You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Last time I set this challenge was in March too, and I was wondering why that is. I think that it is early enough in the year that I am feeling ambitious about my reading. I am going to read all these books, and get so many badges! I am going to finally get to that book that has been haunting me in all the challenges over the past years (The Help). Or read that doorstop that I have wanted to but god it's daunting (The Stand). Or read all the classics I have meant to read for ever.

So let's try for that last one. It's been 10 years between drinks, and I am sure you have gathered some well meaning tomes on your shelves that you have meant to read, but when the choice is between them or the new shiny release, the classics aren't going anywhere... they'll keep.

But the time is now - grab your classic book of choice and let's get reading!

But "What is a Classic?" I hear you ask. - “A classic book is a book that is very well known and passed down through generations.”
And for the purposes of this challenge, I would like to you to choose a book pre-WWII, so the first published date is 1935 or earlier.

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge and the Group Themed Read.
3. The book must be read between March 1 - March 31, 2023 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you may only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.

In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, use the hardcover or paperback edition to determine page length. From the book page, select “all editions”, then select the first paper edition as your guide. If reading an ebook and there is no paper edition, the ebook book must be at least 250 pages. If reading an audiobook and there is no paper edition, your book must be a minimum of 6 hours long.

Scoring

Date First Published
5 points - Earlier than 1599
4 points - 1600 –> 1699
3 points - 1700 –> 1799
2 points - 1800 –> 1935

Author
4 points - Author original wrote the book in another language than English
3 points - The book was written while the author was in their 30s
2 points - Last name begins with T
1 point - Female

Cover
5 points - There is a candle prominently on the cover
4 points - Cover is 75% green (if in doubt, use http://labs.tineye.com/color/)
3 points - Cover has a man in a hat on the front
2 points - Cover has a lady in a white dress on the front
1 point - Title is in italics

Length
5 points - 600pp and over
4 points - 599-500pp
3 points - 499-400pp
2 points - 399-300pp
1 point - 299-200pp

Please remember to include your Wall of Fame name in your reporting post.

Update - 24/3 - Make sure you tell me if you have abandoned your book

WoF Fiona

I read Die Göttliche Komödie by Dante Alighieri. I really really wanted to love this but it was the same thing over and over again and the narrator was incredibly terrible.

Scoring:

Date first published:
5 points - published 1320

Author:
4 points - Original language is Italian

Cover:
3 points - Man in a hat in the front


Length:
4 points - 565 pages

Total: 16 points

WoF Jayme

I read Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs. This rare autobiographical account of a woman living as a slave in South Carolina and her struggle for freedom is considered to be the first book to describe the plight of slave women at the hands of their white "masters." It should be required reading for all American History students.

2 Points - Date published 1861
1 Point - Female author
2 Points - Cover - lady in white dress

5 Total Points

WoF Ariane

I read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
First of all, it was on my TBR since 2015, so yay me I guess.
The writing is beautiful, the themes are timeless and interesting at any age. But I did not have a good time listening to it. Maybe Dickens isn't for me after all. And it is so long.

Date: 1860: 2 points
Cover: Man with a hat: 3 points
Length: 544: 4 ponts

9 points total

WoF Marnie

I read The Moonstone which was a solid 3 star rating but I inflated it to 4 stars because of originality.

Published 1868- 2 points
Length 644 pages- 5 points
Total 7 points

WoF Almeta

Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe 1852 7 Mar

Date First Published
2 points - January 1, 1852

Author
1 point - Female

Cover
3 points - Cover has a man in a hat on the front

Length
3 points - 438 pages

9 points total

WoF Beth

Monkey King: Journey to the West
First published 1592=5
Author wrote in a Chinese language of that era (not sure which)=4
Cover has monkey demon with hat so no points I think
339 pp = 2 SO
Total 11 points

WoFSharonBiskit

Northanger Abbey
I read Northanger Abbey.

Points:
2 (Written in 1817)
1(female author)
2 (white dress on cover)
1 ( 254 pp.)

Total: 6 points

WoF Kabrada

Death of an Airman
A lovely whodunnit, slow-paced and with lots of twists. I did guess most of the "big reveals" along the way - and that was actually nice!

First published in 1934 (2 points)
Listened to audiobook, original HC had 306 pages (2 points)

Total 4 points

Am right in assuming that I can replace this book with another one in the (unlikely) case that I should read another "old" book this month that might be worth more points?

Wof Anna M

The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore

First published 1916 (2 pts)
Original language Bengali (4 pts)
Last name begins with T (2 pts)
256 pages (2 pts)

Total: 10 points

Anna wrote: "Wof Anna M

The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore

First published 1916 (2 pts)
Original language Bengali (4 pts)
Last name begins with T (2 pts)
256 pages (2 p..."

Did you enjoy it?

WofF TrudyAn

I read Oliver Twist for the challenge.

2 points - 1800 –> 1935 (first published 1837)

3 points - 499-400pp (432 pp)

Total 5 points

WoF Sandra from PA

I read Frankenstein. This is a reread for me, and I liked it way better this time than I did in 2016. I think I was more prepared knowing how annoying Victor Frankenstein is.

