Rachel’s Comments (group member since Nov 25, 2019)

Rachel’s comments from the #ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge group.

I’m all in

What time line were you thinking for moby dick? Spring? maybe April or May?

We are going to have so much fun reading together. Here’s to 2020! Let’s make this our year!

I have quite a few goals for 2020.

1) At the beginning of the school year, I made myself a list of books and two anthologies to study American history in chronological order. I’ve done... ok with this. I haven’t been 100% on it, but I have read quite a few books, done some research and had some fun with it, so my first goal is to complete this “course”.

2) I want to get all of my reference texts down. Things like the Iliad, the Bible and Hamlet. Things that are heavily referenced in newer classics as well as modern day.. just so I have all my bases covered.

3) I want to read more poetry! I love poetry but I never make time to read it and I think that’s a shame. I need to expose myself to a wider range of poets as well (not just the romantics)

4) I want to read one BIG book per month. (If possible)

5) I want to finish Les M. (I got about 600 pages in and then didn’t touch it for 6 months)

6) I want to read at least 50 classics.

So yeah. Hays everything. Wish me luck!

Would anyone be interested in buddy reading any of the following books?

Wives and daughters - Elizabeth Gaskell

Moby Dick - Herman Melville (I LOVE his shorter works because he’s HILARIOUS but I’ve been scared to start Moby Dick because... well... it’s Moby Dick

The Way We Live Now - Antony Trollope

Lemme know

Embarrassingly enough I’ve never read a bronte. (I know) so I NEED to join in with this one.

My priorities for the first two weeks of Jan are, TPOAL buddy read and finishing the books I’m in the middle of (Pamela by Samual Richardson and Great Expectations).
I’d also like to squeeze in another classic or two but I’m a mood reader so who knows what they will be.

Yes!! Thanks I’m excited

I’ll join in!! I could do June but if it’s possible could we move it to July? That works better for me, but if not I’ll try to squeeze it in.

I’ll join in with this one and the summer works perfect for me!

I’ll join in with this one as well! Just got it for Christmas and I’m so excited!!

Are we starting in February?

I’m down for March!

I just got this book and I’m so excited to read it in 2020

I am looking to get into poetry more. The poets I am familiar with now are Plath, Dickinson and Whitman as well as Shakespeare’s sonnets. I know a little bit of Robert Frost as well. Besides them, can anyone recommend some good classical poets? Thanks!!

I like the personal challenge idea

You should create a “request a buddy read” page on here. Where people can go if they have a classic in mind that they want to read but are maybe intimidated by. They can find someone to read it with.

I agree that Great Expectations is a good place to start with Dickens. It’s easy to get into and has great characters.

Does anyone know where to start with Elizabeth Glaskell or Antony Trollope?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is really good, but I never hear anyone talk about it and I don’t know why.

All Quiet on the Western Front is another five star read that I never hear mentioned. It was my first love with classics.

And of course, 1984 is the book that makes all other books feel irrelevant. (I’ve never been so devastated by a book in my entire life.)

Does anyone know where I should start with Elizabeth Glaskell of Antony Trollope? I’ve not read anything by either of them, but I want to. Recommendations?