The Classics Challenge Wrap-Up 2010

I have really enjoyed being a part of The Classics Challenge again this year. I miss my Classics Book Club that I was a part of in Milwaukee, but The Classics Challenge helps me to keep classic books in my mix of reading material. I also love to read everyone else’s reviews and get ideas for future books to read or share thoughts on classics I’ve already read.

I originally decided to read four picks for the challenge and my original picks were as follows:

1. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
3. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
4. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

My alternatives were:
1. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
2. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence

My bonus book that “should be” a classic was Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

My final reading selections were as follows:
1. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
2. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
5. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audiobook)
6. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (audiobook)
7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (bonus book)

I enjoyed all of the books that I read, but of the true stand-outs for me (besides the Jane Austen novels, which are perennial favorites of mine) were Lady Chatterley’s Lover and The Count of Monte Cristo. I was surprised by Lady Chatterley’s Lover's frank discussion of a woman’s need for sexual satisfaction. It makes it in a category of its own even compared to modern novels. The Count of Monte Cristo was a rip roaring adventure story that held me enthralled throughout.

I was disappointed by Heart of Darkness. I think it was a case of it being overhyped to me over the years.

I loved Life of Pi and I whole heartedly agree that it “should be” a classic novel. Besides being a great adventure story, it was a thought provoking novel of religion and belief.

Thank-you again to Trish for hosting The Classics Challenge. I loved being a part of it again this year!!