Brrrrrrrr Bookworms,
Is anybody else tired of winter yet? I sure as heck am, but luckily, I have some reading challenges going on to keep my mind off of things. I enjoy reading classics. They make me feel like I’m filling in gaps left by my education. Now that I’ve been blogging a while, though, I find that classics take me longer to read and digest than contemporary reads, especially when they’re both classic AND ginormous. Sometimes I need a little motivation, you know? I’ve decided to join in with The Estella Society and Fig and Thistle in their readalong of The Woman in White
This sumbitch has been sitting on my kindle forever (it’s one of the freebie downloads you can get because it’s old school) but I haven’t gotten around to reading it. It weighs in (at least according to my kindle) at 658 pages. It’s been taunting me because everybody raves about how great it is, but I continue to be a lazy-saurus-rex and avoid it. Seriously you guys, this challenge has already made me smarter. Before I saw the graphic for Wilkie in Winter, I TOTALLY thought “Wilkie” was a lady name. Seeing the hirsute gentleman in the photo there set me straight. What other misconceptions could I be having?! This is why I need to read ALL THE BOOKS.
Have any of you read The Woman in White
Charleen
I always assumed Wilkie Collins was a woman too. I wonder why that is. Probably the “-ie” name plus the association with the word “woman” in The Woman in White. Not that men should write about men and women should write about women, of course. I’m just trying to rationalize why I would have automatically thought that… but hey, at least I’m not alone!
Words For Worms
I am so relieved to hear I wasn’t alone in that!
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
Haha! I’m so glad you’re joining us. I have no doubt whatsoever that you will inject ridonkulous amounts of fun and honesty into this discussion.
Words For Worms
I will sure as heck try 🙂
Kerri
One of my goals is to join up with The Classics Club and I don’t know why but I just haven’t!
Words For Worms
I haven’t joined up with the classics club either, I just like to fit them in from time to time.
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words
Yep, this is classic I have also failed to read yet. 658 pages? Yep. That’s why.
Words For Worms
LOL, I hear that!
TJ
Yep, the first time I heard the name I had also assumed it was a woman. I only put this book on my Classics Club list because of all the W’s, and then found out that lots of people really like it. Maybe I’ll read it next winter… