2021 Prompts: Reading Classics Challenge

[Erica]

Hopefully, you'll find these challenges helpful during your classics reading journey. You don't have to do all of the prompts and if you have a book that fits multiple prompts feel free to count it towards however many prompts. The goal here is simple.

LET'S READ MORE CLASSIC BOOKS!!! And, yes push yourself out of your comfort zone.

But most of all make sure to have fun.

The Rules:

1) ALL books must have been first published 50 years ago or earlier
2) Books must be read between January 1st and December 31st
3) Books may be used for up to two prompts

So, here are the challenges. Feel free to copy and paste them into the Personal Challenge Discussion.

1) Read a classic over 500 pages
2) Read a classic by a POC and/or with a POC as the main character
3) Read a classic that is not written by a Global North author
4) Read a classic in translation
5) Read a classic by a new to you author
6) Read a classic Sci/Fi or Fantasy
7) Read a classic written before 1800
8) Read a classic written by an LGBT author and/or with an LGBT main character
9) Read a classic written by a woman
10) Read a classic written by a Nobel Laureate
11) Read a classic nonfiction
12) Read a classic that has been banned or censored

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[David]

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

[David]

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

[David]

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