Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Books I am "Saving."

A few people have asked me, via twitter, e-mail, and comments, about the books I am leaving until the end of my project. From the beginning, I knew that there would be a handful of titles I would want to save. I have caved in on a few and read them already (Jane Eyre being one). Others have been added to the list as other titles by that author have blown me away. Some have been added simply because of recommendations from bloggers and readers like you.

In any case, I thought it might be good for me to see what titles I am saving and put them down on...screen. I also thought you might have some suggestions for other titles to leave until the end. After all, I am approaching the halfway mark and my list is gradually shrinking (I am starting to get to some titles I am not so excited about).

Here they are:
  • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: It has been years since I've read this one, but I love it.
  • The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton: One of my favorite titles ever, so of course I'm saving it.
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: Sadly, this is the last title by Steinbeck on my list (tragic, I know), and since I love him so, I want to save this one.
  • Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: LOVE this book.
  • My Antonia by Willa Cather: Cather is a new favorite, but this is one I read before and hated-it could go either way.
  • Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: What!!! A Dickens title! Yep. Quite a few people told me I would love this one, judging by my other tastes, so it will be my last go-around with Dickens for my project.
  • Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser: I adored An American Tragedy, so I am hoping the same for this one.
  • Middlemarch by George Eliot: Eliot is another favorite, so I am saving this one for a bit.
  • Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy: Hardy is another new favorite, and this title seems to be a favorite among many...
  • Billy Budd by Herman Melville: After my recent love-affair with Melville, I can't wait to read this one, but it can be a treat later on.
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare: This has always been one of my favorite plays by the bard...
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: I love Huck and Tom and Twain.
And my last book?
  • Ulysses by James Joyce: After my failed attempt at the Ulysses readalong this past spring, I realized that this one would be a great end to my project. Since my first book was The Odyssey, it is only fitting that this one end the project. :)
What do you think? Any titles I should add to my "save" list? Any I should remove?

(or am I crazy for saving titles?)

16 comments:

  1. I loved Middlemarch, The Grapes of Wrath and Handmaid's Tale. This is a great list.

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  2. Love The Handmaid's Tale and Tess of the d'Urbervilles! I'm also reading A Tale of Two Cities right now.

    I think Ulysses is a perfect end for your challenge!

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  3. Oh wow. I don't save very well. I love the idea of framing your project with The Odyssey and Ulysses! :-)

    Yay on almost reaching the halfway mark!!

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  4. Awesome!!!! We should attempt a another Ulysses readalong at the end. I know I could use another chance to tackle it.

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  5. Oh, I loved Sister Carrie! It's so fun and surprising when an older book feels so modern. I love when they talk about "amoral" behavior, like premarital sex. I dunno - maybe I'm a weirdo, but I think it's so interesting.

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  6. LOVE The Hobbit
    LOVE The Grapes of Wrath
    LOVE A Midsummer Night's Dream

    LOVE Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (no "The" in the title - I know it sounds like I'm being snotty, but Twain actually did that on purpose -in contrast to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer- so I have to point it out whenever I see it).

    Liked Sister Carrie a lot

    Did NOT like A Tale of Two Cities and could not get through Ulysses (but I might be convinced to try it again if I've got some people to read it with!)

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  7. Some great books on there! I should revisit Sister Carrie. I liked An American Tragedy better, but both were really good. Not a fan of Billy Budd though, haha. It turned me off Melville forever! :D

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  8. You are saving some great ones! House of Mirth is one of my faves, also Huck Finn of course. Not a fan of James Joyce so I will have to check out your review of Ulysses when the big day arrives!

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  9. I think it's interesting that you're saving some books. I do that with my favorite authors. I only allow myself to read one book by them each year so I can savor them.

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  10. It's a good idea to mix the ones you're really looking forward to, with others that are in the list because you gave them up before. Will there be a celebration when you read 50%? It's a big deal!

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  11. I've only read a Midsummer Night's Dream and Handmaid's Tale from your list. Midsummer is one of my favorite plays (I've loved all of the Shakespeare comedies that I've read). I thought Handmaid's Tale was just an okay read until I got to the Historical Notes at the end, which drastically changed how I thought about the book and the main character (in a really good way). That was one of the most brilliant epilogues in a book, IMHO.

    Count me in for the read-a-long to The Hobbit when you get to it!

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  12. I don't think you're crazy for saving titles...though you definitely have more willpower than I do. I haven't read most of your list (though I want to!), so I can't really comment on its contents. All I can say is that Joyce and I are finished -- I actually consider him to be my literary nemesis. My husband read Ulysses earlier this year and claimed he liked it, but I'm through with that particular author. That particular tome will make an exciting and fulfilling way to end your reading, though!

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  13. Handmaid's take is a great book a is the hobbit. All the books I would say save for the end you've already read.

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  14. I've only read four books from the list above, but they're all well worth it. Handmaid's Tale is superb, as is The Hobbit.

    What else would I save for the end... umm...

    Lord of the Rings
    Pride and Prejudice
    Little Women
    Mrs. Dalloway
    Atlas Shrugged
    Rebecca

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  15. So many lovely books you're saving! If I were following a program such as yours, I think I'd have difficulty saving some of those. Most of them I haven't read (and I can't remember My Antonia at all), but I've heard so many things about all of them. Love The Hobbit and Midsummer Night's Dream too!

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  16. I haven't read Dreiser at all yet. But I loved MIDDLEMARCH, so that's one to look forward to. And love ending with Ulysses to round out the Odyssey project. Did you add EAST OF EDEN to your project list yet? I keep hoping you'll add it SOMEHOW. It's so epic.

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