Back to the classics wrap-up

Another year down! This year was unusual in that I had no problems getting all the books read quite early on in the year but I didn't do a good job writing about them in a timely manner. On well, I got it done in the end. This was actually a fabulous reading year for me so I'll be back with a full end of year wrap up soon that includes my favorite reads and the other challenges I've done but here are my Back to the Classic Reads. Overall, they were top notch. It's hard to believe I've been doing this Challenge for 7 years but its such a good one! Its flexible but definitely encourages me to try books I might not otherwise get to and I love getting ideas from everyone else. 

1. A 19th century classic.  Lilith 

2. A 20th century classic. Mrs 'Arris goes to Paris

3. A classic by a woman author. Ruth

4. A classic in translation.  The Way of the Pilgrim

5. A classic by BIPOC author. To Sir, with Love

6. Mystery/Detective/Crime classic. The Franchise Affair

7. A classic short story collection.  The Wild Muir

8. Pre-1800 classic. A Mid-summer Night's Dream

9. A nonfiction classic. Six Easy Pieces

10. Classic that's been on your TBR list the longest.  The Fellowship of the Ring

11. Classic set in a place you'd like to visit. The Enchanted April

12. Wild card classic. The Cutters by Bess Streeter Aldrich

Email contant: brcbanter [AT] googlegroups.com

Classics Challenge: The Francise Affair

This is a hard category for me. Not because I don't read a lot of mysteries but because I do. I read tons of mysteries, mostly the older classic style (although I have caught up on the Strike series this year which is about as hard boiled as I can go). Which one to write about? I went with this one because I think Josephine Tey is a bit under appreciated. This first one of hers I read was Daughter of Time and you do see that about in gift shops in basically every museum that has a connection to Richard III. It's very good but our libraries didn't have anything else by her so since then I'd just been on the lookout for whatever of hers I could spot in the used bookstores I perused. 

And of course, I found one at the mystery book stop in Hay-on-Wye. Well, I found several but I had to be selective and I think I picked a good one. It's not a murder but a case of kidnapping. Or a case of accused kidnapping. 

 I think Tey has such an interesting way of making you look at multiple sides of a situation and I really enjoyed it and will be looking for more Tey books to go on my shelf...perhaps another trip to Hay-on-Wye. Well, I basically think any excuse is a good one for that sort of thing!

The Francise Affair is my Back to the Classic Mystery/Detective selection 

Classics Challenge: Six Easy Pieces

This isn't really where I thought I'd be going with the non-fiction category. I probably assumed I'd choose a biography or travel book. But I started doing a bit more pre-reading while I prep for Lucy's High School years and I read several science books and thoroughly enjoyed this one. It took me a while to figure out if it qualified because I couldn't find the original publication date. Most of the publication dates I found were after the author, Richard Feynman, had died so at least I knew they weren't quite right. But the book is based on the lectures he originally gave in 1960 and I finally found something that says they were compiled and published for the first time in 1963 which makes more sense so I'm going to go with that and say it works!

It's exactly what the title says. It's 6 lectures written down that talk about a variety of physics topics, some "easier" than others. I thought it was very interesting and I do think it would make an a great accompaniment to intro to physics because it shows how interesting and fun physics can be...if you just stick with the math for a a bit. I know some of it is out of date and some of it will be over a high schoolers head but exposure to the ideas and stating to get them thinking about what and why we care about this is important. Of course, I really like Physics overall so maybe I'm not the best judge. But I do think it will be getting added to Lucy's coursework in the near future. I'm curious to see what she thinks of it!

It also reminded me to read more science books. I clearly like the subject I just don't tend to think about science books much - probably because I read mostly based on recommendations and my literary friends don't recommend much in this genre. But I shall continue to scour the Charlotte Mason High School booklists I have access to and see what else I can find. 

Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman is my Back to the Classics Non-fiction Selection. 

Classics Challenge: The Fellowship of the Ring

I have a lot of books on my to be read pile but this really does have to be one of the longest lasting ones. I first experienced The Hobbit when I was about 10 when my mom read it aloud to us and I listened to an old BBC audiobook version so many times as a tween. And then when my younger brother hit the same age, we listened to it together. It was our regular car book when we went to my dad's house when we lived separately in Korea. So why had I never read The Lord of the Rings?

I don't know. I did try to listen to the KayRay audiobook version a few years ago but didn't get past Tom Bombadil part. Kay Ray is one of our family's favorite audiobook narrators so it definitely wasn't her that was the issue nor did I hold it against the book itself. I just struggle with audiobooks  (I have since learned to listen to audiobooks at 2-2.5X speed which helps a lot. Everyone sounds like a chipmunk for a minute but then my brain adjusts and compensates and its glorious!) 

