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 
Hi everyone! I’m Emma and I blog on classic literature (normally Victorian novels) over at http://bookwormchatterbox.wordpress.com/ I’m also on Twitter @bookwormchatter and on Bloglovin. Honestly, I don’t have a Classics Club list of books to read, instead I write on every classic (and some unknown books) that I’ve encountered during my time at University studying both English Lit and Victorian Lit 🙂
I’m a massive Zola and Gaskell fan, and I love Sensation fiction! I’d really appreciate it if you’d have a little look at my blog and let me know what you think – I value all feedback on my posts 🙂 Chat soon! x
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I just stumbled upon the club this morning and I am so excited to put together a list of favorite classics! This is exactly the type of things I’ve been hoping to find!
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I’m in comfort read mode right now with LM Montgomery’s The Blue Castle. It’s simply delightful, sweet and easy to read – perfect 🙂
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I took a seriously long break from reading, not to mention the Classics, so I have a lot of catching up to do, especially since I found the unabridged version of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, which is on my list. 🙂 Right now I’m reading ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. I’m learning French, and can’t wait to read it in it’s original language!
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Hi, I just joined Classics Club and this weekend started reading my Classics Spin choice, The Long Ships by Frans Bengtsson. Great so far!
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I’m working on Under Western Eyes by Conrad right now. I’m planning to pick up We, my spin selection, as soon as I’m done with this one.
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I’ve just finished my second Zola in the Rougon-Macquart series, Son Excellence Eugène Rougon, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the read-along at Tanglewood of Eugene Onegin.
In progress are:
Paradise Lost Read-Along
Daniel Deronda
Le Morte d’Arthur (slowly)
The History of the Ancient World (slowly)
And just starting:
The Odyssey Read-Along (check out the events page for details!)
The Silver Chair
La Curée
I’ve managed to keep my head above water although I’m not sure how. :-Z
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Do the Zola novels need to be read in any particular order? I’ve just finished my third by him but haven’t read in any sequence at all
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No, they don’t have to be read in order. Reading them in order gives you perhaps a slight feeling of continuation because each novel is about a different character from the same family tree, so to speak, but each novel can certainly stand on its own.
If you did want to read them in order, there are two lists you can choose from: the publication order or Zola’s recommended order. I’m reading from Zola’s list.
Have you been enjoying them?
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I’ve loved the three I’ve read so far – Germinal, Bette Humaine and now L’Assommoir. Any recommendations?
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Well, I’ve only read The Fortune of the Rougons, which was very good and Son Excellence, Eugene Rougon. I really liked Son Excellence because it gave an historical view of the life of a politician under the Second Empire, yet this book is not one of the more popular ones in the series. If you want to read my review it’s here and there is also a link to The Fortune at the end of it: http://cleoclassical.blogspot.ca/2014/02/son-excellence-eugene-rougon-by-emile.html
It’s good to know that you have positive recommendations for the three you’ve read, which come up for me as #16, #15 & #13. I guess I have a ways to go before I get to them! 🙂
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at least you know there are some absolutely brilliant ones awaiting you. Thanks for the advice re the two you’ve read – I;ll check out the review shortly
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Oh I absolutely loved L’Assommoir (and there’s a little review on my blog!) My next reads are Therese Raquin, Bete Humaine, Germinal, and The Paradise – can’t wait to read them!
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I wrote an entirely too OCD oriented check in post today! http://figandthistle.com/2014/02/15/reading-progress-check-february-2014/
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I have posted a bit of an update about where I am in my readings, not only for tCC but for Back to the Classics & the War and Peace Book Club through LitChat! I am sort of cross-reading my classics a bit, as you will see revealed! I was a bit surprised I hadn’t realised War and Peace was included in my tCC List! :O Cannot wait to read how everyone else is doing in their classical adventures!
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I’ve been making very slow progress, have read only a few books last year. This year I intend to read more and better and tackle the list more aggressively! 🙂
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I had a bit of a dry spell in January, but did continually work on The Woman in White throughout the month. I haven’t picked it up for a few weeks, as I have been working on more contemporary books. I am hoping that in the next few weeks, I will be able to work a little more on my classics. Till later.
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Shortly after I joined the Classics Club last year, my husband and I bought a house and all my best intentions for tackling my list went out the window (considering how much broken glass and ripped screens our fixer-upper had, they quite literally could have done so!) So after a (very) slow start, I’ve finally read my first 2 classics. I’m glad I’m able to have a “living list” because I am constantly adding to it as I read reviews from the community and learn more about titles and authors I was never exposed to in school. Now that things have settled down a bit, I’m really excited about continuing on this journey 🙂
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I can attest to life throwing you a curve ball &/or needing your full attention whilst reading takes a backseat! I have had my own fair share of delays in reading the classics, but like you, I feel motivated and inspired to pick up where I had left off! 🙂 And, yes, making tCC List ‘a flexible and changing array of titles’ is what attracted me to the Club originally!
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Hello, I have just joined the project, (although I have been posting about the classics I have been reading since October, 2013). The purpose of my blog is to try to popularize the reading of classics, specifically, Russian language classics that are not widely known outside of the former Soviet Union. I can assure you that there is more to Russian literature than the ‘big three’, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov. Over the past 3-4 months, I have discovered some fantastic authors: Fyodor Abramov (20th century), Ales Adamovich (20th century), Arkady Averchenko (late 19th – early 20th century) etc.This month I will be reading works by one of my favorite authors of all time, Chingiz Aitmatov. Aitmatov is ethnically Kirghiz but has written many works in Russian. I am (re-)reading his novel “A Day Lasts Longer than a 100 Years” right now. Its a brilliant and haunting novel that, happily, is available in English.
One of the things that has really helped me to read more is the acquisition of an e-reader. I know that some bibliophiles are really anti- e-readers, but for me, an e-reader greatly facilitates the purchase, storage and transport of books.
Happy reading everyone!
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Ooo, I’ll be sure to stop by your blog Anya, to get some recommendations on Russian writers. I just finished Eugene Onegin and just today bought a compilation of more of his poems and prose. I’m always looking for new Russian authors.
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I just posted a comment on your blog – on the first posting. Interesting idea
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This was meant as a reply to Anya, sorry
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Thanks! Just reponded 😉
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I love e-readers! I do prefer the feel of a book in my hands, but with an e-reader you can get free classics. Besides, you can carry more books around.
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