Number 17
Last week I decided to take part in the Classics Club Spin. The rules were simple – list twenty books from your Classics Club list, number them 1 to 20, and the number announced today (Monday) represents the book you have to read before 6th October 2014.
The number that has been selected is 17, which means the book I’ll be reading is:
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
I have to admit this is not one of the titles on my list that I was hoping for, but I’m prepared to give it a try! I had a failed attempt at reading Crime and Punishment a few years ago, so I’m hoping I might have more luck with a different book.
If you took part in the spin are you happy with your result?
She Reads Novels 
I spun up Summer by Edith Wharton. I’m not afraid to admit that yours looks harder!
I’m hoping I’ll find it easier to read than it looks!
I remember seeing Derek Jacobi in a stage version of this possibly forty years ago, but I’ve never been brave enough to try and read it. Good Luck!
I’m pleased the Classics Club has given me a reason to pick it up otherwise I might never have been brave enough to read it either!
I read the Idiot fairly recently and loved it – but then I’m a bit of a Russophile! Good luck!
Thanks! I hope I’ll love it too.
I got An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser…. think it’s more long than “hard”. Good luck with your book!
Thanks – good luck with yours too.
I’ve wanted to read Dostoevsky for more than a decade. One of those perpetual TBR authors. Good luck!
I can’t really claim to have read Dostoevsky before either, as I gave up on Crime and Punishment after a few chapters. I’m hoping I’ll have more success this time!
I wouldn’t have chosen The Idiot but I have read some positive reports, so hopefully you’ll like it once you get into it.
The spin gave me Winifred Holtby, and I’m delighted.
This certainly wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I’m not too unhappy with it. I’m glad you got one of the books you were hoping for.
I liked The Idiot too, but I found Dostoyevsky took a little getting used to. I got The Importance of Being Earnest, which I’m very happy with.
Best of luck with The Idiot …….. the best advice? Just keep reading! 😉
Thanks for the advice! I’m hoping I’ll like it too once I get used to the style. I’m starting it today while I’m in the right mood. 🙂
I hope you’ll like The Idiot, once you start reading it. I got The Charwoman’s Daughter, an Irish classic that’s rather short. I’m pretty happy with that, though I don’t know much about either the author or the book.
The Charwoman’s Daughter isn’t a book I’m familiar with but I’m pleased you got something you’re happy with.
I struggled through The Brothers Karamazov, but ended up liking it, so I hope The Idiot isn’t too bad for you. It’s the Russian names that foxed me. I got Gulliver’s Travels, a book I’ve been meaning to read for years.
Yes, the Russian names can be a bit confusing at first. If I enjoy The Idiot I’ll think about reading The Brothers Karamazov as well.
I have read Crime & Punishment, but I was very young and didn’t really like it. Hope you fare better with The Idiot!
I didn’t even make it to the end of Crime and Punishment, but I’m happy to give him a second chance!