Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Ok I've finally got my list. This is probably a bit optimistic but I'm going for it.

Old School:
1) Notes from Underground COMPLETE NOV
2) The Count of Monte Cristo COMPLETE DEC
3) The Tenant of Wildfell HallCOMPLETE DEC

New School:
4) Ulysses COMPLETE MARCH
5) OrlandoCOMPLETE JAN
6) LolitaCOMPLETE DEC

Any School:
7) The UncannyCOMPLETE NOV
8) Little Dorrit COMPLETE APRIL
9) Swann's Way
10) Things Fall Apart COMPLETE FEB
11) The Ice-Shirt COMPLETE NOV
12) The Book of Disquiet

Alternates:
1) Wide Sargasso Sea COMPLETE OCT
2) Daniel DerondaCOMPLETE DEC

You did one! There's some great stuff in here. I've been very curious about Swann's Way. Ulysses is incredibly daunting. Have fun : ) I'll be interested to see your ratings.

I read "Orlando" last week. It's very good, if a bit confusing. "Lolita" is also quite peculiar, but not bad.

I almost put Lolita on mine but it sounds pretty disturbing.

I think I'm going to try the audio for Lolita. I've heard Jeremy Iron's narration is really good.

Do you know if there is a t-shirt for people who have read Ulysses? There is one for people who have read "Alastalon salissa" which is over 800 pages long and covers the six hours when the town's men gather around to discuss whether they should invest in ship building. The most famous part is the 70 pages when the host wonders which pipe to choose.

Nice list. I will read Lolita and Things Fall Apart as well although Lolita will be for a different challenge. Looking forward to both although I know Lolita may be disturbing.

I read Ulysses this year, and it is certainly a difficult novel. But the different literary styles that he used show James's amazing talent. I am glad I read it, and I was glad when it was over.

Tytti wrote: "Do you know if there is a t-shirt for people who have read Ulysses? There is one for people who have read "Alastalon salissa" which is over 800 pages long and covers the six hours when the town's m..."
NOw I just want to read "Alastalon salissa" just because of those 70 pages.

Gergana wrote: "NOw I just want to read "Alastalon salissa" just because of those 70 pages."

Better start learning Finnish then, I don't think it has been translated. I wonder why... I just want that t-shirt, a friend of mine started the project but I haven't heard of it for a while. In chapter six there is a text that says "you can skip this chapter because in this one happens as little as in all the rest of the chapters" or something like that.

Tytti wrote:"Better start learning Finnish then, I don't think it has been translated."
Sadly it hasn't been translated. I know German so I guess Finnish won't be that hard to learn.

Oh. My. God. Jeremy Irons does Lolita? Now I absolutely have to listen to it. It's a perfect one for him to do. Wow. I'm a little awed so I'm really glad you mentioned that.

As for Finnish and German, German is still within the Indo-European language tree. Finnish is not. It's one of only three European languages that isn't. Since it would have a different grammatical structure I'm totally intimidated!

Gergana wrote: "Tytti wrote:"Better start learning Finnish then, I don't think it has been translated."
Sadly it hasn't been translated. I know German so I guess Finnish won't be that hard to learn."

Well, no, in a sense they are both languages. Though German is an Indo-European language like most European languages and Finnish is Finno-Ugrian like Estonian and Hungarian (and several Sami languages). But there seems to be a Swedish translation (only 430 pages so must be abridged) and Swedish and German are quite close, so... That was actually pretty surprising.

If there is a t-shirt I want one if I finish it!

Could Jeremy Irons be more perfect for Lolita? It's almost scary. I'm really looking forward to that one!

I think it would only add to the experience. Exponentially. There couldn't be a more perfect fit. He's so good at that type of role that it can be a bit difficult to watch him. I LOVE him for this kind of thing. There's just no way I can pass that one up. I'm totally joining Audible on the 1st and that's the first one I'm getting. I'm SO glad you mentioned it!

I've listened to the Jeremy Irons version of Lolita and he is indeed fantastic. I loved every minute of it.

Jeremy Irons reading VN's beautiful and magnificent prose sounds like a rare feast.

He's so absolutely perfect for it.

Being optimistic about a challenges is probably the best. Just keep turning pages. we have all year. From your choices I have read The Count of Monte Cristo, fantastic story. Also Wide Sargasso Sea, is a good story. Ulysses scares me worse than being in a dark haunted house. The rest of your books look great. I am also going to read Lolita for my challenge and I am curious what you may have to say about Sigmund Freud's book. Enjoy you reading.

I'm with you in that haunted house, Bob!

Yes! Things Fall Apart is such a good book!! :)

Sarah wrote: "I almost put Lolita on mine but it sounds pretty disturbing."

