Thanks Erin! Onto the TBR list it goes!

Hi Jensownzoo, I have read Les Mis (after having seen the musical and memorized the CDs). The book is in many ways similar to the show; it has the same characters, and the same basic plot-line. One difference is that in the book, there are a lot more sub-plots, and some additional characters. It goes into a ton of extra detail; and most of the main characters from the show get a lot of extra background in the book that you do not get in the show. For instance, you get the back story of Fantine when she met and lost the guy who fathers her child, and you get the background of Marious's father (who does not appear not in the musical). There's a lot of others that I can't think of right now.

I can't say that I liked the book better than the musical, but that is just because I love the musical so much! It really was a great book, though it takes a long time to read. I read the unabridged version (Signet Classics). Be prepared for a lot of detail, some of which doesn't really is not important to the plot (for instance he devotes a whole chapter explaining the sewer system in France), but it is interesting to read that.

Trice, I am always up to putting more book on my TBR list! I haven't read too many classics since school, so I have enough to make a new challenge list every year for a while yet. I really like the Mohicans movie and since the book is usually even better than the movie I decided I wanted to read it first! Never read Les Mis either but have been to see a performance and have the CDs...is the book anything like the musical?

Nathaniel, I actually have the gigantic two-volume unabridged Mark Twain collection that I picked up from the book fair this spring. Haven't really cracked them open yet, but I've loved Twain's essays in the past...that one is in the table of contents so I will definitely read it but AFTER I've read Mohicans!

Hey Jensownzoo

I hope you wont think I'm being mean, but have you read Mark Twain's essay on JF Cooper? Its a hilarious essay, pointing out some of the flaws with Cooper.

(I was a fan of Cooper when I was a little kid. I haven't read them in years.)

Here's the link:
http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/projec...

really neat list! I found The Scarlet Pimpernel and Lady Chatterley's Lover much quicker reads than I expected, although I was surprised that from my distant memory of the film The Scarlet Pimpernel, I actually enjoyed it more than the book b/c of the strengths/weaknesses of the main character.

Just read The Good Earth last year and wow, she has a real sense of China. If you want an accompanying read (I know - what we all need is more books to read) Rob Gifford's book China Road is a travel narrative about modern China; some of the traits that are noticeable in The Good Earth come through here too in his meetings with 'Old Hundred Names.'

Love James Fenimore Cooper's books, although in the end I liked Deerslayer better than Mohicans. He gets the picture of central and northern NY so perfect in those books though (not that I'm partial or anything, being from that area) - just beautiful.

Keep meaning to read another by Victor Hugo, but still have only read Les Mis... interested to hear what you think of Hunchback.

I switched out The Faerie Queene for Anna Karenina to fit into a different book challenge. 'bout time I read it anyway.

Hi Jensownzoo. I love your ticker. They are almost as much fun as the book lists. Thanks Miss GP.

Marbear

Added a ticker (thanks, Miss GP!).

I was going to suggest January. I don't think it will be a quick read, so don't want to leave it too lat ein the year.

Wanna tackle it right out of the gate in January? January is a good month for tucking in a reading for me.

I am booked in April and June, but otherwise free. when suits you?

Yeah, Manda, I'd be up for that. When were we thinking of doing it? I'd vote for any time other than summer. I can't read long books in the summer...I'm too busy.

I'd have to let you know about the characters of She later...haven't read it yet!

Thanks, Catamorandi! They've been on my TBR shelf forever. I figure I can fit 12 of them into my reading for the year. I'll probably do the same thing in next year's challenge as well.

Jensownzoo,

This is a great list. I have several classics on my TBR list, but have only read a couple of them.

She was one of my Dad's favourite books, and I read it often. The two male characters were named after trees weren't they? Holly and Oak? Holly and something.

Hi Jensownzoo, I have just asked Asa if she would like to read The Hunchback of Notre-Dame with anyone, as I would quite like to do that. Would you be interested?

Hi Meghan. I too love to read the Penquin Classics. They seem to have the best translations when the original language was not english. For example "The Count of Monte Cristo." The Penguin edition was great. I buy the Penguin books for every classic if it's available.

Marbear

Jensownzoo wrote: "I love the movie versions of Moll Flanders and Last of the Mohicans, which is why I want to read the books--the books are almost always even better! I have the B&N Classics version of Jane Eyre so..."

