Sara's Old and New Challenge #3

[Candi]

Nice progress on this, Sara! I haven't read Hard Times yet, but just started A Tale of Two Cities for the first time yesterday. Very excited about that :)

[Sara, New School Classics]

When I started I had read: Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol...the ones you are taught in school. I have not come across a single one that I haven't enjoyed.

So far, Great Expectations has not been unseated as my very favorite though.

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: " So far, Great Expectations has not been unseated as my very favorite though."

I'm happy to hear this, since I hope to read Great Expectations this year. I love your goal! It's funny, I've read so few, but feel like I know Dickens so well.

[Veronique]

Great Expectations is not one of my favourites... (hides in the corner). I think there was so much hype on it that it kind of spoiled my experience of it. I didn’t hate it, just didn’t love it. I’ve read Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Our Mutual Friend, all very good but my favourite so far is Dombey and Son. Want to get to Tale of Two Cities and Bleak House next.

[Renee]

Veronique wrote: "Great Expectations is not one of my favourites... (hides in the corner). I think there was so much hype on it that it kind of spoiled my experience of it. I didn’t hate it, just didn’t love it. I’v..."

I liked Great Expectations, and really need to get around to reading more Dickens. I'd like to eventually read them all. So far, David Copperfield is my favourite. I'm planning to read A Tale of Two Cities, and Bleak House this year too!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Veronique wrote: "Great Expectations is not one of my favourites... (hides in the corner). I think there was so much hype on it that it kind of spoiled my experience of it. I didn’t hate it, just didn’t love it. I’v..."

I've read all of those except Dombey and Son. So glad you liked it so much. I read Tale of Two Cities when I was a teenager and was smitten. I think it was the right time--on re-reading it, I found it was still a good read but I was not affected the same way. I loved Bleak House. I have read Great Expectations more than once and love it more each time, but we aren't all meant to see things the same...so come on out of that corner. :)

[Sara, New School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "Sara wrote: " So far, Great Expectations has not been unseated as my very favorite though."

I'm happy to hear this, since I hope to read Great Expectations this year. I love your goal! It's funny,..."

It is funny how connected almost everyone feels to Dickens. I think anyone who has viewed or read A Christmas Carol has a bit of Dickens in their blood. We have almost all heard some of his stories or seen movies of them, even those we haven't read. He permeates our idea of Victorian society and it is hard to think of that time and not bring him to mind.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Renee wrote: "Veronique wrote: "Great Expectations is not one of my favourites... (hides in the corner). I think there was so much hype on it that it kind of spoiled my experience of it. I didn’t hate it, just d..."

One thing I have learned about reading Dickens is that slower is better. I generally have one of his novels going and read it over a two month spread. That is not how I prefer to read anyone else. He wrote everything as a serial and I find that he reads best when read that way. He sort of invented the cliff hanger...little enticements at the end of each chapter, but he also can be long-winded because he needed this thing to last.

[Veronique]

You might be on to something there Sara, about reading it slowly. I didn’t have Dickens at school (Belgium) but I did at uni here in the UK when doing lit, and the one I studied was ... Dombey :O) It was part of a 19th century novel class that I LOVED. Ideally I’d like to read all of his novels/texts.

Renee - do you have an idea for Tale of Two Cities? Silly me, it is a group read this month, isn’t it. I’d like to try it actually.

[Kathleen]

How true, that he has permeated our idea of Victorian society, Sara--and I'm so glad! I'll keep the slow reading in mind when I start GE. Always having a Dickens in process sounds like a wonderful idea ...

[Sara, New School Classics]

I began with Great Expectations as my favorite, and at this point it still is. Haven't regretted a single one yet, though.

[siriusedward]

Slow reading is a great idea, I think..I like it for really huge classics or which I find a bit difficult to get through,though I may be enjoying the book.I am doing it now for War and Peace..

[siriusedward]

Sara wrote: "Veronique wrote: "Great Expectations is not one of my favourites... (hides in the corner). I think there was so much hype on it that it kind of spoiled my experience of it. I didn’t hate it, just d..."

I read A Tale of Two Cities / David Copperfield / Oliver Twist / Pickwick Papers when a teenager too.And have not reread any of it..except maybe Pickwick Papers...

I would like to read GE and Bleak House sometime soon..

[Sara, New School Classics]

siriusedward wrote: "Slow reading is a great idea, I think..I like it for really huge classics or which I find a bit difficult to get through,though I may be enjoying the book.I am doing it now for War and Peace.."

War and Peace is a fantastic book, but people are intimidated by the size. I think if you don't pressure yourself and just read at a slow pace it takes all the intimidation away.

You really should read GE and BH, both well worth the time expended!

[Lotte]

Interesting discussion on Dickens. I'm really curious about Great Expectations now! Why is it your favourite, Sara?

[Sara, New School Classics]

There are two characters that I absolutely LOVE, Pip and Joe. There are two themes that strike me quite hard, one is loyalty and appreciation, and how it can sometimes be misplaced. The other is that riches are not the key to a good life or to goodness in a man.
Perhaps the main reason it is still my favorite is also twofold: I read it at a young age. It was given to me to read by an older sister and it feels like a tie to her and that time. And, I have read it more than once, so it is familiar, like a house you leave and return to after a long absence to find the smell of warm bread cooking every time you open the door.

[Lotte]

That's a heartwarming description :) Oh, the impact books can have.

I'm intrigued by the themes and will pay attention to them when I finally come round to reading Great Expectations.

[siriusedward]

Lotte wrote: "That's a heartwarming description :) Oh, the impact books can have.

I'm intrigued by the themes and will pay attention to them when I finally come round to reading Great Expectations."


