Classics Club spin #21

The 21st Classics Club spin will be spun on 23rd September.  The book corresponding to the chosen number should be read by 31st October.  I was intending to add a sentence or two about how I do always read whichever book comes up from my list, I just rarely get the review written – but I see, reading more carefully, that the Classics Club post doesn’t actually ask for the review to be posted by then, merely that the book has been read.  This makes me very happy! 

My Classics Club list changes regularly.  For this spin I’ve weighted the selection in favour of some gothic classics, in keeping with the time of year and other reading events which seem to focus around dark evenings and ghoulish goings on…

1 Cart & Cwidder Diana Wynne Jones
2 The Dark is Rising Susan Cooper
3 The House on the Strand Daphne du Maurier
4 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
5 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson
6 Over Sea, Under Stone Susan Cooper
7 Lady Susan Jane Austin
8 The Story of my Life Helen Keller
9 The Go-Between L P Hartley
10 Letters from a Cornish Garden C C Vyvyan
11 The Magic Toyshop Angela Carter
12 Imperial Earth Arthur C Clarke
13 Cold Comfort Farm Stella Gibbons
14 Goodnight Mr Tom Michelle Magorian
15 Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man Siegfried Sassoon
16 Tarka the Otter Henry Williamson
17 The Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupery
18 The Turning of the Screw Henry James
19 All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque
20 The Castle of Otranto Horace Walpole

download

51 thoughts on “Classics Club spin #21”

  1. Oh, now you’ve reminded me that I’ve wanted to reread The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier. (So many books, so little time!). You’ve got some good titles here, as well as many I’ve not heard of, which is why I always enjoy looking at other people’s lists. I’m looking forward to finding out which number wins on Monday.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I will be reading this one eventually regardless, Brona, thanks in part to the high praise it hsa received from you and others. I’ll be happy if it comes up this time 😊

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

    2. WordPress is being difficult and I’m struggling to reply, Elizabeth. Third time lucky… I should have a goal to stop taking up reading challenges! But they are good fun 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Ha ha, Castle of Otranto is there because it’s gothic and I feel I should have read it. I’m prepared for the bonkersness of it, I think! 😂 (Intersting new word there I think…. 😉)

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  6. Lots of goodies there! I’m tempted to hope for Jekyll and Hyde for you – such a good book and a great excuse to watch the fab movie adaptations too! If you get The Dark Is Rising, you’ll have to read Over Sea, Under Stone first, I think, won’t you? But of course it doesn’t matter because we’re going to get NUMBER 9!!! *exercises maximum thought control over CC Gods*

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yes, good spot there FF. If I get DiR I’ll have to read 2 books for one spin but I want to read them both this autumn anyway so I’m cheating really 😂 (There’s a lot of doubling up of challenges going on in this list 😱) J & H snuck in thanks to the recent thread with you and Laurie. But none of this matters because we’re going to get No. 9! And I shall need a return of summer to give it maximum impact! 😂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. I really want to re-read The Dark Is Rising series too one of these days – it’s tentatively on my next CC list – if I ever finish this one! I loved them back when they came out and would like to see if older, more cynical me can still feel the magic. But come on, number 9!! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. I’m really getting into the first book now…. Oops, ahead of the spin in fact! 🤦‍♀️ But what does it matter – we both know which number will come up! 😉

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  7. What a lovely list! I loved Cold Comfort Farm so slightly hope you get that, but it looks you’ll be happy with whatever comes up. Like FictionFan, I’m sending thoughts of ‘No. 9. No. 9. No. 9.,’ to the roller of the Classics Club dice 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m thinking 9 too! But just in case the dice don’t roll kindly, I’ve added only books that I want to read (rather than feel I ought to read). Just to soften the disappointment. Which is quite unnecessary because we WILL get no. 9! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. I don’t think I could cope with yet another reading challenge. The pile is way too tottery as it is. Four books I had reserved at the library all came in during the same week, for a start….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes, I do understand. I just can’t resist. I make bold claims; there is frequently a lack of success. But it’s all good fun. Our library remains closed until later in the year so I’m all caught up there. *S smiles smugly…😊*

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Looks like a great list! My mother recommended A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to me. I would be interested in your opinion as well, so I wouldn’t mind if that comes up. If Lady Susan is anything like the movie Love & Friendship, you should be in for a treat. Or are you hoping for The House on the Strand? I remember, you like du Maurier 🙂.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Extraordinarily, I’ve actually read eight of the titles on your list—usually I can scarcely identify more than one or two on bloggers’ lists that hand on heart I can say I’ve read! I’m not of course suggesting that yours isn’t an erudite or eclectic list, just that it’s wonderful to see so many novels I’ve enjoyed and that I hope you’ll find them equally pleasing reads. And I’d love to swap notes if No 20 comes up… 😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Well to be honest, Chris, I wouldn’t describe it as erudite ir eclectic! It’s a comfortable (and maybe a touch lazy) list, and that’s fine by me 😊 There are several that I’ll be reading anyway and the rest are all books that I actually want to read rather than feel I ought to read. And now I’m just waiting for the chosen book to generate sparks of disappointment – whichever it is, I’ll invariably find myself wishing it wasn’t that one! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. I’m hoping to read The Dark is Rising and The Turn of the Screw soon too. I’ve read and enjoyed a few of the others on your list. The House on the Strand is one of my favourite Daphne du Maurier books, so I hope you get that one! Good luck. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Yes, I’ve been very indulgent, J, and just chosen books I really want to read! I’ve never really got into reading music biographies (and I can’t seem to find a Springsteen book by that name, just the album) but his music is great! 😁

    Like

    Reply

  16. What an interesting list. I’ve never heard of Letters from a Cornish Garden. I do hope you’ll be reviewing it. I’m intrigued enough that I shall have to look it up, but it’s always better to hear the views of someone I know.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Cath, Letters from a Cornish Garden was a gift from a dear friend. I’ve dipped in and out of it but I really want to read it fully. C C Vyvyan is a fascinating woman, ammried into a wealthy Cornish family but she stands on her own merit regardless of that. She was friends with Daphne du Maurier for many years. It’s obviously not a traditional classic but it will be a classic to me because of the subject matter and people involved. It didn’t come up on the spin this time but I shall most certainly be reading it before too long and I’ll post on it afterwards.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. Sandra, you had a great list! Obviously we know the lucky Spin number was 5 now, so you’ll be reading The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Good luck with it and I hope you enjoy it – I know many people love it, but I really struggled with it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Jessica! Yes, I’m happy with Jekyll & Hyde. It’s suitably seasonal and quite short I think. Hopefully I’ll enjoy it but we shall see. I’ve not caught up with everyone’s winning spin yet but I hope you got something you’re pleased with 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Perfect idea. I’m hoping to read High Wages by Dorothy Whipple which I bought earlier this year – it just sneaks in with an original publication date of 1930!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Oooh I was tempted to read that one! But I think it’s going to be the first of the Provincial Lady diaries and The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West. I couldn’t decide between them and now I’m reading both. I daren’t add High Wages in as well!

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.