I read A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, back in high school, and while I loved it then, I suspect I'd love it even more now. This is at the tippy-top of my re-read list.
Middlemarch, by George Eliot, is a commitment! Have you seen the size of this thing? BUT, I read the much shorter Silas Marner, and I adored it. I'm not so weary to commit since I have that success under my belt.
I flaked on a readalong of North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, a few years ago, and I've felt guilty ever since! I really liked the part I read, but...life. Now I have both NandS AND Cranford waiting on my TBR.
Now...here's where we get dusty.
I'll be reading East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, in July! My book club chose it, AND it's an #EstellaProject pick! Two birds, one stone. Love it!
Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry, is another huge chunk of a book. Given all the great reviews I've read, I think I'll really get sucked into this one.
While I didn't adore Vile Bodies, by Evelyn Waugh, the way I thought I would, I'm still keen to try Brideshead Revisited. It just sounds so "me."
I can barely even remember what Roast Beef, Medium, by Edna Ferber, is about, but it's free on GirlEbooks.com AND I've seen some great reviews of this one, too.
The Painted Veil, by W. Somerset Maugham, seems to be a university favorite with those who pick it up and review it. I need to know what the hooplah is about, and this will be my first Maugham book!
I started reading the heartbreaking Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates, years ago. Again...life. I haven't finished it, but I was suitably impressed with that first go-round to really want to try again. Back to the beginning I go!
What's on your classics wanna-read list?
I'll just sit right here and wait until you're finished reading Revolutionary Road. Ah! One of my favorite books. So good.
ReplyDeleteLOL, THAT is an excellent endorsement.
DeleteThis TTT is right up my alley... I'll have to do it a day late;-)
ReplyDeleteSo, this list - I love it! A Tale of Two Cities is my least favorite Dickens so far, but I think I might like it more upon reread. Just read Middlemarch this spring - slow start, but a great book.
Loved the North and South readalong.... my intro to Gaskell. I want to read all of her novels. East of Eden is an all-time favorite. Still need to try McMurtry and Ferber, but Brideshead Revisited was just an OK book for me.
The Painted Veil and Revolutionary Road were both favorites the year I read them.
You're going to enjoy tackling this list!!
I know! I was so excited to see this topic pop up. I'd be interested to know which other Dickens books you've read. I have Great Expecations, this one, Hard Times and Oliver Twist under my belt with lots more I 'need' to read.
DeleteI hate that I epically failed the N&S readalong. lol I shall atone!
I'm so glad to hear it about Revolutionary Raod and The Painted Veil! I have some good stuff ahead. :)
Besides A Tale of Two Cities, I've only read Great Expectations, Bleak House, and A Christmas Carol... think David Copperfield will be next.
DeleteLonesome Dove is awesome. I looooooove that book. You will totally fall in love with the two main characters. East of Eden and Middlemarch are at the tippy top of my list too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not even as scared of that one as I usually am of chunksters. I just have a feeling I'm going to adore it. Yay Middle March and EoE!
DeleteThe Painted Veil is so lovely, and extremely easy to read. East of Eden was wonderful but it took a lot more work for me. The others? Well, either I haven't heard of them, or I'll avoid them like the plague, haha!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing that, Amanda! The modern and contemporary classics are so great for that balance of heft and meaning and accessible language.
DeleteI haven't read any of these, but a bunch of them need to go on my TBR list stat.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Good luck with them, Leah!
DeleteIt's been quite a while since I've read a classic. I loved A Tale of Two Cities back in the day as well.
ReplyDeleteIt was so rich and twisted! I can't wait to revisit it.
DeleteGreat list! There's several of these I had completely forgotten about like Brideshead Revisited. I'll definitely have to add that to my list. I loved East of Eden though if I remember correctly it did stall out a bit in the middle.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katherine! Thanks for the warning about the middle of East of Eden. With such a lengthy book, I worry about stuff like that!
DeleteTale of Two Cities is one of my favorites. And that edition is beautimus!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it??? I actually have that particular edition (sometimes I put my wishlist editions on these posts), and it's a delight to read.
DeleteI liked North and South, better than I expected. I love East of Eden! Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear it, Teri! I think I will like it, I just have to keep focused!
DeleteI see quite a few on here I'd want to read too.
ReplyDeleteI just want to pick them all up at once!
DeleteOh man, how great are all those covers? YAY CLASSICS!
ReplyDeleteI adored LONESOME DOVE the movie versions, so I can only imagine the books are fantastic!
I'm SUCH a #coverho, Lisa! I have never seen the movie of Lonesome Dove, but I'll definitely check it out once I've read the novel.
