Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

The number of unread books sitting on my shelves has gotten out of control. Next year, I am going to make a concerted effort to read a chunk of those books, so I thought I'd give this challenge a go! This year's theme: African American authors (already sitting on my shelves).

Old School:
(1) Poems on various subjects, religious and moral by Phillis Wheatley (1/2)
(2) Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson (11/3)
(3) My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass (10/12)

New School:
(1) The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois (11/11)
(2) Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington (11/2)
(3) Native Son by Richard Wright (11/24)

Wild Cards:
(1) Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin (11/15)
(2) The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
(3) A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines (12/31)
(4) A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (1/13)
(5) Selected Poems by Langston Hughes (2/19)
(6) Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (10/26)

Alternates:
(1) Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
(2) The Known World by Edward P. Jones (12/5)

12/12 completed.

Good luck! You've got lots of great books on your list and plenty that I still need to read myself!

That looks like a great list!

If you haven't grabbed it yet, Invisible Man is free on Audible until the end of the year.

It makes some references to Booker T Washington, Du Bois, etc, so you might want to read those first. It's not necessary for understanding the book but as long as you're going to be reading them anyway, you may as well read them before Ellison.

Great list Sarah. I've run across Phyllis Wheatley, and think your choice seems a good place to start so I added it. I loved A Raisin in the Sun so much, and will be reading Song of Solomon next year too. Enjoy!!

Melanti wrote: "That looks like a great list!

If you haven't grabbed it yet, Invisible Man is free on Audible until the end of the year.

It makes some references to Booker T Washington, Du Bois, etc, so you mi..."

Thanks! Yay for free books! I think that makes sense too...I was already thinking I would go at least roughly in chronological order.

Kathleen wrote: "Great list Sarah. I've run across Phyllis Wheatley, and think your choice seems a good place to start so I added it. I loved A Raisin in the Sun so much, and will be re..."

I will be interested to hear what you think of Song of Solomon, Kathleen!

You have a great challenge. I hope to read Invisible Man and A Lesson Before Dying next year as well. I meant to read them this year but they got pushed aside, so I'm pretty determined to get to them next year. Good luck with your challenge!

Laurie wrote: "You have a great challenge. I hope to read Invisible Man and A Lesson Before Dying next year as well. I meant to read them this year but they got pushed aside, so I'm pretty determined to get to th..."

They've both been on my shelves for over two years, so it is definitely time to finally read them!

I just finished reading Phillis Wheatley's collection of poems, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. I picked it up mainly for its historical significance--Wheatley was the first slave, first African American, and third woman in the United States to have a book of poetry published. I don't read enough poetry to judge its merits except to say that it didn't suit my tastes. Stylistically, it reminded me of many of the 17th and 18th century poems I read in high school--kind of long, with lots of rhyming couplets and iambic pentameter. The collection contained several elegies and was heavy on biblical references--all in all, just not my thing. Now onto Frederick Douglass!

I jumped ahead chronologically and read A Raisin in the Sun, which I liked but didn't love. The stage directions in the script tended to pull me out of the story, which isn't something that always happens to me when I read a play. I think this is one I would enjoy much more seeing performed than I did reading.
4/5 stars

Very interesting!

I like that you have a theme!

I just finished Selected Poems by Langston Hughes. I don't read a lot of poetry, but I thought this collection was quite good. Although not every poem resonated with me, I did find a number that I liked and even some I'd now call favorites. Overall, poignant and memorable.
4/5 stars

Great theme for the challenge. Most of those I've heard of but never read, but I did read The Known World a Number of years ago and would like to revisit it at some point.

I've read 5 of them. All very interesting! Good luck with your challenge :)

I’ve kind of neglected this challenge while focusing on Bingo, but I finally read another few from my list—Frederick Douglass’s My Bondage and My Freedom (4/5 stars) and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man (3/5 stars). I enjoyed Douglass’s book, but think I prefer his first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, to this one. While I thought Ellison’s book was well-crafted and I get the acclaim, I never really fell in love with the style. I almost wish I had studied it in school—it was rich with metaphor and symbolism, a lot of which I’m sure I missed.

Sarah wrote: "I’ve kind of neglected this challenge while focusing on Bingo, but I finally read another few from my list—Frederick Douglass’s My Bondage and My Freedom (4/5 stars) an..."

I agree with your statements and opinion of Invisible Man completely! I appreciated it but didn't love the style.