2 points - 1800 –> 1935 (first published in 1818)
1 point - Female author
1 point - 299-200 pp (215 pp)

Total: 4 points

WoF - Janice

I read Dracula for this challenge.

Scoring:

Date First Published - May 26, 1897
2 points - 1800 –> 1935

Length - I read audiobook, based on paperback - 488 pages
3 points - 499-400pp


Total points: 5

WoF Jane Reads

I read Kidnapped at the Altar Or, the Romance of That Saucy Jessie Bain for this challenge.

Scoring:

Date First Published - 1909
2 points - 1800 –> 1935

Author
1 point - Female

Cover - plain red
0 points

Length - eBook; paperback, 182 pages
0 points


Total points: 3

WoF - Lynn

Anne of Avonlea

Scoring

Date First Published:
2 points - 1800 –> 1935

Author:
3 points - The book was written while the author was in their 30s
1 point - Female

Cover: 0

Length: 1 point - 299-200pp

Total: 7 points

WOF name Marie (UK)

I read Emma Emma

2 point published 1815
1 point females
4 point for length 512 pages

WoF: Grainne

I read Brave New World

Scoring:
2 points - 1800 –> 1935
3 points - the book was written while the author was in his 30s
1 point - 299-200pp (268pp)
Total: 6 points

WoF: Kristie

I read The Man in the Brown Suit.

Scoring -

Date First Published: 2
2 points - 1800 –> 1935 (1924)

Author: 4
3 points - The book was written while the author was in their 30s (33)
1 point - Female

Cover: 0

Length: 2
2 points - 399-300pp (381pp)

Total: 8

Update - 24/3 - Make sure you tell me if you have abandoned your book

Rusalka wrote: "Update - 24/3 - Make sure you tell me if you have abandoned your book"

I didn't think we could report abandoned books for challenges, just for group reads where discussion is the goal (if you discussed it). Is that changed?

today it has. keeping it fresh

or something

Hahaha, ok! It's your challenge. Do as you please. lol

Lol just confusing everyone. Also, not a permanent change, just this challenge.

So let me know if this is you this month!

WoF Katrisa
I read Jacob's Room. It was published in 1922


Score -
Date 1922 - 2 pts
Author female - 1 pt
Length 352 - 2 pts
Total: 5

Rusalka wrote: "Lol just confusing everyone. Also, not a permanent change, just this challenge.

So let me know if this is you this month!"

Not this time! Not my favorite genre, but I was able to get through it. Audio helped. ;)

WoF Vicki

I read The Scarlet Letter

I did not like it. I found the writing to be very dry and ornate. And while it wasn't as bad as I had expected in regards to morals and sin (it was actually quite critical of Puritans) I don't think it had anything interesting to say.

2 pts - published in 1850
3 pts - There are men in hats on the cover
1 pts - 251 pages
_____
6 pts total!

WoF Nix

I read I, Claudius

I quite enjoyed the book, felt like a gossip girl episode on the Roman kings as there was a lot of drama going on. There were so many political ruses and conspiracies going on, I was wondering how any king survived during that period! A pretty fun ride.

Scoring

Date published - Published 1934 - 2 pts
Author - born in 1895 will be 38/39 years - 3 pts
Pages - 468 pages - 3pts

Total: 8pts

WoF - Odette

I read Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel by Luo Guanzhong


This was an interesting book with a style of writing that was easy to read. However, it did require careful reading with a large number of characters and facts to keep track of.
It is the story of the fall of the Han Dynasty, and the formation of the three warring kingdoms.
I enjoyed reading this book, in which there is a lot to think about. It was a great insight into early Chinese history and its culture.

Scoring

Date First Published
5 points - Earlier than 1599 - First Published 1522
Author
4 points - Author original wrote the book in another language than English - Written originally in some form of Chinese.
Length
4 points - 599-500pp - This edition paperback: 512 pages

Total: 13 points

WoF: Emma. R

I read White Fang by Jack London.

Scoring

Date First Published
2 points - 1800 –> 1935
Length
1 point - 299-200pp (252 pages)

Total Points: 3

WoF Aya

I read The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon.

This journal of palace life is an interesting subject, especially since it was written by a woman. Despite my lack understanding in poetry, I'm impressed at Shonagon's knowledge of old poems and her ability to produce one. No wonder that her remarks became a talk between the men in the Imperial Palace. This is a kind of book I should read a decade ago, but I don't think I'd appreciate it as much as when I read it now


Scoring:
5 － earlier than 1599 (1002)
4 － originally written in Japanese
3 － written in 30s
1 － female
1 － title in italics
3 － 419 pages

Total: 17 points

WoF - Jenn

I read Dracula
2 pts - Date first Published - 1897
3 pts - Length - 488 pages

Total of 5 pts

How did I forget to report my book? I made sure I reviewed it quickly so I could chuck it in the bin!

Wof - Rusalka
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure
Date First Published - 3 points - 1700 –> 1799
Author - 3 points - The book was written while the author was in their 30s
Cover - 0 points. She has a white dress I think, but she is definitely not wearing it.
Length - 1 point - 299-200pp

Total - 7 points, which was not enough to deal with that.