Caroline's Classics Challenge 2015

[April]

Middlemarch is a challenging read, I think. I read it in my twenties and I was probably not ready for it. Having said that, I'm not sure I'd like it any more now, since I was going through a phase of reading 19th century novelists at the time. I vaguely remember not caring for any of the characters and not being terribly interested in any of their problems.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I'm sorry that you aren't enjoying Middlemarch. I read it last year and liked it ok.

[Laurie]

I'm only a quarter of the way through so I have hopes it will get better.

[[deleted user]]

Finished Lady Chatterley's Lover, the last of my 1900-1999 selections. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Parts of it were kind of boring and I didn't really care about the characters. Disappointing.

[[deleted user]]

Finished Black Beauty. I liked it but didn't love it. It was a nice story but I think in general I prefer stories about people rather than animals. I'm glad I read it though as I've been meaning to for about 25 years!

[Maarit]

Black Beauty is the one and only horse book that I've ever read and I remember that I hated it so much, because I was a kid back then and my aunt forbid me to read the book I had with me (I think it was some boy's adventure book) when I was there to keep my cousin company. So yeah, I don't have fond memories of that book and I doubt I will read it ever again.

[[deleted user]]

Started The Mysteries of Udolpho today on my kindle. 10% in and it's really hard work.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Caroline wrote: "Started The Mysteries of Udolpho today on my kindle. 10% in and it's really hard work."

This is one I've thought about reading for a long time I will be interested to learn what you think about it.

[[deleted user]]

I'm finished! Not the whole challenge - just The Mysteries of Udolpho - but it's such a relief. It was such hard work, I had to break it down into little chunks which I made myself read each day.
Somewhere in there, there's a half decent story but it's buried deep under the tedious descriptions of scenery, constant swooning and weeping and awful poetry. Definitely not something I'll ever be tempted to re-read.

[Loretta]

Caroline wrote: "I'm finished! Not the whole challenge - just The Mysteries of Udolpho - but it's such a relief. It was such hard work, I had to break it down into little chunks which I made myself ..."

Congratulations Caroline!

[Pink]

Well done for finishing the book!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I've been intrigued with The Mysteries of Udolpho since it was mentioned in a book I read, I think it was Northanger Abbey, but can't be sure. Sorry to hear it was a tedious read, I may keep it on the back burner for awhile longer.

[[deleted user]]

Loretta & Pink - Thank you. I gave myself a big pat on the back when I was done, for sticking with it! I could so easily have given up but I'm not a quitter :) I'm just hoping my final 3 make up for it. I've got Jane Eyre, Mansfield Park and The Haunted Hotel left to go.

Bob - I'd guess it probably was Northanger Abbey that brought it to your attention. It's where I first heard of it. I'm holding Jane Austen responsible for my suffering of the last 2 weeks!

[Pink]

Oh, I like the sound of your final three books. I'll look forward to seeing what you think of them. I've read Jane Eyre but not the other two, though I'm currently reading a different Collins and Austen book.

[[deleted user]]

Finished Mansfield Park yesterday. I did enjoy it but I was a little bit disappointed in how quickly everything wrapped up at the end. I felt that Fanny's changed relationship with Edmund deserved more than a couple of sentences.
Still my favourite of the books I've read so far for this challenge.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Caroline,

JA wraps things up quickly at the end.

Like you, I want more detail or an epilogue. Oh well.

[Pink]

Caroline wrote: "Finished Mansfield Park yesterday. I did enjoy it but I was a little bit disappointed in how quickly everything wrapped up at the end. I felt that Fanny's changed relationship with Edm..."

I think quick endings are usual in her books. I'm listening to Mansfield Park this month, which will be my fourth Austen. I'm apprehensive about it.

[[deleted user]]

What a coincidence - Mansfield Park was also my fourth Austen, although to be fair, two of them - Pride & Prejudice and Emma - were a very long time ago when I was at school! I keep promising myself I'll re-read them one day. Maybe I'll add them to next years challenge, if re-reads are allowed?

[Pink]

I haven't read Emma or P&P, they will be my last two after Mansfield Park.

Yes of course re-reads are allowed for challenges, anything that is read within the time frame counts.

[[deleted user]]

Pink wrote: "I haven't read Emma or P&P, they will be my last two after Mansfield Park.

Yes of course re-reads are allowed for challenges, anything that is read within the time frame counts."

Great - that's the first two books decided for next year!

[[deleted user]]

The Haunted Hotel was a bit of a disappointment. I really liked both The Woman in White and The Moonstone so I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately it didn't match up to the standard I expected. The first half of the book was dull and dragged on and the second half with all the ghostly events felt rushed and a bit silly.

I've just got one left to read of my original 12 choices (Jane Eyre) - I don't think I'll manage to squeeze my alternates in before the end of the year.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Great list, Caroline. The only ones I have not read are The Mysteries of Udolpho and The Beautiful and the Damned. Both are on my TBR list. You will love Jane Eyre, I think, and if you have the time squeeze in The Count of Monte Cristo...you won't regret it.

I love Collins, but found Haunted Hotel not as captivating as the others. You and I seem to have similar reactions to our reading.

I have Daniel Deronda on my challenge list and I can see that is going to be a carry over to next year. Every time I look at it, I sigh and pass it over. You have done a marvelous job of getting through this list of classics.

[[deleted user]]

Finished book #12 Jane Eyre and I'm declaring my challenge complete - I'm definitely not going to have time for my alternates.
I think Jane Eyre was my favourite of my choices and has made me want to read more by Charlotte Bronte.

Completed list in order of preference

Jane Eyre - 4 stars
Mansfield Park - 4 stars
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - 4 stars
The Time Machine - 3 stars
Black Beauty - 3 stars
Agnes Grey - 2 stars
A Room with a View - 2 stars
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - 2 stars
Lady Chatterley's Lover - 2 stars
The Haunted Hotel - 2 stars
The Beautiful and Damned - 2 stars
The Mysteries of Udolpho - 2 stars

I really didn't do very well with my choices! Hopefully I'll do better next year.

[Amanda]

Well done!

[Sarah]

Great job Caroline!

[Janet]

Congratulations Caroline.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Congrats Caroline!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Great accomplishment. I'm sorry so many of your choices didn't live up to your expectations. I'll be interested in seeing how next year's list differs.

[Christine]

Congratulations on completing your challenge!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks everyone. I really enjoyed clearing some of these classics from my TBR shelf after so many years of not getting around to them for one reason or another. Even though I didn't necessarily enjoy all the books themselves!
Have started a provisional list for next year already :)