To find out more about this unique reading challenge, please visit The Classics Club Blog for the rules and link-up post.
After finally joining the previous spin and enjoying it, I’ve decided to join again! I now have a longer list than just 20 classic books that I’ve long wanted to read, but that just means more for later. In my case, these are all books I already own, either in print, or already have ready and waiting to be read on my Kindle. So, without any further ado…
Here’s my list:
- Mandala by Pearl S. Buck
- Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
- Daisy Miller: A Study by Henry James
- Demian by Hermann Hesse
- Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald
- The Lifted Veil by George Eliot
- The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
- The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
- The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber & Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway
- Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
- Round the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas fils
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
- The Man of Property – The Forsyte Saga Vol. 1 by John Galsworthy
- The Birds Fall Down by Rebecca West
- Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
Quite an eclectic list, right? And just so you know, some of these have been on my shelves for several decades, and some of them are very old editions, which are bound in real leather!
What’s Next?
On Sunday, March 20, they will announce a number from 1 through 20. When they announce it, I will go to my Spin list, find that number, read (and hopefully, review) the book listed for that number by the 30th of April, 2022.
The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog 
The Picture of Dorian Gray is on my TBR. I am looking forward to giving it a try! Maybe this autumn. I just finished my first Fitzgerald novel – The Great Gatbsy – and wow! What a book! I can’t wait to read more of his works – probably Tender is the Night or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be my next choice.
You mentioned a series adaptation for Picnic at Hanging Rock in your comment at my blog, and speaking of screen adaptations, To Kill a Mockingbird has the classic, iconic movie adaptation starring Gregory Peck. The Picture of Dorian Gray also has a classic film adaptation. Several others on your list do as well – Cranford (BBC or Masterpiece Theatre – I can’t remember which one), Return of the Native (Hallmark Hall of Fame), Around the Word in 80 Days. Of course Casino Royale does and I think there is a classic film adaptation of Daisy Miller as well. You’ve got lots of titles that were adapted to screen! So fun!
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Yes, I have seen almost all these film version. I know there was one for Daisy Miller, but I don’t think I ever saw it. I didn’t know about Cranford, though. As for Fitzgerald, I read Gatsby in school, and enjoyed it so much, I read Tender is the Night and The Last Tycoon (which was unfinished). When I was on that spree I bought The Beautiful and the Damned but I never got around to reading it.
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Yeah, I was thinking there was one for Daisy Miller. I googled it and it looks like there’s one with Cybil Shepherd. I’ve not seen it though.
Fitzgerald’s writing in The Great Gatsby was absolutely phenomenal! I have my book review to write of it and get it posted. I followed my reading of it with reading the short story Winter Dreams that Fitzgerald wrote. I read that it was the inspiration for The Great Gatsby. I definitely saw elements of it in the short story. I also followed up my reading of Gatsby with watching the newer movie adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I thought it was excellent! Of course there were little changes here and there, but overall, I thought it did a good job following the book.
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Ah, but you really should watch the Robert Redford version of Gatsby – much better than Leo’s one (but, I totally HATE Leo – all he does is scowl and smirk – blech).
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A good friend of mine said she really likes the Robert Redford version and so last night I looked to see if I could find it. So far, all I’m finding is that I can rent it on Prime.
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If you can afford it, do it! I highly recommend it.
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I’ve never tried it, but I’m considering it this time around! I guess if I’m going to join in, I’d better put a list together today!
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I’ve only read a few from your list and the one I’d pick from them would be The Return of the Native, which I loved when I read it quite recently. Not Tender is the Night, though – that one got thrown at the wall! 😉 Whatever you end up with, I hope you enjoy it.
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I hope so too. Good luck with yours!
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What a lovely list, I hope you get a good read!
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Interesting challenge but do you have to read all of those on the list (gulp!) or just the one that correlates to the chosen number?
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No, just the one that correlates to the number they choose. (I wouldn’t be able to join if I had to read them all!)
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Phew! I was a bit worried for you there:)
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I’ve read about half the books on your list, of those I think Cranford and The Man of Property were my favorites — I loved the whole Forsyte Saga, I should probably read it again! And To Kill a Mockingbird is just wonderful. Good luck with your spin pick!
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Some great choices – happy spinning!!
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I’ve read #3, 13-15, all good books, hopefully you’ll get one of them.
This is my Classics Club Spin #29.
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Fingers crossed!
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It sounds a great challenge, but I couldn’t stand the pressure. I’ll see what you end up being obliged to read, and hope it’s one that’ll work for you.
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Well, I can only hope and try to achieve the challenge. No problem if I don’t!
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Casino Royale is an inspired choice! Never mind all the modern attitudes, just read it. Then watch the hilarious spoof movie made years ago with David Niven as the retired Sir James! It’s dirty but fun. I deleted Around the World in 80 Days this time–another great Niven movie.Enjoy your book.
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Oh, I’ve seen the David Niven film. I’ve seen almost ALL the Bond films (but I hated Daniel Craig as Bond, and didn’t see the last two).
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Also, I was going to change out the Around the World for something else, but then I saw the David Tennent TV series and put it back on the list! I saw the Niven movie and it was fun, but not as much fun as the Tennent series.
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I look for the series. I liked Michael Palin’s personal version in the 90s.
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Yes, that was lovely. He’s so fun and funny!
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Yes! I published my list this morning. Yours has some interesting choices.
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Eclectic is indeed an accurate description, as your list covers so many different genres! You’re bound to get something great, no matter which one you end up reading. For selfish reasons, I’m hoping for the Rebecca West, as I’d had my own copy, unread, for slightly over thirty-five years, and I’d like to read your reaction to it!
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Yes, I also own a very old copy – a hardcover edition from 1966 – the year it was published, but bought at a second-hand shop many years ago!
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