Tag: The Classics Club

Classics Club Spin: The Winner Is…

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

classicsclub

The Classics Club announced the Spin number today:

8

Which means I’ll be reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.  I’ll take a look at the book later today and figure out if I want to do a readalong.

  1.  Albee, Edward: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
  2. Lawrence, D.H.: Lady Chatterley’s Lover
  3. Atwood, Margaret: A Handmaid’s Tale
  4. Du Maurier, Daphne: Rebecca
  5. Barrie, J.M.: Peter Pan
  6. Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo
  7. Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front
  8. Smith, Betty: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
  9. Bronte, Anne: Agnes Grey
  10. Fitzgerald, F. Scott: Tender is the Night
  11. Flaubert, Gustav: Madame Bovary
  12. Milton, John: Paradise Lost
  13. Burnett, Frances Hodgson: The Secret Garden
  14. Proust, Marcel: Swann’s Way
  15. Goethe, Johann: Faust
  16. Carroll, Lewis: Alice in Wonderland
  17. Yeats, William Butler: Irish Faerie Tales
  18. Hemingway, Ernest: A Farewell to Arms
  19. de Saint-Exupery, Antoine: The Little Prince
  20. Swift, Jonathon: Gulliver’s Travels

Classics Club Spin #12

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

classicsclub

It’s that time again!  The Classics Club is doing another Spin.  Below is my Spin list.  On Monday, a number between 1 and 20 will be chosen, and I’ll be reading the book from my list that corresponds with that number.  I’ll have until May 2nd to finish it.  Depending on which book it is, I might do a read-along.

  1.  Albee, Edward: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
  2. Lawrence, D.H.: Lady Chatterley’s Lover
  3. Atwood, Margaret: A Handmaid’s Tale
  4. Du Maurier, Daphne: Rebecca
  5. Barrie, J.M.: Peter Pan
  6. Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo
  7. Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front
  8. Smith, Betty: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
  9. Bronte, Anne: Agnes Grey
  10. Fitzgerald, F. Scott: Tender is the Night
  11. Flaubert, Gustav: Madame Bovary
  12. Milton, John: Paradise Lost
  13. Burnett, Frances Hodgson: The Secret Garden
  14. Proust, Marcel: Swann’s Way
  15. Goethe, Johann: Faust
  16. Carroll, Lewis: Alice in Wonderland
  17. Yeats, William Butler: Irish Faerie Tales
  18. Hemingway, Ernest: A Farewell to Arms
  19. de Saint-Exupery, Antoine: The Little Prince
  20. Swift, Jonathon: Gulliver’s Travels

Classics Club: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

Oz

  • Author: L. Frank Baum

I received the audiobook for free from audiobooks.com.

I enjoyed the story much more than I thought I would.  While I love the film adaptation, I had some initial reservations about the book considering I learned that L. Frank Baum wrote it as a political and economic statement in support of the Populist party who supported a bimetallic standard of gold (the yellow brick road) and silver (Dorothy’s silver shoes.  That’s right, they’re silver in the book, not ruby), instead of the Gold Standard.  However, I realized while listening to the book that, if there is some kind of statement at all, it’s not in any way obvious.

Maybe I missed something, though.  That’s possible for two reasons.  First, Brooke Shields narrated the book as if she were reading it to a very young child, and the majority of her male character voices were downright annoying.  Second, Dorothy has no agency.  She doesn’t do anything deliberately unless you count her following the instructions to walk down the yellow brick road to get to the Emerald City.  Everything else just sort of happens to her, or is an accident.  How did I miss that in the movie?!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written in 1900, and it was meant to be a children’s book.  These reasons are the only ones for why I forgive Dorothy’s lack of legitimate action.  She is technically the main character, however, so there’s that.  Putting Brooke Shields’ narration aside, I would recommend the book to anyone who wants a quick Classic to read or wants a Classic children’s chapter book to give to a kid who might enjoy it.

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The Classics Club: Moll Flanders

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Moll Flanders

  • Author: Daniel Defoe
  • Pages: 319

This is one of the many Classic novels I got for free from Barnes and Noble for my Nook so many years ago.  It was mentioned in Bibliotherapy: The Girl’s Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives by Nancy Peske and Beverly West, and so I added it to my TBR.  Daniel Defoe’s introduction stated that this was the story of a woman who led the life of a criminal and then repented.  Instead, the story reaffirms the abysmal state of women during the 18th century, especially poor women without a family name and reputation to fall back on.

