50 Classics Club Questions

Hi all!

As I’m really really close to finishing my Classics Club list, I thought it would be a good idea to complete the The Classics Club 50 Questions Survey book tag!

I’ve had a fantastic time reading all of these classics books, and I’m *this* close to the end! I can almost see the finish line …

1. Share a link to your club list.

My Classics Book Club list!

2. When did you join The Classics Club? How many titles have you read for the club?

I joined on October 31, 2017! I’ve read 47 books out of 50. So only 3 more to go! 😱

3. What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading The Completed Poems of Emily Dickinson. The book is almost 800 pages long as it has every poem Dickinson every wrote.

4. What did you just finish reading and what did you think of it?

I finished reading The Talented Mr. Ripley and I enjoyed it so much! I genuinely can’t believe how much I liked Tom and wanted him to get away with everything.

5. What are you reading next? Why?

I’m going to be reading The Neverending Story next as I have read so many long and arduous books, I’d like to read something fun.

6. Best book you’ve read so far with the club, and why?

That would definitely be The Fellowship of the Ring! I loved this incredible fantasy book and was immersed in not only the plot, but the worldbuilding as well. It’s a classic for a reason.

7. Book you most anticipate (or, anticipated) on your club list?

Out of the 3 books I have left, I’m most anticipating The Princess Bride as I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.

8. Book on your club list you’ve been avoiding, if any? Why?

I was avoiding The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett as it is so long! I’ve read longer but this seems like a long book as it’s historical. However I have read it now and enjoyed it a lot.

9. First classic you ever read?

Romeo and Juliet! I read this for my year 9 English class.

10. Toughest classic you ever read?

It by Stephen King. It was a chore to get through, based on the sheer size and the writing. Can’t say I enjoyed this book but I have conquered it!

11. Classic that inspired you? or scared you? made you cry? made you angry?

I would say Emma by Jane Austen has inspired me. Mainly because Emma goes through incredible characterisation: she begins the novel quite selfish and thinking she knows best for everyone, and matures by the end of it.

12. Longest classic you’ve read? Longest classic left on your club list?

Les Miserables! My copy is 1,330 pages long. The longest classic left on my Classic Club TBR is The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson which is almost 800 pages long.

13. Oldest classic you’ve read? Oldest classic left on your club list?

The oldest classic I’ve ever read is The Odyssey which was created around 800 BCE. The oldest classic I have left on my club list is The Complete Poems by Emily Dickinson as her poems were published posthumously around 1890.

14. Favourite biography about a classic author you’ve read — or, the biography on a classic author you most want to read, if any?

I haven’t read it yet but I really want to read Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, which is a dual biography of mother and daughter authors.

15. Which classic do you think EVERYONE should read? Why?

Pride and Prejudice because it’s incredibly funny, charming and such a good time. It’s a book everyone loves.

16. Favourite edition of a classic you own, if any?

I love the pulp cover of Pride and Prejudice! Definitely one of the best copies I own.

17. Favourite movie adaption of a classic?

Definitely the 2005 adaption of Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightly 😭.

18. Classic which hasn’t been adapted yet (that you know of) which you very much wish would be adapted to film.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt. But I feel like not many directors would be able to do it justice.

19. Least favorite classic? Why?

Dr No by Ian Fleming. It’s racist and boring as hell! You couldn’t pay me to read any more of Fleming’s books.

20. Name five authors you haven’t read yet whom you cannot wait to read.

George Eliot, Thomas Hardy, Daphne du Maurier, Emily Dickinson and Fyodor Dostoevsky.  

21. Which title by one of the five you’ve listed above most excites you and why?

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy because it’s quoted in so many movies and there’s also a flower named after Tess!

22. Have you read a classic you disliked on first read that you tried again and respected, appreciated, or even ended up loving? (This could be with the club or before it.)

I’ve only reread the classics Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion and loved them both. But I would like to reread To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf as I think I’d enjoy it now than when I first read it.

23. Which classic character can’t you get out of your head?

Gilbert Markham from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall! He’s such a gentleman and a great character.

24. Which classic character most reminds you of yourself?

Elizabeth Bennet because she’s very judgemental hahah.

25. Which classic character do you most wish you could be like?

Helen from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall as she is so strong.

