Never too Late to Read Classics discussion
Wilderness Classics
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2026 Wilderness Classics Reads Schedule
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I have "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London, but in another edition. I hope it doesn't bother.
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No not at all Luis!
The Canoe and the Saddle, Theodore Winthrop (1862)...A true-life adventure about the Pacific North-West, with (and against) Indians and others on a long journey by...you guessed it...a canoe, then a horse.
The first time I read this (1998), I was full of enthusiasm for understanding the history of this fascinating part of the States living, as I was, in Portland OR on 6 months' sabbatical among people who still have a clear-headed and very generous frontier mentality.
I loved the book - was fascinated by it.
~15 years later, well and truly back home in Australia, I read it again (you can read it free online). Couldn't believe it was the same book. Funny how time and place and state of mind can throw up completely different reactions.
Just the same, as an insight into travelling in 'real wildnerness' for a very extended period of time (months), this was a fascinating read.
PS As an aside, Winthrop was the first officer killed in the Civil War. At least he'd had one helluva'n adventure before that.
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A true-life adventure about the Pacific North-West, with (and against) Indians and others on a long journey by...you guessed it...a canoe, then..."
The Canoe and the Saddle by Theodore Winthrop
I have not heard of this book or author. Sounds very interesting!
Thank you for the suggestion and the heads up it is free online.
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Adding support for The Call of the Wild.I'd also like to suggest The Peregrine by J.A. Baker
From fall to spring, J.A. Baker set out to track the daily comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons across the flat fen lands of eastern England. He followed the birds obsessively, observing them in the air and on the ground, in pursuit of their prey, making a kill, eating, and at rest, activities he describes with an extraordinary fusion of precision and poetry.
(Although formatted as a diary over one peregrine season, it's based on the author's 10 years of daily observations)
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From fall to spring, J.A. Baker set out to track the daily comings and..."
Vince this sounds very interesting. Peregrine Falcons are gorgeous creatures. Thank you!
Lesle wrote: "Luís wrote: "I have "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London, but in another edition. I hope it doesn't bother."No not at all Luis!"
So, I suggested as so.
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There a some really interesting reads to choose from or support in message one and two.
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We have one so far would like at least one other with supporting votes.
I plan on reading several in the list on message one.
I support both The Canoe and the Saddle and The Peregrine.
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This is very helpful James. I actually put The Peregrine on my wish list for a hardcover!
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This is very helpful James and updated.
I actually put The Peregrine on my wish list for a hardcover!
The peregrine by J. A. Baker andThe country diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
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Looking for support!
We might go quarterly if our response for the supporting votes keep increasing!!
If it's not to late, the coming of age duology adventure A Story like the Wind and A Far off place by Van der Post feature a trek on foot across the Kalahari desert. The author was an early environmentalist and well intentioned on racial issues for his time.
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A Story Like the Wind and
A Far-Off Place
Both of these are listed as Fiction. If you like to submit them under a different Topic thread that is more appropriate that would be wonderful. They seem like very interesting reads.
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Thank you Xristina!
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We need more supporting votes. Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
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Thank you Kathy.
Updated
We need more supporting votes. Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
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Wilderness Essays by John Muir
The Canoe and the Saddle
The Peregrine
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Looking for more supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annually (thoughts on this?)
I suggest The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I can't remember if we have already done this one.
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The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I can't remember if we have already..."
It is an epic poem in trochaic tetrameter is a poetic meter where each line has four trochees, a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable This results in a line with eight syllables in a pattern. This rhythm can create a strong, urgent, or chanting effect.
Not sure that actually fits the Wilderness description but we did read it in '2020 Jan-March The Song of Hiawatha" it was when we were featuring Poems (Epic) that time. Here is a link though.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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Looking for more supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annually (thoughts on this?)
Quarterly 4 reads total: - II Luis, Kathy
Bi-annual 2 reads total: - 0
Bi-annual 2 reads each, 4 reads total: - 0
Lesle wrote: "Updated 10/17/25....10:39amLooking for more supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annuall..."
Lesle wrote: "Updated 10/17/25....10:39am
Looking for more supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annuall..."