I don't know about Eyre because I only read the Penguin Classics. You may want to try avoid reading the footnotes. I enjoy footnotes as they help me understand their thinking, but I've noticed for books with plot twists they're a little detrimental because they assume you already know the story.

I love the movie versions of Moll Flanders and Last of the Mohicans, which is why I want to read the books--the books are almost always even better! I have the B&N Classics version of Jane Eyre so I am safe?

I've worked Great Expectations, She, and The Good Earth into another book challenge so it looks like those will be first up!

Jensownzoo wrote: "I decided to compile a list comprised of literature classics that I own and have been meaning to read but were intimidated by. One a month doesn't seem so bad. In no particular order, here they a..."

What a great list! I've got Madame Bovary and Great Expectations on my list too, so it'll be interesting to compare notes.

Dumas is a lot of fun. And don't read the Penguin Classics version of Jane Eyre--or at least don't read their notes. The footnotes have every major spoiler so early on that it completely ruined the story for me and I think the twists are what help make the story so beloved.

I love Moll Flanders and have been told by everyone who read Mohicans that it is the best book you'll ever read--and they all loved the movie version too.

The couple of people I know who read Faeire Queene said it's rather difficult and it's all symbolism so you may want to get a copy with good footnotes to help explain a lot of it.

The only ones I have not read are She and The Faerie Queene,I am curious about these. I LOVED The Good Earth. Actualli I was a Pearl Buck's fan when I was 12. it all started with one of her books my mom got me for Christmas. Hugo and DUmas were compulsory readings in Middle School in France, (with Jules Verne - the trilogy of 19th century male writers for young adults), and Flaubert was compulsory reading in 11th grade, Madame BOvary exactly. At the time, I hated it but then I re-read it about 5 years ago, an although I do not like the author much, I felt for Emma.
Dickens, Bronte, FOster and Lawrence weere compulsory reading for the English class in 11th grades. I loved Foster and then maybe a decade later, there was a movie released with Helen Bonham-Carter. It was as great as the book.

LemonLinda wrote: "I read A Room with a View just this past summer and really enjoyed it. It was the first E. M. Forster book that I had read but there are definitely others on my list to read now."

We read A Passage to India in high school and I remember that it was a good book, but it completely pissed me off about how the main Indian protagonist ended up being treated by someone he thought was his friend. We watched the movie too, and it was worthwhile as well.

I was lucky enough to be in a gifted english class through high school and we read a LOT more books than the other classes, but there were just too many good ones to cover all of them. And then I was in college and my course load was so heavy that when I actually got to read for pleasure, I needed either something light or a short-story anthology (so I could sneak in a story between studying). I've been out of college for a while now, but have only recently been easing my way back to some of the more difficult reads. This challenge seemed a good time to take the plunge!

Marbear, will do with Jane Eyre! I remember liking the Disney movie too, but I haven't watched it ten bazillions times either (now, Beauty and the Beast, that's a different story).

Hi LemonLinda. I totally agree. I didn't read alot of classics in high school. I do remember reading "For Whom the Bell Tolls," but I don't know if I finished it. I always think I tried to read "As I Lay Dying." Don't think I finished that one. LOL! Although I did read it with Oprah.

Marbear

I liked the fact that your selections were all classics. I think that is an area that especially young readers tend to stay away from and there are so many good ones waiting to be read.

I read A Room with a View just this past summer and really enjoyed it. It was the first E. M. Forster book that I had read but there are definitely others on my list to read now.

Hi Mary. "Hunchback of Notre-Dame" is a great book, but fair warning: it is NOT the feel-good happy story that you saw in the Disney movie. There are some basic elements in the book that are the same as in the movie, (like the names and positions of the characters), but it is a lot darker and very sad. It is a really good book though, I highly recommend it.

Hi Jensownzoo. Great list. "Jane Eyre," is on my list too. Let me know when you read it. I started it once but was trying to read several books at one time and ended up not finishing any of the books. LOL! I'd like to read "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. My daughter loved the disney movie. I don't know how many times we had to watch it. LOL!

Marbear

I decided to compile a list comprised of literature classics that I own and have been meaning to read but were intimidated by. One a month doesn't seem so bad. In no particular order, here they are:

Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Lady Chatterley's Loverby D.H. Lawrence
A Room With a View by E.M. Forster
The Good Earthby Pearl S. Buck
She by H. Rider Haggard
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert

Some alternate selections include:

Moll Flanders (Wordsworth Classics) by Daniel Defoe
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
Emma by Jane Austen