Friday 3 April 2015

Classics Club Spin #9

In the past I've carefully collated my Classic Club Spin to include connecting links to other bloggers reading the same book.

However, it is AusReading Month during November so this time around I wanted to highlight as many Aussie classics as possible.
I only have 5 left on my classics club list as I read quite a few during last year's AusReading Month.

I've also cheated a little by only picking small sized classics.
I definitely do not need another chunkster in my life right now!

My previous spins have been mostly successful and/or enjoyable:

#1 The Magnificent Ambersons with Cat.

#2 Tess of the D'Urbervilles with Lakeside Musings & Several Four Many.

#3 My Cousin Rachel.

#4 The Brothers Karamazov with Bree who also read a Dostoyevsky novel for this spin.
I'm still reading this chunkster...very slowly...and with lots of breaks. A good editor would have been helpful :-)

#5 The Odyssey with Plethora of Books.
This one was a bit of a cheat as I had started it for another readalong, but struggled to finish.
I added it to my list to motivate me to finish it.
When no. 20 spun up it seemed like the gods had decreed it so!

#6 No Name by Wilkie Collins with Melbourne on My Mind.

#7 Silent Spring by Rachel Carson with Booker Talk.

In fact #8 Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh has been my one and only dud Spin read so far.

So without any further ado...here is my list with a twist for CC Spin #9.


Australian

1. The Dig Tree by Sarah Murgatroyd (non-fiction).
2. The Great World by David Malouf (reread).
3. Swords of Crowns and Rings by Ruth Park.



American
4. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.
5. A Good School by Richard Yates.
6. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.
7. Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.
8. Stoner by John Williams.
9. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald.


UK

10. The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier (reread).
11. Dubliners by James Joyce.
12. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell.
13. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
14. A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark.
15. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.
 

European

16. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
17. Corinne, or Italy by Staël
18. The Dream by Emile Zola   
19. Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
20. Death in Venive by Thomas Mann  

On Monday, the Classics Club will do their magic mumbo jumbo and the lucky spin number will be revealed!
What will you be reading?

Monday -  the lucky spin is #2 - it's a reread of a modern day Aussie classic for me. What about you?

16 comments:

  1. I Capture the Castle is one of my absolutely favourites!! I hope you get that one, although I'm anticipating reading The Dream by Émile Zola. I hope you have a lucky spin!

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    1. I Capture the Castle would suit my reading needs very nicely right now, but the dream would also work in with Zoladdiction month.

      I always enjoy the Spins though, so I'll be happy with anything :-)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous3/4/15

    Not participating this time....but just wanted to say you have some wonderful books on your list! I'll investigate the Australian ones......in anticipation of the November AusReadingMonth!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Nancy - you are my best PR for AusReading a Month :-)

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  3. Stoner & Out of Africa are my two favorites from your list. And I really should read that novel Corinne. ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Yes you should Corinne!

      I can't wait to get into Stoner. I loved The Out of Africa movie, although I believe the book is harder work?

      Delete
  4. Like idea of splitting by region. Might steal that for a future spin if you don't mind. Stoner is one I really want to read and The Tenant of Windfell Hall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Borrow away :-)

      I also like to link up with others reading the same books, but I'm away from home base right now & it was too hard to organise this time.

      I'd be very happy with either of the 2 choices you mentioned as their on my autumn reading list as well :-)

      Delete
  5. I love your choices! Also, I'm in the middle of Tess right now. So I'll have to go back and look at your thoughts when I finish.

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    1. Tess can divide opinion so I'll be very curious to read what you think in the end.

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  6. I also love I Capture the Castle, I hope you get that one. It's delightful. I also loved The Good Earth and Stoner, and all of them are fairly quick reads. However, I recently tried to read Zola's The Dream and just couldn't get into it. I fear it may be the only one of the Rougon-Macquarts that I don't finish!

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    Replies
    1. I suspect if I spin The Dream, I will actually read Germinal as that is what I've committed to reading with Zoladdiction month - 2 Zola's in one month might be a bit excessive :-)

      Delete
  7. Love your list - so much variety. Hope you will get something quick and easy. I've done much the same with my list - preferable to not paticipating at all.

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    Replies
    1. Light & easy is good Cat - that's why the spin works do well for everyone - it can be catered to suit your needs :-)

      I've included books that could fit into upcoming readalongs - Zola for Zoladdiction this month - the Wharton for next months Wharton Review & several of the books are also on my autumn reading list :-)

      Delete
  8. Ah, The Dream! I loved that one! My second favourite of the Rougon Macquarts :)

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  9. I love it that you identified the author's nationality. Well, we only have to wait until tomorrow to find out what book we will read. Anne's 20 Classics for spin

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