Since I am feeling pretty confident about my reading I decided to go ahead and add one more challenge to my list: Booklogged’s Winter Classics Challenge. The rules are very simple:
***The challenge is to read five classics during the months of January and February***
At the end of February there will be a drawing for all those who complete the challenge. I’m still deciding on a prize. If you would like to join along and read some of those classics that you keep promising that you’ll get to, winter is a great time to get ‘er done. Plus, there’s something fun about joining with other reader’s on a challenge.
Booklogged was not specific on the definition of a ‘classic’ and thus I hope I am not stretching the definition too far with my choices. For the last 2 years I have gotten the same desire to read certain books or types of books in January. In fact these authors did alot to fuel my desire for increased reading over the past 2-3 years. I am speaking of Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs. I consider their works to be classics and am including them as part of my 5. So, in no certain order, here are my 5 books:
1. 
The Conquering Sword of Conan by Robert E. Howard. This is the third and final volume in this terrific set of the Conan stories of Robert E. Howard and I got it for a gift last year from my sister and have been really wanting to get to this one.
2. 
Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Fourth in the ERB John Carter of Mars series. These are quick but very fun reads. Science fiction written back in the early part of the last century is so fascinating.
3. 
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. If Booklogged will be so kind as to let me finish this one (I read half of it earlier in the year) I would be grateful. I love the new and the BBC film versions and want to have read the book.
4. 
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. Again, this may be pushing the definition of the term ‘classic’. I have not read any Ian Fleming and this book was published 53 years ago and is arguably a ‘classic’ in this genre of fiction. I really want to read this after seeing the latest Bond film and know that I won’t be able to wait too long to get started so I’d like this to be one of my choices. Update: Finished 12/17/06. Review here.
5. 
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I began to read this as a bonus book for the R.I.P. Challenge but did not get far into it. I was enjoying it but set it aside as it felt like a book to read once it got really cold out. It has done that so I definitely want to get back into it.
That’s it. If you want to join in go to Booklogged’s site and join in. Yay! More reading!
Your list looks great to me, Carl. I’ve discovered it’s difficult to pin down just what is and isn’t a classic. Glad you’re joining in. I look forward to discussing Woman in White.
As you can imagine, I love Pride & Prejudice. Enjoy!
I am taking part in this as well as the GIFT Challenge. They are both irresistible.
I have created categories for both over on my blog so they can be checked easily
I am looking forward to taking part in both of them
I think there are classics in every genre–so all’s fair! Yay–another Woman in White reader! I love that book!!
I considered reading some fantasy/sci-fi classics, but they are not my big pile… the classics that just sit around are.
Five classics in the coldest months of the year. Sounds good. Your choices cover a very wide range. I need to think about my five. Oh, that means count me in.
I like your choices Carl and can’t wait to read your blog reviews of them.
I have really been wanting to read that last Conan book, Jeff and I can’t wait to get to it. I keep feeling the temptation to order them all in hardback with the colored plates in them. Must resist!
Thanks for letting me expand the definition BL. Other than the Bond book I think it is very easy to make an argument for ERB and REH as classic authors.
Glad you’re in Pat. If anyone signs up for this make sure you go and post on BL’s site (the link is in this post) so that your participation is registered.
I hear you there. You know I do.
I can’t accept another challenge right now. I just have way to many books already to read without adding more and I don’t read them nearly as fast as the rest of you seem too. I did just let my newspaper subscription lapse so that should help my book reading. 🙂
I just found an Ian Fleming book at Half Price Books on Saturday… I was super happy since the newly published ones are $13 for paperbacks.. blah
You can get Casino Royale with the new art on it in the cheaper mass market size, Angela, but I believe that is the only one. They did it for the movie tie-in.
awesome choices. I think I’ll put my list up today.
I am also listing Woman in White as one of my challenge books!
I’ve read The Woman in White – you have some treats coming up! Wilkie Collins can be a long haul – it took me forever to read Armadale, and I’m a quick reader – but I’ve always found him worthwhile.
Now I’m wondering what I should read for this! Don Quixote? Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (which I’ve had on my shelf for years and never read)? Or maybe some Dickens; he goes well with winter…
K, I think you should save Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for the Fairy Tale/Fantasy challenging beginning in March (1st day of Spring).
Hey! You are going to be doing the 24th for the advent calendar!
Okay Kailana, thanks. Look forward to it!
Great list! I like the variety you have. I’m having a hard time choosing my books but soon, very soon 🙂
Great choices, Carl – I think you’ll like Ian Fleming. And I agree, Victorian sci-fi is pretty fascinating stuff. Try Jules Verne sometime too.
I read my first Jules Verne ever this year, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I really enjoyed it. Very interesting.
I’m still struggling with my Halloween challenge list… But considering that most titles match the “definition” of a classic, hmmm. Let me consider… 😉
Great list of books, Carl. I’m reading P&P, too!
Hi Carl,
Just found your site since I was Googling for reviews on “The Thirteenth Tale”. Your site is absolutely beautiful…love your style. Now I have to make time to read all your back “issues”. Glad to have found a good source for good books and more.
Hope you enjoyed the Thirteenth Tale review Pat and hope you come back for more!
Nice choices!
Your definition of ‘classics’ is the source of my current smile.