While I understand that, for the time, the  story was considered scandalous and full of intrigue, the first part of the book was rather dull, and I kept wondering how Moll getting taken advantage of by seemingly every man she came into contact with was somehow indicative of her being a criminal.  I felt sorry for her and her naive trust in wealthy men who only wanted to turn her into their personal whore.  The second part was a little better, and the criminal activities she participates in so she could cobble together a living for herself only made me feel that much more sympathetic towards her and women of her time.  Also, I didn’t see Moll’s escape from a life of crime as a repentance for past sins and her transformation into a morally upstanding English citizen so much as taking the opportunity to get out of England and start a new life with a considerably higher chance of not dying in prison.  However, she’s still too trusting and ends up with a d-bag of a husband.  The more things change…

I think Charles Dickens would have written this story much better than Daniel Defoe did.  Yes, there’s a hundred years difference between the two authors and their writing styles, but Defoe knew how to take his time getting to the point.  Throughout most of the story, I was either bored or wondering when the real criminal behavior would begin.  Towards the end, I just wanted it to be over with already.  The only thing I’m happy about is finally being able to cross this Classic off my list.

Classics Club: The Call of the Wild

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments

Wild

  • Author: Jack London

I listened to the audiobook version I received for free through audiobooks.com.

The Call of the Wild is one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read.  Also, I didn’t read the synopsis, and so wasn’t aware that the story was from a dog’s point of view.  While that’s not a bad thing, it was unexpected.  Buck, a St. Bernard and Shepherd mix, is stolen from his home and endures cruelty and abuse throughout the story.  While there is a, mostly, happy ending, listening was painful.

I also think I wasn’t in the best frame of mind to listen to a story like this.  I had already been feeling depressed, and the weather was crappy that day.  Luckily, it’s a relatively short book (2 hours and 52 minutes), which is why I chose it at the time, and I listened to it while I was cleaning and reorganizing my office.

I’ll probably re-read The Call of the Wild at some point to give it another chance; preferably during a time when I’m not feeling like garbage and the sun is shining.  While I usually love to read stories set during a particular season when it’s also that time of year in reality, I think this book is best read during the Summer.  However, if you can’t handle frequent scenes of animal abuse, you should skip this one and maybe try another book about dogs or wolves, as long as it’s not by Jack London (I recommend Jean Craighead George).

Classics Club: And the Winner Is….

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

classicsclub

The Classics Club posted the Spin number – 19!  Below is my Spin list.  I’ll be reading Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe.  I’ll have until February 1st to finish it.  I haven’t yet decided whether or not I’ll do a read-along, but if I do, it won’t start until after Christmas.  If you’re interested, say so in the comments.

  1. Nabokov, Vladimir: Lolita
  2. Cooper, James Fenimore: The Last of the Mohicans
  3. Bronte, Anne: Agnes Grey
  4. London, Jack: White Fang
  5. Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo
  6. Melville, Herman: Moby Dick
  7. Flaubert, Gustav: Madame Bovary
  8. Proust, Marcel: Swann’s Way
  9. Gogol, Nikolay: Dead Souls
  10. Carroll, Lewis: Alice in Wonderland
  11. Yeats, William Butler: Irish Faerie Tales
  12. Wells, H.G.: The Time Machine
  13.  Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter
  14. Hemingway, Ernest: A Farewell to Arms
  15. Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  16. Tolstoy, Leo: Anna Karenina
  17. Heller, Joseph: Catch-22
  18. de Saint-Exupery, Antoine: The Little Prince
  19. Defoe, Daniel: Moll Flanders
  20. Dickens, Charles: Oliver Twist

Classics Club Spin #11

Published on by Rachelle9 Comments

classicsclub

It’s that time again!  The Classics Club is doing another Spin.  Below is my Spin list.  On Monday, a number between 1 and 20 will be chosen, and I’ll be reading the book from my list that corresponds with that number.  I’ll have until February 1st to finish it.  As always, depending on which book it is, I might do a read-along.  However, for the sake of the Holidays, I won’t start it until after Christmas.

