It’s time for another Classics Club Spin! I’m looking forward to this one as I haven’t read anything from my Classics Club list since I finished my book from the previous spin, The Manuscript Found in Saragossa, in January.
If you’re not sure what a Classics Spin is, here’s a reminder:
The rules for Spin #26:
* List any twenty books you have left to read from your Classics Club list.
* Number them from 1 to 20.
* On Sunday 18th April the Classics Club will announce a number.
* This is the book you need to read by 31st May 2021.
And here is my list:
1. Goodbye Mr Chips by James Hilton
2. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
3. A Laodicean by Thomas Hardy
4. I Will Repay by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
5. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
6. Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather
7. La Reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas
8. The White Guard by Mikhail Bulgakov
9. Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym
10. Armadale by Wilkie Collins (re-read)
11. Germinal by Emile Zola
12. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
13. The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope
14. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
15. Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault
16. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
17. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
18. Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
19. The Turquoise by Anya Seton
20. The Trumpet-Major by Thomas Hardy
Have you read any of these? Which number should I be hoping for on Sunday?
She Reads Novels 
Good-bye Mr. Chips is so wonderful. When I was in high school (76/77–79/80) we had to read so much Steinbeck–Grapes of Wrath, the Pearl, of Mice and Men-=probably more. I liked the Pearl. There’s a sort of “modern” re-telling of Grapes of Wrath that was good by TC Boyle, The Tortilla Curtain.
I would really like to get Goodbye Mr Chips in the spin – I love the film versions. I have had mixed experiences with Steinbeck so far but I enjoyed East of Eden a few years ago so I would be happy to get Grapes of Wrath.
East of Eden truly gave me real-world nightmares. Cathy! That’s how incredibly well-written in was.
Number 17 on your list gets my vote, although it’s hard to choose because you’ve got some great ones on the list! I love Nevil Shute, and found Pied Piper to be very moving.
I’ve never read anything by Nevil Shute, so I would love to get number 17!
Haven’t read either of those by Hardy so I’m curious about them. Grapes of Wrath is excellent, and possibly influenced by Germinal, which is probably Zola’s finest novel. I also loved Jane & Prudence and The Duke’s Children (there’s a newly restored version now in paperback, definitely worth looking for). You have such a great variety in you spin list!
I’ve read all of Hardy’s better known books, so have moved on to the more obscure ones now! I’d be happy to get any of the books you mention, particularly Germinal as it’s been such a long time since I’ve read anything by Zola.
I only have seven books left on my list that I haven’t read, so I have had to post them over and over. My list will be up on Wednesday.
Yes, that’s the problem when you only have a few books left. I hope they are seven good ones!
Not all of them, I fear!
Holding my breath to see which one you get. I recently finished another John Wyndham novel, Trouble With Lichen. He was such an entertaining yet intelligent writer.
I love John Wyndham so I’ll be very happy to get The Chrysalids!
Oh ho ho, good luck if you get Brothers K. 😀 It’s a fascinating novel, but I don’t know that one can knock it out in a month!
I’m not too worried about finishing by the deadline, as long as I’m enjoying the book!
I can be sure of reading 5, 8, 9, 12 and 14, any of which I would recommend! Good luck!
Thanks! It’s good to know that you would recommend so many of them!
I’m reading Nicholas Nickleby at the moment and it’s awesome! The Brothers Karamazov is amazing so I hope you get that one. All the best for the spin!
I’m pleased to hear you’re enjoying Nicholas Nickleby! I would love to get The Brothers Karamazov – I think if it doesn’t come up in the spin I’ll probably read it soon anyway.
To date, Germinal is my favourite Zola – intense but unforgettable.
A lot of people seem to name Germinal as a favourite Zola, so I’m really looking forward to reading it!
I read Germinal and The trumpet major not too long ago, enjoy ^^ Even if I’m not so sure if “enjoy” is the right word for Germinal ! But it’s a masterpiece.
I’ve only read two other books by Zola, but I enjoyed them both so I would love to get Germinal. I would be very happy with The Trumpet Major too.
Ooh, I’m interested your Hardys, neither of which I’ve read. Of the ones I’ve read I particularly liked Armadale (which you’ve read, so you know) and Nicholas Nickleby. Brothers Karamazov is pretty great, of course, but intense.
Still, I want you to get one of the Hardys… 😉
Happy spinning!
Thomas Hardy is one of my favourite Victorian authors so I would love to get either of those books! Armadale would be good too as it’s been so long since I read it I’ve forgotten most of the plot.
I haven’t read anything by Barbara Pym but I’ve seen many positive reviews of her novels. I’ve loved the Willa Cather novels I’ve read although I’m not familiar with the one on your list. Personally I’d be hoping for the Mary Renault. My list will be up later this week although I’ve only five left on my Classics Club list so they each appear four times.
I’ve enjoyed a few other books by both Barbara Pym and Willa Cather so I’m looking forward to reading more. I would like to get the Mary Renault as I’ve had that book on my shelf for a long time!
The only two I’ve read are Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Grapes of Wrath. I love Grapes of Wrath, and I hope that’s where your spin stops.
I would be very happy with Grapes of Wrath. I was surprised by how much I liked East of Eden!
The only one I have read off your list in Nicholas Nickleby, which I vaguely remember enjoying, but like Ivanhoe, it has been so long I remember very little else! Hence is also being on my list for a re-read. Good luck and happy ‘Spinning’! 🤞🙂
Thank you, Jessica! I would be happy to get Nicholas Nickleby.
The Grapes of Wrath is one of my favourite books of all time – happy spinning!!
That’s good to know! I loved East of Eden and have been wanting to read more Steinbeck.