You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Monthly
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March 2013 Challenge - Neglected Classics
![Snoozie Suzie (snooziesuzie) | 937 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1353071809p1/5936510.jpg)
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
However Wuthering Heights is on my physical bookshelf and I never got there so hats off to you Suzie.
But I agree with Ann, and actually think I will have to use the fruit machine to choose from my 30 or so owned classics that are incredibly neglected.
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
Guess I should take that hint lol
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
![Dracula by Bram Stoker](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347251549s/17245.jpg)
I read Dracula under very strange circumstances. Well, some of it. It takes on in my mind a very surreal, classic horror place. However I think if you like modern horror you should read Dracula
So looking forward to your thoughts Judy if you choose it!
![Travis (travistousant) | 6011 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1577309437p1/14873887.jpg)
![Dracula by Bram Stoker](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347251549s/17245.jpg)
Read this in january not too impressed really I wouldn't label it horror myself but I don't know what else to call it
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![Snoozie Suzie (snooziesuzie) | 937 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1353071809p1/5936510.jpg)
Is date a publication date for the book or the edition/translation? I may be reading The History of the Kings of Britain - almost certainly not in the original latin. Originally published in the first half of the 12th century, the edition I'm looking at was published in the 1970s. Will that count?
Travis of NNY wrote: "Judy wrote: "Looks like an excellent excuse to finally get
off my shelf...."
Read this in january not too impressed really I wouldn't label it horror myself but I don't know what else to call it "
I resorted to describing it as odd. small word - covers a multitude of sins...
![Dracula by Bram Stoker](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347251549s/17245.jpg)
Read this in january not too impressed really I wouldn't label it horror myself but I don't know what else to call it "
I resorted to describing it as odd. small word - covers a multitude of sins...
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
Debra I'll be interested in what you think of that one. Lexx read it over Christmas. Second classic kind of book I've ever seen him read. The first was The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde, which resulted in lots of interest from all manner of people when he was waiting for me in the uni pub reading it.
Helen, original publication date. Editions don't work for classics, as most of us won't be reading 18th Century versions of Austen. Nice little point earner with 1138.
![Rachel](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_25x33-d79c46f9428d2aea1444d67c091766a6.png)
just want to make sure- it's ok to read a book under 200 pgs for this challenge?
if so would love to read We Have Always Lived in the Castle
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
![Roz | 4363 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1386534960p1/6246839.jpg)
![Shirley (shirleythekindlereader)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1553114444p1/3255797.jpg)
It's the perfect chance to finally read Jane Eyre!"
It is a lovely audible.
![Shanna_redwind | 228 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1333118806p1/8405401.jpg)
![Julia Gallagher (juliagallagher) | 140 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1315880409p1/3282276.jpg)
![Lara | 1426 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1340801408p1/6611335.jpg)
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![Lisa (lisathebooklover) | 9244 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1713565419p1/14819128.jpg)
I think I will probably read
![The Ladies' Paradise (Les Rougon-Macquart, #11) by Émile Zola](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1354263528s/16181163.jpg)
![And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348593296s/181133.jpg)
![Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334158894s/10861492.jpg)
Quick question: One of these books covers two of the tasks in the Author section. How would that work in terms of scoring? Would I get points for both tasks or just one?
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
Sarah, On the 1st I will open a reporting thread that will be for you to paste in your points. Keep a running tally so we can double check things. I'll give you an example or two in the reporting thread when I make it. Hope you enjoy your first challenge!
Lisa, you count as many in the section that count. So in your example you note down:
Author
You have never read before – 4 points
Non-UK/US/Irish nationality – 3 points
And you would get 7 points for that section.
I understand Lara. I *may* read two books this month to deal with that issue. Seeing like Roz I have close to a hundred classics unread scattered around the place. Personally, I read what I want to read, not to get points. And I always get bogged down in the Illiad when he starts recounting battles and ships. It's like the begatting bits in the Bible.But then I love the rest of the story... tricksty.
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![Julia (juliace)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1510894455p1/7214345.jpg)
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
Looking at when it was written not your edition.
Does that make it clearer?
![Beth (eparks4232) | 2363 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1293401563p1/4705693.jpg)
Looking at when it was written not your edition.
Does that make it clearer?"
No it's the Dawn of time to 1700s as one category and 1700s to 1800s as another. Does that mean dawn of time to 1699 or to 1700 and then 1700 or 1701 to 1799 or 1800 or does it mean dawn of time to 1799... etc.
![Beth (eparks4232) | 2363 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1293401563p1/4705693.jpg)
Don't write challenges after midnight ;)"
I figured it was something like that!
![Rusalka (rusalkii) | 18895 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1591511894p1/6163718.jpg)
Julia - Depending on what book you are referring to, it may fit in Romance. Now, romance in this challenge is probably not going to be your bodice ripping, throbbing sagas that we were all subjected to a couple of weeks ago (and if you are brave enough to pick up a book with any form of love after that week, you deserve a point). I'm referring to P&P style here. If the Romance is the main thing in the story, it will probably fit in that genre. Just have to limit down to 5 different ones for points. So I'll leave it to your discretion.
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![We by Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1321919581s/76171.jpg)
![Julia (juliace)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1510894455p1/7214345.jpg)
Julia - Depending on what book you are referring to, it may fit in Romance. Now, rom..."
Thanks Rusalka!
![Pragya (reviewingshelf) | 3954 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1425754907p1/5042372.jpg)
Suzie, did you try audio of Carmilla? I found it to be good.
![Denise (drbetteridge)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1610952487p1/3662900.jpg)
Books mentioned in this topic
The Poems of Dylan Thomas (other topics)A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (other topics)
The Poems of Dylan Thomas (other topics)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (other topics)
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Geoffrey Chaucer (other topics)Grazia Deledda (other topics)
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi (other topics)
Irène Némirovsky (other topics)
John Steinbeck (other topics)
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- especially after the last week. So lets get some of those pesky books that we have always meant to read, and we know would help us understand so many more pop culture references, not to mention make us seem much more clever and well read at parties or book groups (or to our library's security guard), out of the way over March.
NEGLECTED CLASSICS
For this challenge, I am defining classics as:
- Let's keep this simple. I found a succinct definition that said “A classic book is a book that is very well known and passed down through generations.” Another way, if you want the Rus definition, they are a book that has stood the test of time and is still considered to be pretty darn good.
- I'm making the cut off for this challenge 1963. So any books written in 1963 and earlier are eligible for this challenge. That's 50 years ago, which is a nice round number and a generation or two ago now.
Usual challenge rules apply:
1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be in any genre (but of course some genres get you more points than others).
3. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Alphabet Challenge.
4. The book must be read between March 1 and March 31, 2013.
Genre
Poetry – 5 points
Play – 4 points
Gothic Horror – 3 points
Science Fiction/Fantasy – 2 points
Romance – 1 point
Date First Published
1699 –> dawn of time – 5 points
1799 –> 1700 – 4 points
1899 –> 1800 – 3 points
1939 –> 1900 – 2 points
1963 –> 1940 – 1 point
Author
You have read before and disliked – 5 points (add a bonus point if they redeemed themselves)
You have never read before – 4 points
Non-UK/US/Irish nationality – 3 points
Died before their 40th birthday – 2 points
Female – 1 point
Length
This is the version you actually read. If you are listening to an audio book, go by Goodreads' most popular edition.
600pp and over – 5 points
500-600pp – 4 points
400-500pp – 3 points
300-400pp – 2 points
200-300pp – 1 point
under 200pp – 0