True..very great description Sarah..the way we relate the book to times passed / people who gifted it to us/ as a home to return to ...

[Veronique]

Excellent reasons for loving a book Sara :O) Totally agree. They get this extra weight and meaning when connected to someone or an event.

[Sara, New School Classics]

We might have loved them anyway, but the extra connection does make a difference.

[Sue]

Sara wrote: "5+ stars for A Thousand Splendid Suns.
What a remarkable book. It was the second alternate from last year's challenge and had to carry over to 2018. Sorry I waited so long for this on..."


I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns also. I liked it even more than the Kite Runner which I also loved.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Yes, it was wonderful. I have The Kite Runner, but I know I am going to love it since I have read two of his novels now and know he is a wonderful storyteller.

[Sue]

Sara wrote: "Yes, it was wonderful. I have The Kite Runner, but I know I am going to love it since I have read two of his novels now and know he is a wonderful storyteller."

I didn't like the 3rd one (And the Mountains Echoed) but I mean to give it another try sometime. I absolutely loved the beginning but there were too many characters and sides stories and I got lost and bored. I had extremely high expectations, so that was probably part of my problem.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I started with it, and really liked it. Thousand Splendid Suns was even better though. I'm glad you are going to give it another try...sometimes it is just that the timing is bad. I am reading a really good book, Cutting for Stone, right now. But, I had visitors come when I was about half way in and now I am having a hard time getting back the feeling I was having while reading before. ((sigh))

[Sue]

Sara wrote: "I started with it, and really liked it. Thousand Splendid Suns was even better though. I'm glad you are going to give it another try...sometimes it is just that the timing is bad. I am reading a re..."

I've owned Cutting for Stone for awhile but haven't had a chance to get to it. I need to put that one on a challenge next year.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Yes, putting them on a challenge helps me to give them priority. I know they are books I want to read, I just never seem to get to them.

[Sara, New School Classics]

A Summons to Memphis - I wavered in my opinion while reading this book, but in the end I found it a read that made me stop and think, so it got 4-stars.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Completed All Quiet on the Western Front and stunned by the beauty and poignancy of it. I sometimes become angry with myself for having what I know will be super reads just waiting and waiting, while I sometimes read things I really have little hope for. This would make the 100 Books Not to Miss list for me.

[Leni]

All Quiet on the Western Front has been on my mean-to-read list since forever too. I don't actually own the book, but I know the local library has it. I think I'll put it on my list of books to check out once I've finished my current stack of library books! (Which could take a while.)

[Sara, New School Classics]

Keep it on the list until you get to it, Leni. It is worth both the wait and the read.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

All Quiet on the Western Front is this month's Revisit Group read. Not much conversation as of yet.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I know, I do intend to post some thoughts there when I have a moment. Hopefully there will be some discussion before the month is done.

[Candi]

Sara wrote: "Completed All Quiet on the Western Front and stunned by the beauty and poignancy of it. I sometimes become angry with myself for having what I know will be super reads just waiting an..."

I am reading this one right now too, Sara. It is breathtaking and powerful. Not too far in yet but I recall it having this effect on me when I read it years ago.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I can see how it would be one of those books where the emotions would come flooding back to you on a re-read. I am still reeling a little from this and think it will have a lasting effect on me.

[Veronique]

I’ve heard of the title but that’s it. Sounds like it’s one not to be missed

[Sara, New School Classics]

I would absolutely say it is in that category, Vero.

[siriusedward]

I loved the western front too..the writing is so simple..you feel the narrators numbness..a sort of used to all the deaths around you attitude..thats sad..and so was his I think nearing the end,his doubt as to how he will survive after the war..as war was all he has known since coming of age.And his thoughts on how his teachers very proudlysent their students off to fit spouting all the heroic things ,when they don't actually fight...

[Sara, New School Classics]

Totally agree, Elena. I thought one of the most enjoyable parts of the book was the teacher who was being "repaid" by his former student.

[Sara, New School Classics]

A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters was a bit of fun in Medieval England. Brother Cadfael is a marvelous character and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in the future...there are a lot of these books!

[Rosemarie]

Sara, you are in for a treat with Brother Cadfael. I read them all years ago and loved them.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I'm glad you can confirm for me that the others will live up to this one, Rosemarie. I will try to work one in every month until I have read them all.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Finally read another for this challenge, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. It was a book about faith and the things that challenge it. It started slow, but by the end I was left thoughtful and stirred.

I have two more to read in this challenge, but one of those has to be either Barchester Towers or Little Dorritt.I have not been doing well with long novels lately, just too many distractions, but months to go...so hopefully.

[Kathleen]

I haven't read Graham Greene yet, but I enjoyed your review Sara and hope to get to him at some point.

I know what you mean about distractions. The two you have left sound good to me, even if long--good luck with them!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Thanks, Kathleen. I hope you enjoy Greene when you get around to him.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Read Barchester Towers and enjoyed it very much. That is 12 books, which technically completes this challenge. I would still like to complete the two books that are left on the list, but I may end up taking them over to next year, since 2019 is closing in on us quickly now.

[siriusedward]

Congrats, Sara...

👏👏

[Laurie]

Congratulations, Sara. What book did you like the best?

[Sara, New School Classics]

Thank you, Elena and Laurie.

That is a tough question, Laurie. I had some really good reads here. If pressed, I would say All Quiet on the Western Front is a book that had a huge impact on me and that I will never forget.

[Renee]

Congrats on finishing, Sara! I loved All Quiet on the Western Front. I have Barchester Towers on my TBR, but probably won't get around to it until next year.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Thanks, Renee. I really enjoyed them both. I always have books that have to go over to the next year. I think that might be a common problem at GR. :)