Monday, December 28, 2020

The Classics Club #2: COMPLETED! - A Wrap Up

Today I proudly announce that I have completed my 2nd The Classics Club challenge which I started in March 2017. Here's some summaries of what I've read in less than four years:

Original time frame
📚 60 books - March 1, 2017 ~ March 1, 2022

Actual time frame
📚 50 books - March 1, 2017 ~ December 20, 2020

Most mind blowing
👍🏼East of Eden - John Steinbeck

Most boring
👎🏼Resurrection - Leo Tolstoy

Most surprising
🤩 Max Havelaar - Multatuli
I thought it would be boring, it being a semi non-fiction, but turned out to be rather hilarious and interesting!

Most disappointing
Possession - A.S. Byatt

New favorites
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Brontë
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cannery Row - John Steinbeck

Newly found favorite authors
Anne Brontë
Willa Cather
Daphne du Maurier (still partial, but will definitely read more of her)

Glad I've Read (but once is enough!)
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
This Earth of Mankind - Pramoedya Ananta Toer

You might wonder why I had stopped at the 50th book, while there's still a year and three months ahead to finish the challenge. It's because I'm planning on having a new approach of the challenge, starting next year. And that's why I have to stop this year, to start afresh on January. You'll get to know more about this next week. Stay tune! 😉

16 comments:

  1. Oo, I am intrigued by your new approach. But you read 50 classics in about 3 3/4 years, plus all your other reading and that's marvelous!

    The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a favorite of mine, too, and I enjoyed Rebecca. I am about to start The Brothers Karamazov in the next few days!

    Anyway, I will stay tuned ♥️

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    1. Thanks, Laurie. I guess the pandemic has helped me to focus more on reading and blogging this year.

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  2. That's wonderful you've finished your second list. I can't wait to see what's up next!

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    1. Thanks Cleo, prepare yourself to be surprised! 😎

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  3. Congratulations! I think you're the first person I've seen who has finished a second run. :)

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    1. Thanks Stephen. Actually there are some clubbers who have started their 2nd (even 3rd, I think) round.

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  4. Congratulations on completing the challenge in under the allotted time - I went over myself!

    Isn't East of Eden wonderful - one of my all-time favorite novels. Oh, and Cannery Row. Love that John Steinbeck!

    Best wishes for a 2021 that is filled with good books and good health.

    Read on!

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    1. Thanks Jane, best wishes for you too! :)
      East of Eden and Cannery Row are real treasure! I also love The Pearl.

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  5. congrats!!

    I'm excited to see what new approach you have up your sleeve.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth!
      It won't be long until the post is published (I'm preparing it at the moment :D)

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  6. Belated congrats on finishing your list - looking forward to what you do next!

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  7. Congratulations ! I'm intrigued by your new approach :) Ah, Brontës, Steinbeck, Du Maurier are part of my favourite authors too, I'm so glad you loved them.

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    1. Thank you, Izza. I'm pretty amazed that from 50 books, I have added 5 new favorites to my Personal Canon.👌🏼

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  8. Congratulations on finishing your 2nd list! It sounds like you found some good books too!

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    1. Thanks, Amanda. I did! This second round was amazing.

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