But this year I actually picked up an (e)book and read it with my eyes and made it through the first one. It was good, not my typical genre and I still get confused when Lucy starts rattling off names (which one is he again?) but definitely worth reading. I might try and read the second this year and see  I can keep the streak going. Lucy has read them all and Jonah and Norah are about 50% of the way through the series so by the time I finish, they probably will have too and we can all watch the movies and complain about what's different together. 

The Fellowship of the Ring is my Classic That's Been on my TBR list the longest selection. 

Classics Challenge - Lilith

Lilith is one of those books that shows me how much I've grown as a reader in the past few years. It's been on my to read list for a while but I'm glad I didn't get to it until now because I really don't think I would have made it through it even 5 years ago and would have dismissed it as weird. 

And yes, it is a odd, no doubt about that. Lilith is an otherworld fantasy novel about a man who magically stumbles into this old world of Adam/Eve/Lilith (the supposed first, and ultimately unfitting wife of Adam). Their are parallel stories where man slowly wakes up and learns who he is while Lilith learns about redemption. Just much much weirder with more imagery and symbolism than what I just said. And I  didn't quite know what was going on for a fair portion of it. But having really pushed myself (and gotten some good guidance from the Literary Life podcast and sitting in with Lucy's Good Books class), I am able to read it as a fairy tale and to see past some of the superficial weirdness a bit more to the symbols and that's pretty encouraging.  I still probably only got a fraction of what was in this book but I'm okay with that. Even that fraction gave me plenty to think about on the topics of repentance and forgiveness. 

Lilith is my Back to the Classics 19th Century Selection. 

Mrs 'Arris goes to Paris

This was so cute! I actually had The Picture of Dorian Gray in this category before I realized it was actually written in 1890 so ten years too soon! And I already have that category done. So I read it for nothing.  Just kidding. But it was such a rookie mistake - and I've been doing this challenge for years so I really have no excuse. Although I must say that while Dorian Gray a perfectly fine book, I do think this one will be more fun to blog about anyway so all is well. 

So as I said, this was adorable. I actually read this before I even knew they were making a new movie version. I've heard good things about the movie version but I have such vivid pictures in my head of all the people that I'm a bit afraid to mess that up by watching it.  Mrs 'Arris is a lovely little down to earth cleaning lady who suddenly decides she wants a Dior dress. So she starts to scrimp and save. And with a bit of "movie magic" type situations, she get it and off she goes to Paris. I love Mrs. 'Arris. I love the way she interacts with everyone she meets and the relationships she forms on her journey. As someone who first visited Paris this summer myself, and who, despite all my traveling, still feels that bit of fish out of water, what am I doing here stuff, I just thought this couldn't be more delightful. 

As soon as I finished it, I checked out Mrs. 'Arris goes to New York which is even more far fetched and therefore not quite as charming but definitely still a decent pick for when you need something safe and cozy but still worth reading. 

Mrs 'Arris goes to Paris is my Back to the Classics 20th century selection. 

Classics Challenge - To Sir, With Love

To Sir, With Love is a book about a teacher in England but this is not Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Braitwaite is not teaching in a classic boarding school but in East London where things are a bit rougher. One of my local friends is from East London and I've enjoyed hearing about her experiences growing up and raising children there so I found this especially interesting. And of course, books that ponder what education is are always interesting. There are a few things that are a bit dated (like his descriptions of some of his female students) and I'm curious as to how much of this autobiographal novel is autobiography and how much is novel because he does wrap things up nicely in just a year - but overall I found it enjoyable and thought provoking.  

To Sir, With Love is my Classic by a BIPOC author selection in the Back to the Classics Challenge

 

Classics Challenge - The Way of a Pilgrim

This is a very unique little book. It's written by an annonymous peasant turned hermit/pilgrim who travels around Russia in the 19th century, growing in his faith and prayer life and meeting some interesting people along the way. 

A good friend is Orthodox and in my striving to understand her world a bit more, I learned about the Jesus Prayer which I have come to adore. This story talks quite a bit about that prayer as well as the idea of praying without ceasing. I am still not sure if the author is telling his story but just remaining anonymous or if someone has written this story like a sort of Orthodox Pilgrim's Progrress (without all the allergory) as a lesson. I think the former but I would not be shocked to find out its the later either. It's can be a bit confusing but overall a very interesting read that makes one think a lot about what a life of prayer and  devotion to Christ can and should look. 

