Both of these are challenges I've been a participant in for the last two years (at least), so it seems like I should soldier on, right?
Without further adieu...
This challenge is one of my favorites because of the categories that Sarah picks each year. Unlike some other classic challenges, Sarah picks fun little categories that your classics need to fit into. It is a great way to get some diversity into your classic reading. Personally, I love Victorian-era and turn of the 20th century classics, so this forces me a bit outside my comfort zone!
This year, Sarah has given us 6 required areas with a few "bonus" categories for anyone who feels pulled to read more. I am doing three of the bonus categories in addition to the required 6, but make sure to check out the sign-up post to find more information about the bonus categories!
The List:
1. 19th Century Classic: Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy. This is one I really wanted to get to this summer during my Victorian event, but just ran out of time.
2. 20th Century Classic: All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque: This is a title I feel like I should have read by now...
3. Pre-19th Century: The Frogs by Aristophanes: Surprisingly, when I went to look at my 250 list, there were very few pre-19th century titles left!
4. Classic concerning the African-American Experience: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This is another "should have read" title that I'll be getting to sooner rather than later.
5. Classic Adventure: Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs: I was actually sent a beautiful new edition of the Tarzan stories, so this is a great excuse to dive in and review this for the publisher. :)
6. Classic Featuring an Animal: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Kesey. This title has actually been on a challenge list ever since I started doing challenges. 2013 is the year!
Bonus Categories:
Russian Classic: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I really wanted to read this during this fall, but obviously I didn't get to it. I really want to read it before it disappears from theaters, so I'm thinking this might be my first book of 2013?
Classic Children's Book: Jane Austen's Complete Juvenilia. Does this really need an explanation? :)
Short Stories (at least 3 by one author): I have a big Mark Twain collection, so I am sure that'll be my focus this coming year!
Third time is definitely going to be the charm for Adam's challenge. I swear!
Adam's challenge is a great way to clear books off the good ol' TBR. Rule is that these books have to have been on your TBR for at least 12 months-so only books published in 2011 and earlier. I choose to focus on classics since that is my main focus anyway!
Each participant gets to choose a list of 12 books they want to finish before the year is out, as well as 2 alternates, just in case...I always seem to want to read my alternates more than my list books...or books not on my list at all. :) Anyway, I scoured my dwindling 250 list and found 14 titles for Adam's Challenge.
The List:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Maya Angelou (year 2 on the list...)
2. Cold Sassy Tree: Olive Burns
3. Moll Flanders: Daniel Defoe
4. Sister Carrie: Theodore Dreiser
5. The Sound and the Fury: William Faulkner
6. Brighton Rock: Graham Greene (I believe this is the third year for Mr. Greene on my list...)
7. Doll's House: Henrick Ibsen
8. On the Road: Jack Kerouac
9. Billy Budd: Herman Melville
10. Going After Cacciato: Tim O'Brien
11. Ivanhoe: Sir Walter Scott
12. The Jungle: Upton Sinclair
Alternates:
1. The Once and Future King: T.H. White
2. Remains of the Day: Kazou Ishiguro
So, there you have it-2 challenges with the books all picked out. I'm doubting I will join any other challenges, unless they seem enticing... ;)
Hey! These are my two challenges for 2013 as well! I love your lists, of course, although I haven't read most of the books you've included. I love Sister Carrie (have read it twice) but it was my American Lit professors most despised book...so that's interesting.
ReplyDeleteWasn't a huge fan of Once and Future King or On the Road, but they're kinda important. As for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest & Anna Karenina - yeah!! Mark Twain, too. Yipee!
Its been a long time since I read Uncle Tom's Cabin, but I remember how much it got to me. Very good choice. Also - Cuckoo's Nest! Anna K! Twain! Cacciato! Me thinks you'll be having a very good reading year :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing any challenges this year because I can never seem to make myself follow them, haha! It looks like you chose some good ones! One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Sister Carrie, and On The Road are among my favorites. I hope you like them!
ReplyDeleteI see we're in the same challenges - what a great list of books you've gathered! good luck with both !
ReplyDeleteThese are two fantastic lists, Allie!
ReplyDeleteThese are the only two challenges I'm doing too! Oh and Fanda's Let's Read Plays one, but that's more of a year-long event. I love these two challenges because they fit well with what I would like to read anyway.
ReplyDeleteGreat lists! I really enjoyed both The Return of the Native and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings this year. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Doll's House and Anna Karenina are all wonderful as well. You're going to have some fantastic reading ahead of you!
I am joining Sarahs challenge as well and was thinking Uncle Tom's Cabin for one of mine. Tarzan sounds like a great one as well! Good luck with the challenge and I look forward to linking up and seeing what you read and review.
ReplyDeleteI've officially retired from challenges except for a few I've participated in since the beginning like Carl's RIP and Once Upon a Time challenges. Oh and Ana is doing a "read books you've been meaning to read forever" month in January, so I'm going to do that too :p Good luck with these!!
ReplyDeleteGreat choices for the TBR challenge. I loved A Doll's House and Sister Carrie. The Sound and the Fury would be on my own TBR potentials stack!
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky! I actually get to read All Quiet on the Western Front for the first time. It's my favorite book.
ReplyDeleteWow, good luck with your 2013 challenges! I'm currently reading Anna Karenina as part of my own ongoing challenge. My first encounter with Tolstoy. It's an amazing book, but a marathon of a read.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time doing Adam's challenge, actually it is my first year doing any of the challenges except for the Goodreads one!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Doll's House, I've really enjoyed both. :]
Good luck with the challenge and happy reading!