Bat-Cat's 2016 Classics Challenge

[Bat-Cat]

Looking forward to playing the Challenge game with everyone. It should be fun - thanks!!!



Old: 1899 and earlier

1. Middlemarch, finished 2/6/16
2. Jane Eyre
3. Pride and Prejudice

New: 1900-1999

4. The Diary of a Young Girl
5. The Little Prince finished 1/1/16
6. The Master and Margarita


My Wild Card Six

7. Don Quixote
8. Meditations
9. Walden finished 4/17/16
10. Siddhartha finished 4/3/16
11. To Kill a Mockingbird
12. Ficciones

Alternates

A-1. Great Expectations, finished 1/4/16
A-2. Villette

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Believe it or not Bat-Cat your still ahead of me on planning the challenge, I've yet post my thread, let alone plan a list. Good Luck!!

[Bat-Cat]

Bob wrote: "Believe it or not Bat-Cat your still ahead of me on planning the challenge, I've yet post my thread, let alone plan a list. Good Luck!!"

Hi Bob,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome and encouragement. I am really looking forward to participating in the reads and adding a bunch of classics to my meager "Classics Completed" list.

[Bat-Cat]

Well, I think I have completely committed myself now. If anyone notices any inconsistencies please let me know.

Thanks! Bat-Cat

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Really nice list. Happy reading.

[Bat-Cat]

Kathy wrote: "Really nice list. Happy reading."

Thanks, I may change a couple of them before the deadline but all-in-all I'm happy with it.

[Bat-Cat]

I just made a few finishing touches to my list - hopefully it is locked in. :) It feels quite doable to me - I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Susie]

Good luck!
Do you know when you plan to start Middlemarch?

[Laurie]

You have some very nice books on your list. I read Middlemarch this year and really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy your challenge.

[Bat-Cat]

Susie wrote: "Good luck?
Do you know when you plan to start Middlemarch?"

I will be starting TODAY!!!
It is the first Quarter Long Read and I have been eagerly awaiting today so I can get started (I have been wanting to read it for quite some time so this should be fun going for me).
Thanks for your vote of confidence. ;)

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I'm starting Middlemarch myself soon -- Happy New Year of Reading

[siriusedward]

I started it today too. :)

[Susie]

Bat-Cat wrote: "Thanks for your vote of confidence. ;) "

Oop's...hit the wrong key...I've corrected it... :)

I'm starting it today or tomorrow...

[Bat-Cat]

I finished my first ever book challenge book - The Little Prince - and it fits both this challenge and the Bingo Challenge (G2). Yeah!!!

[Pink]

Well done on finishing your first challenge and group read book! I hope you enjoy Middlemarch :)

[Bat-Cat]

Just finished Great Expectations - one of my alternates. :)

[Bat-Cat]

Just finished Middlemarch - one of my old books. :)

[[deleted user]]

Bat-Cat wrote: "Just finished Middlemarch - one of my old books. :)"

Excellent list Bat-Cat:) Meditations and Walden sound like two books filled with interesting ideas...would like to read them at some point.

How'd you find Middlemarch? (no spoilers tho...) Worth the long read?:)

Also, To Kill a Mockingbird and Don Quixote are on my list too - would love to compare our views about them when we get round to reading em!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Just looking through your list again -- let me know when you get ready to read Ficciones -- I've wanted to read that for ages and just need a push to move it up on the list.

[Bat-Cat]

Nargus wrote: "Bat-Cat wrote: "Just finished Middlemarch - one of my old books. :)"

Excellent list Bat-Cat:) Meditations and Walden sound like two books filled with interesting ideas...would like to read them at..."

Hi Nargus, glad you like the list. I looked at yours and that is quite impressive as well. I tried to pick books that I have always wanted to read but never seemed to have the big umph to get them started. I figured the challenge might just be that added spark to get it done this year. So far it is working. ;)

I loved Middlemarch and found it more than well worth the long read. It is definitely a commitment though. I have posted a review on Goodreads ( https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) which is the same as the one I posted here in the spoiler thread (although I don't think it contains any spoilers). If you do decide to read it, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Happy reading and hope we both get to all the books in our lists. :)

[Bat-Cat]

Kathy wrote: "Just looking through your list again -- let me know when you get ready to read Ficciones -- I've wanted to read that for ages and just need a push to move it up on the list."

I know what you mean about needing a push to get started. It has been on my TBR list for what seems like eons. I will definitely let you know when the time for me to start has arrived.

I have noticed that you have been breezing through lots of books already this year. It is most impressive to me and a huge inspiration. Thanks!!!

[[deleted user]]

So I did check out your review - and can I say, bravo! I commented on it already, but briefly I will say something again here. Fantastic review - really captured your thoughts and feelings, and it seems like you took so much away from it! It sounds like such a great novel...I'm keen to give it a try soon.

Definitely a book you've fallen in love in. Oh, how will you look at another book again?

p.s. you're so right about it being spoiler-free :)

[Bat-Cat]

Nargus wrote: "So I did check out your review - and can I say, bravo! I commented on it already, but briefly I will say something again here. Fantastic review - really captured your thoughts and feelings, and it ..."

Thank you Nargus for your feedback and review. Yes, I really did love the book and will definitely be returning to it again (maybe sooner than I realize). I would recommend it to everyone because I think that everyone can get something out of it. The book seems to be able to meet people exactly where they are in life and give them that little nudge that they may need to go beyond their self imposed limited. And to me that is a quality in a book (or any other medium for that matter) that is priceless. How could you ask more of a book, movie...

As for how I can ever look at another book again, it has actually given me even more inspiration and confidence to tackle more books of this nature. It has made me consider that if this book is that great, then maybe all the other "Great Books" and "Classics" have something wonderful to offer as well. I am certainly going to give as many of them a try as I can.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment and engage me in a discussion. Apparently, I feel very strongly about it and have plenty to say. ;)

[Bat-Cat]

Just finished Siddhartha - one of my Wild Cards. ;-)
Review to follow later.

[Kathleen]

Great progress Bat-Cat! I'm going to try to read Siddhartha with the group read in May, and will look forward to your review.

Jane Eyre is also on my list. After Middlemarch and Kristin L, I don't know when I'll get to it, but maybe we'll end up reading that one together too!

[Bat-Cat]

Thanks Kathleen - you are always such a great supporter!

I just love Siddhartha and each time I read it (at least the third time now) it talks to me in a slightly different way. I guess that could be one definition of a classic. I hope to reread it again for March but if I don't get to it I again I feel more than comfortable talking about it so..... we shall see, I think I am getting a bit carried away with my reading commitments. ;-)

Jane Eyre is another great one that I have not read since junior high school but really want to again. I hope my reading happens to coincide with yours since I enjoy so very much your comments and insights!