This will be my third year participating in the Back to the Classics Reading Challenge hosted by Karen at Books and Chocolate. I am excited to begin and have a general idea of most of the books I hope to read. I’ve chosen titles for nine of the categories and of those nine three are authored by Anthony Trollope. Did I mention I’m a Trollope fan?
Only a few of these books actually reside on my bookshelves. I will likely buy several, and some I will read on kindle (not especially my favorite method of reading). I will probably also listen to one or two with the Hoopla app on my phone, while others will be checked out of the library.
3. A classic by a woman author ~ Maybe Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell?
4. A classic in translation ~ Our Friend Manso by Benito Perez Galdos. My good friend Silvia introduced me to Galdos in the Fall of 2015. This will be my third title by him and I am looking forward to it.
5. A classic published before 1800 ~ The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith, published in 1766.
6. A romance classic ~ I’m going with Trollope again. He Knew He Was Right contains several romances. Looking at the cover below I’m guessing at least one of them doesn’t turn out too happily. But again, how can you go wrong with Trollope?
7. A Gothic or horror classic ~ I’m thinking perhaps Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.
8. A classic with a number in the title ~ Again, I’ve found a Trollope title that will fit, The Three Clerks. According to Wikipedia it is considered to be the most autobiographical of his works.
9. A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title ~ There are a number of books that would satisfy this category, but at the moment I’m thinking of The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be by Farley Mowat.
10. A classic set in a place you’d like to visit ~ This one is still very much up in the air.
11. An award-winning classic ~ Again, undecided.
12. A Russian Classic ~ One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
Of course there’s no guarantee that the books I listed above will be the books I actually end up reading, except for Trollope of course … (did I mention I’m a Trollope fan?) but no matter. The end result will be the same … a fabulous year of great reads!
Keep On Keeping On 
This looks wonderful, Linda. I am going to read a Trollope title, just watch me! P.G. Wodehouse is so much fun.
With Book Club, I plan to read The Prisoner of Zenda, that could be your place category book. It's short, free for kindle (you may find it for not much, if you rather have a paper copy). I think it will be a good title.
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I've never read Trollope, I'm looking forward to your reviews! Maybe one will make it onto my list – I've only got 9 decided as well.
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Oh Jenny, I can't recommend Trollope enough! His books are a delight. I laugh out loud at his sarcasm and how he makes fun of his characters. I am so thrilled that he was such a prolific writer! I have barely scratched the surface!
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I hadn't thought about a fictional location! There are a number of places I'd like to visit someday but narrowing it down to a specific book has left me scratching my head. A fictional location like Ruritania might be just the thing!
Thanks for the idea!
And definitely include Trollope somewhere in your reading this year. You will not be sorry!
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True, I assumed that fictional location was accepted (I am sure it would). And I am excited about Trollope, whom I call the English Galdós. Both so prolific, and humorous.
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I just finished Small House and it was darker than the first 3 in the Barsetshire Chronicles. 😦 I'm into the last in the series now.
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I'm reading a Russian classic this year too….The Brother's Karamazov. And I need to remember to try to read a Trollope book at some point!
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Oh now I am very curious! The Way We Live Now dealt with some serious issues including suicide but there was enough “light” to balance the darkness.
I've started reading He Knew He Was Right and I'm enjoying it immensely! I keep asking someone, anyone, to let me read a portion to them but so far I've been met with frowns and rolled eyes!
Thanks for commenting, Jane! I'll let you (and everyone else) know what I thought of Small House when I get to it!
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I considered Brother's Karamozov but opted for the shorter Russian classic. I am sure it will make it to my list one of these days. I've read Anna Karenina and started Crime and Punishment but had such a difficult time slogging through it that I laid it aside…maybe someday! This time around I wanted a shorter Russian work.
I'll be anxious to hear your thoughts on the book!
And yes, please include a Trollope somewhere along the way. There are many to choose from!
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If I was there I'd love to have you read to me!! 🙂
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Well, Jane, you are a dream come true! I try to get someone to listen to me, but usually all I get are rolled eyes. I even begged Bob to allow me to discuss some deep-ish thoughts I was having with my latest Trollope book and he attempted to listen, but I couldn't hold him for long. I think that's why it's so great to read a book with someone else because then you have someone to discuss all your thoughts with.
Maybe I'll give you a call and read a paragraph to you ever so often. What do you say?
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Any time!
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