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 15th May.
I’m already planning on reading Anthony Trollope and Elizabeth Goudge this month, joining events to celebrate their birthdays, but I’m sure I can find time for another classic.
And this time around I’m focusing on the older books on my list, with all my choices coming from the 18th or 19th century.
Five books by five very different 19th century gentleman authors:
1.The Collegians by Gerard Griffin (1829)
2.Old Goriot by Honore Balzac (1835)
3.Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade (1861)
4.La Regenta by Leopoldo Atlas (1885)
5.Thyrza by George Gissing (1887)
Five books I’ve looked at recently and really wanted to pick up and read:
6.Emmeline by Charlotte Turner Smith (1788)
7.A Simple Story by Elizabeth Inchbold (1791)
8.The Morgesons by Elizabeth Stoddard (1852)
9.Moths by Ouida (1880)
10.The Real Charlotte by Somerville & Ross(1889)
Five books by authors I’d be reading for the very first time:
11.The Coquette by Hannah W Foster (1797)
12.The Antiquary by Sir Walter Scott (1816)
13.Hester by Margaret Oliphant (1873)
14.Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane (1896)
15.Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley (1899)
Five books by 19th century women I know and love:
16.The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (1848)
17.Scenes of Clerical Life by George Eliot (1857)
18.Henry Dunbar by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1864)
19.Belinda by Rhoda Broughton (1883)
20.Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim (1898)
What do you think?
Are you spinning this time around?
Fleur in her World 
You’ve got a really interesting mixture of books on your list, most of which I’ve never heard of! I am also taking part. I hope we both get something we will enjoy 🙂
I put a lot of lesser known books on my list to stop me forgetting them! Good luck with your spin on Monday!
Lovely mix of books Jane, and some early ones too. Good luck! 🙂
Thank you – I pick up 20th century books quite naturally and Trollope has had most of my attention when I wanted something Victoria, so I thought I should remind myself how many promising older books I have on hand.
Alas, I can’t spin Fleur, as I’m working my way through the Popsugar, in my own less than sweet way, this year, but, as ever, your list sounds really interesting. I’ve also got some TBR’s which are pressing – the main one of which is a Vine choice (hence a date deadline) – one i requested and expect to enjoy hugely, Jane Smiley’s second in her trilogy, but I need to be in a certain place, in attention, intention, rhythm to read her, and I’m not in that place right now. The Anne Bronte though, has been on my list for a long time – because i regret to say I have never read any Anne, and so many people i respect say she has been wrongly overshadowed by her more at the time glittering sisters, and in fact wrote about things which speak more to modern consciousness, about women and class
Maybe next year I’ll do some of your challenges
I gave up Vine when the rules changed and, though I’m sure I’m missing some great books, I still read some from publishers and from NetGalley, and I do like having the time to read more ‘free choices. It’s year since I read Jane Smiley, but many you can tempt me to read her again. I entirely agree with those who have spoken to you about Anne Bronte – she is wonderful, so please do try her when the moment is right.
What an interesting list. I don’t know anything about most of those books, but The Cloister and the Hearth is a book I’ve been interested in reading for a while, so I’ll be interested to know what you think if you get that one. Good luck on Monday!
I’m sure it was your list that inspired me to add Cloister and the Hearth to my own. The length and the detail worry me a little but I loves Charles Reade’s writing when I read Griffith Gaunt so I thought I’d be brave. Good luck with your spin!
I’m not spinning this time Jane, because I am trying to read 2-3 books from my cc list each month anyway. Also I was away on holiday with limited/dodgy internet access so couldn’t get my list done and posted, came back today and spent the whole of this evening writing another post for tomorrow. So I will keep my fingers crossed for you – you have some great books on that list though 🙂
I’m doing things the other way round – I’m hoping that the spin will sent me a great book to read when I’m in a Devonshire holiday cottage with no internet later in the month!
Oh yes I hope you get something great for that. Love Devon.
What a fascinating list. I won’t participate as I need to begin on travel writing for my book group. Also getting ready to go overseas for 6 weeks. I’ll be watching though.☺
I hope you enjoy watching from the sidelines – bon voyage!
I read Balzac’s Eugenie recently & thoroughly enjoyed it. I also The Tenant on my spin.
Good luck tomorrow
I’ve been wanting to read Balzac so I’d be very happy if his number comes up, and I’d be equally happy to re-read The Tenant. Good luck with your spin!
The last five a too difficult to choose from!:)
I know – that’s where the spin in useful, pointing me to a book so that I don’t waste any time being indecisive!
Some interesting sounding books. With other books on your reading list already I hope you get a short one for the spin 🙂
I’m very pleased with my list. There are one or two longer books there, but nothing difficult or experimental, so with a week of holiday to come this week I should have things covered.
That list is sooooo you….unusual and brilliant!! I love Margaret Oliphant and Mary Elizabeth Brandon, but there are so many books in your list that I must get to ….hope you get to read something really awesome!!
Thank you – I’m pretty confident that this list will send me something great.