It’s time for another Classics Club Spin! If you’re not sure what the Spins are, here’s a reminder:
The rules for Spin #45:
* List any twenty books you have left to read from your Classics Club list.
* Number them from 1 to 20.
* On Sunday 16th August the Classics Club will announce a number.
* This is the book you need to read by 4th October 2026.
And here’s my list:
1. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor
2. The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino
3. The Bamboo Blonde by Dorothy B. Hughes
4. The War of the Worlds by HG Wells
5. The Fortnight in September by R.C. Sherriff
6. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
7. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart
8. A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde
9. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
10. The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope
11. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
12. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
13. The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
14. The Sundial by Shirley Jackson
15. The Marquis of Carabas by Rafael Sabatini
16. The Moon and Sixpence by W Somerset Maugham
17. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
18. The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham
19. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
20. Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather
Have you read any of these? Which number should I be hoping for on Sunday?
She Reads Novels 
I really want to start reading Elizabeth Taylor so that would get a vote, but then you have three of my all time favourite books – Fortnight in September, Lolly Willowes and The Grapes of Wrath so they would have to get a vote too! Lovely list Helen!
It’s good to know some of these are your favourites! I would be happy to get Lolly Willowes or The Fortnight in September. I’ve been putting off reading The Grapes of Wrath for years but I don’t know why as I loved East of Eden!
Shadows on the Rock is my favorite book by Willa Cather. Also loved The Fortnight in September, and The Sundial is a weird but compelling read – it’s Shirley Jackson, so no surprise there. I have also enjoyed 6, 9, 12, and 19. I’m pretty sure you’ll get something good!
I’ve only read a few of Willa Cather’s books and would like to read more, so I would be very happy to get Shadows on the Rock. The Sundial would be a good result as well, I think – weird but compelling is what I would expect from Shirley Jackson!
I can only be sure of reading the first two, but it’s a great list – happy spinning!
Thanks. I don’t really mind which of these I get – I want to read all of them!
The Shirley Jackson story is my first choice followed the Elizabeth Taylor. It’s a great list, though, think you’ll be happy with whatever you spin.
I haven’t read any Shirley Jackson for years so I would love to get The Sundial. I would be happy with any of the others on my list as well, though.
‘War of the Worlds’ is *great* (MUCH better than the Tom Cruise film). I read it in my teens (a LONG time ago!) and intend reading it again ‘soon’ along with its authorised ‘sequel’. ‘Grapes of Wrath’ hits HARD at times and is well worth a read. I read ‘Kraken Wakes’ also a *long* time ago and can’t remember a single thing about it. But its Wyndham, so….
I would love to get War of the Worlds! I’ve enjoyed the handful of HG Wells books I’ve read so far – and it’s a short one, so not too much pressure. The Kraken Wakes would be a good one as well as I usually like Wyndham.
I’d kerp my fingers crossed for Mrs Palfrey. I’ve also read War of the Worlds, The Moon and Sixpence and (I think) Mary Barton but all a long time ago.
I’d be happy with Mrs Palfrey – I’ve only read one Elizabeth Taylor book and have been meaning to read more for years.
I’ve read 12 of them. You have some good choices there.
I think I’ll be happy with most of these.
Good!
Read four of these (The Kraken Wakes, Lolly Willowes, War of the Worlds, The Talented Mr Ripley) and reviewed three, but I really do want to get to the Bradbury, which I’ve delayed reading for far too long.
I’ve been meaning to read Dandelion Wine since reading my first Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes, which was about ten years ago now – so I’ll be very happy if that number comes up!
I hope you get A Fortnight in September, it’s a wonderful novel.
I hope so too. I’ve only heard good things about it and obviously September would be the ideal time to read it!
Always enjoy Wells and Wyndham, but my pick has to be The Circular Staircase – it’s such an entertaining romp! Of course, there’s The Grapes of Wrath, but you should save that for some time when you’re feeling too happy and need something depressing… 😉
The Circular Staircase does sound fun – I’ve been meaning to read it for ages. I do want to read The Grapes of Wrath, but yes, I should probably wait until I’m feeling particularly happy!
The Wyndham’s are always fun reads, a little dated now, but fun nonetheless. We will share Lolly Willowes if no. 12 is spin up on Sunday 🙂
Great – I’ll look forward to comparing thoughts if no. 12 comes up! Otherwise I would be happy to get the Wyndham as I usually love his books.
The Kraken Wakes is one of my absolute favourite Wyndhams – great fun – and The Talented Mr Ripley is obviously brilliant. Found Mary Barton a bit of a slog, it’s clearly a practice run for North and South.
Some really good ones here. The Bradbury is great, if I recall correctly. I think I read it in High School. But even if I’m wrong, his writing is SO good!