My daughter read it last year and loved it!

I'm with you guys in the haunted house but sometimes you gotta face your fears and show them who is boss! or something like that :)

Amanda wrote: "I'm with you guys in the haunted house but sometimes you gotta face your fears and show them who is boss! or something like that :)"

Your right, I avoided Moby-Dick for years. I survived, you will too.

Amanda, I just ran across a sentence in Dahlgren that says "I want to try out some things I'm afraid of.". Funny timing. :)

The count of monte cristo is definitely a glorious read, is long but take your time a enjoy it the most you can because this book can make feel the most of your emotions.

Sarah that's too funny. I love when that kind of stuff happens.

I do too. :)

The first book I chose from my list was Orlando. I finished it today and gave it 4 stars. I listened to the audio which I very much enjoyed. Nothing like any of Woolf's other books at least not the ones I have read. It was fun listen.

I've also started Little Dorrit but have only read the first few chapters. I will be reading this over the next 3 months with a group.

I read Ulysses last summer with my Professor, this summer we may try to get through Swann Way. Ulysses was daunting...especially chapter 14. Best of luck.

I finished Ulysses!! I'm so proud of myself for sticking it out. I was so intimidated by this book that the reality ended up being nowhere near as hard as I thought it was going to be. It was definitely challenging but not impossible. And for the most part I really liked it.

Congratulations! I want to try that too, when I get over my timidness towards it ;)

Amanda wrote: "I finished Ulysses!! I'm so proud of myself for sticking it out. I was so intimidated by this book that the reality ended up being nowhere near as hard as I thought it was going to be. It was defin..."

Congratulations! I'm afraid of that book. :-)

We should buddy read a couple of yours. You have some great stuff. Lolita was one of the best books I've read/listened to this year. It was amazing.

Sarah wrote: "We should buddy read a couple of yours. You have some great stuff. Lolita was one of the best books I've read/listened to this year. It was amazing."

I'd like to read The Ice-Shirt and Daniel Deronda, we could buddy read one of those maybe?I'm also interested in Swann's Way, but not this year I'm afraid.

I'm not going to get to Swann's Way this year either. I was way over optimistic with this list. I would be happy to BR either of the other two. Sarah are you interested in either of them?

I really want to read Wide Sargasso Sea. The others Teanka mentioned look good too, especially The Ice-Shirt.

Wide Sargasso Sea is also very short, so why not? And The Ice-Shirt then :)

I'll read Swann's Way with you next year. Lolita also, if you're willing to wait until March or so. I could read print earlier but the audio was so amazing. It would be a killer book for a discussion.

I'm good with all of that. I know Sept is pretty crowded. So Wide Sargasso Sea in Oct? Or sooner?

How about To the Lighthouse and Wide Sargasso Sea in Oct? Then The Ice-Shirt before The Woman in White?

That's perfect Sarah!

Yay!!! I'm setting up a folder in SpecFic called Classics Corner. We'll be able to organize everything there. Teanka and I are also going to do Kristin Lavransdatter. I'm hoping Oct-Dec because it's quite massive.

Oh I read that last year. I thought it was fabulous. It took me a good 3 months but it was totally worth it.

I've been skirting it for awhile because of the length. The story looks amazing though. It will bypass Gone with the Wind as my longest book.

Sarah wrote: "How about To the Lighthouse and Wide Sargasso Sea in Oct? Then The Ice-Shirt before The Woman in White?"

Sounds perfect Sarah! Together with Kristin Lavransdotter. I'm ordering a copy of Wide Sargasso Sea for October then :).
I won't read To the Lighthouse though.

I'm excited that we'll get to do a little bit off of all of our challenges. :)

Finished Wide Sargasso Sea and gave it 3.5 stars. I'm glad I read it but was a bit underwhelmed. Planning on The Ice-Shirt in Nov and Lolita in Dec. So I'll finish the year with 7/12 and I am happy with that. I knew when I picked these that all 12 of them weren't really realistic. I'm very happy with the ones I have completed and if I do this next year I won't be as over reaching in my choices :)

I read Wide Sargasso Sea last year and was also underwhelmed. I'm glad you're enjoying the challenge. You do have some excellent choices and a few are dauntingly large. As to if we will have the challenge next year, its yes, we are planning to continue with this challenge.

I will also be more studied in my choices for next year. I will probably move Daniel Deronda over to that list and promise myself to READ IT. I noticed it is still on your list as well. I have Wide Sargasso Sea on my TBR, but currently slugging through Villette. I hope you do read The Count of Monte Cristo...what a wonderful and fun read it is.

I am planning on The Count and Daniel next year. Hopefully :)