Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

So diplomatic Brian. I only went with what was offered from the suggester :)
Upon further consideration if others are in support of your campaign idea we will make such a move!

I like Brian’s idea of moving the criteria down from 800 to 750 pp. I didn’t realize there was a newer and longer edition of Svejk. I just used the edition that I have. Either of his solutions work for me, though. Is the process that we select 4 Heftys and 4 Huskys or is it just the top 8?

I like Brian's suggestion, and would also like to support Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady.

I support Cecilia

With Pam's support we have moved The Good Soldier Švejk to the Hefty suggestions.

Pam it is 4 each so that each quarter you have a choice to read a Hefty or a Husky for the quarter.

Support for Clarissa and Cecilia have been added.

Up to date!

Thanks Lesle for the explanation! That makes sense.

Lesle wrote: "With Pam's support we have moved The Good Soldier Švejk to the Hefty suggestions"

Where, if the election ended today, it would be the only Hefty selection without a title containing a woman's name that begins with the letter "C."

Didnt realize Consuelo was a female till I saw La Comtesse de Rudolstadt.

2022 reads are updated under message 1.

Charles Dickens Oliver Twist moved to Genre & Novelist list.

Read: Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois 2018;
Cecilia 2019; recently finished Consuelo; and read Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady 15 - 20 years ago.
Am anxious to reread Clarissa.

I bought this during a recent 3 for 2 Amazon sale of selected books:

He is cute Brian! lol

Suppose to be a really enjoyable, fun book!

I’m glad you found a copy Brian! I bought a used copy several years ago and finally opened it. I like that it has illustrations, maps, and name pronunciations. I plan to start it in January. Looking forward to doing a group read! I need some incentive to read these longer classics.

have begun Sarum: The Novel of Englandby Edward Rutherfurd and have liked it from the start. I do like long books. Hefty it certainly is!

I have a beautifully illustrated edition of Larks Rise. In all my moves could never quite let it go. I would enjoy a reread. Thanks for the reminder.

Penelope wrote: "I have a beautifully illustrated edition of Larks Rise. In all my moves could never quite let it go. I would enjoy a reread. Thanks for the reminder."

You're a lucky duck! Flora Thompson is such a good author!

Great selection for next year Piyangie! Thank you

2023 looks to be a great new year for reading :)

You're welcome, Lesle! It does. :) We've got an interesting collection.

I'll organise the reading order soon.

Wonderful!

I know we are ahead of normal schedule but with our busy lives I think this will be good for all of us. Getting our ducks in a row to add more to our never ending TBR piles. I have already ordered 3 books!!

Lesle wrote: "Wonderful!

I know we are ahead of normal schedule but with our busy lives I think this will be good for all of us. Getting our ducks in a row to add more to our never ending TBR piles. I have alre..."

I agree totally Lesle, I've been caught out a couple of times this year through my failing to get some of our choices in time. I hope to have my 2023 TBR pile sitting ready by the end of 2022 - but I'm not yet as organised as you!

John wrote: "I hope to have my 2023 TBR pile sitting ready by the end of 2022 - but I'm not yet as organized as you!..."

Oh John, I misled :)
I am never organized but I love looking and ordering a good book!
I try to have a list made up of the ones I want to read and make sure I get those books ordered, even if I have to put the one I want on my wish list for prompts when it comes in to the online book store! There are a few times I have not been able to get a book and sacrifice and buy a paperback (ugh).
Most of the time I order more books then I can really read for the year, I blame that on all the great suggestions that are given in this group! Which makes for my ever leaning TBR pile!!

Ready for the fourth quarter reads. I've already started both Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady and Demons.

I suppose no one else is reading the two fourth quarter husky and hefty reads.
Pity, they're pretty good.

Gilbert wrote: "I suppose no one else is reading the two fourth quarter husky and hefty reads.
Pity, they're pretty good."

Enjoy, Gilbert. My only excuse is I just finished the 1004 page Cecilia.

Gilbert wrote: "I suppose no one else is reading the two fourth quarter husky and hefty reads.
Pity, they're pretty good."

I'm reading the Demons, Gilbert. Just started.

