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Must Read Classics Challenge
Duration: July 1 - July 31, 2013

Our theme for July is classics, so let's see how many classics we can read this month!

This works much like our standard Listopia challenge or our Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ 100 challenge, but instead, your task is to read as many books from the Must Read Classics list as you can. Let us know how many of the top 100 you've read so far and what your goal is for the month.

Enjoy!

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Zara will be our leader for this challenge. Thank you, Zara!

Participants :


Alison 1/2
Anna 0/7
Candiss 0/2
Gecko 1/4
Heather 0/3
Jessica 0/6
Jodi 2/3
Kaitlin 2/3
Kara 0/2
Kelsi 0/5
Megan 1/2
Noelle 0/6
Rachel 0/2
Sara 2/2 CONGRATULATIONS!!! Sara well done on achieving your goal.
Sara (message #20) 7/8
Sarah 0/2
ScarlettMi 0/1
Zara 1/1 CONGRATULATIONS!!! Zara well done on achieving your goal.

I'm definitely going to give this a go! I think I need to aim low, though, and make a goal of 2. Thanks for the resource!

I think I will attempt 5?

Thank you, Zara! You're it. :)

The counter at the top of the list says I've read 64 of the top 100 books on the list. Several are on my reading list for the rest of the year, so that will go up a bit soonish.

I'm in for 2. I may be able to squeeze in a 3rd, but I'm a bit overextended this month, so I'll start small.

I've read 47 so far. I'll do two--I think that's manageable, and it'll help me with my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ 100 challenge as well. (Love double-dipping challenges!)

I love double dipping too! All 5 will be from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ 100!

ill try 2.Im reading Les Mis right now so that will take up time. Ill read another after I finish it. This will help me challenge to get this book done.

I am going to try for 3. I have a busy reading month. I have read 17 so far and three more will bring me to 20.

It is going to be so hard to choose the three I want to read. I have so many on my TBR shelf. These two were chosen for me to read in July, so I for sure am reading these two. My third one I will choose later.

The Catcher in the Rye

Fahrenheit 451

I have read 55 so far. I'm currently reading 2 of the books on the list. So I plan to read at least two.

I've read 51 so far, so I will be in for two. We'll see if I can squeeze in any more:

1. 1984 by George Orwell (seems appropriate as Time magazine says sales of this book have jumped since the NSA spying story broke) - completed
2. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger - completed

2/2 - challenge complete!

I have added you all. Thanks for joining.

I am in.

0/7

I have only read 16 on the list. Just started reading Classics last year but I am hooked.

My goal for this challenge is to read as many as possible but will start with a low count.

I think I am going to aim more realistically this time and go for 3.

Heather wrote: "I think I am going to aim more realistically this time and go for 3."

Hi Heather. I have added you.

Sarah wrote: "I'm in for this one. I'll aim for 2."

I've added you Sarah

There will be a squad of Sara(h)s but I'm gonna join in on this challenge as well :)

I have only read 12 off the list so far. I should be able to do these 8. Will mark off as I read them. Currently 8/8 -

Three I read in HS but don't remember:
Of Mice and Men - FINISHED ****
The Catcher in the Rye - FINISHED
The Scarlet Letter - FINISHED **

Three I want to read:
The Metamorphosis, in the Penal Colony and Other Stories: The Great Short Works of Franz Kafka --FINISHED ***
Catch-22 --FINISHED
A Clockwork Orange --FINISHED

Already reading for July's Twin Read:
Fahrenheit 451 --FINISHED ****

Already read half of it in June so this one is cheating a little bit but it's such a huge one and it's on the list so I'm counting it:
War and Peace FINISHED

Thanks for leading challenge Zara

Sara, I plan on starting Catch 22 this month. Would you like to continue last month's discussion?

i will be reading Les Miserables and Catcher in the Rye.

Sara wrote: "There will be a squad of Sara(h)s but I'm gonna join in on this challenge as well :)

I have only read 12 off the list so far. I should be able to do these 8. Will mark off as I read them.

Three ..."

I have added you Sara. It's my pleasure to lead this challenge.

Kelsi wrote: "Sara, I plan on starting Catch 22 this month. Would you like to continue last month's discussion?"

That would be great Kelsi! I tend to get more out of the books when there is some discussion involved. Thanks much, will message ya when I get around to it.

I seem to have read 24 books on the list already and I think this month I'll just say I'm going to add another one (1) only this month since I'm so busy and have already begun other books.

(0/1)

*Unfortunately, I didn't make it in under the wire on this one but I did finish Fahrenheit 451 in August. So a fail on this challenge but luckily the challenge got me to add another Must Read Classic to my "have read" pile. :)

ScarlettMi wrote: "I seem to have read 24 books on the list already and I think this month I'll just say I'm going to add another one (1) only this month since I'm so busy and have already begun other books.

(0/1)"

I've added you ScarlettMi

I'll join! I've read 33 so far. I'll go for three more.

2/3

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - 7/6/2013
2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - 7/15/2013

Kaitlin wrote: "I'll join! I've read 33 so far. I'll go for three more."

I've added you Kaitlin. Thanks for participating.

I'll aim for 6.

I'm a little late for the party but I have already read one book for this challenge.
I read 47 books from this list and I aim for 4 more.

1/4
1.) Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray - 07/06/2013

I'm definitely going to try this challenge! My goal is 6 of the books from the list!

Gecko wrote: "I'm a little late for the party but I have already read one book for this challenge.
I read 47 books from this list and I aim for 4 more.

