Saturday, January 9, 2021

Back to the Classics Challenge 2021

I am joining the Back to the Classics Challenge for 2021. The challenge is hosted by Books and Chocolate and is in its 8th year.


The challenge consists of twelve prompts for classic books. All books must have been written at least 50 years ago to qualify; therefore, books must have been published no later than 1971 for this challenge. More detailed rules can be found here. Ideally I would read one for each prompt for a total of 12, but as long as I read at least 6 books for this challenge, I will be happy.

I have listed possibilities for books I may read but I am not committed to those choices. In some cases there are many possibilities on my Classics Club List to fulfill the category description.


1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899

H. G. Wells – The Invisible Man (1897)

2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971. 

(so many to choose from)

3. A classic by a woman author.

Madeleine L'Engle – A Wrinkle in Time (1962)

4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. 

Leo Tolstoy – Anna Karenina (1878)

5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author.

Zora Neale Hurston – Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)

6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read.

Bram Stoker – Dracula (1897)

7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author -- a new book by an author whose works you have already read. 

Margaret Millar – Beast In View (1955)

8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. 

Virginia Woolf – Flush: A Biography (1933)

9. A children's classic. 

Roald Dahl – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)

10. A humorous or satirical classic.

Leo Bruce – A Case for Three Detectives (1936)

11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction). It can be a travelogue or a classic in which the main character travels or has an adventure. 

Laurence Sterne – A Sentimental Journey (1768)

12. A classic play. Plays will only count in this category.

William Shakespeare – Much Ado About Nothing (1598)



14 comments:

CLM said...

Hmm, I have read six of these; mostly books I really enjoyed. However, I am not familiar with A Case for Three Detectives. It will be interesting to see how this turns out for you. I am a huge L'Engle fan and her early books like A Wrinkle in Time are the best. Later, when her characters from different books start intersection it is just too self-indulgent for me and the timeframes don't seem to work out.

I took my nephew out to exchange a Christmas gift that didn't fit and realize that is so far outside what has become normal for a Saturday! A year ago I spent all my Saturdays doing errands for hours! I resented the non-reading time and brought my book with me in case we got stuck in any long lines (a good trick - all the lines were short, which was good because 15-year-old boys are poor shopping companions unless in a store they like). Although I got some bargains but it made me sad how desperate the stores are for shoppers.

TracyK said...

Constance, I had been planning to read A Case for Three Detectives for years, but kept putting it off. I had not tried that author before. I usually get my copies of fantasy books from my son (or is A Wrinkle in Time a blend of fantasy and science fiction?).

Although the Covid-19 situation in Santa Barbara is better than in LA, we are taking no chances and shopping as little as possible (groceries only). We are going to do take out food tonight for the first time in two months.

Judith said...

Tracy, You have some wonderful reads here!
I'll so look forward to your reading experiences.
Personally speaking, I don't think that ANY of L'Engle's titles are self-indulgent. What is THAT about? She is a brilliant writer, and the more I read by her, the more I find to LOVE.

Cath said...

Dracula is the only one of those that I'm sure I've read. The one I'm not sure about is The Invisible Man, I think I have read it but am not certain. Good luck and enjoy, Tracy!

TracyK said...

Judith, I did pretty well with this challenge last year, but I think I changed a lot of the titles that I predicted I would read. This time I hope I adhere closer to the list.

TracyK said...

Cath, I do remember that you enjoyed reading Dracula, and I have heard good things about that book. So I do look forward to reading it. Right now all the titles sound appealing.

Neeru said...

I am planning to take up this challenge too, Tracy. I have read a few of the books you have selected and am looking forward to your views on them.

Margot Kinberg said...

I really like your choices, Tracy. You've got a great variety of books from different genres, and I think that'll make your reading all the more interesting. I'll be interested in what you think of what you read.

TracyK said...

Neeru, I did fairly well with this challenge last year but it was accidental. I hoped to do better this year.

TracyK said...

I think this is a good list, Margot, assuming I stick with it. Only Anna Karenina is really long, so I guess that will be my long book for the year.

Katrina said...

I've read numbers 4,6,9 and 12 and liked all of them. I'm doing this one too but it might be a while before I get around to reading any of the books on my list.

TracyK said...

Katrina, this is only the 2nd challenge I have signed up for, but I plan to do several more and I may be pushing myself too much. I think my reading will be more focused than last year, even though things seem to be getting worse lately, not better.

col2910 said...

Have fun, rather you than me I'm afraid!

TracyK said...

I have to admit, Col, that this is a real challenge for me to finish. But I will work on it and hope for the best.