A new era

As one of your new moderators, I got the “lucky” job of being the first to introduce myself to you. You will see more introductory posts as the weeks progress.

I am honored to be chosen as one of your moderators and appreciate the fine job that the original moderators have done the last four years.

I have been a blogger since 2011 on my review blog What, Me Read? A few years ago, out of frustration at a very difficult move from Texas to Washington, I began a more personal blog, Moving to Washington, which I use to keep up with friends and acquaintances. Finally, just two weeks ago, I started The Fat Girl’s Guide to Hiking, a fun hiking guide for people who are out of shape.

I am a retired technical writer and college-level instructor of writing. I have two degrees in English Language and Literature. I love reading all kinds of books and talking about books with other people.

My jobs as moderator will be to post member reviews, keep the Big Book page updated, and moderate the Classics Club Goodreads page (which I am just getting acquainted with). For those of you who aren’t acquainted with the page, you should check it out. Until I became a moderator, I did not know about it either, as it is difficult to find using the search in Goodreads.

I also helped create the survey that you may have already filled out. That survey may help us with ideas for new activities we can bring to the blog. So, if you didn’t fill it out yet, please do so.

I also hope to help with a little revamp of the blog design. Right now, I am working entering in a backlog of member reviews, so if your review hasn’t shown up in the list yet, that may be why. It should soon!

And let’s not forget the spin! Later today I’ll be posting my list.

So, I hope to have discussions with some of you in the future, and again, I’m proud to be your moderator.

I’d like to make a fun feature of my monthly posts a little poll, so here it is.

Kay

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Happy Anniversary to The Classics Club! Five Years Strong!!

The Club was founded five years ago today.

Happy Birthday to The Classics Club, founded five years ago today.

For many of us, this is the last year of the challenge. Who is still with us? How many books do you have left to read?

How long have you been with us, and what is your favorite memory from the club so far?

If you could do it again, would you still join us?

Thanks sincerely for a great five years, everyone.

Feel free to comment below!

Group Check-In #22 – December 2016

What is this? Click to find out.

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. 🙂

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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.

December Meme: Question #48

Hi clubbers!! We’re excited to be posting our latest meme question for the club! (A bit early, since many may be celebrating the holidays when we usually post the monthly meme, so we thought we’d offer an early start this month.) Feel free to answer now or next month at your place, & leave a link to your response in the comments below so others can see what you have to say. Or really, you could just answer in the comments if you want. We really are quite flexible here. 🙂 Here’s the question this month:

see future questions for this meme

A meme rewind from March 2014: Contributed by Dale, who joined us in September 2012: What is your favorite “classic” literary period and why?

Remember to check out this page for details or to share suggestions for future meme questions! And then check out one another’s posts!

Twitter hashtag: #ccmeme

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“Reading” – Auguste Renoir (1890-1895)

Today is the day! Did you finish your spin book?

Click for details about the Spin.

All right, clubbers! Back in late September, we announced The Classics Spin #14, challenging you to read Book #1 on your spin list by December 1. Today is December 1!

Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or will you?

What was your book, and what did you think? Share below. Feel free to link to your post below, as and when you write about your book.

As always, the prize is the reading experience. Details here.

Twitter hashtag: #ccspin

– the Club

Book Corner: What are you reading today?

“Reading (portrait of Edma Morisot).” Berthe Morisot, 1873.

Here’s a space to tell the club what you’re currently reading. You’re welcome to use the comments below.

No pressure, of course! But if you’re feeling social, here’s a space to tell us about your latest classic. As always, you are of course welcome to leave a link to your blog if you prefer to share there.

Twitter hashtag: #ccreadingupdate

– The Club

Classics Club Event Call – December & January

Hey guys! We want to make sure we’re all on top of the Community Events our members offer through the club. If you are hosting anything for The Classics Club community in the coming weeks, please give a shout out below with the name of the event, the dates, a link (either to the event, or your blog), and any special rules. (Like, you must check in weekly or don’t take part — that sort of thing.)

And then maybe also add it to the Events Page. This post is mostly a way to keep things present in our clubbers’ plans. It’s probably easy to forget that page is there. 🙂

If you’re on Twitter, please tweet your event to –

• @ourclassicsclub
• hashtag: #cceventsched

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Please note:  For this month, please tell us about any events you have planned for December & January.

Have ideas for future events but prefer someone else host them? Please share them in the comments! Maybe someone will take up the torch!

Good reading –

– The Club

Group Check-In #21 – October 2016

What is this? Click to find out.

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 Lucky SPIN number!

Click for details about the Spin.

We promised you a spin number this morning, and here it is! Your Spin Number is –

1.

If you joined the game last week, find number 1 on your Spin List! That’s the title you are challenged to read by December 1, 2016. We’ll toss a post up on December 1 to see who completed the game.

As always, the prize is the reading experience. Details here.

In case anyone asks — it would be awesome if everyone posted about their Spin book on December 1. But that’s not mandatory or anything. If you want to, though, have at it! 🙂

Check in below if you played. What’s your #1 title? Are you glad, hesitant, excited about your title? Do tell!

Twitter hashtag: #ccspin

– the Club

The Classics Spin #14

Spins! So far!

Good morning, Clubbers!

It’s time for another Classics Spin for any who are interested. What is the spin?

