tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post2590287146457160509..comments2023-11-23T09:51:07.448-05:00Comments on A Literary Odyssey: Revising Old and New Reading Projects.Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-87025226873013494502014-01-14T12:28:43.066-05:002014-01-14T12:28:43.066-05:00I recently took a step back from my reading goals....I recently took a step back from my reading goals. My classics list has changed from being very expansive, to a moderate goal of reading 50 books from a living and growing list by the time I turn 29 (so just under 3 years). The list isn't set in stone--as I hear of/decide to read classics, I'll add it to the list. The point is to read 50 classics, not read a pre-determined set of classics. I want to focus more on reading the BIG classics that everyone knows and talks about. I figure, War and Peace (or insert any other big name, on every list classic) has been talked about so consistently for over a century, there must be a reason. I can always go back and pick up the more obscure things later. But I want to focus my time on reading the best.<br /><br />You raise a very good point--Re-reading used to be such a big part of my reading identity! I read Gone With the Wind 10 times between 7th and 12th grades. I've re-read To Kill a Mockingbird a number of times. I miss re-reading. It's so comforting and interesting to look back on how you've changed and grown between readings. I think I"ll make it a point to re-read GWTW this year. Thanks!Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06584618837353757502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-44739435754005479062014-01-12T12:08:04.050-05:002014-01-12T12:08:04.050-05:00There is something very comforting about diving in...There is something very comforting about diving into an old book. I miss that feeling!Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-10136375757050179062014-01-12T12:06:28.592-05:002014-01-12T12:06:28.592-05:00David Copperfield is one of my all-time favorites....David Copperfield is one of my all-time favorites. I LOVE IT.<br /><br />Yep-short lists are better. They're much more manageable. Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-53510106464437661182014-01-12T12:05:32.099-05:002014-01-12T12:05:32.099-05:00Exactly! Top be honest, I fail horrible at reading...Exactly! Top be honest, I fail horrible at reading challenges, but I like making the lists. :) Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-87092815584279019282014-01-12T12:04:59.497-05:002014-01-12T12:04:59.497-05:00For Shakespeare, I highly recommend getting one of...For Shakespeare, I highly recommend getting one of the "No-Fear" editions if you're nervous about "getting it." They break it down really well. And remember, it's not important that you understand every single word. The general idea is much more important!<br /><br />And I hear you on the whole "so many books" to read. But, I love rereading and gain so much from it! I'm excited to return to it!<br /><br />And I love long comments! :) Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-35401520196141062322014-01-12T12:02:48.956-05:002014-01-12T12:02:48.956-05:00Yes! Thank you for the suggestion! I'll add it...Yes! Thank you for the suggestion! I'll add it to my list! :)Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-73065898775134963672014-01-12T12:02:27.567-05:002014-01-12T12:02:27.567-05:00I'm all about following my reading moods now. ...I'm all about following my reading moods now. I'm tired of sticking to a list, so I like this kind of flexibility!<br /><br />I hosted a Victorian event a couple years ago, and by far, it was one of my favorites. I love that era of literature. It'll probably happen in June and July of this year!Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-1144857340734920902014-01-12T12:01:10.556-05:002014-01-12T12:01:10.556-05:00Exactly! I always felt pressured to push aside rer...Exactly! I always felt pressured to push aside rereads in favor of new books....but rereading is something I love! And I agree about the month of December-I feel like it is a perfect time of year to snuggle in with comfort books. :)Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-10574727094608234372014-01-09T23:22:58.362-05:002014-01-09T23:22:58.362-05:00Last year I attempted to participate in many readi...Last year I attempted to participate in many reading projects and ended up just neglecting them. I, too, am a part of the Classics Club, and I want to continue reading from that list this year (I kind of neglected it last year). Also, I want to read books from my bookshelves, not just the books I hoard from the library haha. <br /><br />I really like the re-read project. Despite all the shiny new books, I still always make sure that I spend some time re-reading some of my old favorites from time to time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-7816782660618699422014-01-09T15:50:55.257-05:002014-01-09T15:50:55.257-05:00I'll be very interested to follow your Dickens...I'll be very interested to follow your Dickens project! I'm due a re-read of David Copperfield as well (partly in hour of my budgie Trotwood!). Love that book! <br /><br />I know what you mean about sometimes feeling a list is tying you down. My commitment to my Classics Club list is partly stubbornness. When I've finished, my second list will be much shorter!ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01245931629228090133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-63434436254020621832014-01-08T15:12:55.866-05:002014-01-08T15:12:55.866-05:00I dropped all of my reading challenges towards the...I dropped all of my reading challenges towards the end of last year and haven't signed up for any this year for the same reason. I hate feeling guilty for not reading what I 'should' be reading! I think it's great that you've given yourself free reign :-) And I'm glad you like David Copperfield because that gives me some kind of incentive to read it!anarmchairbytheseahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14593618746095559894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-82294384013876069672014-01-08T15:11:08.705-05:002014-01-08T15:11:08.705-05:00Yay for new projects! I read my first Cather last ...Yay for new projects! I read my first Cather last year in January and loved it but somehow I didn't read anymore of her for the rest of the year! I'm not sure how but I ended up reading the last book of her Great Plains trilogy, so maybe this year I'll try to go back and actually read the first two.<br /><br />I'm excited to read about your Shakespeare project! I've been toying with making Shakespeare a part of my focus of my reading this year as all I've ever read of him was years ago in high school, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm not a little bit intimidated. I remember enjoying reading him in class but for some reason I can't shake the feeling that I won't be able to 'get him' on my own. But as this Classics Club Event this month is Shakespeare I think I might try to suss out some good biographies and guides on his work and make a little bit of a plan. I won't be able to read all his work this year but I would be glad to make a start!<br /><br />Rereading has been something that I've struggled with since I've started blogging; I've come across so many interesting books that I want to read which is frustrating as I know that I'll never read all of them. Rereading is a different experience for me than reading a book for the first time; it has a different feeling, I think. I'm not sure why but when I choose to reread books they tend to be those that I read and were important to me when I was younger which I find interesting. <br /><br />Sorry this is such a long comment; I didn't realize I had all these thoughts til I started writing this down! I'm looking forward to reading about your bookish projects this year!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-54441936777664172862014-01-08T12:24:20.332-05:002014-01-08T12:24:20.332-05:00Love. All of this. :-) (You might check out Claire...Love. All of this. :-) (You might check out Claire Tomalin's biography <em>Invisible Woman</em> -- about Dickens & Nellie Ternan. It's quite good. If you're seeking reading suggestions.) :-)Mabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14305895000321599622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-14621615623230962572014-01-08T09:34:37.060-05:002014-01-08T09:34:37.060-05:00I need to do the same thing with my list for the C...I need to do the same thing with my list for the Classics club. It's only holding me back. I have to read a classic when I'm in the mood for it; it's just not something to be forced with me. Unfortunately. <br /><br />I'm looking forward to hearing more about this Victorian Celebration! That is one time period I can get in the mood for! <br /><br />Like Amanda, I adore rereading. It's just so much like revisiting old friends and even (at times) hearing new stories, since there are things I missed, didn't remember, or see in a different way. So I love the sound of this Rereading Project!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01991818614911652918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543330341390707771.post-53552401414853330282014-01-08T08:41:59.988-05:002014-01-08T08:41:59.988-05:00I adore rereading and there are always between 10 ...I adore rereading and there are always between 10 and 20 rereads on my list by the end of the year. There are some times of year that just feel more like reread times. December is one of them. I think I only read one new book this past December, and reread 5 or 6 books. For a long time, blogging made me feel like I couldn't reread the same book in the same year (because then it wouldn't count as a book read toward that year's numbers), or that I had to reread books I'd read pre-blogging (so at least there would be a review). I'm happy to say that these things no longer bother me, likely because I'm not blogging as much these days. I can read a book six times in a row if I care to, or in January and then later in July and also in December. Or every October, like I've done The Night Circus the last three years. :)<br />Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.com