David’s Comments (group member since Dec 01, 2019)

David’s comments from the Reading Classic Books group.

For my final books I read "People in the Room" by Norah Lange and "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin to fulfill the classic by a woman and banned classic categories.

1. A Classic Over 500 Pages: The Five Books of Moses, translated by Robert Alter (includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

2, 6. A Classic by a POC, Classic Sci-Fi: Nova (1968), by Samuel R. Delany

3. A Classic Not Written by a Global North Author: The Declarations of Havana (1953-1962), by Fidel Castro

4, 10. A Classic in Translation, A Classic by a Nobel Laureate: Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney

5, 8. A Classic by a New to You Author, An LGBTQ Classic: The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde: An Annotated Selection (1887-1891) by Oscar Wilde

7. A Classic Written Before 1800: Book of Job, translated by Edward L. Greenstein

9. A Classic by a Woman: People in the Room (1950), by Norah Lange

11. Classic Non-Fiction: Travels (c. 1300), by Marco Polo

12. Banned Classic: We (1924), by Yevgeny Zamyatin

✅ 3. BIPOC author: From Columbus to Castro (1970), by Eric Williams (Trinidad and Tobago)
✅ 4. Translated Classic: Comrade of the Revolution: Selected Speeches (1967-2005), by Fidel Castro (Cuba)
✅ 7. Classic by a Woman: The Copenhagen Trilogy (1967-1971) by Tove Ditlevsen (Denmark)
✅ 8. Classic Non-Fiction: The Antonio Gramsci Reader (1916-1935), Antonio Gramsci (Italy)

1. A Classic Over 500 Pages: The Five Books of Moses, translated by Robert Alter (includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

2, 6. A Classic by a POC, Classic Sci-Fi: Nova (1968), by Samuel R. Delany

3. A Classic Not Written by a Global North Author: The Declarations of Havana (1953-1962), by Fidel Castro

4, 10. A Classic in Translation, A Classic by a Nobel Laureate: Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney

5, 8. A Classic by a New to You Author, An LGBTQ Classic: The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde: An Annotated Selection (1887-1891) by Oscar Wilde

7. A Classic Written Before 1800: Book of Job, translated by Edward L. Greenstein

11. Classic Non-Fiction: Travels (c. 1300), by Marco Polo

I've read my first classic of the year, "The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde: An Annotated Selection", a new selection of Oscar Wilde's stories published in November 2020. The stories were brilliant, especially his fairy tales, reminiscent of Borges' magic realism. The annotation was excellent, enhancing my appreciation for the stories, providing essential Late Victorian cultural context which might be lost on many readers, including myself.

8. A Classic Written by an LGBT Author: The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde: An Annotated Selection (1887-1891) by Oscar Wilde

All subject to change. Many probably will.

✅ 1. A Classic Over 500 Pages: The Five Books of Moses, translated by Robert Alter (includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

✅ 2, 6. A Classic by a POC, Classic Sci-Fi: Nova (1968), by Samuel R. Delany

✅ 3. Read a classic that is not written by a Global North author: The Declarations of Havana by Fidel Castro

✅ 4, 10. Read a classic in translation, Read a classic written by a Nobel Laureate: Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney

✅ 5, 8. A Classic by a New to You Author, An LGBTQ Classic: The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde: An Annotated Selection (1887-1891) by Oscar Wilde

✅ 7. Read a classic written before 1800: Job translated by Edward L. Greenstein

✅ 9. Read a classic written by a woman: People in the Room (1950) by Norah Lange

✅ 11. Read a classic nonfiction: The Travels by Marco Polo

✅ 12) Read a classic that has been banned or censored: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

For my "translated classic, I read History of Rome, Volume 1, by Livy (Oxford World Classics edition), written in Latin during the reign of Augustus, containing books 1-5 of Livy's monumental history of the Roman Republic. Volume 1 covered the founding of Rome, from Romulus & Remus to the sack of Rome by the Gauls.

I have only three categories left; A Classic Written Between 1800-1860, A Classic Written by a Woman, and A Classic Novella.

1. Read a classic over 500 pages: Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1885) by Ulysses S. Grant
2. Read a classic by a POC: The Wretched of the Earth (1961) by Frantz Fanon
3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
4. A Classic in Translation: History of Rome, Volume 1 (c. 27-25 BCE) by Livy
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
8. Read a classic written by an LGBT author: Going to Meet the Man (1965) by James Baldwin
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin
12. A Censored Classic: The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)

Erica wrote: "David wrote: "Jean wrote: "Wow, you've fulfilled all the categories! Congrats!"

Close. I haven't fulfilled categories four, seven, nine, & ten."

OMG David, you are rocking the challenge. It's my ..."

I've had extra time. I'm not taking classes, and I've been furloughed. I'll be back at work on Wednesday, so probably a little less time for reading. That's why I ended up reading a second massive tome, while I have the time.

Jean wrote: "Wow, you've fulfilled all the categories! Congrats!"

Close. I haven't fulfilled categories four, seven, nine, & ten.

Tonight I finished "The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant" my second entry for the classic over 500 pages prompt. The former President gives a detailed account of his military service in the Mexican War, and his command during the Civil War. Despite it's length, Grant's memoirs were a quick read. Grant writes with the same clarity and force with which he prosecuted the war.

