(updates in blue)
I looooove challenges…they make things so much more fun! Even reading, which I already find such a thrill in :) I’m already participating in The Classics Club reading challenge, but I’ve found another challenge that I can combine with it to knock off some more novels. So, here is my tentative list for the Back to the Classics 2014 reading challenge, hosted by Books and Chocolate:
- A 20th Century Classic – Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (1904/1911) (finished 10/19/14 – review here)
- A 19th Century Classic – Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847). My read along for this novel starts Sunday!! (finished 1/22/14 – review here)
- A Classic by a Woman Author – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) (finished 4/9/14 – review here)
- A Classic in Translation –
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1862), which I plan on trying my hardest to read in French! Maybe I should get started on that novel right away…Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864). Les Mis was too long and I started reading this Verne classic instead, and in French too! (finished 12/28/14 – review here) - A Classic About War – War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (1898) (finished 11/21/14 – review here)
- A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868), which I can’t believe I have never read before. (finished 5/24/14 – review here)
Optional Categories:
- An American Classic –
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940), better get one of my dreaded Hemingway novels out of the way…perhaps I’ll enjoy it this time?I tried!! I decided to go with A Separate Peace by John Knowles (1959) instead (finished 12/19/14 – review here) - A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1817), the only Austen novel I have yet to read! (finished 2/25/14 – review here)
- A Historical Fiction Classic –
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (1844)The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (1883) (finished 11/3/14 – review here) - A Classic That’s Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series – North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1855) (finished 12/14/14 – review here), I’m really excited about this one because it’ll give me an excuse to watch the mini-series for the…
- Extra Fun Category: Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4 – North and South, obviously :) (finished 12/14/14 – review here)
This is just a tentative list…I may just change the novels I read, or I might not even complete the optional categories. We shall see :)
macarons & paperbacks 
I LOVE this challenge. I took part in it in 2013 and it was awesome, and this year, the optional categories are PERFECT. I haven’t chosen something for the book-movie bit, but now that you mention there’s a mini-series of North and South? Also, I think you’re really brave for wanting to tackle Les Miserables in French. I plan to read it in English this year and the mere thought of it makes my brain want to disintegrate from fear.
I hope you have fun with it! Your selections do seem like fun anyway! And good luck with Wuthering Heights; it’s one of my favourite classics!
Happy new year and happy reading!
Yes! The North and South miniseries is wonderful :) my husband even started getting into it, and he’s not that into period pieces.
And I have been quite hesitant in reading any of Hugo’s works… My husband, who is French, is not a fan of Hugo, but one of my best friends read Les Miserables recently and she couldn’t put it down. So I’m hoping that’s how I feel about it. It’s going to be rather daunting to tackle it in French, though!!
I read North and South a few years ago and really enjoyed it, and of course the mini-series is several hours of blissful viewing of Richard Armitage, so how can you go wrong? :)
Ex-act-ly. Richard Armitage *swoon*
Thanks for signing up for the challenge! You have some GREAT books on your list — I agree completely about North & South, both the book and the miniseries are excellent. And Northanger Abbey is a hoot. . . and I share your hesitation about Victor Hugo. I have both Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame on my TBR shelf, I really should tackle one of them this year.
And have you read anything by Emile Zola? Absolutely my favorite French author by far, I’ve read ten books by him and they’re wonderful.
Thank YOU for hosting the challenge! Yes, I have both of those Hugo works on my Classics Club list as well.
I have heard of Emile Zola but I have not read any of his books! Which one is your favorite?
I think people favor Germinal — bearing in mind I’ve never read Zola. :)
Good luck with your challenge this year! I recently read Little Women and it was a cozy comforting read, so you may find it perfect for the cooler months. I’m hoping to read Peter Pan this year too.