I vote for quarterly.
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Thank you Luis! See msg 32
Appreciate it.
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May I still suggest? If so, I suggest Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat."
Yes Kathy!
Thank you for both!
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Looking for more supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annually (thoughts on this?)
Quarterly 4 reads total: - II Luis, Kathy,
Bi-annual 2 reads total: - 0
Bi-annual 2 reads each, 4 reads total: - 0
Lesle wrote: "Blueberry wrote: "I suggest The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I can't remember if we have already..."
It is an epic poem in trochaic tetrameter is a p..."
The Song of Hiawatha is all about a young indigenous boy growing up in the wilderness of Northern Minnesota before white man. It's beautifully written about the flora and fauna around him.
I vote for quarterly. There are some really good suggestions here! I support The Peregrine, The Canoe & the Saddle, The Wilderness Essays and Lost in the Barrens. (It's been a long time since I first read Lost in the Barrens aka as "Two Against the North" but its effect on the young me is evidenced by being one of the few Scholastic books that I still have from my youth. Time for a re-read.)
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All votes updated!!
Looking for more supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026
Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annually (thoughts on this?)
Quarterly 4 reads total: - IIII Luis, Kathy, Annette, Tracey
Bi-annual 2 reads total: - 0
Bi-annual 2 reads each, 4 reads total: - 0
Sorry I am late to this. Can I still vote here or have you done a poll? I can;t see the link. Thank you,
Thank you I eventually saw your letter and this is my vote:Quarterly 4 reads total:
1. Wilderness Essays by John Muir
2. The Peregrine by J A Baker
3. Lost in the barrens by Farley Mowat
4. The Incredible journey by Sheila Burford
(Unfortunutely I thought The Country diary would be a nice gentle read for summer but I discovered that it's extremely expensive to buy so I am not voting for it.
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Added your vote for the quarterly reads.
And you four choices of Classics.
Thank you!
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Please support the Wilderness Classics you would like to read in 2026!
Only SEVEN days left to make your choice counted!!
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Might go quarterly or offer two books bi-annually your thoughts on this?
Quarterly 4 reads total: - IIII Luis, Kathy, Annette, Tracey
Bi-annual 2 reads total: - 0
Bi-annual 2 reads each, 4 reads total: - 0
I support:The Call of the Wild by Jack London
White Fang by Jack London
The Incredible Journey
Lost in the Barrens
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Only FIVE days left to make your choice count!!
We will do the Wilderness Classics Quarterly.
Where we are right now:
Our choices have been selected. Will choose the order for the quarterly reads soon.
✔ 1 & 6 The Call of the Wild or White Fang by Jack London - IIII
✔ 2. The Canoe and the Saddle by Theodore Winthrop - IIII
✔ 3. The Peregrine - IIIII
4. The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady - 0
✔ 5. Wilderness Essays by John Muir - IIII
7. The Incredible Journey - III
8. Lost in the Barrens - III
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TODAY is the FINAL DAY for SUPPORTING votes for 2026!!
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Will choose the order for the quarterly reads soon.
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I have decided to include all of them and to have two reads a quarter so that we may enjoy the ones we like to read with others.
See msg one.
Thank you for everyones suggestions and votes.
Never too Late to Read Classics
Books mentioned in this topic
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady (other topics)The Peregrine (other topics)
The Incredible Journey (other topics)
The Canoe and the Saddle: A Critical Edition (other topics)
Lost in the Barrens (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Theodore Winthrop (other topics)Jack London (other topics)
Jack London (other topics)
Theodore Winthrop (other topics)
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (other topics)
More...
January-March
The Call of the Wild (Jan 1903) 172 pages YA
Lost in the Barrens (Jan 1956) 256 YA
April-June
White Fang by Jack London (May 1906) 252 pages YA
The Incredible Journey (Jan 1996) 145 pages YA
July-September
The Canoe and the Saddle by Theodore Winthrop - (Aug 2001) 240 pages
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady (Aug 1977) 176 pages
October-December
Wilderness Essays by John Muir - (Jan 1980) 288 pages
The Peregrine - (Jan 1967) 191 pages