I found my copy online and can't seem to find the link anymore so I don't know what specific translation I read but since I don't speak Russian, I can be confident that I did read A translation :-) 

The Way of the Pilgrim is my Classic in Translation selection for the Back to the Classics challenge.  

Classics Challenge - Ruth

North and South is one of my very favorite books. I've read it probably 7+ time.  Wives and Daughters is delightful (and heartbreaking that it never got a full ending but I digress). And vignette style books aren't my favorite but Cranford was still worth a read (and probably a re-read). But somehow the other Ruth Gaskell books have stayed on my to-read list. I think its because I had heard they were all sad. Which is kinda silly because someone could easily make the case that North and South is sad but I don't feel that way at all. It's such a comfort read for me despite the death count. 

Ruth is similar in that if you describe the plot  - young girl becomes fallen woman, struggles, etc...yeah, it sounds pretty depressing. But it really isn't. 

As a character, Ruth does seem a bit too good to be true in the later part of her life but I understand why. And the rest of the Gaskell's characters are great. It's just so well written. Ruth won't ever be North and South and if you are new to Gaskell I definitely recommend starting there but Ruth has encouraged me to keep going and finish up all the Gaskells I can get my hands on. 

Ruth is my Classic by a Woman Author for the Back to the Classics Challenge

Classic Challenge - The Enchanted April

I read this earlier this year with the Literary Life Podcast and the timing was perfect because I was doing the preliminary planning for our trip to Italy. Now that trip is fully planned and booked and we're heading out in just a few weeks. Our will be quite a bit different from the ladies in The Enchanted April - a lot more walking and museums and less sitting amongst flowers and sunshine, but I'm still pretty excited about it!

This one was interesting for me. As a family, we love to travel so I really enjoyed the ideas about beauty and how its worth seeking. Some of the scenes (like them trying to get to the house that first day and all the nervousness involved - so familiar! so funny! How much do I understand those feelings of being out of my element and thinking "what have we done!"...they normally end well and I'm glad we made the leap. But sometimes you do just end up taking a wrong turn out of a church and have to quickly walk through  a parking because the nice Norwegian ruffians are clearly waiting with rolled up sleeves and needles ready for the (thankfully oblivious) kids to be gone before proceeding - true story! And at least one gave me a head nod saying they were waiting. Scandinavians are so polite). 

Anyway, I loved the characters at times, especially our four main ladies, and the way they interacted, especially at the beginning. And the description of Italy were delightful. But I also had a hard time connecting with it at times, especially towards the end. As the story progress, it felt more like a fairy tale (which is good otherwise I'd probably be a lot more annoyed at the husbands and the ending) but that also meant I was sorta distanced from the story. I knew it would end well and I read on because I was interested to see how the author would get us there but I wasn't really invested in any of the women or their stories anymore.  So it was well written and thought provoking but I don't think I'll ever read it again. 

The Enchanted April is my Classic Set in a Place I'd like to Visit in the Back to the Classics Challenge. 

Classics Challenge - The Cutters

Goodness, I haven't written a single review for the Back to the Classics Challenge. It's not that I haven't been reading, I have! This has been one of my best reading years in a long time, both in terms of numbers and quality of books. In fact, I think I have read all but one category already (and I'm working on that last one - Ben Hur is just long!). So I've just gotten extremely behind in the writing part. So expect more of these to follow shortly! 

But I'll start with one of my favorite reads of the year - Bess Streeter Aldrich's The Cutters. Now A Lantern in Her Hand was making the homeschool mom rounds on my goodread list but I didn't have access to it as first so I grabbed this one by her. I have since read A Lantern in her hand and its delightful and arguable the better written book but I just enjoyed The Cutters so much.  

Here's the thing. It doesn't have much of a plot, it's sentimental to the point of bordering on sappy and its dated. There are a few lines that would NOT be published today and if I actually had a hard copy i would could just sharpie out, I would...BUT I loved it so much. At the beginning of the book, Nell has been married 15 years as has 4 kids. The older 3 have names but for for much of the book, the youngest is just called "the baby." And she's me. Me in a different century but me (and yes, Jude may be 4 but we are making a family effort to not call or treat him like "the baby" anymore. That sometimes feels like a losting batter but eventually it will stick, right?)...and I like the idea that mothers throughout time have the same thoughts and problems and silliness ideas I do, whatever century they are mothing in. And sappy or not, the last chapter made me cry. I've recommended it several times to other people lately. I've heard Mother Mason is similar so I need go track that one down now too. 

The Cutters is my Wildcard selection for the Back to the Classics Challenge