The Last Book List of 2012
by Charlotte Reads Classics
I’ve been living in my new house for a couple of months now and I have finally got all my bookshelves back up and organised – including my bookcase of classics.
A small selection…
Obviously this means I have been rediscovering my books and I am craving a doorstop of a read. Chunky books, long reads; I love them. These are the ones from my bookshelves that I am itching to start:
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
- Clarissa by Samuel Richardson (well, I did start this one… I just stopped)
Alas with seven weeks of the year left I won’t be able to read them all this year, plus I’m not mentioning that I started and laid aside both Martin Chuzzlewit and Shirley. I will get around to finishing both (I don’t give up on books!) but neither of them are right for what kind of book I’m in the mood for.
I am currently reading The Quincunx by Charles Pallister – also a long read at 1191 pages! I’m just over half way through so I think I’ll finish this week. Has anyone else read this? I am really enjoying it. It is a Victorian mystery but written by a modern author. I’ll do a proper write up when I’ve finished but so far, so good, and its great for storytelling in the style of Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
The next book I want to conquer is Clarissa. I’ve already read 500-ish pages of it so it only seems right to read this before I start another massive book. I’ve got 957 pages to go, and six weeks to read them in. That amounts to 159 (and a half) per week – easy. We’ll see anyway. I originally wanted to read Les Miserables by the time the film was released in January (I think) but that might be a bit too short notice. But that will be the next long read after Clarissa because I keep reading other people’s posts about it at the moment. Original credit must go to o, because I immediately bought a copy after reading this.
In conclusion – let’s celebrate winter 2012 by staying inside and reading really long classics.
Charlotte Reads Classics 
Seven weeks, is that all? Somehow thinking in months makes it feel longer. I’m reading Vanity Fair at the moment, not quite 1000 pages, but I have to agree that ending the year with such a book is a really good idea. Maybe you can get to Les Miserables before it opens in cinemas. Incidentally a bookcase of classics is a dream!
I know, not that I wanted to wish the rest of the year away! Hows Vanity Fair? I’ve never read it. And yes I am hoping to at least get started on Les Miserables before it opens.
I just finished The Dream of the Celt. I have several books on my list but I would like to include a few classics too.
Your classics bookshelf is incredible! You’ve got me tempted to organise my own in a similar way. I’d definitely recommend The Count of Monte Cristo, but like you I’d want to finish Les Miserables if I’d started it. I’ve never read it before – it should definitely go on my list!
I do find it nice to shuffle them around every now and then so you don’t always end up looking at the same books! This is the first time I’ve done a bookcase just of classics and hardbacks, but now I’ve finished I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner because it looks so neat (and, I think, pretty). I’m glad you would recommend The Count of Monte Cristo because I’ve always found it intimidating looking so I need some good recommendations behind it to get me going!
We’re in the same place with Clarissa, but I’m very doubtful that I can finish it this year. Hope you have better luck! I loved The Count of Monte Cristo.
Thank you – I think finishing Clarissa will be my biggest ever reading achievement!