1/4
1.) Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray - 07/06/2013"

How did you like Dorian Gray? It has been on my Kindle for quite a while now and I have almost read it several times.

Hi Jodi,
I had already read it in translation... so I was a little bit bored?
No, just kidding, it is a fine book, full of Oscar Wilde's wit. But I like his fairy tales and plays a bit more. Books with antiheroes are sometimes a tough.
Give it a try, it is not boring and not to long.

Gecko wrote: "Hi Jodi,
I had already read it in translation... so I was a little bit bored?
No, just kidding, it is a fine book, full of Oscar Wilde's wit. But I like his fairy tales and plays a bit more. Books..."

Thanks Gecko. I will give it a try, maybe in August. I have many other books I have to read first. Although I might read it for the classics challenge. That would work.

Jodi wrote: "It is going to be so hard to choose the three I want to read. I have so many on my TBR shelf. These two were chosen for me to read in July, so I for sure am reading these two. My third one I will ..."

Hi Jodi. Out of curiosity what did you think of The Catcher in the Rye? I've heard mixed reviews about this book so I would be interested in your views.

Zara wrote: "Jodi wrote: "It is going to be so hard to choose the three I want to read. I have so many on my TBR shelf. These two were chosen for me to read in July, so I for sure am reading these two. My thir..."

Honestly I didn't like it. I just felt like Holden was a whiner through the whole book. Everyone was a phoney to him and if they weren't phoney then they were morons or annoying. Even people he looked up to or initially had good feelings for ended up irritating him. I was just trying to figure out if we were supposed to dislike him, or if we were supposed to feel sympathy for him. I was trying to read it with the appreciation for the time that it was written in, but I couldn't even really do that. I am glad I read it because I have wanted to read it for a long time but it wasn't for me.

Jodi wrote: "Zara wrote: "Jodi wrote: "It is going to be so hard to choose the three I want to read. I have so many on my TBR shelf. These two were chosen for me to read in July, so I for sure am reading these..."

It's disappointing when a book you've wanted to read for a long time turns out to be a flop. When you read books like that do you find that once you've finished it you quickly find another book to read that will be better so as to erase the memory of the bad book?

Zara wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Zara wrote: "Jodi wrote: "It is going to be so hard to choose the three I want to read. I have so many on my TBR shelf. These two were chosen for me to read in July, so I for sure am ..."

I wouldn't say Catcher in the Rye was a total flop. I guess I didn't know what to expect. I actually didn't know anything about it. I didn't know what it was about at all. Maybe if I did, I would have been more prepared. I bought the book years ago because I really liked the title. I found it interesting and I knew it was a classic. It was okay but I wouldn't re-read it.

I do always quickly movie on to my next books. Right now it is quicker than ever because of the challenge I am in. I have to read 10 books in 14 days, so I really am going from one book to the next. Unfortunately the book I read after Catcher in the Rye was a real dud.....If it weren't for the challenge I am in, I probably would have stopped reading it.

Right now I am reading

Fahrenheit 451 and I have high hopes for it.

Just completed The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. The best thing I can say about this book is that it was a quick read. I do not believe I was the intended audience, as I have very little patience for petulant, privileged, angst-ridden teenagers. Not my favorite read and wouldn't recommend to anyone over the age of 15. 1 star.

1/2

Right now I am re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I really like it. I read it a while ago but stopped halfway and now I am determined to finish it. It's so well written, but that's a given! I mean, it's on the top of most of the "Must Read Books" lists I've seen. I especially love the descriptions of people and places and how Lee uses words. Is anyone else reading this book?

Noelle, did you see that there is currently a criminal and civil case pending involving to kill a mockingbird? Harper lee's manager allegedly got her to give up her copyright in 2007. She's infirm but still aware according to her family. Today show had a story on it this morning

Finished still reading

Megan wrote: "Noelle, did you see that there is currently a criminal and civil case pending involving to kill a mockingbird? Harper lee's manager allegedly got her to give up her copyright in 2007. She's infir..."

I wasn't aware of the Law suit Megan. That's interesting.

Sara wrote: "Finished still reading "

Hi Sara. What did you think of David Copperfield and Tess of the d'Urbervilles? I saw an ABC production of the latter of these and it sounded intriguing yet heartbreaking at the same time. I'd be interested in your thoughts and comments.

I really liked David Copperfield. I feel that Tess of D'ubervilles is not depressing as people made me believe. I'm still reading it though so that opinion could change.

Sara wrote: "I really liked David Copperfield. I feel that Tess of D'ubervilles is not depressing as people made me believe. I'm still reading it though so that opinion could change."

That's good to know Sara. I've heard a number of people say that they liked David Copperfield. What particularly stood out for you?

I finally finished Tess a couple of days ago.
What first comes to mind is how marriage was handled in the book. I also was surprised by how much stuff was in the book that I would not expect to be mentioned in a classic book. Then again, I am always surprised how much people in classic and historical times lives mirror our own.

I finished my two classics. and

I totally agree, Sara, on your thoughts about Tess. It was much...racier? (not the right word) than I had expected.

Megan wrote: "Noelle, did you see that there is currently a criminal and civil case pending involving to kill a mockingbird? Harper lee's manager allegedly got her to give up her copyright in 2007. She's infir..."

I had no idea! But I did finish it and it was... sad. I still liked it.

I finished Catcher in the Rye. so I have one of the 2 books down!

I've updated everyone's progress.