Monday, July 12, 2021

Classics Club Spin #27


The latest Classics Club Spin has been announced. I have chosen twenty books from my classics list. I did make some changes from the previous spin, to have more short books on the list. Since I am currently reading books from my 20 Books of Summer list, it could be hard to work another book in, but I do need to read a book from my Classics List, so I am going to take part if possible.

On Sunday 18th July, 2021, the Classics Club will post a number from 1 through 20. The goal is to read whatever book falls under that number on my Spin List by 22nd August, 2021.


So, here is my list of 20 books for the spin.


  1. Things Fall Apart (1958) by Chinua Achebe   [209 pages]
  2. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) by Patricia Highsmith
  3. Rebecca (1938) by Daphne du Maurier  [410 pages]
  4. The Sign of Four (1890) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
  5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes  (1892) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  6. Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) by Zora Neale Hurston 
  7. The Quiet American (1958) by Graham Greene   [180 pages]
  8. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940) by Carson McCullers
  9. The Wind in the Willows (1908) by Kenneth Grahame 
  10. A Wrinkle in Time (1962) by Madeleine L'Engle
  11. Beast In View (1955) by Margaret Millar
  12. The Moviegoer (1961) by Walker Percy   [200 pages]
  13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl
  14. My Ántonia (1918) by Willa Cather
  15. Goodbye to Berlin (1939) by Christopher Isherwood
  16. Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker    [420 pages]
  17. Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury
  18. The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) by James Cain
  19. The Invisible Man (1897) by H.G. Wells
  20. We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962) by Shirley Jackson


16 comments:

Cath said...

Um *coughs* I've substituted several of my Summer reading books for one reason or another. (One I read too early and another I realised I wanted at the end of the year to finish off a Bingo challenge I'm doing.) It's in the rules that you can and I felt a bit guilty but it's supposed to be fun after all. So you could substitute the 'Classic' book for one of your 20 books that you're not so keen to read any more. Just a thought...

FictionFan said...

Gosh, I usually like to pick the one I hope you get, but there are so many beauties here I'm spoiled for choice! Since I've loved The Wind in the Willows for longest - even before I fell in love with Watson! - I'll hope for that one for you. Hope you get one you enjoy!

Margot Kinberg said...

You do have a lot of fantastic books here, Tracy. I'd be happy with just about any of these that came up. I have to say, I like this meme a lot; it's a good reminder of how many great books are out there there. For me, anyway, that reminds me that there's a lot more to (reading) life than just contemporary novels.

Rick Robinson said...

IIWY, I'd read (or hope the number comes up) 2, 5, 9, 14, 17.

Interesting list, I've read all but a couple. I was thinking about these challenges you do. I really want to pick the books I read as I go along, and I have to be in the mood for some books or else they don't work for me. Then there are the books that roll in from the library, some have been on hold for 2 months! When they finally come, I need to read them first so they can go on to others who are waiting. So no challenges for me I'm too much a slave to whim.

It remains hot here, high 80s, and the garden is suffering. We're having to water more and our water bill, always high could be outrageous (I'm guessing $500 or more). Still we love our plants and it's good for us to have a garden to work in and enjoy. Our blue Hydrangea is stunning right now.

TracyK said...

Cath, I don't know why I am so focused on reading all 20 books this year. It really should be no problem to finish them in time anyway, so I will probably fit in the classic book in between other books. Even if it is longer.

TracyK said...

The Wind in the Willows would be a good one, FictionFan. I am thinking I will try to read that one before the end of the year even if it doesn't come up on the spin.

TracyK said...

That is the problem, Margot, there are so many good books to read and not enough time to read them. You are right, any book on the list would be a good one.

TracyK said...

Rick, all of those are good picks. I thought that The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes would be good because I am enjoying short stories so much and I could spread the reading over 2 or 3 weeks.

There is a lot of appeal to reading on a whim and I am thinking I should try dividing my reading year up so that so that have a few weeks between working on challenges where I can read on a whim. There have been plenty of years where I end up ignoring half of my challenges.

As far as gardening goes, I feel like I have been watering nonstop the last couple of weeks. And it is not even that hot here. But the plants dry out in the sun, more so in containers. I do envy you your large yard and your gardening know how. I am still learning what works in my small yard.

Sam said...

I've read a bunch of these and think you've made some great choices. The only one on your list that I tried and abandoned was A Wrinkle in Time. I never came close to getting into that one, and can't figure out why it is so loved even to this day. Good luck on the "spin."

TracyK said...

Sam, that is interesting about A Wrinkle in Time. I know very little about the story and never was interested in reading it until a few years ago. The copy I have is my son's and has a very weird cover illustration.

Katrina said...

That's a great list, I've read eight of them. My favourite from your list is Rebecca so I hope you get that.

TracyK said...

Katrina, Rebecca is one of the longer books on this list but I do want to read it soon so I left it on.

col2910 said...

I really must try and get into Highsmith's Ripley. It bored me last time I tried as did the film which I couldn't finish.

TracyK said...

That is interesting, Col. I have put off reading The Talented Mr. Ripley for a long time, because I think it may have elements I won't enjoy. But who knows, maybe I will like it.

bookertalk said...

What did you end up with? I have a feeling it was number 6 but could be wrong.

I always trip up when I do my 20booksofsummer reading list, forgetting to include commitments like book tours or book club. I tried to do that this year but am still likely to do some substitution. No worries, its only fun

TracyK said...

Bookertalk, the number was 6 and it is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Some club members had noted that it is written using dialect which can be difficult to read, so I was a bit worried. But I started the book yesterday and have read 4 chapters and that has not been a problem at all. I am enjoying it so far.