I heard about the Back to the Classics challenge too late to join last year, so I was glad when Karen of Books and Chocolate decided to host it again. Visit the sign-up post for the full rules, but basically the idea is to read and post about 6-12 classics (pre-1965) in different categories during the year. Participants who complete the challenge will be entered in a drawing for a $30 gift card, but everyone can share in the rewards of reading and discussing great books.
Here are my current ideas about what I would like to read, but that may change during the course of the year. For economy’s sake, I’ve overlapped with my Classics Club list and other events wherever possible — hey, it’s not against the rules!
A 19th Century Classic: Armadale by Wilkie Collins
A 20th Century Classic: Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
A Classic by a Woman Author: The Constant Nymph by Margaret Kennedy
A Classic in Translation: The Fairy Tales of Hermann Hesse
A Very Long Classic Novel: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
A Classic Novella: The Aspern Papers by Henry James
A Classic with a Person’s Name in the Title: Dr Thorne by Anthony Trollope
A Humorous or Satirical Classic: The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macaulay
A Forgotten Classic: Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
A Nonfiction Classic: Three Houses by Angela Thirkell
A Classic Children’s Book: An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
A Classic Play: The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder
Are you participating in this or other challenges? What are your reading plans in 2015?
The Emerald City Book Review Archive 
What a great idea! I like the subgenres. And Henrietta's House is one of my favorite children's books (I read it under the title The Blue Hills.) Have you read A City of Bells, which comes before it?Thanks for the heads-up about the challenge – I will check it out!
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Yes, I love A City of Bells! I'm looking to fill in some of my Elizabeth Goudge gaps for the reading week in April. I'm glad you found the Back to the Classics challenge — it's a good one.
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I'm interested in the one by Alcott. I read Little Women for the first time this year, and I guess I'm just interested in anything she has to say about anything. I'll have to look into that title.
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It's one of her (rare) novels for adults. I believe I started it years ago but never finished it…this is a good chance to motivate myself to finally do so. Thanks for stopping by!
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I've got Work on my list for 2015 too. I love LM Alcott. 🙂
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I signed up for this challenge, too. I'm still putting my list together, but my Forgotten Classic's book is one of Louisa May Alcott's, too: A Long Fatal Love Chase. It's my sitting on my shelf for ages and I think it's time to finally read it. I loved Mrs. Dalloway when I read it…good choice there! I'll have to post my list next month when I finally figure out what I'll be reading. 🙂 Good luck with yours!
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It's fun to see everyone else's lists (when they have picked them). They're all so different! I'm feeling a renewed interest in Alcott and may well end up reading more by her too.
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Good luck! Anna Karenina is a long book but it is absolutely fantastic, one of my favourites. It's also surprisingly easy to get through.
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Yes! I'm glad to hear that. I'm really determined to make it happen this year too.
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I was drawn to this one because of the literary period breakdown, too. Plus it's an excuse to read some books I've been meaning to read.
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Let's hope everyone has a great year in that regard.
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