Classics Club Survey.

The Classics Club is a great community that I have had the pleasure of modding and working for since shortly after it's creation. If you haven't heard of it, it is simply a blogging and reading challenge to incorporate more classics into your reading and discuss these wonderful books! I've been away from blogging for a bit, so I am setting goals to get myself back into the community and reading more classics like I used to.

Anyway, not too long ago, the Club hosted a survey related to all thing classic, and I thought it would be fun to fill out. Please post a link if you've completed this as well! I'd love to check it out!

Share a link to your club list. 
My list is here. I feel like I need to update it a bit to make it a bit more manageable, but that'll have to wait until the summer when I'm a little less insane.

When did you join The Classics Club? How many titles have you read for the club? (We are SO CHECKING UP ON YOU! Nah. We’re just asking.) :)
I joined the club right when Jillian created it. Since I started blogging as a "classics only" blog, it only made sense and I loved the idea of the community from the start. Since it's creation, I've probably read about 50 titles off my Classics Club list, but I have a ton more to go. I see reading the classics as a lifelong pursuit, so I don't imagine I'll ever be "done" reading them.

What are you currently reading?
I'm in the middle of a number of books! The classic that's currently on my nightstand is Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon. I'm only a couple chapters into it, but I have high hopes. I did set it aside while school is still crazy.

What did you just finish reading and what did you think of it?
The last classic I read was Persuasion by Jane Austen over the winter. It was a reread, but I LOVED it. I think it has a great love story that is believable. And Austen is a great old friend.

What are you reading next? Why?
I really want to read A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It's on my list and the last time I read it was sometime in college.

Best book you’ve read so far with the club, and why?
The one that sticks out to me most is Sister Carrie by Theodore Drieser. I loved An American Tragedy by him as well, but Sister Carrie just blew me away. I really love books that surround "fallen" women (The House of Mirth, The Age of Innocence, A Portrait of a Lady), so I'm not surprised I loved it.

Book you most anticipate (or, anticipated) on your club list?
There are a lot of books that I'm looking forward to. I'm excited to get to the last book by the Brontes on my list-Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I also want to give another crack at Clarissa. I attempted to read it a few months ago, but I'm thinking of challenging myself to read it over the summer.

I also want to get to some rereads-some Dickens, more by Cather, etc. And I want to read more by some of my favorite authors-Twain, Wharton, etc.

Book on your club list you’ve been avoiding, if any? Why?
Clarissa. Hahaha. That book really is a beast. I also have another book by Ayn Rand-The Fountainhead-that I'm not that sure about. I read Atlas Shrugged a few years ago with a group of bloggers and slogged through most of it. But looking back on it, I do feel like it was worth my time. I have some other big books waiting as well-more by the Russians, etc.

First classic you ever read?
When I was a kid, my mom bought us a set of those Great Illustrated Classics. I avoided a bunch of them as being "boy" books, but I devoured Little Women, Black Beauty, and Heidi. I'm pretty sure I can still recite passages from those versions of the books. So, probably those. :)

Toughest classic you ever read?
Very early on in my blogging challenge I read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. It was actually the second book I read for my blog and while I loved it, it was challenging for me and outside my element. While I considered myself pretty well-versed in the classics prior to my project, I had avoided the Russians. I would also add Clarissa to that list. Because it is a beast.

Oh, I'll also add Moby-Dick to that list. That book was massive and unlike anything else I've ever read.

Classic that inspired you? or scared you? made you cry? made you angry?
That has to go to one of my favorites of all time-The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. It gets me every time.

Although, I would also add Germinal to that list. It's a book that really sticks with you long after reading it.

Longest classic you’ve read? Longest classic left on your club list?
I read War and Peace a few years ago, which has probably been one of the longest on my list. And the longest remaining is the oft-mentioned Clarissa. Considering it's one of the longest books ever published.....

Oldest classic you’ve read? Oldest classic left on your club list?
I still have a lot of Greek lit on my list-The Aeneid, etc. I've read quite a few older works-The Odyssey (namesake of my blog), The Iliad, Lysistrata, and a few others...

