Classics for Beginners discussion

Just finished reading Under the Net by Iris Murdoch. This is my 2nd Murdoch and I've loved both, but I'm at a loss to explain why.

Currently reading a mystery by Georgette Heyer from the 1940's, Envious Casca -- a locked room mystery.

Georgette Heyer has great mysteries!

I finished last week Agnes Grey by Anne Brontee. This is a quick and gread read. If you like romance, you won't be disappointed.

I am currently reading Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock - a classic fantasy story.

Re-re-reading Whitmam
Leaves of Grass and
Warren All the King's Men.

I started and it didn't "hit" me as I expected. :( I stopped at 13%, and it is left aside to grab some dust. :)

I'm reading/listening to The Pickwick Papers. I'm really enjoying it. It's quite funny.

I'm still reading/listening to The Pickwick Papers. I thought this was one of our trimonthly read, but I cannot find the thread.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show_...

One of the interesting things in the book is they go to a town called Mugglesworth and one of the residents of that place is named Podder. Hmmm.... Wonder what JK Rowlings thinks of that?

I can set up a thread, but I didn't hear from the person who nominated the book nor did anyone else (other than you) indicate they were reading the book. I am not reading the book, so I would need to know how to break up the book into threads. You can IM me with suggestions on how many threads to set up.

Oh, don't worry about it. Especially if I'm the only one. I'm just surprised, because if you look at the group's bookshelf, it looks like this was our choice for Oct-Dec.

In fact, if you click the link, I put above it brings up the picture of the PICKWICK PAPERS but the threads are all for ULYSSES.

Oh, thanks, I'll correct that. I'll put one thread up for the book in case others are reading it now or will read in the future.

A shame if you're the only person reading it. It was the first Dickens I read as an adult (after loathing him as a teen), and loved it.

There's a thread in the buddy read folder about it from that reading,

I have also been reading it, but had not really noticed the lack of discussion, or thought perhaps I was early. Very busy at the moment and making slow progress, but enjoyable so far

I created a thread for the book yesterday. I hope you and Kirsten can make comments there.

RitaSkeeter wrote: "A shame if you're the only person reading it. It was the first Dickens I read as an adult (after loathing him as a teen), and loved it.

There's a thread in the buddy read folder about it from that..."

I hated Great Expectations in high school, but I recently finished that and LOVED it!!

Now, I've started listening to this and it's wonderful!! I can imagine the days before radio, TV, movies... the whole family gathered 'round as Ma or Pa read the latest installment.

It's just so funny!! (I'll check out the thread, didn't mean to put you to any work...)

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I'm still reading/listening to The Pickwick Papers. I thought this was one of our trimonthly read, but I cannot find the thread.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show_......"


I started it week before last. I think I made it through about 70 or 80 pages before having to set it aside. Was hoping to get back to it last week, but was not able to. Am hoping to read at least another 50 or so pages this week.

The book was mentioned in Matilda by Roald Dahl, a recent read of mine. I figure if a child of five or six -- fictional or not -- can read it, I should certainly be able to make it through, and I have enjoyed other Dickens books I've read. It's just a matter of carving out time. :-|

Really, Heather? One of the prompts in a challenge I'm doing is to read a book that was mentioned in another book.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Really, Heather? One of the prompts in a challenge I'm doing is to read a book that was mentioned in another book."

Really! There were several classics mentioned in Matilda, but can't think remember all of them -- I'd have to look at the book again. Jane Eyre was another mentioned.

ETA....

Ha! Some days you have to love Google and Wikipedia. Just did a quick search and found the following list, though it omits Pickwick Papers (and I remember a line saying that she thought Mr. Pickwick funny -- Just So Stories by Kipling is also omitted from their list):

Matilda has read a variety of books, especially at the age of four, when she read many in six months:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Gone to Earth by Mary Webb
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Good Companions by J. B. Priestley
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Really, Heather? One of the prompts in a challenge I'm doing is to read a book that was mentioned in another book."

In The Woman in White, one of the characters references a book often. Robinson Crusoe I think.

Hmmm.... Wonder if Wilkie mentions it in all of them? I know he has the butler fixated on it in the Moonstone

Myst wrote: "Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Really, Heather? One of the prompts in a challenge I'm doing is to read a book that was mentioned in another book."

In [book:The Woman in White|58..."

It is possible that Robinson Crusoe is mentioned in Woman in White since that was written by the same author as The Moonstone. However, it wasn't memorable (I finished that book several months ago.) Like Kirsten said, the butler is fixated on the character in The Moonstone. Instead of thinking WWJD - "What would Jesus do," Betteridge thought WWRCD - "What would Robinson Crusoe do?"

LOL! You are so right Emily!! That is why the Betteridge stuck with me so well. Not only was he making decisions based on Robinson Crusoe, he was using it as a test of character. If someone said they hadn't read it, he was appalled.

No Bible for him. He probably knew RC chapter and verse!

On the same subject, Jane Austen frequently mentioned other books in her novels.

