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 
Classics have taken a back seat this year as I’ve embraced contemporary Australian literature. I’ve found some wonderful books and new authors, but my CC list is languishing.
LikeLike
Completed Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
LikeLike
I’d like to be able to say that I am storming ahead with my list. But it’s more like a drizzle at the moment. I got distracted by reading the short and long listed Booker prize novels. I’ve read 18 out of my list of 50 so far – and completely missed doing my spin #6. I have just under three years to read the remainder so I should do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds impressive to me!
LikeLike
I’m in and out with participation but trying to get back into the swing of things. Reading In a Glass Darkly right now and looking at a Dostoevsky next. http://www.eclectic-eccentric.com/2014/10/classics-club-check-in.html
LikeLike
I am reading too many things at the same time and the selections is quite eclectic from Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Gaskel to Susan Howatch and Richard Zimler …here’s an update http://madcaphat.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/reading-updates-and-other-news/
LikeLike
I am reading War and Peace. I’ve been reading War and Peace for some time now, and expect it to be a while before I finish. By Christmas, I’m sure! I am loving it, really, but it is not easy to get to.
I’m doing a readalong of Le Morte D’Arthur and am about 25% through that. It is very fun. And pretty weird in spots.
I went to the library the other day and wound up checking out a truly ridiculous number of books, many of which are classics. There is NO WAY I will get to them all–not even close. I guess that doesn’t really matter; I have lots of fun books! I also bought myself a used copy of The Tin Drum, so will hope to get to that sometime in the next few months.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love War and Peace, though it does take up some time in wading it through!! I however could not ever complete Le Morte D’Arthur….the jousting around made my head ache!! Do let me know how you liked it…may be I will give Le Morte a shot again and actually finish it ..I too am currently reading through Gunther Grass and that book does have call for some mental gymnastics and from my reading so far of it, it will take some time to get through!!! All the best
LikeLike
There is an awful lot of smiting in Malory, that’s for sure, but it’s fun. Today I found him saying that two guys “flang their swords,” which I guess we would say as flung. Pretty funny. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh!! ‘Flang’ ..I must use it one of these days ….hilarious!!!
LikeLike
I love Malory! Out of curiosity, are you reading it in the original Middle English? It’s such a fun language to read.
LikeLike
No, but my edition is barely modernized. Mostly the spelling and punctuation are modern, the vocabulary not so much. I keep meaning to pick up my mom’s copy of the original when I go over there–I’d like to read at least some that way.
LikeLike
I’ll finish Jane Eyre, maybe tonight, probably tomorrow. I like it very much, but unfortunately the big reveal was spoiled by seeing a movie version some years back. I think I would have been truly captivated by the mystery at Thornfield Hall, had I not known the secret. Thanks a lot Hollywood. (truthfully, it was probably a British rendition.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In over my head with review books and making my way very slowly through Great Expectations which is the book I got on the last classics spin. Didn’t finish it but am enjoying it. Hoping once I got through the next month or 2 things will slow down a little and I can catch up a bit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read “Great Expectrations” in first Classic Club Spin and I loved it, though when I had attempted it in my late teens, I had given up after a while. But Dickens I now realise is like Wine…the slower we sip the more mellow but far more pleasing the effect!! Hope you enjoy the book!!
LikeLike
I just realised that I have finished another book from my list. That is ‘The Professor’ by Charlotte Brontë. This was a read for the Brussels Brontë Reading Group and we had a lively discussion on Monday. I posted a review on my blog The Content Reader – http://thecontentreader.blogspot.se/2014/10/the-professor-by-charlotte-bronte.html
48 books to go!
LikeLike
I started read Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook Back in May and am just now 2/3 of the way through it. Admittedly, I’ve read quite a few books in the intervening months, but truly had to let this one sit, mainly my because I couldn’t keep plugging away…it became sooooooo repetitive and boring! And I can usually persevere!! But that break was good since I’ve restarted reading it and am having a much easier time of it. Hope to finish this next weekend! Oh, and this was spin #6! Can we say “behind”? 😝 Anyone else read this one? I can relate to so much of it, but really feel as if it could have been 1/3 (200 pages) shorter with no problem!
LikeLike
I have The Golden Notebook on my TBR list. I’m slogging through Infinite Jest at the moment and not really enjoying it. Why do these books have to be so long? I really think the author’s get wrapped up in their craft and completely forget about their readers.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh no – this is on my TBR pile…I hope your (eventual) review will help me find a reason to pull it out of the pile 🙂
LikeLike
Ack, I’m drowning under all the reads I have on the go. I don’t know why I do this to myself. But if I can get through until mid-Nov, they should clear up a little. I’m definitely planning to tone it down for 2015. Instead of listing all my reads, I’ll give the link to my post! http://cleoclassical.blogspot.ca/2014/10/what-ho-for-lunatic.html
I hope you all aren’t as crazy as I am!
LikeLike
That’s NOT crazy!! Although I may only say this because I am the same way!! 😝
LikeLike
Lynn, it’s so nice to meet someone who overloads herself too! And may I say, you’re the first person to say that I’m not crazy. 🙂
LikeLike
Right there with you…
LikeLike
Hey Cleo…we are all book obssesed and hence crazy is what we do…I think all of us end up each month increasing our own TBR lists and buying/borrowing more books that could not possibly be read in just 30 days…but we plod on and do it again the next month!! Sigh!! We need help!!!
LikeLike
Ha! Ha! Nah…we just need a support group! And…I think we’ve found it!! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Complete Agree Lynn!!! We call ourselves the Bookish Blunderers or Book Bamboozeled! 🙂
LikeLike