Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

1899 and earlier:
The Count of Monte Cristo, 1844
The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895
Madame Bovary, 1856

1900-1999:
Animal Farm, 1945
Anne of Avonlea, 1909
The Return of Sherlock Holmes, 1904 1/17/15

My Wild Cards:
The Woman in White, 1860
Middlesex, 2003
The Man in the Brown Suit, 1924
World Without End, 2007
The Red House Mystery, 1922
Persuasion, 1818

Alternates:
The Book Thief, 2005
The Thorn Birds, 1977 - 1/25/15

Lori, I think you're still putting them off... ;)

Ha, maybe so. But I'm really trying to convince myself that I'm going to get all these read this year....

I got all of my list out of my closet. I think I owned all but two. I have a terrible habit of buying them and then not reading them.

I've got The Woman in White on my list, too, and I'm SO excited for it! It's been years since I read Animal Farm.

I do the same thing! I have a full library with boxes that won't fit, many many that I have not YET read. Then we have the ones on my Kindle... However, I'm encouraged because Challenges like this really help to motivate me. So, Sarah, did you like Animal Farm? I've heard about it forever, but never read it.

I did like it. I read it when I was a teenager though, and my opinion is sometimes different now that I'm older. I did really enjoy it, though.

I just saw you added Anne of Avonlea! There may be better books on here, but I love Anne!!! This whole series was one of my favorites when I was a kid. I still have my very well used set and I can't seem to give it up.

I'm reading The Thorn Birds next month :) Also, Bovary and The Woman in White are on my list. The Book Thief was really remarkable. There's some great stuff here!

I love Anne too. I decided to reread some of the books that I loved as a child. So far, I still love them.

So, you are going to read 200 books in 2015, or did you already in 2014? Very impressive!! I used to read all the time, but got a new job where I work so much that when I get home I'm exhausted. So, I read next to nothing this year. I plan to change that this next year. Do the challenges motivate you?

They do motivate me. Last year I only did the 200 overall but then I was so focused on that number that I was reading easier books, like a lot of teen. I like teen books but I don't want them to be my only focus. This year I'm doing these kinds of challenges but no overall one. I'm hoping that will get me reading some more difficult novels.

So, these do help you? They're quite a lot of fun and I love seeing people's lists.

OH, Thorn birds was one of the best books I read this year! And one of my all time favourites now. And World without end was also great! (But I liked Pillars of the Earth better, maybe just because the style of the writer was new to me and it was nice surprise. In the second book I kind of knew what to expect, style wise at least.)
Middlesex was also very very good.
You have nice readings coming up ;)

I read The Red House Mystery this year. I thought it was pretty good but not special. Also I've read most of the Sherlock stories as a child but I can't remember which I am missing.

Welcome to the challenge. Your list contains more books unread by me than read. Unfortunately for my TBR there's not a book on your list that I wouldn't pickup as my next read. Except maybe Anne of Avonlea. I would someday like to read Anne of Green Gables, just because its one of my mothers favorites. I can highly recommend The Count of Monte Cristo, one of my top 10 favorites. Also Animal Farm, World Without End, and The Book Thief are very good reads. The Book Thief is especially memorable. It's also a emotional roller coaster, well worth reading. Good Luck on your challenge!

You have some really good books on your list, several of my all-time favourites Count of Monte Cristo, Woman in White, Sherlock Holmes especially. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the Book Thief (if you end up reading it as an alternate!), I did enjoy it and yet my lasting impression wasn't as positive as most other people's...

I don't think I will ever read The Book Thief. I think I would agree mainly with the negative reviews. If I want to read a book from the German perspective, I think I would prefer that the author is a German, too, maybe Every Man Dies Alone. I already have A Time to Love and a Time to Die as a BC book, too.

@Tytti At first I found the central conceit interesting but the more I read the more irritating I found it. I was left with the impression of an author who thought he was rather cleverer than he really was

I have to agree with the assessment of The Book Thief as less amazing than many people have rated it. While I thought it was good, it was no more special than tons of other WWII novels.

Lori, I like your list because it has some books that no one else has included. I have read about half of your choices and all are worth reading.

I thought The Book Thief was absolutely wonderful. And heartbreaking. I think it's main strength was the way it was narrated by Death. It allowed you to see happy moments, sad moments, and devastating ones. It was very emotional for me.

Sarah wrote: "They do motivate me. Last year I only did the 200 overall but then I was so focused on that number that I was reading easier books, like a lot of teen. I like teen books but I don't want them to be..."

Yes, they motivate me a lot. I have to watch myself to keep my overall goal in mind (reading more books, expanding my horizons) rather than completing a challenge, ha. But I do so much better with a challenge that I think they help me stay after it!

I love looking at others lists too. There are so many wonderful books out there. It's nice to know other's favorites.

I'm kind of liking these smaller, more focused challenges.

Desertorum wrote: "OH, Thorn birds was one of the best books I read this year! And one of my all time favourites now. And World without end was also great! (But I liked Pillars of the Earth better, maybe just because..."

I loved Pillars of the Earth too! I know my Mom loved Thorn birds so I really believe I'll enjoy it. I'm excited to start.

Bob wrote: "Welcome to the challenge. Your list contains more books unread by me than read. Unfortunately for my TBR there's not a book on your list that I wouldn't pickup as my next read. Except maybe Anne..."

Thanks Bob. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming year of reading. It sure is nice to have others to discuss them with.

I'm intrigued that there is a wide divergence of opinion on the Book Thief. I'll hopefully have time to get it read this year so that I can comment.

Lori, are you really reading Thorn Birds because your mom liked it? I'm reading it for a different challenge but the reason I got really excited about it was that my Mom talked about it when I was a kid.

My aunt also loved The Book Thief. We were both raving about it the last time I saw her. :)

My Mom and I have exactly the same taste in books and food. I know if she likes it, I'll like it. Ha, ha and yes she talked about it when I was a kid. I bought it, but never read it... I may actually start with that one.

I'm starting with it. in way to excited to finally read it.

That's cool about you and your mom. It cuts the experimentation in half. It's almost like getting twice as many books read. :)

Absolutely loved The Thorn Birds. It sure did keep me glued to the page. I cried, laughed, got mad, put it down, picked it up and finished it. I think I'm going to have to go rent the movie!

Isn't it a series, not a movie? The Thorn Birds, I mean...

Yes, it was a mini-series

I had no idea! I'll have to check it out.

I remember watching it as a kid. Or at least I think I remember.

Great to hear you also loved The Thorn Birds. I´m almost sad that I have already read it :D