Favorite biography about a classic author you’ve read — or, the biography on a classic author you most want to read, if any?
I have a few sitting on my shelf that I'd like to get to at some point-some on Dickens, Wharton, Twain, and Cather.

Which classic do you think EVERYONE should read? Why?
I feel To Kill A Mockingbird is such a classic that if you haven't read it, you should. It's a pretty pivotal piece of American literature. I'd also say The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as well.

Favorite edition of a classic you own, if any?
My Penguin clothbounds and English Library Editions of course!

Favorite movie adaption of a classic?
To be honest, I don't really enjoy movie adaptations of classics! I find they always miss the passion, etc. That being said, I do like Shakespeare in movie form, so I'll go with the Much Ado About Nothing film.

Classic which hasn’t been adapted yet (that you know of) which you very much wish would be adapted to film.
I'd love to see a modern interpretation of The House of Mirth. Because it's my fav...

Least favorite classic? Why?
Difficult question. If you've been around for a long time, you'll know I have a deep-rooted hatred for Dickens' Great Expectations, but I am planning on rereading it in the future. I feel like now that I have a love for some of his work, I might decide I like it.

I also hate Heart of Darkness. I've read it multiple times. And I just. don't. get. it. NOPE.

Name five authors you haven’t read yet whom you cannot wait to read.
Sherwood Anderson
James Baldwin
Knut Hamsen
Guy de Maussapant
Plutarch

Which title by one of the five you’ve listed above most excites you and why?
I really want to read Hamsen's Hunger, mainly because I've never seen anyone talk about it and I'm intrigued.

Have you read a classic you disliked on first read that you tried again and respected, appreciated, or even ended up loving? (This could be with the club or before it.)
My Antonia. Didn't love it fully as a high schooler, but reading it for this made me LOVE Cather. I need to get back to my Cather project....

Which classic character can’t you get out of your head?
Jane Eyre is a great character. I still can't believe I waited SO LONG to read Jane Eyre.

Which classic character most reminds you of yourself?
This is a really hard question....I think I have a lot in common with Jane Eyre, but we're also very dissimilar. Actually, I have no idea who I'm most like!

Which classic character do you most wish you could be like?
Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. The girl's got spunk and fire, and I need more of that in my life.

Which classic character reminds you of your best friend?
Too hard for me to decide... ;)

If a sudden announcement was made that 500 more pages had been discovered after the original “THE END” on a classic title you read and loved, which title would you most want to keep reading? Or, would you avoid the augmented manuscript in favor of the original? Why?
I actually wouldn't wish this. I'm very much of the belief that an author's work should stand as itself, and that a reader's interpretation is more important than how the author views it. So....I wouldn't want my impressions of a book to be altered because of new information....

Favorite children’s classic?
Definitely The Little House books, or Black Beauty.

Who recommended your first classic?
Probably my mom. :)

Whose advice do you always take when it comes to literature. (Recommends the right editions, suggests great titles, etc.)
Adam at Roof Beam Reader. He's a great resource for new lit. Not classic related, but he introduced me to Andrew Smith, who is certainly one of my favorite writers.

Favorite memory with a classic?
When I was going into ninth grade, we had to read a few books over the summer. One of those was The Count of Monte Cristo. I had brought it with me up north to my grandparents cottage, and I can remember reading it on the back of the boat as it rocked back and forth. Reading the prison scenes and escape while on the lake is still incredibly vivid!

Classic author you’ve read the most works by?
Oh man....probably Shakespeare because of the sheer amount of his plays I flew through a few years ago during Shakespeare Reading Month. I'd also add Wharton to that list, and probably Dickens.

Classic author who has the most works on your club list?
Again, probably Shakespeare, but also Dickens, Henry James, and a few others...

Classic author you own the most books by?
Shakespeare. :) I own most of his work, and I think I only have 7 or 8 plays to get to complete my little collection....

