The Classics Club Spin is beginning again.
- Pick twenty unread books from your list.
- Number them from one to twenty.
- On Monday a number will be drawn.
- That’s your book, to read by 5th January.
I’m going to do it. And I’m going to put my own spin on it!
It just felt like time to so something different.
This time:
- Every book is written by a woman (or in one case by two women)..
- Every book is a book I would really love to read this winter.
- Half of the books are from my Classics Club List; the other half are books that I wish I’d put on my list …
I am so pleased with this list:
1. The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox (1752)
2. The Coquette by Hannah W Foster (1797)
3. Lavinia by George Sand (1833)
4. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (1848)
5. Moths by Ouida (1880)
6. Belinda by Rhoda Broughton (1883)
7. The Story of a Modern Woman by Ella Hepworth Dixon (1894)
8. The Real Charlotte by Somerville and Ross (1894)
9. The Beth Book by Sarah Grand (1897)
10. Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim (1898)
11. Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley (1899)
12.Fidelity by Susan Glaspell (1915)
13. I Pose by Stella Benson (1915)
14. The Matriarch by G B Stern (1924)
15. The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann (1936)
16. My Bird Sings by Oriel Malet (1946)
17. A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Tayor (1951)
18. Fenny by Lettice Cooper (1953)
19. The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier (1957)
20. The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West (1957)
(The new books are italicised.)
And now I must wait to see which number comes up on Monday …
Which number should I be hoping for? Which number should I hope to avoid?
Fleur in her World 
I think I’d be pleased with anything from that list Jane – though I’ve heard that The Beth Book can be a bit of a slog. I’ve been after Jam Today by Oriel Malet for a while so I’d be keen to hear what you think of this one of hers if you pick it. Good luck!
I’ve heard the same about The Beth Book, but I did like the first chapter when I read it a while ago, and Liz was very taken with another of Sarah Grand’s books. And Beth is my other’s name.
I’m sorry that Oriel Malet is still so obscure, after winning literary rewards and after being reissued by Persephone, but my fingers are crossed that she’s be reissued by somebody someday.
Oooh dear, I feel terribly responsible now! I hope the Beth Book is like The Heavenly Twins!
Well, I’ve read the first couple of chapters and liked them, so hopefully if I take it slowly and steadily I’ll enjoy the journey. And my mother’s name is Beth, and I’m taking that as a good omen!
Great idea to put your own spin on it. Would love to read quite a few of your books. I still have to come up with my list. Emma
The list of books that I forgot to put on the list and books that I discovered since was getting so long that I had to do something with it. I’m very pleased with this list, because they’re all books I really want to read and they’re all classics of some kind or another.
I hope you get #4… and what fun to put your own spin on the spin!
I’d be quite happy with #4, because I loved it first time around, but that was many years ago. Putting my own spin on it was a lovely way of being able to spin without pushing myself too hard.
Number 5 intrigues me because Ouida is one of those names that keeps coming up as Someone I Should Read; also rooting for 4 because Anne Bronte is on my winter list to re-read. I loved Tenant but it has been years since reading it. Great list–what fun!!
I’ve just started another Ouida and it’s gorgeous. It feels like a children’s book for grown-ups, and everything is wrapped up in acres of descriptive prose. I’d be happy if the Tenant’s number came up, because it’s definitely a winter book.
Marvelous list! I love the classics club spin. I need to get my list together. I’m hoping you get Rebecca West!
I’d be very happy to get Rebecca West, because I’ve been meaning to read that book ever since I finished Invitation to the Waltz, and that was a long time ago. Good luck with the spin!
Jane, what a wonderful list! I have some of those same books – read and unread – on my shelves. I have been curious about Ouida’s books too. I know you will love #10, #11 and #18.
I’m confident of loving those books too, and I already have Red Pottage linked with you in my mind. And I’m loving my first Ouida enough in the early chapters to sign up for a second.
I always love your lists because they introduce me to so many new books! All of the titles sound great, although I have a love/hate relationship with du Maurier. I hope you get the book you want and have a great spin!
~ Cleo ~
I am veering towards the lost classics this time. I loved Du Maurier when I was growing up – she was our local author then and her books were everywhere – so i’ interested to see how well she stands up to re-reading now.