  1. Nabokov, Vladimir: Lolita
  2. Cooper, James Fenimore: The Last of the Mohicans
  3. Bronte, Anne: Agnes Grey
  4. London, Jack: White Fang
  5. Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo
  6. Melville, Herman: Moby Dick
  7. Flaubert, Gustav: Madame Bovary
  8. Proust, Marcel: Swann’s Way
  9. Gogol, Nikolay: Dead Souls
  10. Carroll, Lewis: Alice in Wonderland
  11. Yeats, William Butler: Irish Faerie Tales
  12. Wells, H.G.: The Time Machine
  13.  Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter
  14. Hemingway, Ernest: A Farewell to Arms
  15. Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  16. Tolstoy, Leo: Anna Karenina
  17. Heller, Joseph: Catch-22
  18. de Saint-Exupery, Antoine: The Little Prince
  19. Defoe, Daniel: Moll Flanders
  20. Dickens, Charles: Oliver Twist

The Classics Club: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

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Jekyll

  • Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

This is my second read by Robert Louis Stevenson.  The first was Treasure Island, which I also enjoyed.  However, this one is more Gothic Horror than Adventure, so I don’t feel it’s fair to compare the two.

As with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this is a story about the horrible things that can happen when scientists attempt to mess with nature, but instead of playing around with life and death, Dr. Jekyll seeks to “better” himself by separating the good from the bad in human nature.  The story is closer to Existentialism than Frankenstein, and it makes me wonder if Stevenson had been reading Kierkegaard or Nietzche.  Regardless of where he got the idea for his story, he’s asking the question, “What is human nature?”  My opinion is that his answer is that human beings are born into sin, and it is relatively easier for us to be evil than it is to be good.  I don’t know if I agree, but I don’t agree with much of Victorian moralizing.  However, I do see the question as interesting and relevant, especially as we gain more knowledge of the brain and its chemistry and how that affects behavior and thought.

No matter your beliefs, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a short Classic worth reading.

Classics Club: The Joy Luck Club

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Joy

  • Author: Amy Tan

I bought The Joy Luck Club years ago at a used bookstore, but it took joining the Classics Club for me to finally get around to reading it.  Doing a read-along certainly didn’t hurt either.

I think this book is perfect for read-alongs, book clubs, and college courses because it should be read a little chunk at a time and discussed in detail.  There are so many emotions and ideas to process throughout the stories of the four mothers and daughters that I think trying to read the book quickly wouldn’t allow the time and space needed to dig in deep.  I also think anyone reading this book should be prepared to want to learn more about China’s history and culture.  What little I already knew was not enough, and The Joy Luck Club prodded me to go in search of that knowledge.

What makes this book one of the top pieces of literary fiction is even when you think Chinese culture is so very different that no one but the Chinese could possibly understand, the struggles that occur between mothers and daughters is relatable no matter where you come from in the world.  Am I an expert on Chinese familial relationships?  Not a chance.  Did I see my mother and myself in those pages?  All the time.  Amy Tan somehow combines uncomfortable unfamiliarity with the feeling of looking in a mirror.  She even has the characters experience this same interchange of emotions as they find themselves realizing how different and yet how similar they are to each other.  She also turns myth into reality and vice versa.  Somehow she manages all this within the structure of a mahjong game.  At the end of every chapter, I would pause for a moment to let what I had read sink in and allow myself to feel astounded.  For once, I can safely say that this is a book everyone should read.

The Classics Club: Frankenstein

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Frankenstein

  • Author: Mary Shelley

I’ve meant to read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein for years, and I’ve had the Barnes and Noble’s Classics ebook edition for nearly as long as I’ve owned my Nook.  The story is also included in a horror classics anthology I own, titled Penny Dreadfuls: Sensational Tales of Terror.  Since the Boyfriend and I are currently sharing my Nook, I shifted back and forth between the two editions.

My reason for finally getting around to reading Frankenstein was my recent introduction to the show “Penny Dreadful.”  It’s full of characters and references from Gothic and Victorian Horror stories.  While it’s not necessary to enjoy the show, I wanted to be able to recognize and get a better understanding of all those seemingly minor but very important details as well as know where the original stories differ from how they’re portrayed in the show.  Since, the first season includes Dr. Frankenstein and his monster as part of the storyline, I thought it was about time to read one of the most well-known classic Gothic tales.  I’m glad I did.

As with much of Gothic Horror, Frankenstein is more about what it means to be human in a world where Science seems to be constantly redefining humanity.  While Shelley doesn’t go quite as far into the realm of Existentialism as Robert Louis Stevenson does in his story, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (written more than half a century later) the beginnings of the philosophy can be seen in her work.  It’s also obvious that Shelley was heavily influenced by the Romantics, my other favorite literary period, and concerned with the route that Science and Industry were taking in the name of “Progress.”  We’re still dealing with these questions and concerns today, almost 200 years later.  Just how relevant Frankenstein still is can be seen in the long list of adaptations and re-tellings of the story that exist, and I highly recommend reading it.