The Classics Club is holding its 18th Spin.
The idea is to list 20 of the books on your Classics Club list before 1 August 2018 when the wheel will turn and reveal the winning number. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List, by 31 August 2018.
The rules suggest we pick five books to challenge ourselves but to be honest my main problem is time so I’m hoping for a relatively quick read. The club recommends the following categories.
5 books you are dreading/hesitant to read
5 books you can’t WAIT to read
5 books you are neutral about
5 books which are free choice
I only made my list at the end of January and I wasn’t silly enough to add books I really didn’t think I’d enjoy but I do have some books that I’m more ambivalent about reading for various reasons.
1. Mrs Dalloway – Virginia Woolfe
2. Chocky – John Wyndham
3. The Dubliners – James Joyce
4. The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
5.The Quiet American – Graham Greene
A mixed bag of books here Virginia Woolfe made the list as I have just read a nonfiction book about her and her servants, and Chocky is the one and only sci-fi addition to my list but the others have just ended up on this list on a whim.
But I am longing to read the next five so hopefully and none of them have made it off the list yet.
6. Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Truman Capote
7. The Hireling – L.P. Hartley
8. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Murial Spark
9. The Shuttle -Frances Hodgeston Burnett
10. We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson
A mixed bag for the next set with nothing to tie them together…
11. Bonjour Tristesse – Françoise Sagan
12. The Wheel Spins – Ethel Lina White
13. Sunset Song – Lewis Grassic Gibbon
14. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
15. A Wreath of Roses – Elizabeth Taylor
And a final list with a couple of adult stories written by authors who were better known for their books for children.
16. Miss Pettigrow Lives for a Day- Winifred Watson
17. The Greengage Summer – Rumer Godden
18. Saplings – Noel Streatfeild
19. The Long View – Elizabeth Jane Howard
20. Mary Barton – Elizabeth Gaskell
So that’s my twenty and as I compiled the list for this post and yet again I’m hoping for The Hireling most of all but The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day aren’t far behind.
Which would you pick?
Cleopatra Loves Books 
Jane Eyre. I’ve always wanted to read it. I hope you enjoy which ever one you go with!
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You’ve got some terrific book on your list, Cleo. Lots to look forward to there. I loved Miss Pettigrew, Bonjour Tristesse and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (such a magical book) – and L.P. Hartley’s The Hireling is great too. I hope you enjoy your spin. 🙂
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I hope you get one of the books you’re longing to read – no. 10, We Have Always Lived in the Castle would be a great choice, I think. I loved it!
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Jane Eyre is a favourite of mine. I’ve also read Mrs Dalloway and I Catcher In The Rye. I still want to read Breakfast at Tiffany’s. A great list xx
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Mary Barton is a pretty good book, especially if you’re interested in the working classes of the period. It’s pretty hard hitting but at the same time uplifting (?!). Good luck with the spin! ☺️
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Well, if you get The Hireling, that will give me Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell so I could live with that, although I don’t actually own a copy of it at the moment. You have many lovely books on your list. Isn’t it strange that we’re much more likely to read a book we’re longing to read if the spin picks it for us, lol.
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I think I’d hope for We Have Always Lived in the Castle having read about Shirley Jackson on so many blogs but still not managed to read anything by her.
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I love Classics ♥♥
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It’s fun to look at all these classics. I always think of myself as someone who has read a lot of classics, but your lists prove me wrong! I can tell you, though, that I loved The Catcher in the Rye and I have read it several times, though my son hated it and thought the main character was too whiny. I really enjoyed Breakfast at Tiffany’s because I liked the movie so much. The book is better, though. And Jane Eyre is a long one, but the plot is excellent. I re-read it as an adult a few years back and got a lot more out of it than when I read it as a girl. I do wish I had more time to read!
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How dare you put poor Chocky beside that dreadful Woolf woman in the “don’t want to” section?!!! Move it immediately to between LP Hartley and Muriel Spark!! I hope you get Chocky or Sunset Song or Dubliners…
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Haha
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You’ve got some great reads on this list, Cleo. I’d love to know what you think of We Have Always Lived in the Castle if that one comes up. That’s a potent read, I think. Oh, and The Wheel Spins is, in my opinion, very well done.
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I’d prefer a shortish one this time round as August is going to be a busy month but I’m quite ok with any of my choices…
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I’ve only read two on your list up to now – Catcher in the Rye (for school long, long ago) and Jane Eyre (for pleasure, also long, long ago). If I had my pick from your list, it would be We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Good luck! I’m taking a pass on this spin. Too much already scheduled for August.
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I’m thinking that if I get Jane Eyre I might listen to it on audio as I read this a few times but many, many years ago. We Have Always lived in the Castle seems to be very popular.
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Like you I didn’t include in my list anything that I was dreading reading – reading is meant to be fun so why would I make it a chore? Some of your choices are less challenging than others. Mary Barton is longish but easy to read. I forgot to put Breakfast at Tiffany’s on my list – darn it.
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Whenever it comes to spin time I kind of dread a really long one coming up – so this time I missed of the real chunky ones. I’m really looking forward to Breakfast at Tiffany’s but as my aim is to read one a month and I don’t have a copy yet, it may be a while…
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That’s a lovely group of books you have there! Jane Eyre is on my list of 20 as well. I’ve read and enjoyed Mrs. Dalloway and LOVED the Shirley Jackson!
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I’d hope for We Have Always Lived In The Castle or Jane Eyre. Both have been on my list for far too long.
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I read the Greengage Summer last year? the year before? either way, I loved it & I’ve now ordered a few more of Godden’s books to try, so I wish you #17 on Weds 🙂
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Thank you Brona – I’d be delighted if Greengage Summer came up!
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Nice list. I’ve Breakfast at Tiffany’s on mine as well (different spot).
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Oh we won’t both get it this time then…
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Love this list, Cleo! We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Jane Eyre, and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day are some of my favorites. I also really want to read Saplings, Mary Barton, The Shuttle, Sunset Song, and Breakfast at Tiffanys. Hope you enjoy whichever one gets picked!
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I’m really hoping you get Breakfast at Tiffany’s-I’ve never read the book, or even seen the movie!
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