Another day, another spin and I’m in! Â I haven’t finished my last spin ….. yet. Â I’m still reading through The Merchant of Venice but at least I started and do plan to finish so it’s not a complete fail. Â And I’ve discovered a new energy to read some of the books on my Classics Club list. Â So a spin is just the thing. Â Let’s see what comes up …..
- Go to your blog.
- Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club list.
- Post that list, numbered 1 – 20, on your blog by Sunday.
- Sunday morning, the Classics Club will announce a number from 1 – 20.  Go to the list of twenty books you posted and select the book that corresponds to the number they announce.
- The challenge is to read that book by December 12, 2021.
I used the random list organizer here to choose the 20 books from my master list. Here is my spin list:
- Animal Farm (1945) – George Orwell
- Richard III (1592) – William Shakespeare
- Shirley (1849) – Charlotte Brontë
- A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1775) – Samuel Johnson
- Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731) – Bede
- Aristotle, Ethics (330 B.C.) – Aristotle
- Ivanhoe (1820) – Sir Walter Scott
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1607-1608) – William Shakespeare
- Address to Young Men (363) – Saint Basil
- 1984 (1949) – George Orwell
- The Good Soldier Svejk (1923) – Jaroslav Hasek
- Great Expectations (1860/61) – Charles Dickens
- The Praise of Folly (1509) – Eramus
- Tom Sawyer (1876) – Mark Twain
- Pensées (1669) – Blaise Pascal
- Huckleberry Finn (1884) – Mark Twain
- Moll Flanders (1722) – Daniel Defoe
- The Stranger (1942) – Albert Camus
- The Consolation of Philosophy (524) – Boethius
- On the Imitation of Christ (1418-1427) – Thomas à Kempis
Well, I don’t like this. Â There are a number of books on this list that frighten me. Books such as Aristotle’s Ethics, Ivanhoe, The Good Soldier Svejk, Great Expectations, …. I don’t want to look at the others. Â Don’t the books on this list look either long or very deep? Â Please God, let me get Animal Farm, The Stranger or 1984. Â Even Saint Basil would be welcome.
Now, I’m going to race off to try to finish some of the books I have on-the-go to free up some reading time just in case. Â And you? Â Are you participating in the Classics Club Spin #28 and what book do you hope you’ll get?
Other Spins:
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Image #2 courtesy of Hans at Pixabay
Image #3 courtesy of Castleguard at Pixabay
Image #5 courtesy of Adina Voicu at Pixabay
I’d be cheating & adding some easier books to the list. 🙂
Lol, I know!!! If I get one that’s overwhelming, I might look at other spins and see if someone spins a book on my CC list that’s a bit easier and read that one. But we’ll see ….
Aristotle’s Ethics is very readable actually. It’s certainly nothing to be afraid of! I became a big fan of his work after studying him (and this book in particular) @ University. It is a rather daunting list though. Good Luck with getting one you want!
Phew, that’s great to know. I’ve loved every Ancient Greek author I’ve read but even so, I’ve been afraid of tackling any of Aristotle’s works. If I just jump in, he won’t be so daunting, I’m sure. Thanks for the wishes!
I’m impressed with your list but — my heavens, what challenges! Hopefully you’ll get animal farm!
P.S. Ivanhoe isn’t so awful (in fact, it’s great) once you get past the archaic style. It took me quite some time to plow through it however.
My heavens, is right! Happy to hear Ivanhoe is readable. Part of me wants to read it, it’s just the length that’s putting me off. I know I’ll never finish in time.
Hope you’re doing well, my friend!
i haven’t read read Ivanhoe since high school, but i recall that it was fun, and not tedious… don’t know that i could ever make much out of Boethius or A Kempis, tho… i’ve been interested in the first because of his being in prison, but not enough to actually open the cover of his book, lolll…. mea culpa…
Your Sir Walter Scott reading has inspired me! I’m interested in reading Boethius, but à Kempis …. don’t know how he got on my list, lol!
Wow, yeah, you have some heavy-duty titles on this list! But lots of them are great stuff. I hope you get something you’ll enjoy!
Okay ….. great stuff …. I’ll just keep telling myself that. Your list looks fun too. Thanks for the wishes!
In some ways some of those short ones might harder! I think I’d find easier to read Ivanhoe or Great Expectations than Pensées. (Actually I think both of those novels are pretty fun reads.) But I hope it’s something good!
And Happy Thanksgiving!
And happy (belated) Thanksgiving to you! I had two dinners. 😋
I only had one dinner thank you very much!
That’s not to say I didn’t think the Pensées were great, because they were, but they would have been a harder read for me than Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe just carries you along, while the Pensées requires you to think about each paragraph.
I do see what you mean in that some shorter ones might be a drudgery and longer ones a delight. I’ll just have to stop thinking of length and only think of enjoyment, right?
That’s quite a list. All the best to you!
It is, isn’t it, Sharon! Thanks for the support …. always thankful for that!
Ivanhoe is great fun! 🙂 But of the ones I’ve read, Animal Farm is certainly the shortest and most manageable. Hope you get something you enjoy!
Well, from all the comments, I’m certainly feeling much better about getting Ivanhoe. If I wasn’t thinking of length, my top two hopes would be Richard III or Great Expectations. Sunday will tell!
Both Ivanhoe and Great Expectations are wonderful novels! I think you will find a lot to appreciate if not love! I am trying to finish Merchant of Venice….but it is …well a trial. Hope you get a great read this time round!
Yes, both those would be welcome but I would have to forget about finishing for the deadline. I’ve enjoyed The Merchant of Venice so far but just finding so little “me-time” to read it. Hope you’re doing splendidly, sis! You’re often in my thoughts!
I understand your feeling ! Though I have discovered that if you find an audio recording of big burly books read by a good actor, it makes things easier. I used this trick with The Pickwick papers and as the narrator was very good, I really enjoyed myself ! Too bad I can’t remember his name…
Oh Izabel, you’re so right! It’s something I need to practice. I’m so bad at listening to audiobooks and I never feel like I’ve read a book unless I’ve read the written word. It’s a failing of mine. But I’m trying to get myself out of that mindset. You’ll laugh but I’m presently reading Nicholas Nickleby AND listening to the audiobook of it off and on. One day perhaps I’ll get to a point where I can just listen and feel fine about it. Good to see you back blogging, BTW! Take care!
I hope you get The Stranger because 18 would work great for me as well! lol
Here is my list https://wordsandpeace.com/2021/10/13/the-classics-club-the-classics-spin-28/
Thanks for sharing the random list organizer. I often use Random.org for numbers, but had no idea they had that feature!
I listed my books chronologically, but for other things, this will come in very handy!
Yes, The Stranger would be welcome. Hmmm …. now I must check out what your no. 18 is.
You’re welcome. I like using this randomizer for various things but especially the spin. I hope it works well for you!
Since this is such a busy time of the year, I went with shorter books. Yes, some might say that is cheating, but, hey, I decide.
I think that’s a good idea. I adjust as necessary. After all, better to read a book than not be able to read at all, right?
The Stranger is on my list, as well. I hope you enjoy your spin reading!
Oooo, really??!! I’m going to check out your list!
I’ve not been setting myself particular goals with my list lately (after I finished the first 50 books) but I always enjoy seeing what other people are reading. I just read The Stranger not long ago, so I’d be interested to see what you think of that.
I really struggled to put together a list after my first 50. If I ever get to my third I think it will be VERY fluid. I didn’t get the Stranger but I’d be interested to read it in any case. Camus is certainly thought-provoking.