DeleteSo, you are going to be reading Les Mis and East of Eden in the same month? You are brave! Or crazy ;)
ReplyDeleteI picked up Lonesome Dove a number of years back at the urging of our philosopher professor. I was so intrigued by this source of encouragement that I just had to do it! So glad I did. A great story with some depth to it.
I still need to read The Painted Veil. I love Maugham's writing.
Great list of classics to read here. Go Andi!
Haha! I'm betting East of Eden will take me the first two weeks, and then I'll pick Les Mis back up to read alongside shorter books. It seemed to work for me last summer, so we'll see how it goes!
DeleteI'm so glad to hear it re: Lonesome Dove!
I have never read Maugham, but I'm really excited to try him out.
Thanks, Terri!
Lonesome Dove is so good--I hope you enjoy it. I haven't seen Edna Ferber pop up on a list in forever! I read Giant back in junior high and was obsessed with the movie, like any good Texan. :) I probably should try to get around to reading The Painted Veil and East of Eden...someday.
ReplyDeleteYay! Everyone is saying that and it makes me happy and even more excited. I'm not terribly familiar with Ferber, but I've had this specific book on my TBR for ages! Since we're doing a readalong of East of Eden from later in July and into August, you should join us!
DeleteThis list was meant for you simply due to the #coverho possibilities!!! Fantastic list.
ReplyDeleteAmen sister!
DeleteNot-great confession: I've never been able to finish either North and South or Middlemarch. Middlemarch depressed me too much with how bad everything sucked for poor Dorothea, and the fact that I knew a teeny bit about German folklore research and thus knew what was ultimately going to happen with whatshisface's book just made it unbearable to read. And North and South, um, I just got lazy. There is a really good BBC miniseries of it with Richard Armitage and I just watched that instead.
ReplyDeleteOh noes! Eliot is pretty good at writing her characters into suckiness, but I have faith they'll find their way into something better! Or I assume since it all worked out in Silas Marner. hehe And yes, I can't wait to watch the mini-series of North and South, but I'm making myself read it first. Making!
DeleteEast of Eden is a gem. That is all I am going to say about that.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
DeleteEast of Eden is on my list of classics to read in the near future. Loved Middlemarch - Eliot's characterization is simply excellent. Cranford is a great gentle read - hardly anything happens, at least according to most standards of plot, so don't read it if you're longing for eventful reading. Lonesome Dove is storytelling at its best. Considering its size, I just flew through that book. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think North and South is going to be one of my best reads of the year. It's awesome.
ReplyDeleteLady, you have some loonnnnggg books on this list! I'm with you on the Gaskell - she is an author I have to read one of these days.
ReplyDeleteHow did I possibly forget to put Lonesome Dove on my list? It's great, and even though it's massive, it's so absorbing that you'll hardly notice. I read Silas Marker in high school and liked it, but I'm still pretty intimidated by Middlemarch which is sadly gathering dust on my shelves. Maybe someday....
ReplyDeleteAwesome list, no go read them all. I think you need to finish Revolutionary Road first. I'm currently reading Middlemarch and taking my time with it because there is a lot going on in there. You need to have a lot of time to invest in that one, but I'm loving it. Although I'm cheating and using a reading guide as well.
ReplyDeleteI keep telling myself I want to pick up a few classics, I read many in HS and college, but not much in that time. I commend your efforts...but I'm a sucker for pretty new books!
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading Peter Pan with the little girl. That was my first read of it ever. Love A Tale of Two Cities but it has been ages since I last read it. Should reread soon.
ReplyDeleteEast of Eden was a book that got me back in love with reading after several years of not reading when I had a new baby and toddler. I would really love to reread it. I gave my copy away to a "friend" years ago but the friendship fizzled. I miss the book but not the "friend."
ReplyDeleteYou have so many great reads to look forward to! I read Cranford a couple years ago and have been meaning to read more of her work ever since. I see a North and South readalong in our future!
ReplyDeleteI really should read The Painted Veil as I really enjoyed the film version.
ReplyDeleteI read Middlemarch when I was really young so I think I'm due a re-read. You need to read The Painted Veil! I'm definitely one of those people that raves about it. Great list, you've got some wonderful classics in your future :)
ReplyDeleteI love Gaskell's North and South! It was so accessible (unlike some classics that take me a little more time to adjust to the prose). I hope you enjoy the rest of it!
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read Lonesome Dove too! Readalong, perhaps?! :)
ReplyDeleteMy most important wanna-read classic is Jane Eyre.
ReplyDeleteYep. I still haven't read it (hope you still are my friend)
I have to admit that I haven't read any of the books listed here. I seriously clack off when it comes to the classics.
ReplyDeleteI can say that Lonesome Dove is one of my boyfriend's fathers favorite books.