Classic title(s) that didn’t make it to your club list that you wish you’d included? (Or, since many people edit their lists as they go, which titles have you added since initially posting your club list?)
My list is SO LONG that I have no idea....

If you could explore one author’s literary career from first publication to last — meaning you have never read this author and want to explore him or her by reading what s/he wrote in order of publication — who would you explore? Obviously this should be an author you haven’t yet read, since you can’t do this experiment on an author you’re already familiar with. 
:) Or, which author’s work you are familiar with might it have been fun to approach this way?
I've already started this process with 3 authors-Shakespeare, Cather, and Dickens. I'd like to add Dostoevsky to that list. And perhaps Toni Morrison for a more modern writer?

How many rereads are on your club list? If none, why? If some, which are you most looking forward to, or did you most enjoy?
So many! I love rereading books. I'm planning on jumping into Gone with the Wind shortly, as well as Germinal.

Has there been a classic title you simply could not finish?
I've struggled through a few. Heart of Darkness was probably the worst one. I've read it at least 5 times (once in high school and multiple times in college for classes). I just....hate it.

Has there been a classic title you expected to dislike and ended up loving?
I really didn't have any expectations for David Copperfield, but man, that was a fabulous book.

Five things you’re looking forward to next year in classic literature?
I really want to get back into reading classics on a more regular basis. I've lost sight of that the last couple of years as school stress piled up. But I feel like I'm at a manageable level now....so I'm ready to dive in.

Classic you are DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN next year?
Uncle Tom's Cabin. Considering I teach AP U.S. History, I feel like this is a book I SHOULD read. I always say I'm going to read it, but never do. Need to make it happen.

Classic you are NOT GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN next year?
I'm probably going to continue pushing off Ulysses.

Favorite thing about being a member of the Classics Club?
The supportive community!

List five fellow clubbers whose blogs you frequent. What makes you love their blogs?
I'm out of touch with the community, but I'll give another shout out to Adam, also Melissa, and Lost Generation Reader.

If you’ve ever participated in a readalong on a classic, tell about the experience? If you’ve participated in more than one, what’s the very best experience? the best title you’ve completed? a fond memory? a good friend made?
I love readalongs! One of my favorites was one of the first I ever participated in, for Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. It was a great group of bloggers and I really enjoyed getting into the community.

If you could appeal for a readalong with others for any classic title, which title would you name? Why?
All of them. Because fun. :)

How long have you been reading classic literature?
I started regularly reading the classics in high school, and picked up reading them even more in college. I started my blog when I was 24, so since then, I've read many that I probably would have never read otherwise.

2011 End of the Year Book Survey.

The wonderful Jaime over at The Perpetual Page-Turner is hosting her "End of the Year Book Survey" for 2011. She started it last year and it exploded all over the place (click here for the big 2010 link-in post on her blog).

I like getting all nostalgic as it nears the end of the year, so before I even thought about my answers for this year's survey, I went back and read last year's. It seems like so long ago that I read some of those titles!

Anywhere, here we go with this year's survey and answers...

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

While I read many, MANY amazing books this year, my gut is telling me that my all-time favorite was The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, with Moby-Dick by Herman Melville in a very close second. POAL was simply amazing. It was well worth the read...and absolutely fabulous. I highly recommend it (my thoughts on it are still going up).

I also need to shout out about Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko-WONDERFUL.

I'm also in the middle of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton-it is definitely going to be a favorite for the year!

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

There are a couple I could mention here as being unimpressive. I wasn't as into Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys as I had hoped. I also wasn't the biggest fan of Dubliners by Joyce or Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor. None of those were bad, just not my favorites.

But my least favorite book of 2011 has to be Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Out of the 125ish books I've read thus far in my project, this has been my least favorite. That should tell you a lot.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

I was surprised by a number of books this year, but I feel like I need to give a nod to War and Peace and The Divine Comedy here. Both were far more accessible than I thought they would be!

I feel I also need to mention that both Oliver Twist and Hard Times by Charles Dickens ended up being really enjoyable!

