Ten Classics "Second Chance" Challenge

[Jami]

Perhaps the timing was wrong. Perhaps I needed to mature as a reader, or was too young to relate to the subject matter when I first attempted these books. Perhaps I was reading something else interesting at the time and this book couldn't hold my attention.

No matter the excuse, I am challenging myself to read ten classic novels that I either did not like or did not finish over the next six months. I am making this a public (and therefore, accountable) goal. If there are others out there who want to give a second chance to great books that you feel you should like, I'd love to hear from you and see your list! If you dearly love one of these books, perhaps you can offer encouragement as I go!
My List:
1) A Tale of Two Cities
2) Anna Karenina
3) The House of Seven Gables
4) Walden
5) Wuthering Heights
6) Slaughterhouse Five
7) War and Peace
8) David Copperfield
9) Mansfield Park
10) Tess of the d'Urbervilles

[Ahtims]

War and Peace & Anna Karenina were too much for me, Jami. I have read and loved all the rest, except Walden and Slaughterhouse five, which I am planning to, in the near future.

[JC]

I'm with you on A Tale of Two Cities (couldn't finish it) and Wuthering Heights (disliked it tremendously). I think I got about 2 pages into War and Peace and just could not fathom reading a book that size that I disliked from the start. My experience with classics is that I tend to like them more when I listen to them on audiobook - it seems the pace and intonation of the reader really helps me understand and stay engaged in the story.

[Megan]

One classic that I didn't care for was A Room With A View. It took me like 6 months to finish it, which I did finish. But it is really a pretty small book, but did not hold my attention at all. Then I watched the movie and the movie covered EVERYTHING, so I didn't really need to read the book. Oh well...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Tale of Two Cities was a high school thing and I didn't even like it enough to read it then. Can I admit that now, lo, these many years later? But some 10 years after high school, I did read it and I loved it. And I've read some Dickens since and liked quite a lot of it. David Copperfield was good, but I think my favorite was Oliver Twist. I read an abridged version of Anna Karenina. I think your list is fine, and such an ambitious undertaking to do it over a 6 month period. I'd feel obligated to slip in some other stuff and stretch it out a bit. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I think I tried to read A Tale of Two Cities. I read Walden in high school and didn't care for it. I did like Wuthering Heights.

[Mary]

Have you ever read Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain? I liked it when I read it the first time in high school. But when I re-read it 2 years ago (at the age of 30), it was like a whole different book! It was way funnier, for one thing.

I know that statement doesn't really apply to your challenge, but your sentence about needing to mature as a reader reminded me of that.

[JC]

Mary wrote: "Have you ever read Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain? I liked it when I read it the first time in high school. But when I re-read it 2 years ago (at the age of 30), it was like a whole different boo..."

Mary - I've had the opposite happen. I read The Hero and the Crown in my early 20s and loved it, but reread it about 10 years later and found it too simple and it didn't evoke the same feelings I remember having the first time I read it.

[Mary]

Don't tell anyone ... but I can't even bring myself to try Slaughterhouse Five because I think the premise looks kind of stupid.

I guess I'll just have to remain illiterate. lol.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

It's not the sort of books that interests me, either, Mary. But then, I've been known to change my mind ...

[JC]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "It's not the sort of books that interests me, either, Mary. But then, I've been known to change my mind ..."

I've just started it. I'm about 1/5 in, and so far so good! I don't think the description/summary does a very good job of describing the sci-fi element to the story.

[Mary]

I've heard it's really good. I just don't think it's my thing.

But I do read a lot of classic literature, so don't judge me. lol.

I would like to read Walden. Maybe I'll see if there's a copy on bookmooch.

[Mary]

Well there wasn't a copy on bookmooch, but Amazon has it free for my Kindle. Woohoo!

[Regine]

Mary wrote: "Don't tell anyone ... but I can't even bring myself to try Slaughterhouse Five because I think the premise looks kind of stupid.

I guess I'll just have to remain illiterate. lol."


I've read it. There are parts that were funny, but for the most part, I found it stupid.

I would be open to giving Dickens as well as Wuthering Heights a second chance.