Hi Clubbers! How’s the reading going? Check in with the group below!
Tell us about your project — or you! Introduce yourself. Chat.
Tell us what you’ve read, how you’re feeling about your progress, how much you love the classics or the community — any struggles, a favorite read so far. Really, whatever you feel like sharing!
Some people prefer writing an update at their own blog and linking it here in the comments. That’s fine, too.
Feel free to respond to one another in the comments below — ask questions, visit each other, tell us you are new to the club, planning to join the club — etc. This is a meet and greet.
If you’re having trouble with your list and need encouragement, say that! That’s understandable. We want new classics readers to join us, so there’s nothing wrong with arriving to this thread with all of the newness showing!
(Please also note the “check-in” feature here is entirely voluntarily, intended for those who like weighing in with others in the group, and having a periodic place to reflect upon goals for the club. For some this feature would feel like an unwanted intrusion. Silent participation in this group is of course welcome!)
Thanks for all of your enthusiasm about this project!
New? Introduce yourself to the group on Twitter using hashtag #ccintroductions @ourclassicsclub. You can also introduce yourself here at the blog. 🙂
Twitter hashtag for reading check-ins: #ccreadingupdate
Note that if you’re on Twitter, you can also tweet your latest classic book reviews to the group using hashtag #ccbookreviews.
The Classics Club 
I’m really enjoying being part of this club and am trying to become more involved in club activities. I have read three of my list of 50 book so far. With my projected finishing date of 31 December 2017, I think that this should be achievable. Currently I’m just over 10% of the way through Jane Eyre, which I am finding more enjoyable than I expected. My favourite thing at this club is the Classics Spin as there is always the chance that you may get a book that you’ve been dreading to read.
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Jane Eyre is my favourite classic. It has everything you’d want on a novel.
Enjoy.
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I’m only a few months into my challenge of 50 books in 3 years, but I have finished 5 so far & I’m reading 2 @ the moment. Getting ready to start the Spin on Aug 19th as well.
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I’m new here, but will be posting on Shirley by Charlotte Bronte.
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Welcome, Caroline!
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This month I’ve finished reading The Rend and the Black by Stendhal… and thus finishing reading the 64 books I had pledged for this challenge. I am currently wondering whether I should start a new one or just keep going with this one.
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Congratulation on accomplishing your goal of 64 books! Which were your favorites?
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I’ve read 8 classics this year, although some of those are stretching the term “classic” a bit. I just finished George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda, after struggling with it for a couple of months. Next on my list is Mansfield Park, which will be an easy read after Eliot.
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Hi everyone! I’m new to the club (joined only about two weeks ago) but everyone’s enthusiasm is catching, and I’m well on my way to crossing my first classic off the list (http://loosheesh.booklikes.com/post/130429/the-classics-club). So psyched 😀
Right now I’m almost done with The Hobbit (such an awesome adventure!), I’m doing a buddy read of Macbeth, and I started Brave New World as well. And yes, I’m of those people who must be always be reading 3 to 5 books at a time 😉
I’m very happy to have discovered the Classics Club, though I must admit to feeling a little intimidated when I look around at everyone else’s articulate reviews. I just hope I can express myself half as well because, frankly, I flop at reviews 😆
Enjoy your weekend, and your reading!
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I am behind, but once I can get a few more classics, I will be back on track.
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Good luck with catching up 🙂
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Hello to all, and welcome to the new participants!
I have a confession to make. I have read a lot more books on my list than it may appear. While I’m good about reading my classics (they’re as essential as breakfast), I’m horrible at blogging right after I finish a book, which causes me to get behind more…and more…and more. There are at least 12 books on my current list that still need review posts, and I’d like to add many more books to the list, some that I’ve read since making the list and others than I intend to read. So things are getting a little out of hand in regard to writing the posts, but I’m technically “ahead” with the reading part.
I hope everyone else is having a great summer! I love reading the posts even if I don’t get time to comment on them all. If you’re reading this and don’t yet know me, feel free to come say hello at my blog or on Twitter (@lostgenreader).
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I’ve only read about one classic and already have a scheduled post about it so I can’t give you any tips but I find that it’s really easier to 1/ take notes as I read and highlight relevant quotes and 2/ blog RIGHT after finishing. Perhaps you should write just one wrap-up blog post for all of them with quick thoughts? It’s way more manageable than staring at twelve reviews yet to be started 🙂
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Thanks for the advice! I do need to start blogging right after finishing a book. And I don’t take notes exactly, but I will mark passages/quotes in my books despite that being frowned upon by some. I’ve seen other people do wrap-up posts, and that’s awesome, but I don’t think it’s for me. I may just have to move forward and go back with the reviews as time allows. But moving forward, I’ll definitely review right away. Thanks again!
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Hey everyone! This is my first check in with the classics club. I made my commitment two days ago and picked the 36 assigned books I skipped out on in highschool/ college. I’ve committed to reading them by my 27th birthday (just over two years away). You can see my full list of books here: http://keepingheather.blogspot.com/2013/08/classics-club-commitment.html
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Welcome to the club! Happy to have you with us. 🙂
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My end date is also a birthday 🙂 Toni Morrison’s Sula is my favourite of her books, it doesn’t get talked about much, which is a shame.
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Over all my year is going pretty good. My goal is 40 books and I have completed 36. Having just completed Pride and Prejudice for the Austen in August project, I have started An American Tragedy, a selection for my Author of the Month project. Good thing I am so far ahead of schedule. This one is 874 pages and will take me a long time to complete. Anxiously I await the next spin selection!
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OH, I wanted to leave a link to my blog in case anyone wanted to check out the Author of the Month (listed on my Reading Challenges page). http://imaloverofbooks.wordpress.com/
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Wow, you’re on a roll! Congratulations. 🙂
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You’re so close to reaching your goal!