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

To be quite honest, I didn't lend out too many books this year to my friends and family that I recently read. I do remember having a lot of conversations about some titles as I read them. The Mill on the Floss came up in quite a few conversations with Jillian, as did Moby-Dick, The Portrait of a Lady, and The House of Mirth. I also convinced Trisha to read The Ranger's Apprentice Series, which she seems to be enjoying!

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I spent a few snow days last winter reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, which I really enjoyed. Other than that, I really didn't read any series!

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

SO MANY! :) I feel like I can now add Tolstoy (War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Ilyich), Wilkie Collins (The Woman in White), DuMaurier (Rebecca), Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), Leslie Marmon Silko (Ceremony), and Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) to a list of new (to me) favorite authors I discovered this year.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

You know, I honestly can't think of anything that was outside my comfort zone! I was a little apprehensive about starting War and Peace, but it was a much easier read than I thought it would be.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

I immediately thought of the first book I read in 2011-Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. I read that book so fast because it was just THAT GOOD. I was also quite hooked on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

I'm trying to think of a book I was really excited for, but since most of them grabbed me in some way, I am going to say Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I have read an Austen title the last couple of years around the holidays, and it is definitely a tradition I am going to keep up! Plus, Jillian hyped it up for me, and I scored a beautiful new edition for review!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

I'm going with two (because I can)-a classic and one of the handful of books NOT on my list that I read this year:

First up is the classic, Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. When I found this edition neglected on a bookshelf, I grabbed it. The cover is just so simple and pretty (it is absolutely gorgeous in person).


I also really loved the cover of Nina Sankovitch's Tolstoy and the Purple Chair. This was a book about the power of reading, and who doesn't like a big comfy chair when they read?



I also read a few more of my Penguin clothbounds this year, and you all know how much I love those covers (I read The Woman in White, Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre, Treasure Island, Dracula, Sense and Sensibility and A Christmas Carol all in their clothbound glory this year)!



11. Most memorable character in 2011?

Adam will probably laugh at me, and/or harass me for saying this, but John Galt from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand will remain forever etched in my memory (I read that book 1 1/2 times this year).

I'm also going with Isabel Archer from The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, Captain Ahab from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, and Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (I told my husband I want to name a future daughter Scout. I think he thought I was joking...)

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

I have to go back to the first three books I mentioned in question 1: The Portrait of a Lady, Moby-Dick, and Ceremony.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

I got incredibly sappy and loving after I finished Jane Eyre. I even read a passage to Matt. :)

I threw Atlas Shrugged a few times when I was reading it, I let my cat sleep on it, and I fought it more than any other book this year. I call that a reaction.

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch had me feeling very introspective. It also made me tear up a few times.

Ceremony also broke my heart a bit. And I cried a little when I finished The Portrait of a Lady. Matt laughed at me. :)

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

Jane Eyre!!! I held out against a lot of peer pressure to read this one...and it was worth the wait. Such a wonderful, beautiful book!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

From Jane Eyre:
“I have now been married ten years. I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest - blest beyond what language can express; because I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine. No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am: ever more absolutely bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. I know no weariness of my Edward's society: he knows none of mine, any more than we each do the pulsation of the heart that beats in our separate bosoms; consequently, we are ever together. To be together is for us to be at once free as in solitude, as gay as in company. We talk, I believe, all day long: to talk to each other is but more animated and an audible thinking. All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character - perfect concord is the result.”

From The Portrait of a Lady:
“I always want to know the things one shouldn't do."
"So as to do them?" asked her aunt.
"So as to choose." said Isabel”

From Moby-Dick:
"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me."

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

I am actually going to reread War and Peace in the first six months of 2012. I read it very quickly last year and want to savor it a bit more this time around!

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Portrait of a Lady had me on the edge of my seat by the end. I had to tell Matt all about it when I finished.

I had a huge WTF moment when it came to the SUPER LONG John Galt speech in Atlas Shrugged.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? had me in stitches...and then in a deep stupor after I finished it (all in a good way-what a fabulous play).