1. Read a classic over 500 pages: Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1885) by Ulysses S. Grant
2. Read a classic by a POC: The Wretched of the Earth (1961) by Frantz Fanon
3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
8. Read a classic written by an LGBT author: Going to Meet the Man (1965) by James Baldwin
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin
12. A Censored Classic: The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)

For my classic by an LGBTQ author I read James Baldwin's short story collection, Going to Meet the Man. The edition I read was included in Library of America's "Early Novels & Stories". Going to Meet the Man included some of my favorite Baldwin, including "Sonny's Blues", about a jazz pianist struggling with heroin addiction, the title story, about a violent, Civil Rights Era Southern deputy's memories of witnessing a lynching, & "This Morning, This Evening, Soon", about a Black-American singer who has found fame & acceptance in France, preparing to return to America & white supremacy.

1. Read a classic over 500 pages: Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes
2. Read a classic by a POC: The Wretched of the Earth (1961) by Frantz Fanon
3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
8. Read a classic written by an LGBT author: Going to Meet the Man (1965) by James Baldwin
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin
12. A Censored Classic: The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)

Katie wrote: "Right, you should all read Down Second Avenue. It just distills the essence of what a racist society takes us to - but you see all the glimpses of where we are now in Europe/North America"

Down Second Ave looks very good. I added it to my Amazon wish list after your last update.

For the second prompt, "Read a classic by a POC", I read The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon's 1961 classic of anti-racist and de-colonization theory. Fanon was a Martinique born psychiatrist, who, after earning his medical degree in France, was sent to Algeria, to treat both Algerian freedom fighters and French officials during the protracted Algerian war of independence. Ultimately siding with the Algerians, The Wretched of the Earth was the last book in series establishing his theory of racism and attacking European colonialism.

1. Read a classic over 500 pages: Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes
2. Read a classic by a POC: The Wretched of the Earth (1961) by Frantz Fanon
3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin
12. A Censored Classic: The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)

For my Censored Classic, I read The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes. Published anonymously in Spain, in 1554, Lazarillo de Tormes is, reputedly, the first ever picaresque novel. Scathingly critical of the Catholic Church, during the early years of the Counter-Reformation, Lazarillo was banned by the Inquisition. I read the NYRB Classics edition, translated by W.S. Merwin.

1. Read a classic over 500 pages: Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes
3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin
12. A Censored Classic: The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)

I finished reading Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes for my book over 500 pages. I read a 940 page hardcover copy of the Edith Grossman translation. Now one of my favorite books, Don Quixote is a delightful, grandly eccentric epic, and a quick read which never felt like nearly a thousand pages. The friendship between Quixote & Sancho Panza is one of my favorites in fiction.

1. Read a classic over 500 pages: Don Quixote (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes
3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin

For my "Read a classic that takes place in a country other than where you live" I read William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Macbeth & Henry IV, Part I remain my Shakespeare, but I did enjoy Hamlet, in all it's ponderous glory. The death of Ophelia is now one of my favorite scenes in literature.

3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet (1602) by William Shakespeare
5. Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe (1940) by Dino Buzzati
6. Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings (c. 1911 - 1918) by Guillaume Apollinaire
11. Read a classic nonfiction: Capital (1867) by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread (1892) by Peter Kropotkin

Today I finished my selection for category six, Selected Writings by French Modernist poet Guillaume Apollinaire. The disjointed juxtapositions of Apollinaire's poetry are reminiscent of Cubism, contemporary to his writing. His free associative, often symbolic verse foreshadow the abstractions of Orphism, and the dreamlike imagery of Surrealism, both movements Apollinaire named.

5) Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati
6) Read a book of poetry: Selected Writings by Guillaume Apollinaire
11) Read a classic nonfiction: Capital by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

I finished two books for the non-fiction category: Capital by Karl Marx (1867) and The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin (1892). Both influential, contrasting works of 19th leftist philosophy; Marx the pessimistic socialist, Kropotkin the optimistic anarchist.

My completed categories:

5) Read a classic by a new to you author: The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati
11) Read a classic nonfiction: Capital by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

Erica wrote: "David wrote: "For the fourth prompt I read the The Tartar Steppe, by Dino Buzzati. Maybe the most profoundly depressing novel I have ever read, The Tartar Steppe is about the total emotional isolat..."

Nope, this is the one. The main character spends his entire adult life without family, friends, or any emotional connection deeper than colleagues. He doesn't even have a loyal henchman or a beloved pet. His previous emotional bonds are discarded within the first five pages of the book. There is no struggle, no conflict, no momentary joys, only passive surrender to the inevitable nothingness.

This is not criticism. It was a great book. I discovered it from the below list of Jorge Louis Borges favorite books:

http://www.openculture.com/2015/03/jo...

For the fourth prompt I read the The Tartar Steppe, by Dino Buzzati. Maybe the most profoundly depressing novel I have ever read, The Tartar Steppe is about the total emotional isolation of the individual, the purposelessness of modern life, and the desire of some to fill the emptiness with visions of glory. Written in 1938, but not published until 1945, The Tartar Steppe is in many ways a bridge between Kafka at the beginning of the 20th century, and the existentialist after World War II.

✅ 1. Classic Over 500 Pages: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1885) by Ulysses S. Grant

✅ 2. A Classic By a Person of Color: The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

✅ 3. A Classic Set in Another Country: Hamlet by William Shakespeare

✅4. A Classic in Translation: History of Rome, Volume 1 by Livy

✅ 5. A Classic by an Author New to You: The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati

✅ 6. A Book of Classic Poetry: Selected Writings by Guillaume Apollinaire

7. A Classic Written Between 1800-1860: Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

✅ 8. An LGBTQ Classic: Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin

9. A Classic Written by a Woman: People in the Room by Norah Lange

✅ 10. A Classic Novella: Voyage Around My Room by Xavier de Maistre

✅ 11. A Non-Fiction Classic: Capital by Karl Marx, The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

✅ 12. A Censored Classic: The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes