As part of my plan to rediscover the classics next year, I have decided to participate in the Back to the Classics Reading Challenge hosted by Karen from Books and Chocolate. (Thank you for hosting!)
The rules of the game are simple: complete a minimum of 6 categories listed below and you get one entry for the year-end drawing. Finish 9 of the categories, you’ll get 2 entries and you get 3 entries if you complete all 12.
Honestly, I’m not sure if I can make it out alive but I know I’ll be contented if I could finish at least one of these books. That’s another step closer to my goal! Anyway, if you are interested in joining the challenge, you can find a complete and detailed list of rules on Karen’s blog: click here.
But if you’re here to watch me try or wish me good luck, here is a tentative list of books I’m planning to read for each category. I might change some books as I go along. But for now, this seems about right. Let’s do this!
2019 Back To The Classics Reading List
Side Note: This blog post will be updated after one of the books on this list has been read. I will try to create a book review/reaction post as well. Please stay tuned for that 🙂
- 19th Century Classic: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- 20th Century Classic: Kim by Rudyard Kipling
- Classic By A Female Author: One of Agatha Christie’s books
- Classic In Translation: Flowers in the Mirror by Ju-Chen Li
- Classic Comedy: My Man Jeeves by P.G. Woodehouse
- Classic Tragedy: Tess of d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
- Very Long Classic: The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
- Classic Novella: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Classic From The Americas: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
- Classic From Africa/Asia/Oceania (includes Australia): Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal
- Classic From A Place You’ve Lived: Snow Country Yasunari Kawabata
- Classic Play: A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Read With Kim 
Wow, you have some great books on your list, Kim! I have The Hunchback of Notre Dame on mine too. I loved The Count of Monte Cristo and the Jeeves books are hilarious! Best of luck with your challenge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Cleo! Thanks for your comment and yay we have the same book! 🙂 I’m new to reading the classics so I picked out books that I’m sort of familiar with (thanks to the movie adaptations). I’m so excited to see how different they are from each other though! Good luck to us both 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great list! I love Wodehouse and Agatha Christie. I also have Noli on my TBR shelf so maybe you will inspire me to read it next year as well! Thanks for signing up for the challenge!
LikeLike
Hi Karen, thank you for your comment 😀 And wow! I haven’t met a lot of people who are familiar with Noli – I’m glad a book from my country made it on someone’s list! What made you add it to your TBR? Noli was a reading requirement back in my high school days. It’s such a shame I didn’t appreciate it much back then but I’m hoping to change my views on it this year 😛
LikeLike
I’m going to take inspiration from your post and use a Wodehouse book for comedy! Nice list and good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sharlene! Thanks for stopping by and dropping a comment 😉 I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about the Woodehouse books so I’m almost sure we’re in for a good read. Good luck to both of us!
LikeLike
Good pick for your tragedy category. Almost anything Hardy is a tragedy. (I actually liked reading Tess, as tragic as it was.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I’m really looking forward to it. Can’t say I’m a big fan of tragedies but I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about Tess D’urbervilles. Your comment just made it a little bit more reassuring 😀
LikeLike