Then there is THAT scene in Jude the Obscure. If you've read it, you should know exactly what scene I am talking about! OMG.



Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011?

I really can't answer this question because I feel I would leave someone out. Let's just say that book blogs with a classic focus seemed to boom this year. I've met a lot of great new bloggers this year! I also developed my relationships with other bloggers-which I want to continue to do!

Thank you all for continuing to read about my journey!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010?

It is really hard to pick a favorite review. I really liked writing this post on the first piece of Moby-Dick. There is also this post on Tolstoy and Purple Chair that I had fun writing as well.

I don't think either one of those are my best posts, but they stick out more than others.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

This is an area I think I need to work on in 2012, but I did have a few posts that got the conversation going. I discussed in this post my observations about reading speed and there were some interesting things said in the comments. I also shared how I manage my book database in this post.

And while it wasn't a discussion themed post, I think that this post on my frustrations with my unemployment gave me a lot to think about (thanks to your comments).

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?

I really enjoyed this post by Jillian about the canon and reading canonical works. It gave me a lot to think about as a classics blogger.

I also loved this recent post (I'm still thinking of a comment to post) by Delaisse-a fabulous blogger, you all need to go visit. It is a great post about women and writing and Virginia Woolf and writing that has been lost. Go read it.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I participated in many, many events this year. I really like community events, so I tend to seek those out. Some of my favorite include the Classics Circuit, Dewey's Readathon, group reads and readalongs, and themed months (like the recent Transcendentalist Month). I like the idea of bringing bloggers together in a positive and meaningful way.

I also enjoy a few memes here and there-Top Ten Tuesday is a fun way to get some book recommendations.

I, sadly, didn't got to any signings this year. I had plans to head up to Lansing in October for the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, but things came up and I missed it (I was bummed to miss Carrie Ryan, since I met her the year before and needed her other book signed).

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

I have a couple of moments actually...

First, the amount of support I've received this year in regards to all the "outside, real world" stuff going on-from Matt's step-dad battling lymphoma, to my countless posts on being frustrated. Every time I feel a bit down, I visit some of those posts to read your comments. Thank you for that.

I also really enjoyed being a co-host for the April Readathon. I battled through while being sick, but I had a great time hosting and being involved in the community.

There have also been some other things that are special to me-like giving away books to fellow bloggers. I love being able to share books, so for all of you who have entered a giveaway, thanks for that! I love being able to send things to you through the mail!

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

I went and looked before starting to answer this question. I find it hilarious that this post on the Percy Jackson series has had 2,000+ views this year. Really? I don't even think it is that great of a post (I read the series during "Snowpocalypse" in February).

Some other popular posts (with regards to hits this year) are a number of books that are generally read in school: Lord of the Flies (This post has over 4,500 views since it went up in 2010-INSANE), Catcher in the Rye, Oliver Twist, Sherlock Holmes, etc.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Umm, to be honest, I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Sometimes when I am writing a post I know that it isn't the best, so it never surprises me when some posts only get 1 or 2 comments and some get 15+.

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I got Homer (my Nook Color) in July for my birthday! I never thought I would like an ereader, but I really love having it. I do need to read more on it, but it does tire my eyes out sooner than paper books (the screen is backlit). It is fabulous for reading magazines and such-or having twitter open while reading. :)

Since getting Homer, I have used Project Gutenberg A LOT to download some FREE copies of old classics. I am sure I will use the site more and more when books become hard to find (I still prefer reading a physical book).

It isn't a new discovery, but I also spent some time this year pondering a big trip to John King books in downtown Detroit when I finish my project as a celebration gift. I haven't made it down there in over a year, but John King is a HUGE warehouse FULL of used and rare books. Last time I was there, I bought a beautiful set of Austen titles. The bookstore was actually featured in this article by the Huffington Post about the WORLD'S five greatest bookstores. If you are ever in this area, you need to go (I'll go with).

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Pssshhhh.

Some of you are going to laugh, but I failed miserably at the challenges I signed up for in 2011. I only completed one...so of course it makes sense I signed up for a lot during 2012, right? But, I am reaching the point where I have less...choice on my list now, so these challenges should be easier to complete...as least that's what I'm telling myself.

I also failed to read as much as I wanted to this year. I think I'll hit 82ish books for the year. There were years before I started this project where I was consistently reading 100+ books/year...but when I think about it, that included a lot of YA, fantasy, and other things that are easier to read. Say what you will, but it takes a lot more to read 1000+ pages of classic literature vs. 1000+ pages of YA. I think that the quality of what I read far outweighs the amount.

But, there were weeks at a time where I let other things distract me from reading. I am a much nicer and balanced person when I give myself the luxury of reading everyday. I need to remember that.


Looking Ahead...

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

Tom Jones by Henry Fielding. I never had the right timing to get to this one, so I made sure to put it on a challenge list for 2012.

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. This was the title for the June readalong and I failed miserably. I got 150 pages into it, was loving it, and life got in the way. I kept meaning to come back to it, but never did. I will definitely read it this coming year!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

I am really excited to read Clarissa with Jillian come April. It will be nice to have some company while tackling it (you are all welcome to join us!).

I am also excited for Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It was one I planned to read this year, but again, I ran out of time!

I'm also pretty darn excited to dive into some Shakespeare in a few days!

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

I have a lot more specifics planned out in my resolutions post (will go up soon-Thursday), but overall, I hope to be productive. I crossed the halfway point in my project about 6 months after I had planned to. That isn't a horrible thing, but I want to make some steady progress this year. My number one goal is to get to Book 200 by this time next year. You all need to hold me to that!

2010 Survey.

I'm sure you may have seen this already. This little survey is being hosted by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner. Feel free to go over there to see what other bloggers had to say!

1. Best book of 2010?
This is an incredibly hard decision! I felt that I read some wonderful books this year. I will have to say that the three that I remember loving most this year were The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.

2. Worst book of 2010?
I would have to say Bleak House by Charles Dickens or Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence.

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?
This would have to go to The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. I had really high hopes for this one and it failed miserably. I think I'll give it another chance one day.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?
I would have to say O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. I went into it prepared to hate it, but ended up loving it! Always give authors a second chance!

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?
I lent my mom Washington Square by Henry James to read shortly after I finished it because I thought she would enjoy it (nearly a year later she still has it and hasn't read it). I've also recommended the Holmes novels and stories as well as The Dollmaker by Arnow.

6. Best series you discovered in 2010?
I suppose I would have to say the Holmes stories, since they are the only "Series" I have read this year.

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010?
There are so many that I think I am in love with! To name a few new favorites: Maugham, Cather, James, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, and Hardy. All will make repeat appearances in the future I'm sure!

8. Most hilarious read of 2010?
Well, trying to remember....I remember laughing a lot through The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I love Tom and want a son just like him.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?
This is probably the hardest question! Like I said, I read a lot of wonderful novels this year. I did read Mockingjay by Collins in a matter of a few hours, but I was also hooked on The Mill on the Floss, Alias Grace, and Persuasion in much the same way!

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010?
Well, considering I read mostly classics, I was anticipating a lot of great classic literature! But I'd be lying to say I wasn't super excited to read Mockingjay the day it came out.

11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?
I really loved the edition of Gone with the Wind I read this year! Simply stunning!















12. Most memorable character in 2010?
Oh goodness! I would have to just list a bunch-Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, Sherlock Holmes from all of his stories and novels, Lucy Snowe from Villette, and Vardaman from As I Lay Dying to name a few!

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010?
SUCH A HARD DECISION! I would have to say its a tie between my top three books up there: The Dollmaker, The Mill on the Floss, and The Brothers Karamazov.

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?
Again I have to give props to The Dollmaker. It was simply beautiful. I STILL think about it and I read it last January.

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read?
All of them? Perhaps it would be better to say Lolita or Persuasion.

Here's to a wonderful 2011!!