I love the idea of adding books you wish you had included, I might pinch that for next time.
Please do – the classics I want to read that aren’t on my list have grown and grown in number, so I had to do something!
Great spin on the spin! I can recommend Wildfell Hall and the German Garden. So many of the others are unknown to me, my list might have to get bigger too…
I suspect the Classics Club is adding lots of books to lots of lists, but it’s great to have a choice and to be finding so many great books.
What an intriguing list! I loved The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and The Scapegoat but a lot of the others are new to me. I hope you enjoy whichever one is chosen for you.
I loved those two first time around, both a long time ago, and so I’d be happy to re-read either
THE WEATHER IN THE STREETS is my favourite novel of all time.
I’ve been meaning to read The Weather in the Streets ever since I finished Invitation to the Waltz, so it’s great to have such an endorsement.
It’s always so fun to read the lists. I haven’t read very many books from your selection, but I hope you’ll get #10. I’d be curious to read what you think of it.
I love list making, and it’s wonderful that all of the lists are taking in so any different books. I’d be more than happy to get #10, which I know would bring a little light to a dark winter.
There are a fair few authors on your list that I haven’t read before so I am rooting for Elizabeth Taylor. I have three different editions of that book, it’s wonderful!
I have two copies of that book – a green Virago and a designer Virago – and it’s a book I’m sure I’ll love, but it’s always one I’ve felt I should save for that perfect moment. So I’ thinking that if its number comes up I’ll make that moment!
Well, this list makes me feel really stupid because at least half of the books I’ve never heard of, let alone read. I think I would have to hope to get number 20 as I think this is one Du Maurier I have yet to read.
No, not stupid at all, it’s just hat we’re on different journeys, that cross paths occasionally, through the world of books.
There are several on your list I’ve never heard of which means I am making another list for future reference. I loved The Tenant and Elizabeth and her German Garden would make nice light reading for the holiday season. I have Red Pottage on my list too. Good luck!
I’d be happy with any of those – let’s hope we both have a good spin!
Blimey, I had heard of only a handful of these so its hard to answer your question. I would go for Susan Glaspell since I loved her play Trifles and the short story that tells the same story but using a different genre (A Jury of Her Peers).
I loved A Jury of Her Peers, so I’d be more than happy if Susan Glaspell’s number came up. I’ve been meaning to read her for ages.
Good list. I’ve read and enjoyed 4 and 20.
I think it would be good to get Lavinia by George Sand or The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann.
Good luck with the spin.
Thank you, Jane – I’d be more than happy with any of the books you mention.
I’d avoid Red Pottage because I read about 5 pages of that and had to give up and give it away!
That bad?! Lisa at TBR312 loved it, so maybe it’s one of those Marmite books ….
Hm, now I’m wondering if it was that one or another one I’ve got mixed up with. Oh, no, how will I ever tell? The one I’m thinking of was about socialism in the 20s, I thought. I will have to go and ask in the Virago group …
Well this one dates from 1897 – the only Virago author that comes to my find for socialism in the 1920s is Storm Jameson, but I’m sure there must be others.
Ha – it’s Cotter’s England that I didn’t like. Cotter / Pottage, I see how I did it now! Sorry to mislead. Fidelity is REALLY good, by the way.
Thanks Liz Dexter–i gave my copy of RED POTTAGE to Oxfam years ago for the same reason.Glad it is not just me.
Hooray! I can’t say I often give up a book so quickly but I could not get into it, I could not ear it, it was all weird (and I don’t mind weird) and not what I expected at all!
Except that was Cotter’s England I couldn’t (b)ear. Must get those two sorted out!
Fleur is my blogger of 2014 as she told me about TRYST by Elswyth Thane.
Plus she likes to make lists which i applaud.
Fleur is blushing ….
I love your spin on the spin. I haven’t read any of your choices but I would love to read The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier. Good luck with the spin 🙂
Thank you – I wanted to open things up a little bit. I’d love to read The Scapegoat, and I will soon even if it doesn’t come up in the spin.
I do hope your spin will bring you a book you’ll love.