Several Ambleside Online moms are joining in the Back to the Classics Challenge being hosted by Karen at Books and Chocolate.
What an encouraging challenge!
I decided to join in – here’s what I have down so far for my tentative list.
1. A 19th Century Classic – any book published between 1800 and 1899. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
2. A 20th Century Classic – any book published between 1900 and 1966. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
3. A classic by a woman author. Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
4. A classic in translation.
The Kingdom of God is Within You , Leo Tolstoy
5. A classic by a non-white author. Can be African-American, Asian, Latino, Native American, etc. Wigwam Evenings: Sioux Folk Tales Retold by Charles Eastman
6. An adventure classic – can be fiction or non-fiction. Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer
7. A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic. Dystopian could include classics like 1984. Utopia by Thomas More
8. A classic detective novel. Father Brown mystery by G.K. Chesterton – I have the complete collection. I’m not sure which one I’ll read yet!
9. A classic which includes the name of a place in the title. The Belly of Paris by Emile Zola
10. A classic which has been banned or censored. Native Son by Richard Wright
11. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college). Lord of the Flies by William Golfing
12. A volume of classic short stories. This must be one complete volume, at least 8 short stories. The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia Hale
Beautiful Chaos 
I completely forgot that I read Lord of the Flies in high school. I was traumatized and swore to never read it again. Apparently I tried to keep it that way. Someday I *will* reread it. I’m interested to hear about Raisin in the Sun (I’ve seen it on a few lists now) and G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown books.
Looking forward to this! Is it January yet!?
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I HATED this book in my 10th grade of high school. I told my teacher I refused to keep reading it. I finished it begrudgingly when I was told I’d fail the whole class if I didn’t read that one book.
20ish years later, I still shudder… but I’m willing to give it one more try. 😛
I’m excited, too!!
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Great list! One of my favourite books of all time is Jane Eyre, and I am going to re-read it this Christmas.
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Jane Eyre is one of my favorites, too. I feel a little guilty – it is one book I don’t feel is going to challenge me much, but I’ll need lighter reading over the summer, and I just adore it so much.
Can’t wait to keep up with you all!!
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I’m reading The Belly of Paris, too.
Native Son was really good – shocking in some places, but a great message. I’d read it again, if I could find the time.
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Wow, you’ve got a diverse list…I think my only nod to non-white was Chinua Achebe (specifically for the non-white author category). I AM rather proud of my female to male ratio, though. 🙂 Also, I’m reading Jane Eyre right now. I was going to put it on the list, but I just wanted to start now….
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