As you guys know, I'm pretty much a novice with The Classics Club. I joined this year and also tweaked my list of 50 to fit my preferences of mystery/crime/Gothic/horror. I've read two books so far and was pleased to see another Classics Club Spin event. This is #17 and what it involves is members making a list of 20 books from their original list, sharing it with others, and then waiting for the 'spin' number. That will be revealed on Friday, March 9th. And I'll be back on Saturday with a short post telling which of the following 20 books I'll be reading by April 30th.
My method for selecting these books was quite intricate - I went down the original list and took every other book - skipping a book I had already completed. I told you - quite intricate and complicated. Ha! Here's my 20 books - have you read any of them? If I had to pick one or two to avoid right now, probably 1-3 and 10. Time constraints and I want to read the Jackson book for our mystery group Gothic October. Otherwise, it's all good!
kay's 20 for Classics Club Spin #17
1. Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen (1817)
2. Collected Stories and Poems – Edgar Allan Poe (before 1849)
3. The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins (1859)
4. Turn of the Screw – Henry James (1898)
5. The Circular Staircase – Mary Roberts Rinehart (1908)
6. The Secret of the Old Clock – Carolyn Keene (1930)
7. Death on the Nile – Agatha Christie (1937)
8. The Red Carnelian – Phyllis A. Whitney (1943)
9. Death in Kashmir – M.M. Kaye (1953)
10. The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson (1959)
11. Mystery of the Haunted Pool – Phyllis A Whitney (1960)
12. This Rough Magic – Mary Stewart (1965)
13. Ammie Come Home – Barbara Michaels (1968)
14. The Blessing Way – Tony Hillerman (1970)
15. Last Bus to Woodstock – Collin Dexter (1975)
16. Where Are the Children? – Mary Higgins Clark (1975)
17. A Judgment in Stone – Ruth Rendell (1977)
18. The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin (1978)
19. The Cater Street Hangman – Anne Perry (1979)
20. A is for Alibi – Sue Grafton (1982)
I've read all of them except #7. My two favorites are probably #10 and #13.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you haven't read Death on the Nile, but you are not as much of a Christie fan as I am, right? It's a good one.
DeleteI've tried and tried and tried and tried, but I can't read a full-length Christie novel. I can only read her in small doses, which is why I now stick to her short stories. (And watch film adaptations of her novels. LOL)
DeleteOK, I give up. You are excused from reading them. LOL
DeleteLooks like you're bingeing on one of my favorites-- Ann Cleeves.
DeleteYes, I'm listening to all the Vera books that are available. Had to skip one. Wanted to do this before going to Malice.
DeleteI loved the Nancy Drew books when I was a kid! My grandmother had so many of them. I never thought before about them being "classics," but since I've been wanting to read/reread more classics this year, those would be a fun addition!
ReplyDeleteI decided when I joined this Classics Club that my definition of those books would fit my preferred reading. I knew if it didn't, I wouldn't end up reading them. So, to me, Nancy Drew is classic YA crime fiction. LOL
DeleteI like the way you determine your own twists for a challenge! I've read the authors on this list, but most were long enough ago that titles have slipped away. Glad to see The Westing Game among them, which was great fun when my girls were young. :)
ReplyDeleteI read The Westing Game when my own daughter was younger. Look forward to revisiting it.
DeleteIf you get A Judgement in Stone I’m going to have to join you for a reread as I love it! Good luck with the spin, I’m sure the intricate planning has paid off 😂
ReplyDeleteI suspect that will be the key - my intricate planning. LOL
DeleteOoh, what a fun list, Kay! Those old Mary Higgins Clark novels are great; I'd love to go back and reread some of them. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThe one I chose for my list was her first. She's been writing for long, long time.
DeleteHow fun! One of these times I'll do the Classics Spin too. I hope you enjoy whichever one you end up reading. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of fun to anticipate which one...
DeleteI'm keeping my fingers crossed for 6, 7, or 18. Because those are still some of my favorites even decades later!
ReplyDeleteGood to know! I think kid's fiction can be classics.
DeleteThe Woman in White is one of my favourite books, but I can understand why you would prefer something shorter! I hope you get Death in Kashmir or This Rough Magic - I loved both.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember loving both of those. Read them a long time ago, but have very fond memories.
DeleteThe Woman in White is one of my fav books and on my re-read list - so I wish you that one very, very soon!
ReplyDeleteGuess that's 2 votes for The Woman in White. Maybe that will be the one. :-)
DeleteOh thank you or the reminder of the Classics Spin! I have not read any classics this year yet and I want to. I think I may have to do this to get that bit of nudge to follow through!
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you're going to jump in as well, Iliana. LOL
DeleteHurrah! You did a list! I haven't read too many of them, but enjoyed the three you want to avoid. Death on the Nile is one of my favourite Christies, so I'm going to hope you get that one. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI would love to read Death on the Nile again. It's one of my favorite Christie books. And yes, you talked me into posting my list. LOL
DeleteWow. I've only read two of those! The Secret of the Old Clock and A is for Alibi. I haven't done too well on classics this year, but have a few on my shelf that I hope to read . I should post a list and see what folks recommend. :)
ReplyDeleteI had to add A is for Alibi as a tribute to Sue Grafton. I've only read a couple of her books, but that's one of them.
DeleteHave not participated in any reading challenges for a few years but this sounds like a fun one. Happy reading!
ReplyDeletePS: Carolyn Keene. Brings me back so many fond memories.
I made it more fun by including books that I knew I'd read. LOL
DeleteI've read most of them and loved them. Death on the Nile and Ammie Come Home are long time favorites and I read The Woman in White a year or two ago and loved it though I found it was one I needed to read in small doses because the language is so rich and gorgeous. Can't wait to see what you end up with!
ReplyDeleteAnother fan of The Woman in White. I'm getting excited about which number will win the spin.
DeleteI have read many of those too. I may need to check this out. Do I have time? Hmmmm
ReplyDeleteI couldn't begin to tell, Gayle! LOL
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