the list are still books I wa..."

I always feel like, if I don't include a book I want to read in a list, I'm not going to read it. Which is obviously nonsense, but I totally understand your feeling.

Terris wrote: "I need to read Bel Canto!! I have it, but have never read anything by Ann Patchett, even though I hear good things about her. I'll watch for your review in case you get to it before I do :)"

And I'll watch out for yours, Terris ;)

Sue wrote: "Great List Sam. I'm going to take your 80's choice, The Book of Nights for my challenge. It sounds so good.

I'll be reading the Age of Innocence for sure in January and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn a..."

My mom is a huge fan of the Out of Africa film, and the story sounds fascinating (never watched the film myself - yet!). I'm looking forward to it.

It'd be so great to have someone inspired to read The Book of Nights, I loved it so much when I read it for the first time many years ago (in my romantic teenager phase)! It is so obscure I've never heard anyone else talk about the author, I hope you can get a copy. I'd love to read your thoughts on it when you get to it!

Terris wrote: "Bel Canto and Out of Africa are both on my list for next year. I see them on so many lists that I thought I'd better get to them!"

Ha, I didn't even look at any of the others' lists before making my own ;) This almost sounds like possible group reads.

I finished my first book for this challenge today!
Memoirs of Hadrian is a fictional account of Hadrian's life, told by himself in the form of a long letter. It was a slow, meandering read and reminded in of Proust at times, but in a good way.

Sounds interesting. Had heard of Yourcenar but never tried a book of hers.

I forgot how quickly you can read Through the Woods! And after finishing it, I wanted to start all over again. A beautifully coloured grim collection of stories.

Sam wrote: "I forgot how quickly you can read Through the Woods! And after finishing it, I wanted to start all over again. A beautifully coloured grim collection of stories."

Yes, but it is beautiful... and begs for re-reads :O)

I finished Further Chronicles of Avonlea with mixed feelings. While I tremendously enjoyed all the heartwarming usual stories about love lost and found, there were some aspects in a couple of the stories that troubled me, be it racial comments or unhealthy father daughter relationships. Nevertheless, I'm glad to now having read all the stories concerning Avonlea.

I just finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This just keeps getting more emotional with every reread. I had to put it down several times during the last 50 pages. The showdown is too much for me these days :)