As to the challenge itself: By reading and posting about a minimum of six classic books, one lucky winner will receive a $30 gift from Amazon.com or The Book Depository! If there is a category you don't like (or more than one), you can just skip it, and still qualify for the drawing!
- Complete six categories and you get one entry.
- Complete nine categories, and you get two entries.
- Complete all twelve categories, and your name is entered into the drawing three times!
1. 19th century: Germinal by Emile Zola
2. 20th century: The Collector by John Fowles
3. By a woman author: Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth
4. In translation: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
5. A chunkster (500+ pages): The Ambassadors by Henry James
6. A novella (-250 pages): Silas Marner by George Eliot
7. With a person's name in the title: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
8. Humorous or satirical: Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
9. A forgotten classic: The Nowlans by John Banim
10. Nonfiction: TBD - I haven't included nonfiction in my classics list up to this point, so I have to head to the shelves to see what I have and do some listing.
11. Children's book: TBD - Same reason as #10
12. Play: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
And now for the rest of the rules:
- All books must be read in 2015. Books started prior to January 1, 2015, are not eligible. Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2015.
- All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; therefore, 1965 is the cutoff date. The only exception is books published posthumously, but written before 1965.
- E-books and audiobooks are eligible! Books may also count for other challenges you may be working on.
- Books may NOT cross over categories within this challenge. You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge. One book per category -- otherwise, they won't count.
- If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicy accessible online format.
- Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 31, 2015. If possible, please link to your sign-up announcement post, if possible or applicable.
- You do NOT have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it's more fun if you do! You can always change your list at any time. Books may be read in any order.
- Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing! Adding links within the post would be greatly appreciated.
- The prize will be awarded the first week of January, 2016. All qualifying participants will receive one or more entries, based on the categories completed. One winner will be randomly drawn from qualifying entries. The winner will receive a $30 (US) gift card from Amazon.com or The Book Depository, as long as they live in a country that can receive shipment. See here for list of countries.
In an ideal world, I will read one of these a month, but heavens knows my life is not that scheduled. I would like to ask though - where do you guys think I should start? Are any of the books listed up there a "must read right now" type of book? Or do you have a better choice for any of the categories (from my list of classics I have on the shelves).
Germinal is amazing, but also a heart-ripper, to note. Ivan Denisovich is also very good. The Oscar Wilde is fantastic, and very fast/light, so you might save that one for after the baby if you're planning to try to do these monthly. :)
ReplyDeleteWith all the classics that you have read, I'm surprised you haven't read Ivan. I always look forward to your classics post because I really want to read them myself but get so bored once I finally drag myself to read one.
ReplyDeleteI have Gulliver's Travels on my list too! I love this challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of taking on this one too, just the thing to get me reading those classics that have been sitting on my shelves for years! Good luck with your list and happy 2015 :)
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I don't think I will officially join the challenge but the categories will be helpful as I choose books for The Classics Club. I will be able to ensure a good variety of classics in there.
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