Northanger Abbey mentions numerous Gothic mysteries such as The Monk and The Mysteries of Udolpho, as well as The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling.

Emma references The Vicar of Wakefield and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

From Persuasion there is Marmion and The Lady of the Lake.

Mansfield Park mentions Lover's Vows, The Rivals: A Comedy, The School for Scandal and Othello.

And in Pride and Prejudice, she mentions Evelina.

Heather L wrote: "On the same subject, Jane Austen frequently mentioned other books in her novels.

Northanger Abbey mentions numerous Gothic mysteries such as The Monk and [book:The Mys..."

The Monk is a great book! You have to look past the fact that it's written by a teenage boy. I like it because it challenged me to read it. I felt guilty for reading it! That's a book that can journey deep into the soul! *tsk tsk* And the main character started out so well respected. His writing is super poetic and the atmosphere is creepy.

It's not a fluffy book by any means. And I don't recommend it for church people. I think he was excommunicated and ostracized so much for writing it that he never wrote anything ever again, even his poetry which he began with.

I have major trouble getting into Austen and the other British writers of that time period. But I really, really want to get through Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park someday. This year, I'm giving Woolf another chance with Orlando. Her concept is so interesting!

Trying Les Misérables again.....

I started reading The Sun Is Also a Star and I've been listening to Frost Burned

Conuqered Les Misérables; Read King Lear, a trio or Newberry Award/Honor books by Marguerite Henry, and All the King's Men.

Now reading another one of those books I was supposed to have read in college and didn't:

The Canterbury Tales

I am reading Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse. This is my first Wodehouse book. I'm enjoying it! I'm reading 3 other books, one of which I think could be considered a classic in future years - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. It is so good!

Pam wrote: "I am reading Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse. This is my first Wodehouse book. I'm enjoying it! I'm reading 3 other books, one of which I think could be considered..."

I love Wodehouse! I got a copy of My Man Jeeves for Christmas, and I bought myself a copy of Something Fresh (the first Blandings book) which I am reading now.

I recently finished The 39 Steps by John Buchan (1915), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (1876), and A Bell for Adano by John Hersey (1944).

I am currently reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tried when it was the BOM but couldn't get into it. Seem to be fairing better this time. Each time my college aged son has said "ugh I had to read this in high school and hated it". He makes it seem forever ago instead of 4 years. I can't even remember what I was assigned in school.

I'm currently reading The Phantom of the Opera and loving it. Also reading simultaneously Atonement.

Finished The Canterbury Tales. Found it a mixed bag, but one that if I had put aside for awhile, I never would have picked it back up. So I pushed through at the end (even though I had lost interest in it by the 2/3 point).

Moving on to The Red Sphinx: A Sequel to The Three Musketeers, my third Dumas Novel.

I'm currently reading The Brothers Karamazov and after first part I'm stunned. This maybe will become my favorite deservedly.
Few days ago i finished Tess of the D'Urbervilles and compared to The Brothers Karamazov i hate how silly looks Tess.

Recently finished The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers.

Fun travel back to a simpler time. 1902 era spy thriller set amongst the waters off of the coast of the Netherlands. Before cell phones, GPS, computers, the alleged Islamic State, etc.

Finished The Red Sphinx: A Sequel to The Three Musketeers. 5 stars

Dumas is now on my favorite authors shortlist.

Moving on to Psycho.

I just finished reading We, so I will be ready to discuss it in May! Currently, I'm reading 20000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Reading A Moveable Feast. My third Hemingway book this year.

Moving on to Erewhon.

Just started Anne of Green Gables

I am currently reading "To kill a mocking bird". I am already half way through the book, and it feels like the central idea or theme of the book haven't started yet

Diana wrote: "I'm reading Wuthering Heights. It's hard for me understand what's going on sometimes, but other than that it's fine."

I was the same when I read it. It took me a while to get into it but I'm glad I read it a shot I did enjoy it

I started The Haunting of Hill House. Sweet Thursday I just finished which is a sequel to Cannery Row.

I just finished Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë.

I can't find the group read for My Cousin Rachel.

Hi Blueberry. If you click on the Group Reads threads, it is there, but quite a way down. I think maybe I was the only one who read it though.
I'm currently reading The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II by Frances Hodgson Burnett One of the Persephone Classics and the first of her adult books that I've read.

I finished My Cousin Rachel the other night, but I did not see a discussion for it, either. Of course, it might help if a mod would go through the group reads and unpin all old discussions so only the most recent stays at top of the board. I know it might seem like a lot of work, but if you do it monthly as I do for another group I co-mod it doesn't take long at all. 😉

Hi, I’m Steven. I’m currently reading 20,000 leagues under the sea by Jules Verne. I just joined the group and am gonna pick up and start the April read.

Just about finished with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark.

I recently finished Joanna Godden, about a girl who is left a farm and decides to run it herself. It has echoes of Far From the Madding Crowd, but I much preferred Joanna Godden. She is a much warmer character than Bathsheba Everdene, but just as strong minded.
It is available on Project Gutenberg if anyone is interested in it.