Glad I could help Miss Jay!!! 😉
hey Carl – Those are definite classics as per the fact that they created a PIVOT – and a serious one at that – in their genre and in fiction in general.
Have you read Robert Jordan’s version of the Conan tales. I have it on my shelf and have not read it because I love the wheel of time wayyyy to much (all my children will be named after their characters thats how much.
Pride and Prejudice I have read a gazillion times and every time I try to pin point why its such a great book I can’t quit put my finger down on it. But its dam good. Stay away from the recent ‘Told through Darcy’s Eye’s’ Novels that have recently come out. HORRIBLE is the word Carl. They bastardize the definition of ‘book’. then again when it comes to spelling and me… *sign as she threw up her hands in self disgust*
Great list, Carl! If I can count The Maltese Falcon as a classic, then I think you have a good argument for fitting Ian Flemming in there too. My husband has enjoyed all of Flemmings’ books and I hope to someday read them as well.
I have read 3 or 4 of the Wheel of Time series and then I got sick of waiting so long between each book. Maybe someday when he is finished I’ll go back and read them. I’m not super interested in reading another author’s take on Conan since I like Howard’s so much…yet that is a somewhat hypocritical statement as I really enjoy the latest Conan comics which are based on Howard’s stories and yet written by other.
I will definitely stay away from all those Darcy books, etc. These latest Jane Austen rip-offs annoy me, but that is just me. I know others like them well enough.
The annoy the shit out of me too!!!
JOrdan has one more book left to write and he promises it will be out in a year or two. The problem is he has been diagnosed with cancer (a rare kind) and may not last the distance. He has zilch of his plot written down plus he has a fantasy version of the Shogun series that he wants to write + 2 more prequals for wheel of time. I started reading these books when I was 12. Am 24 now and its like – HOLY SCHMAKS!!! Lets do this. He has a great blog where he posts from time to time about his progress in both writing and health.
I totally *dig* your choice of Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs! 😀
But aren’t the books out of print? Can’t seem to find them anymore in bookstores.
No, the Robert E. Howard books are actually just newly in print in these completely awesome editions with fantastic illustrations: here, the first ones, by Del Rey. They’ve done all the Conan tales in 3 volumes, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, and have just recently published Kull. The trades and the hardbacks are really nice. You can actually get autographed copies of these at http://www.budplant.com. I recommend the hardbacks simply because they have colored illustration plates in them.
The ERB books are indeed out of print but you can easily find copies of them on ebay or half.com or in used bookstores.
I am going to be reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, sometime in Jan. with the Knit the classics group. I am looking forward to reading it, has been on my list for awhile. It seemed like a winter read to me too.
I will be reading Whisper in the Dark real soon, just as soon as I am finished with Dickens.
The James Bond casino royal is what my son is currently reading; He loves all of Ian Fleming’s books.
I told you my Husband is a huge Frank Frazetta fan, he is also not computer friendly.
So I am to tell you he is envious of your collection that he has read about so far.
By the way he has the Painting with Fire DVD, he says that it is genius.
You really should look into getting him the three books edited by Cathie and Arnie Fenner: Icon, Legacy and Testament: The Life and Art of Frank Frazetta. Testament is my favorite and is only $23 at Amazon right now, and that’s for the hardcover! Testament has a more in depth interview with Frazetta and his wife in it. He would go crazy over it. There’s still time for it to make it there by Christmas!!!
You can also go over to Frazetta’s official site, run by his son, and get very excellent quality prints of his paintings for $10 apiece. I have several and they are terrific.
Your evil Carl! LOL.
But thanks so much for the info it was a big help!
He says he has the Testament and totally agrees with you on it’s greatness in the universe.
I am going to get him the other two books for his collection for our anniversary.
I am on my way next to the Frazetta website to bookmark for him and check out the pictures for sell.
Our Anniversary is on Jan. 1st so these would make a Great gift.
Thanks!
I always have trouble in the gift dept. for him.
I like some Sci-Fi stuff but he is a Huge fan of the whole Sci-Fi/ fantasy dept!
For Christmas this year I got him the entire collection of DVD’s of the short lived series ‘Roar’ with the extras and several shows not aired.
I also got him ‘The Boris Vallejo collector’s book’
and The complete ‘Firefly’ series collectors edition.
I sure hope he likes everything.
He will go crazy over that stuff! Great gifts! I highly recommend http://www.budplant.com for tons of great gift ideas for him as well. They often have autographed stuff over there at reasonable prices. And just an fyi, the pictures of the prints on the Frazetta site don’t look that great but the prints look fantastic! If he likes Firefly I of course recommend both the movie Serenity which wraps up the series and Done the Impossible which is a fan documentary about the show.
Hey thanks!!!
Great sites!
Feel free to email me any time over the years for gift ideas for him. I am all for supporting husbands with such obvious great taste and wives whose marriages will improve exponentially with just the right gifts for said hubbies! 😉 He’ll be putty in your hands after this Christmas and anniversary!!!
Hey I just did a browse over at budplant,
What a really great site, I will be the Queen of gift giving now for many years to come.
Thanks again.
I can’t believe they have The same ‘Boris Vallejo Ultimate Collection’,
for half, I said half! For what I paid for it.
Plus I just saw some things that I want.
I just got an email from Bud Plant dot com that they have free shipping right now. Always a good thing.
I’ve knocked out my first book for this challenge, Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. Review here.
I do love the classics.