Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Classics Club Spin #6


While we were packing up the Florida condo for renovations and driving home, a new Classics Club Spin took place. The rules are the same, only the were changed. Here's how it works:
  • Go to your blog.
  • Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
  • Try to challenge yourself: list five you are dreading/hesitant to read, five you can’t WAIT to read, five you are neutral about, and five free choice (favorite author, rereads, ancients — whatever you choose.)
  • Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog by next Monday.
  • Monday morning, we’ll announce a number from 1-20. Go to the list of twenty books you posted, and select the book that corresponds to the number we announce.
  • The challenge is to read that book by July 7, even if it’s an icky one you dread reading! (No fair not listing any scary ones!)

I've participated in four of the five previous spins and have read:

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray  by Oscar Wilde
  • Tess of the d'Urbervilles  by Thomas Hardy
  • Cheerful Weather for the Wedding  by Julia Strachey
  • Middlemarch  by George Eliot 

I was a little disappointed not to have heard about this spin in time to post my list, but then realized that I have used  my original list (with minor adjustments) every time. Monday's spin landed on number 1.  The Bell Jar  by Sylvia Plath has occupied that slot for every single spin, and surely would have been there again this time had I actually made a list.

So... I will participate in Classics Spin #6 and read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.


Did you spin this time? What will you be reading?

32 comments:

  1. I got The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles :)

    I loved The Bell Jar when I read it. I'll be interested to see what you make of it :)

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    1. O - I've been curious about The French Lieutenant's Woman, so will keep an eye out for your review. Glad to know you loved The Bell Jar.

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  2. I got the Letters of Rachel Henning, an Australian Classic I am not at all familiar with. Should be interesting.

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    1. Pam - That's a new title to me... hope you enjoy it!

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  3. Good choice! I got a book I've been absolutely dreading -- The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, I've had a copy since I bought it in Paris back in 2007 -- at the Notre Dame gift shop! So it's time to buckle down and actually read it.

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    1. Karen K. - Maybe The Hunchback of Notre Dame will bring back fond travel memories that will outweigh the dread you're feeling. Good luck!

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  4. I'm curious to see what you think of this one. It's been on my wishlist to read forever. Seeing it here makes me want to pick it up and read it now.

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    1. Darlene - I've been meaning to read this book for years. Glad it's finally time!

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  5. Great idea! I always change my list with every spin. I didn't participate this time around since I have so many books in my tbr stack already. I hope you enjoy The Bell Jar.

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    1. Vasilly - It may be that I'm just too lazy to come up with a new list each time ;-)

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  6. I haven't read The Bell Jar, so I'll be interested to hear what you think. My spin book is The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy - I started it today and am loving it so far!

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    1. Helen - I've been meaning to read The Bell Jar for ages, so am very glad it's time has finally come. Glad to hear you're loving The Mayor of Casterbridge. I loved it in college and should probably reread it one of these days.

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  7. I keep getting The Bell Jar out of the library and then taking it back before I've read it. :-Z

    My spin book is Oedipus at Colonus and I have decided to read the whole trilogy!

    I hope you enjoy your spin choice!

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    1. Cleopatra - I have a couple of books that I keep borrowing and never reading, too! Hope you enjoy the trilogy :)

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  8. I need to reread this one, although I'm so frustrated that I don't seem to have kept my copy.

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    1. Lisa - I've never read this book. Glad my daughter left a copy in her bedroom bookcase.

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  9. I'm not spinning, but I'm so enjoying seeing what everyone ended up with, and looking forward to the review posts. I can't remember if I read The Bell Jar - I wish I'd started keeping a book journal much earlier.

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    1. Lisa - My book journal goes back to the late 1990s, but I sure wish I'd started keeping one earlier than that. If I read The Bell Jar in high school, I don't remember it...

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  10. I've been thinking about reading The Bell Jar for several months now. I avoided it when I was younger for various reasons, but I think I'd appreciate it more now. I hope you enjoy it!

    I got A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. I'm really excited about this spin pick...I hope I haven't gotten my hopes cranked up too high. We'll see!

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    1. readthegamut - I somehow never got around to this when I was younger either, but am looking forward to it now! I'll be curious to learn more about your selection, too.

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  11. The Bell Jar is one of my favourite books - I hope it's as powerful read for you as it has been for me.

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    1. Sam - I'm really excited to begin reading The Bell Jar... glad to know it's one of your favorites!

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  12. I always wish that I participated in these spins - but I seem to miss the announcements. Maybe I should just do a list now so I can be ready for next time.

    The Bell Jar should be a fast read - I remember when I finally got to it, I was amazed how short and quick a read it was. I had assumed it was long because it is considered deep and heavy. Look forward to your thoughts.

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    1. Care - Yes, certainly a quick read. I picked it up to preview last night and ended up reading 75 pages! Maybe I'll finish this weekend.

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  13. This is so fun, I wish I could join but would not have time to commit to it. I enjoyed The Bell Jar.

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    1. Sheila - I've been meaning to read The Bell Jar for years... glad the spin gave me an extra push.

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  14. I listened to that one several years ago. Curious to see what you think.

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    1. Stacy - I read almost a third of the book last night. Really like it so far...

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  15. I read The Bell Jar back in 2006 and thought it was pretty good. I wrote about it here, if you're interested. Have you seen the film about Plath? Such a tortured soul...

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    1. Les - Thanks for the link to your review. I'm about half done now, so will read it when I've finished. I have not seen the film, but already want to know more about Plath's life. Hope I can get it from Netflix.

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  16. This is on my list too - glad to see you made the spin in time. I have The Bell Jar on my list for one day too...
    I'm reading Wilkie Collins No Name this time around

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    1. Brona - I'm glad to finally have an extra push to red The Bell Jar. It's been a couple of years since I last read Wilkie Collins and No Name is next on my list... hope you enjoy it.

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