I finished another three...Our Nig (didn’t love, but an interesting read as it is considered the first published novel by an African American in North America, 2.5/5 stars), Up from Slavery (okay read, but got the impression he was holding back, also got a bit repetitive in later chapters, 3/5 stars), and The Souls of Black Folk (incisively and compellingly written, interesting to read back to back with Booker T. Washington, with whom W.E.B. Du Bois had some disagreement in approach, 4/5 stars).

Next up Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin...

You're doing well, Sarah! I read The Souls of Black Folk this summer -- pretty interesting! I also read Go Tell It on the Mountain fairly recently, it wasn't my favorite though. I see that you're planning to read Native Son soon -- hold on to your hat! That one is fairly heavy, but it's certainly an interesting story. I read Black Boy by Richard Wright this summer and liked it quite a bit. You might look into it.
Enjoy your reading :)

Terris wrote: "You're doing well, Sarah! I read The Souls of Black Folk this summer -- pretty interesting! I also read Go Tell It on the Mountain fairly recently, it wasn't my favorite ..."

Good to know...I would like to read Black Boy eventually. Maybe for one of next year's challenges!

Sarah wrote: "Terris wrote: "You're doing well, Sarah! I read The Souls of Black Folk this summer -- pretty interesting! I also read Go Tell It on the Mountain fairly recently, it wasn..."

Good idea! I'm starting to think of my list for next year -- it's exciting! ;)

One more question -- Have you read Beloved? That one would fit into this category.

Terris wrote: "One more question -- Have you read Beloved? That one would fit into this category."

I did read that earlier this year...I kind of liked it but also found it a bit difficult to wrap my head around!

Sarah wrote: "Terris wrote: "One more question -- Have you read Beloved? That one would fit into this category."

I did read that earlier this year...I kind of liked it but also found it a bit diffic..."

I also read it this year, but I didn't like it very much. It was really strange! But I am glad that I read it though because I've heard so many people talk about it. I don't think I'm going to go for Song of Solomon though. Let me know what you think of it when you get to it.
I did read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings earlier this year. I liked it better. Maybe because the writing style was easier for me to read and understand!

Terris wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Terris wrote: "One more question -- Have you read Beloved? That one would fit into this category."

I did read that earlier this year...I kind of liked it but also found i..."

I will let you know! I’m still hoping to get to Song of Solomon this year. I’ve had mixed feelings on Morrison’s writing so far, but we’ll see how it goes!

Sarah wrote: "Terris wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Terris wrote: "One more question -- Have you read Beloved? That one would fit into this category."

I did read that earlier this year...I kind of liked it b..."

Good luck!!

I finished Go Tell It on the Mountain today. I liked some aspects of the book, like Baldwin’s eloquent prose and the interconnected back stories of John and his family members. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect with the religious themes and content that ran through the book. I found the book well constructed and liked parts, but just never fell in love with it as a whole. 3.5/5 stars.

Next up, not sure...maybe Native Son?

Sarah wrote: "I finished Go Tell It on the Mountain today. I liked some aspects of the book, like Baldwin’s eloquent prose and the interconnected back stories of John and his family members. Unfortu..."

I agree with you on Go Tell It on the Mountain. I just didn't connect with it completely.

Yes, you should definitely read Native Son and Black Boy by Richard Wright!

Yesterday I finished Native Son...and wow was it an intense read. I found it thought-provoking and engaging, but quite unsettling. It was an odd experience in that the book both pulled me in and repelled me—while I was reading, I was hooked, but when I sat the book down, I was reluctant to return to it because it left me so disturbed. It ended up being a 5-star read for me and one that will stay with me, though it was probably too unsettling a book for me to revisit in the future.

Next up for this challenge...A Lesson Before Dying, but first I think I’m going to need a lighter palate cleanser after Native Son!

Sarah wrote: "Yesterday I finished Native Son...and wow was it an intense read. I found it thought-provoking and engaging, but quite unsettling. It was an odd experience in that the book both pulled..."

A Lesson Before Dying is so good, but it is heartbreaking just like Native Son. A lighter read in between is a good idea.

I finished The Known World earlier this week, a 4-star read for me. It took awhile to get a handle on all of the characters and the non-linear style, but once I did, I liked what Jones did with the book.

That leaves one book to go...I may finish this challenge after all.

Good for you!

And I have completed my challenge with just over 12 hours to spare! I finished A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines...4 stars and a worthwhile read for me...not a bad way to finish this challenge.

Well done, perfect timing if you ask me. I'm glad you enjoyed your last book :)

Bravo!