Kathy wrote: "Gilbert wrote: "I suppose no one else is reading the two fourth quarter husky and hefty reads.
Pity, they're pretty good."

Enjoy, Gilbert. My only excuse is I just finished the 1004 page Cec..."</i>

If you've liked Burney's [book:Cecilia: Or, Memoirs of an Heiress, Volume 3 you might just appreciate her other two hefties: Camilla or, A Picture of Youth, and The Wanderer.

I'll add those to my TBR, Gilbert. They look good.

Gilbert wrote: "I suppose no one else is reading the two fourth quarter husky and hefty reads.
Pity, they're pretty good."
I am planning to read Demons eventually. I'm a big Dostoyevsky fan.

I've read Demons twice. Happy reading everyone!

It was an excellent experience reading Demons.

I am so sorry everyone! I forgot to open Oct-Dec Hefty/Husky reads!

I want to read Demons but don’t think I can get to it this year! I’m going to bump it up my list.

I'm really enjoying the Demons. I think it'd be another Dostoevsky that I might fall in love with. :)

Piyangie wrote: "it'd be another Dostoevsky that I might fall in love with. :)"

Be careful with falling in love, Piyangie. While Dosty can be quite seductive and rewarding, he is also very "high maintenance" and will command your full effort and attention.

Brian E wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "it'd be another Dostoevsky that I might fall in love with. :)"

Be careful with falling in love, Piyangie. While Dosty can be quite seductive and rewarding, he is also very "high m..."

Quite true, Brian. I fully agree with you that he is high maintenance. I had a good taste of it with The Idiot, the one Dostoevsky which I still think I've misunderstood. I guess I have a weekness of falling in love with people and things of high maintenance. Lol.

I'm in part 2. I like the characters of Stavrogin and Shatov. I feel they are the opposing camp in their beliefs.

To clear up my ideas and start again on a reasonable basis, I had the bright idea of reading the article about the novel on Wikipedia, including the summary of the story until I learned the end.
I don't think I could have made a better choice for one of my several baptisms of Russian literature.

I would like to do The Winds of War (1971).

I have a few hundred pages to go in “Clarissa” , so I’ve decided to start reading another literary building block: “The Mysteries of Paris” by Eugene Sue.
You read enough of these titanic hefties and you’ve got enough to put together a house.

Gilbert wrote: "I have a few hundred pages to go in “Clarissa” , so I’ve decided to start reading another literary building block: “The Mysteries of Paris” by Eugene Sue.
You read enough of these titanic hefties a..."

The Mysteries of Paris not heard of that one Gilbert or the Author?

Lesle wrote: "Gilbert wrote: "I have a few hundred pages to go in “Clarissa” , so I’ve decided to start reading another literary building block: “The Mysteries of Paris” by Eugene Sue.
You read enough of these t..."
I originally read this some 30 years ago when I came across an old copy at a second-hand store. I'd read Sue's other main novel: The Wandering Jew and proceeded with The Mysteries of Paris.
Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas sort of copied his style when writing their major novels: Les Miserables and The Count of Monte Cristo.

The following link is to Booktube (Youtube for readers), which might be helpful to you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap2Cs...

Karin wrote: "I would like to do The Winds of War (1971)."

Karin - The Winds of War and the sequel War and Remembrance are both excellent. I think those 2 books were my introduction to WWII literature.

Finished “The Mysteries of Paris”. This is some novel!

Princes, prostitutes, murders in many different ways, kidnapping and orphans and so much more.

Yes, this is huge, but don’t let that put you off. There is an element of the cliffhanger I found frequently.

There is also Eugene Sue’s social examinations into trying to make life better for the underprivileged of 1740’s Paris and France.

The only drawbacks are 1350 pages weighing four plus pounds. The positive is holding this brick for the 42 days it took to get finished has strengthened my hands and arms. Laugh, and you will, but it works.

Gilbert wrote: "Finished “The Mysteries of Paris”. This is some novel!

Princes, prostitutes, murders in many different ways, kidnapping and orphans and so much more.

Yes, this is huge, but don’t let that put you..."

Sounds right up my alley, Gilbert. I’m not offended by a large page count.