I have a hard time motivating myself to read classic literature. I read often and I read a lot, but my reading time is my down time and quite frankly, I don't want my down time to be challenging. I'm a lazy reader.
Often, though, when I break out of my comfort zone and read a classic, I enjoy it and am glad I made the effort . Usually, too, I find that it was not nearly the painstaking process I was anticipating.
Often, though, when I break out of my comfort zone and read a classic, I enjoy it and am glad I made the effort . Usually, too, I find that it was not nearly the painstaking process I was anticipating.
In 2014, I am challenging myself to read 4 classic books. I'm assigning one to each season of the year to spread it out a bit.
Winter
I read To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee last week. I binge-read on Saturday afternoon to finish the last 50 pages or so. I chose it because it has been on my mental reading list for probably 10 years. Plus my dad has told me more than once that it is one of the best books he's ever read. It. was. phenomenal.
by Harper Lee last week. I binge-read on Saturday afternoon to finish the last 50 pages or so. I chose it because it has been on my mental reading list for probably 10 years. Plus my dad has told me more than once that it is one of the best books he's ever read. It. was. phenomenal.
Spring
I got The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgsen Burnett free for my Kindle last year, but never even read the first page. I may have read it once as a child, but if I did, I don't remember much. I do remember loving the movie version.
Summer
I've started to read The Yearling
by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings twice before and never got beyond a chapter or two-- not because it wasn't a good book, but because something else always came along to distract my reading. When Kati put it on this year's Sisters Book Challenge, I knew this was my chance to start it...and finish it this time!
by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings twice before and never got beyond a chapter or two-- not because it wasn't a good book, but because something else always came along to distract my reading. When Kati put it on this year's Sisters Book Challenge, I knew this was my chance to start it...and finish it this time!
Autumn
The Scarlet Pimpernel
by Baroness Orczy was on last year's Sisters Book Challenge, but I never got further than putting it on my Kindle. Both of my sisters have read it and loved it, though, so now I need to join their party. How about you? Do you read the classics? Do you have a favorite?
Great list! I've read The Secret Garden, but none of the others. We all also really enjoyed this free audio reading of The Secret Garden.
ReplyDeleteI've read all of them except The Yearling. The Scarlet Pimpernel was definitely my favorite. :) I just got a bunch of free classics on my kindle that I'm reading to Josh. Right now we're on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
ReplyDeleteI read Tom Sawyer to my kids a couple of years ago when we were studying that time period. The boys loved it. Actually, Maddie did, too. I think I was the one who got tired of it first. (Remember, I'm lazy about classics.)
DeleteI can't wait to discuss The Yearling with you after you read it! Maybe it was because I read it with a mother's perspective, but this story touched my heartstrings like few have. The setting is rudimentary and the characters are "backwoods-y", and yet it is so beautifully told. It's about so much more than the deer!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you read To Kill A Mockingbird. It is one of my all time favorites. I will look into the rest of these books. I love your book suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI loved it, too! I've never seen the movie either so every plot twist was a new surprise to me!
DeleteMy second daughter just read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time this year; it was even better sharing it with her! Still one of my favorite books of all time.
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