Classic Author Focus: Alan Paton

Alan Paton Alan Paton was a South African novelist and poet best known for Cry, The Beloved Country. He was also known as an early and important anti-apartheid activist. I found several mentions but was unable to find the attribution of a phrase applied to him as the man who "pulled up barbed wire fences …

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Did You Finish Your Spin?

Today's the Day! On the 19th March, 2023 we announced the latest Classic Club Spin, challenging you to read book 18 on your CC Spin #33 list by 30th April. Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or not? What's Next? In the comments below, tell us what book you read, and what you thought …

Blog Administration: What’s Going on Right Now

Hi, folks. I realized that it had been about eight or nine years since the links on the review pages had been tested, so I started doing that this week. So far, I have only finished the letter A, and I have deleted lots and lots of links. Rest assured that if your link resolves …

Author Focus: William Shakespeare

Birthday-adorned Shakespeare statue. Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, AL "To be, or not to be?" William Shakespeare ceased to be on April 23rd, 1616, seventy years to the week after he was baptized, and on the very day traditionally observed as his birthday. He is a man who needs no introduction, for despite his relatively …

Classic Author Focus: Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks Gwendolyn Brooks was an American poet, author, and teacher who became widely known as the first Black American writer to win a Pulitzer Prize, for poetry. She was also named the poet laureate for Illinois in 1968, a position she kept until her death, and U. S. poet laureate for 1985-1986. She was …

Your Lucky Spin Number Is…

If you joined the game last week, find number 18 on your CC Spin #33 List! That's the CLASSIC you are challenged to read by 30th April 2023.  We know it can be hard to stay on track and enthused about your Spin Book for the whole journey. We plan to provide support and encouragement to …

Greetings from the new kid on the block

Hello! I’m Stephen, a librarian from the Deep South  with a specialty in local history and digital preservation who has recently volunteered to help moderate at the Classics Club. I’m a life-long reader, known for always seeming to have a book on hand. I’ve been book-blogging at Reading Freely since 2007,  beginning back when MySpace …

CC Spin #33

Hello, Clubbers! It's time for another Classics Club Spin!What is the spin? It's easy. At your blog, before next Sunday 19th March, 2023, create a post that lists twenty books of your choice that remain "to be read" on your Classics Club list. This is your Spin List. You have to read one of these …

Classic Author Focus: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Charlotte Perkins Gilman On the one hand, Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an American writer, early feminist, social reformer, and humanist. On the other hand, she was a believer in eugenics, a popular idea at the time but one that is now considered abhorrent. She is best known for her short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper," which …

Did You Finish Your Spin?

Today's the Day! On the 12th December, 2022 we announced the latest Classic Club Spin, challenging you to read book 6 on your CC Spin #32 list by 29th January. Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or not? What's Next? In the comments below, tell us what book you read, and what you thought …

Classic Author Focus: Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas was a French writer who was certainly from an extraordinary family. His father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was the son of an African slave and a French nobleman and became a great and popular general of the French Revolution. However, he fell out of favor with Bonaparte and the …

Classic Author Focus: Astrid Lindgren

Astrid Lindgren Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish writer best known for her Pippi Longstocking books. She was also a playwright and wrote more than 30 books for children. She is the fourth most translated children's literature writer. Many of Lindgren's children's books reflect her memories of growing up in Näs, Sweden. After school, Lindgren took …

Your Lucky Spin Number Is…

If you joined the game last week, find number 6 on your CC Spin #32 List! That's the CLASSIC you are challenged to read by 29th January 2023.  We know it can be hard to stay on track and enthused about your Spin Book for the whole journey. We plan to provide support and encouragement to …

CC Spin #32

Hello, Clubbers! It's time for another Classics Club Spin!What is the spin? It's easy. At your blog, before next Sunday 11th Decmber, 2022, create a post that lists twenty books of your choice that remain "to be read" on your Classics Club list. This is your Spin List. You have to read one of these …

Classic Author Focus: Charlotte Riddell

Charlotte Riddell Charlotte Riddell was an Irish/English writer who is best known now for stories of the supernatural. During her lifetime, she was very popular and was the author of more than 50 novels and short stories. She was also part owner and editor of St. James Magazine, a prominent London journal of the time. …

Did You Finish Your Spin?

Today's the Day! On the 12th September we announced the latest Classic Club Spin, challenging you to read book 2 on your CC Spin #31 list by 30th October. Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or not? What's Next? In the comments below, tell us what book you read, and what you thought of …