26. Which classic character reminds you of your best friend?

Elinor from Sense and Sensibility as she’s quite motherly, and so is my best friend.

27. If a sudden announcement was made that 500 more pages had been discovered after the original “THE END” on a classic title you read and loved, which title would you most want to keep reading? Or, would you avoid the augmented manuscript in favor of the original? Why?

Maurice by E.M. Forster because I’d love to read more about Maurice and Alec’s life together.

28. Favourite children’s classic?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — but just the first three books in the Narnia series, the rest are trash.

29. Who recommended your first classic?

My high school teacher haha.

30. Whose advice do you always take when it comes to literature. (Recommends the right editions, suggests great titles, etc.)

To not be put off by the writing style from a different time period! And to try the audiobook if you can’t read the physical book.

31. Favourite memory with a classic?

Reading The Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin with my friend and both of us hating it, and sending each other messages complaining about the book.

32. Classic author you’ve read the most works by?

Jane Austen! I’ve read all of her novels.

33. Classic author who has the most works on your club list?

Also Jane Austen as I wanted to finish reading her bibliography haha.

34. Classic author you own the most books by?

… once again, Jane Austen. I collect different editions of Pride and Prejudice.

35. Classic title(s) that didn’t make it to your club list that you wish you’d included?

Crime and Punishment! I will read that next time.

36. If you could explore one author’s literary career from first publication to last — meaning you have never read this author and want to explore him or her by reading what s/he wrote in order of publication — who would you explore?

Virginia Woolf. I only read one of her books years ago for a university class and didn’t like it, but I feel like I’d appreciate her books now.

37. How many rereads are on your club list? If none, why? If some, which are you most looking forward to, or did you most enjoy?

Just one — Persuasion by Jane Austen. That’s because I remember loving it in high school and wanted to reread it as an adult.

38. Has there been a classic title you simply could not finish?

No, but Bleak House was a slog to get through. Took me a long, long time to read it.

39. Has there been a classic title you expected to dislike and ended up loving?

Frankenstein! I don’t know why I thought I’d really dislike it, but I ended up loving it.

40. Five things you’re looking forward to next year in classic literature?

Well, I’m finishing up my list this year, but I will make another list (just not part of the Classics Club again) and I’m looking forward to:

1. reading more books by authors of colour
2. reading more classics outside of British literature
3. to read books by authors I’ve never read before
4. to finish reading all of Charlotte Bronte’s books
5. to read more queer classic literature.

41. Classic you are DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN next year?

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf!

42. Classic you are NOT GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN next year?

War and Peace. I really wanted to read this book but probably won’t for a few more years.

43. Favourite thing about being a member of the Classics Club?

Going through people’s blogs and finding new books to read!

44. List five fellow clubbers whose blogs you frequent. What makes you love their blogs?

1. Woke Read
2. Rachel Reading and Thinking
3. Liv the Reader (I think their blog is now closed ☹️)
4. Avid Reader
5. Aquatique

45. Favorite post you’ve read by a fellow clubber?

I really enjoyed Rachel’s review of Pride and Prejudice!

46. If you’ve ever participated in a readalong on a classic, tell about the experience?

I participated in my own for Gone with the Wind. I really enjoying people commenting and letting me know their opinions on the book.

47. If you could appeal for a readalong with others for any classic title, which title would you name? Why?

Crime and Punishment because it’s more fun to read a really long book as a group.

48. How long have you been reading classic literature?

I read my first classic book at about 15, but I started to read classics books seriously at Uni.

49. Share up to five posts you’ve written that tell a bit about your reading story. Reviews, journal entries, posts on novels you loved or didn’t love, lists, etc.

1. My negative reading experience with Gone With the Wind, starting with the first post
2. Audiobook recommendations (as I LOVE audiobooks)
3. Queer book recommendations (as I primarily read queer books)
4. Book recommendations based on Lady Gaga’s Chromatica (I love Lady Gaga lol)
5. Weirdly specific things I like in books (my taste in books)

50. Question you wish was on this questionnaire? (Ask and answer it!)

What book do you think will become a future ‘classic’?

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. It’s an incredible Australian novel that I think has the makings of a future classic book that should be read in high school English classes!