It’s easy. At your blog, by next Monday, October 3, list your choice of any twenty books you’ve left to read from your Classics Club list — in a separate post.

This is your Spin List. You have to read one of these twenty books in October & November. (Details follow.) So, try to challenge yourself. For example, you could list five Classics Club books you are dreading/hesitant to read, five you can’t WAIT to read, five you are neutral about, and five free choice (favorite author, rereads, ancients — whatever you choose.)

Next Monday, we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List, by December 1, 2016. We’ll have a check in here in December, to see who made it the whole way and finished the spin book.

Do you have that?

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• Go to your blog.
• Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
• Try to challenge yourself: list five you are dreading/hesitant to read, five you can’t WAIT to read, five you are neutral about, and five free choice (favorite author, rereads, ancients — whatever you choose.)
• Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog by next Monday.
• Monday morning, we’ll announce a number from 1-20. Go to the list of twenty books you posted, and select the book that corresponds to the number we announce.
• The challenge is to read that book by December 1, even if it’s an icky one you dread reading! (No fair not listing any scary ones!)

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Ha ha! 😀 All for fun, and of course, the “rules” are, as always, very relaxed. Really, you can make up your own rules. We don’t actually care. 😛

So, today (any time this week) at your blog, you might post something like:

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My Book Spin list for the Classics Club  –

1. Jane Eyre
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Crime and Punishment
4. Oliver Twist
5. CLARISSA (yikes!)
6. Gone With the Wind
7. Ulysses (Ugh!)
8. Emerson’s Collected Essays
9. Richard III
10. The Iliad
11. Jude the Obscure
12. Leaves of Grass
13. The Monk
14. Dracula
15. The Importance of Being Earnest
16. Sense & Sensibility
17. The Tempest
18. The Diary of Anne Frank
19. Paradise Lost
20. Pilgrim’s Progress

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(Obviously, YOU choose what books you want to list, in what order.)

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Next Monday, we will announce a number from 1 through 20. When we announce it, go to your Spin list. Find that number, and read the book listed for that number by December 1.

So, if (for example) we announce #9 — if the above list was your Spin List, you’d have to read Richard III by December 1.

Make sense? Don’t get bogged down by rules and details! Free free to rebelliously break the rules at your leisure.

As always, the prize is the reading experience. 🙂

When we announce the number next Monday, come tell us your title — ha!

Anybody in? If so, you can link to your spin lists below. Happy week!

Twitter hashtag: #ccspin

– the Club

Book Corner: What are you reading today?

“Reading (portrait of Edma Morisot).” Berthe Morisot, 1873.

Here’s a space to tell the club what you’re currently reading. You’re welcome to use the comments below.

No pressure, of course! But if you’re feeling social, here’s a space to tell us about your latest classic. As always, you are of course welcome to leave a link to your blog if you prefer to share there.

Twitter hashtag: #ccreadingupdate

– The Club

Classics Club Event Call – October & November

Hey guys! We want to make sure we’re all on top of the Community Events our members offer through the club. If you are hosting anything for The Classics Club community in the coming weeks, please give a shout out below with the name of the event, the dates, a link (either to the event, or your blog), and any special rules. (Like, you must check in weekly or don’t take part — that sort of thing.)

And then maybe also add it to the Events Page. This post is mostly a way to keep things present in our clubbers’ plans. It’s probably easy to forget that page is there. 🙂

If you’re on Twitter, please tweet your event to –

• @ourclassicsclub
• hashtag: #cceventsched

---

Please note:  For this month, please tell us about any events you have planned for October & November.

Have ideas for future events but prefer someone else host them? Please share them in the comments! Maybe someone will take up the torch!

Good reading –

– The Club

Group Check-In #20 – August 2016

What is this? Click to find out.

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.

Today is the day! Did you finish your spin book?

Click for details about the Spin.

All right, clubbers! Back in early June, we announced The Classics Spin #13, challenging you to read Book #15 on your spin list by August 1. Today is August 1!

Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or will you?

What was your book, and what did you think? Share below. Feel free to link to your post below, as and when you write about your book.

As always, the prize is the reading experience. Details here.

Twitter hashtag: #ccspin

– the Club

Book Corner: What are you reading today?

“Reading (portrait of Edma Morisot).” Berthe Morisot, 1873.

Here’s a space to tell the club what you’re currently reading. You’re welcome to use the comments below.

No pressure, of course! But if you’re feeling social, here’s a space to tell us about your latest classic. As always, you are of course welcome to leave a link to your blog if you prefer to share there.

Twitter hashtag: #ccreadingupdate

– The Club

Classics Club Event Call – August & September

Hey guys! We want to make sure we’re all on top of the Community Events our members offer through the club. If you are hosting anything for The Classics Club community in the coming weeks, please give a shout out below with the name of the event, the dates, a link (either to the event, or your blog), and any special rules. (Like, you must check in weekly or don’t take part — that sort of thing.)

And then maybe also add it to the Events Page. This post is mostly a way to keep things present in our clubbers’ plans. It’s probably easy to forget that page is there. 🙂

If you’re on Twitter, please tweet your event to –

• @ourclassicsclub
• hashtag: #cceventsched

---

Please note:  For this month, please tell us about any events you have planned for August & September.

Have ideas for future events but prefer someone else host them? Please share them in the comments! Maybe someone will take up the torch!

Good reading –

– The Club