When I turned 37 last month, I started thinking of all the things that I want to do before I turn 40!
You can read about those things here.
One of my goals was to make a list of 40 classics that I want to read (or re-read) over the next three years.
So, I made my list here in this post and, obviously, reading the 40 books on my list is another thing on the list.
Which is never gonna happen if I don't finally sacrifice some brainless nighttime tv that I've been watching.
*insert long sigh*
What a dreadful habit to get into at night after the kids are all tucked in their beds.
I kind of regret that I've found myself feeling like I "deserve" a few shows each night.
I wonder why I didn't tell myself that I "deserve" to read beautiful classic books instead?
Being able to read is a gift and I'm bound and determined to make better use of my time.
Linking up with:
When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before;
you see more in you than was there before."
-Clifton Fadiman
1. A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille CHECK.
2. The Chosen by Chaim Potok
3. Little Britches by Ralph Moody
4. Laddie by Jeanne Stratton-Porter
5. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery CHECK.
6. The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour
7. The Declaration of Independence
8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
9. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
10.The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
11.Walden by Henry David Thoreau
12.Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe CHECK.
13.The Odyssey by Homer
14.The Magna Charta
15.The Monroe Doctrine
16.The Making of America by W. Cleon Skousen
17.Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
18. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
19.Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
20.Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
21.Walden by Henry David Thoreau
22.The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
23.The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
24.The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
25.Persuasion by Jane Austen
26.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte CHECK
27.Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
28.Eight Cousins by Lousia May Alcott
29.Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
30.Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
31.War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
32.Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
33.Soldiers, Statesmen and Heroes by Jay A. Parry
34.Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
35.The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom CHECK
36.Ben Hur by Lew Wallace
37.The Real Thomas Jefferson by Andrew Allison
38.The Virginian by Owen Wister
39.Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
40.The Real Benjamin Franklin by Andrew Allison
Oh, some of my favorites made it on your list! Anne of Green Gables (I've read all of the series -- more than once as a girl), Little Britches, Pride and Prejudice, The Hiding Place, Jane Eyre. Your list makes me want to return to MY goal of reading more classics, like War and Peace and Moby Dick. So many books, so little of me!
ReplyDeleteThis is probably a good excuse to ensure you have your dream bedroom! :)
ReplyDeleteBeing that I was a literature major in college, I have read most of these novels and you are in for a real treat the next three years - You have chosen some wonderful and well written novels.
I love that this is one of your goals ~
Happy reading!
Sarah
Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed many of the books on your list. Small world, we have done TJed for 8 years now combined with Charlotte Mason.....
enjoy those wonderful books!
alix
I think I would skip the books and just take afternoon naps in these beautiful bedrooms.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bedrooms, and I love the reading list...I may have to join you in this quest. I love to read, and there are several books on that list I haven't read yet myself....I also turned 37 last month. Here's to 37 : ).
ReplyDeleteTake Care, Carrie { the vintage wren }
I stopped watching nighttime television several years ago when I did the Beth Moore Daniel study. She challenged the participants to give up something for 6 weeks, and I have never been the same. Reading was something that I loved, but thought I didn't have time for. Now I will occasionally watch a movie with the hub, but would much rather curl up next to him with a book.
ReplyDeleteI love the list and am all about having a goal. Start with Jane Eyre, my all time fav. And I'll read War and Peace if you do!
that is a respectable goal indeed. This isn't a classic but I just finished the Help and it was such a good read! The kind you get lost in!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, I find my self identifying with you more with each post. I love the bedrooms, they all look so cozy and ready for a great read. I too love to read. I have joined a book club, that helps getting some "read time" in. Wishing you all the best on your list, I have read quite a few...love your choices!
ReplyDeleteLove this post...me and my hubby are both avid readers although we are completely opposite in what we read...He is the classic book reader..He has a list of the best 100 classics that he is currently doing! Love to see that someone else is doing it too!
ReplyDeleteoooooooooooooo :(...you already have 40 titles.....I know 4 more....if you are a daredevil let me know;)!
ReplyDeleteI skipp tv lately and install myself(with our cat;)) on my bed.......and read read read for hours, and you know what...even my girls(12 and 10) cuddle up with their books!!!!!! A new tradition has started!!!!!;)
Sweet greetings
Lynda
Wow that is quite the list. You better get busy! I do the exact same thing. As soon as the girls are tucked in, my Honey and I sneak off to the basement and watch all our taped shows. It's something we do every night. I'm thinking we should take a few off and do some reading instead.
ReplyDeleteSo many of my favorite books are on your list! Some of them I've read more than once, they are that good!
ReplyDeleteWhat all great reads! There's nothing like a good book to dive into...especially a classic.
ReplyDeletexoTrina
Well you took the words right out of my mouth. I have gotten into such a bad habit of just vegging in front of the TV every night. I am thinking we need to move the TV in our room out, so there is more reading and talking instead of just watching other's lives!!!
ReplyDeletei love this goal!!
ReplyDeletei turned off the tv about 3 years ago & that's when my love of reading kicked back into high gear!
good luck
xo
Good call!! Good Luck to ya :) I have another blog friend who has put together a list of classics you can look at ya know, for the next 40 years *wink*
ReplyDeletehere: http://schottofclass.blogspot.com/2010/07/year-of-classics.html
Happy Day, The Lady of the House
enjoyed your blog this morning. Your top pick on your book list is a great one. I have read it and been thinking about reading it again soon. You know how you get more out of a classic the second time...or the third...or....
ReplyDeleteWowee- quite the lovely bedrooms AND quite the list!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with ya! I'll join you in your quest to read *most* of these. Some of them I'll replace with those on my list. I'm also stuck in the rut of mindless TV watching. Not how I want to spend my time! I'm not far behind you in getting to the big 4.0. Let's check some of these things off our lists together!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and wanted to comment on a few of your book titles. You will love Laddie - I have most of Gene Stratton-Porter's books and it is my favorite, but all of her works are wonderfully written. The Chosen is another really good book, but I remember liking The Promise and My Name is Asher Lev even more. Finally, try to read Jane Eyre before the movie is released. I could go on, but you have a great list ahead of you. Enjoy!!
ReplyDelete