Classics

[close] Click HERE for the latest group announcements. "It reminded me of ____ but in space." "I read ____ in high school, and actually liked it." "It's like a cross between ____ and ____ with a little Harry Potter thrown in." "YOU'VE NEVER READ ____?!?" You know the drill. Your friends reference it, your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/"sort of thing?" raves about it, even your favorite movies quote it, or it IS your favorite movie but you've never read the book. This group is for those of us for whom one of the following may apply... - we have finally developed a taste for reading and are severely behind on classics; - we kindaaa, sortaaa, but actually slept through English class in high school and used Sparknotes/Hollywood remakes to write our book reports; - we buy a book that everyone is talking about and it sits on our shelf, and sits there... and sits there; - we've heard the hype and are finally getting around to reading the actual book; - we want to expand our horizons beyond the single genre we usually read and want to do so with some time-tested material; - we just plain old want to get everyone off our backs for not having read _____. Every month we'll choose three books to read: 1) a classic (that everyone has probably read but us), 2) a "modern" classic or popular book that everyone is talking about, and 3) a bookshelf catch-up in which we choose a book the group has already read to catch-up with other members.

[close] This is a group to read and discuss those books generally referred to as “the classics” or “the Western canon.” Books which have shaped Western thought over the years; books which Robert Hutchins, in his essay for the Great Books of the Western World series, considered important works in “The Great Conversation.” As one participant noted, "the goal of this group is to make reading the classics an enjoyable and enlightening but non-threatening process."

[close] Welcome to the Roundtable Our passions include literary fiction, the classics, and serious non-fiction. In 2021 we've planned projects to expand our Canadian Literature horizons, read a couple of those Big Books we never have time for, and maybe fit a classic read in there too. Perhaps you'd like to join in our Book Tournament later this year? Or you can sign on for our yearly TBR reading challenge, and the year-long International Challenge, or the 4 month long task based Book Challenge. We also invite you to our list [of books, of course] making frenzy, or to add a discussion thread for your favorite author. The fine print: We're a smallish group, but active, and we'd like to have actively participating members. If you've been a member for more than four months without participating, we will assume that you are not interested in the group and you will be subject to deletion (one post after acceptance into the group is not considered active). This may take the form of participation in one of the structured features described above or something more free-form. While we've all got our guilty pleasures -- vampires in love, celebrity gossip, books from our childhoods -- these books don't fit with the group's vision and purpose. It's strictly "quality" writing for an adult audience; for us this means literary fiction, the classics, and serious non-fiction. We like to see a diversity of opinions about what we read and a strong passion for books is a plus. However, we ask that our group members keep it about the books; be respectful of others and refrain from the ad hominem. Finally, you'll see that we're a private group and you'll need to "apply" to join us. This means that we'd like a word from you about why you'd like to join and what you're hoping to get from a group. It also helps if we can see your shelves and your profile. If your profile is set to private, you will not be approved for membership in the group.

[close] The world is made up of two kinds of people, first are those who love classics, the second are those who have not yet read a classic. Be bold and join us as we tackle the classics, New & Old Classics, Long & Short Classics and some that just exhibit potential to become a classic. If you are part of the second group of people, the classic you can love for a lifetime is just pages away. Here in this group you will find members from around the world that are interested and supportive about reading classics, so don’t delay, join today.