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I saved a couple of chunksters for the end: War and Peace and An American Tragedy…
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A slow start to my second year. I’ve read my target ten a year so need to crack on with this one. My aim is to read the Narnia chronicles and Jane Austen. Am half through P and P. 🙂
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Good luck! I still want to read the Narnia chronicles. I finished P&P last week for the second time. It’s such a wonderful read, as are most all Austen novels.
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Good goal, Jane is my favourite author 🙂 Hope you’re liking P&P!
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Well a; year-and-a-half into this and I’ve read 12 of 50. I was doing well during the first year, but the last six months have slowed down. Just making my spin list gave me the motivation to get back at it. I have bookmarks in so many books right now. I need to stop and just concentrate on one good classic.
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Good luck with your list! One book at a time, right? 🙂
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I prefer to focus on just one book but I know someone who reads one chapter out of several books every day and it works better for her. Find what works for you! Your progress is inspiring, I wish I could have reached twelve already!
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I’m still pretty new at this too, but I’ve crossed 5 off the list so far. . . only blogged about 3.5 though. I’m reading Jane Austen’s juvenalia at the moment, which wasn’t on my list, but makes a nice companion to sanditon/the watsons which were
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You’re off to a great start! Austen’s earlier works are interesting to read, especially in comparison to the novels. She seems a bit more gutsy with her writing style in her younger years.
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I actually prefer her juvenilia to all the rest (and that’s saying something). How do you like it? It’s so hysterical and fun.
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I joined back in June and had hardly read any classics for a very long time. Since joining, I’m finishing up my third book from my official list and I’ve read two more classics that were not on my original list. Needless to say, this project has given me a HUGE jump start, and I could not be more thankful!
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A belated welcome to you! I find myself adding books to my original classics list all the time. I’m glad you’re getting into the classics again. I hope you’re joining the Classics Spin starting next week. 🙂
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YAY! Go you! I think that’s exactly what the club is about so it’s good to know it’s working 🙂 I read a classic straight after joining the club too.
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I’m rereading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens at the moment. It’s not on my Classics Club list, but I’m glad to be reading it again 🙂
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Dickens!!! He’s one of my favorites.
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Dickens in August! That’s an interesting choice 🙂 I don’t like Dickens much but I’m giving him a second chance on my list.
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Well, I must say I have read only 4 out of the 100 and reviewed only 2 out of the 4, on my blog. To bad!
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You’ll get there! I know life keeps us all busy, so as long as you’re enjoying the books you’re reading I think you’re doing just fine. 🙂
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Aw but you’re making some progress on your list anyway, that’s more than some! 🙂 And 2 books worth of backlog isn’t bad at all 🙂
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I’m feeling happy about my progress–I’ve read 49/150 (give or take). I’m currently reading Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy and enjoying that a lot.
http://howlingfrog.blogspot.com/p/the-classics-club.html
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Awesome progress! You’re killing it. I’m doing pretty well with the reading, but I’m behind on the blogging part.
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Oh Jean I’m glad to see you here, I really like your blog. I just found out about it, don’t think I’ve commented yet so I’m off to do just that 🙂
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Thanks Ruby! 🙂
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Let’s see…it looks like I have read 24 of 100. I’m working on #25 right now.
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That’s awesome! I think I’m somewhere around that for books read, but books blogged in another story…
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Oh, yeah…I’ve maybe blogged about two of the books I’ve read. I have a hard time writing about classics for some reason. I need to write a general post about what I’ve read so far and whether or not I liked them, I guess.
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When I have some backlog, I like to post a wrap-up for several books at once, perhaps you should try that? You’re a quarter of the way through, keep it up, that’s awesome!
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Thank you!
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Hi, everyone. I’m brand new to the Project. In fact, I just finished my first book, Dangerous Liaisons. I had so much fun putting my list together, and my FB post about it actually spurred one of my friends to join. Another suggested a Classics Book Club. So it’s already been a rewarding experience. Thanks so much for putting this group together. I am looking forward to adding even more classics to my TBR pile as I read reviews!
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Congratulations on the first book, Col, and welcome to the club! Can’t wait to read your reviews in the future. 🙂
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Dangerous Liaisons is so good. I haven’t read it in years. Did you like it? The Stephen Frears movie is also excellent. It’s heartwarming to hear that one of your friends joined!
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Helloooo everyone! I’m SO happy I joined! I posted my list two days ago (http://www.araretreat.co.uk/2013/08/the-classics-club-my-list.html) and I’m already reading a book on the list: Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, which is a reread for me though I can’t remember it much. That was easily started since Wharton has recently become quite a favourite of mine after being blown away by both The House of Mirth and The Custom of the Country. I want to read everything she’s written!
I can’t wait to get to know you all better, I’ve already chatted to a couple of fellow CC members but not nearly enough. I’d love to meet fellow Wharton fans for example! 🙂
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Welcome! I’m pretty new myself. Good luck with your reading! I read The Age of Innocence forever ago, and I’m not sure I finished the last 40 pages or so. Ack!
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Hi Andi! I finished the book yesterday. Not a favourite (I prefer The House of Mirth and The Custom of the Country)
Shame you didn’t read the epilogue, it was a bit better than the rest! 😀
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Ooohhh, Im going to have to check out sone more of her. I’ve only read one of her books and loved it!
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Ooo which one did you read?
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Welcome to the club! I have only read The House of Mirth, but I have Ethan Frome on my list for later. Like with many writers, I will probably add more Wharton to the list.
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Ethan Frome’s on my list too (I believe it’s even on my spin list!) Thanks for the welcome 🙂
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