It’s time for another Classics Club Spin! I’m looking forward to taking part in this one – Spin 28 – as I feel I haven’t been reading as many classics as usual this year.
If you’re not sure what a Classics Spin is, here’s a reminder:
The rules for Spin #28:
* List any twenty books you have left to read from your Classics Club list.
* Number them from 1 to 20.
* On Sunday 17th October the Classics Club will announce a number.
* This is the book you need to read by 12th December 2021.
And here is my list:
1. A Laodicean by Thomas Hardy
2. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
3. Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault
4. Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden
5. The Fifth Queen by Ford Madox Ford
6. Claudius the God by Robert Graves
7. Nightmare in Berlin by Hans Fallada
8. Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather
9. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
10. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
11. Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
12. Ride the Pink Horse by Dorothy B Hughes
13. La Reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas
14. Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner
15. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
16. The New Magdalen by Wilkie Collins
17. Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym
18. The White Guard by Mikhail Bulgakov
19. The Trumpet-Major by Thomas Hardy
20. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
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I don’t really mind which of these I get, but Black Narcissus would be nice as Brona is hosting a Rumer Godden Reading Week in December.
Are you taking part in the spin this time? Which number do you think I should be hoping for?
She Reads Novels 
The only one’s from the List I’ve read is Claudius the God by Robert Graves and The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (both a LONG time ago). I’ve read ‘Alone in Berlin’ by Hans Fallada which was amazing (if rather depressing at times). It IS a pretty good List though. I think I’d be hoping for Strangers on a Train or Black Narcissus – probably because I enjoyed both movie adaptations.
I loved Alone in Berlin too, but have had mixed experiences with the other Fallada books I’ve read. I would be very happy to get either Strangers on a Train or Black Narcissus!
Good luck! I’d be hoping for the Bulgakov (which would be a re-read for me!)
I would love to get the Bulgakov! I think I’ll have to read it soon even if it doesn’t come up in the spin.
So many goodies on your list it’s hard to choose! But I was thinking Black Narcissus before you mentioned hoping for it, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed you get it. I loved it – Gothic, nuns and a Himalayan convent, what more could you ask for!
It sounds great and perfect for the time of year. I’m planning to read it soon whether or not I get it in the spin!
This is a great list. And I think I’m with Fiction Fan for Black Narcissus or a Hardy 🙂
I’m hoping for Black Narcissus, but Thomas Hardy is one of my favourite Victorian authors so I would be very happy to get one of his books!
A good list with a few authors or works I don’t know.
I’m looking forward to reading most of these, but there are a few I don’t know much about either.
I picked some unusual ones myself for this list, but not for the spin. I put relatively easy books on the spin because I didn’t feel like anything challenging. I’m putting up my spin list on Wednesday.
My list will go up on my blog on Friday. I’m really looking forward to doing this challenge, finally!
I’m glad you’re able to join in! I’ll look forward to seeing your list.
Then I hope it’s no.4! I read it a few years ago and it was a good read – good luck with the spin!
I’m glad to hear that! I’ve been meaning to read it for years.
I’ve only read a couple of these. Nicholas Nickleby & Shadows on the Rock are pretty great, I think. I’m curious about the Wilkie Collins because I like him, but haven’t read that one.
Hope you get something good! Rumer Godden would be a good choice. I’m hoping to read one for Brona’s week myself.
Thanks! I usually enjoy Dickens and Cather so would be happy with either of those two. Wilkie Collins is a favourite Victorian author of mine and I haven’t read any of his books for a few years, so I’d love to get The New Magdalen too.
That’s scary, I keep running into lists like yours where I know some author, but not the books listed! Enjoy!
Here is my list https://wordsandpeace.com/2021/10/13/the-classics-club-the-classics-spin-28/
Thanks! I often find I haven’t heard of most of the books on other people’s lists too!
I’ve read Nicholas Nickleby – excellent in parts but so long….
Tried but gave up on Brat Farrar but it was in audio form so it may be that it would work better as a written text.
That’s the way I feel about most Dickens novels – excellent in parts, but too long! I usually enjoy them overall, though, so would be happy enough to get Nicholas Nickleby.
I hope you end up with Black Narcissus, then, or, if not, how about Claudius the God? I’ve always wanted to read more Robert Graves.
I enjoyed I, Claudius so yes, I think Claudius the God would be a good result!
What a nice list! Some of my favorite authors are on it…Nevil Shute, Barbara Pym, Josephine Tey. Enjoy!
Thanks! I’ve enjoyed other books by Tey and Pym, but Nevil Shute will be a new author for me.
I’ll be interested in what you think of Nevil Shute after you read Pied Piper. It’s quite a story and one of the first I read by him. I’m slowly making my way through all his books now.
I’ve read 11 of them an they are all good, although I wasn’t so keen on Bratt Farrar but I’m in a minority there I think. I hope you get Nightmare in Berlin, it’s very good although sad and tense.
I would like to get Nightmare in Berlin – I usually enjoy Fallada and German Literature Month is coming up in November. I’ve had mixed experiences with Josephine Tey books in the past, but I want to give her another try.
Nice list. I had Barnaby Rudge on my list as well, so I made it #11 so we can compare notes if that comes up 🙂
It will be interesting to see what we both think if that one comes up! Of the two Dickens books on my list, though, I would prefer to get Nicholas Nickleby.
NN is very good
The only one I’ve read off your list is Nicholas Nickleby, but it was so long ago I only have a vague memory of enjoying it. Hence why I put in on my own list for a re-read. I hope you will get something you will enjoy. 🤞🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it, even if you can’t remember much about it. I think Dickens is always good at this time of year.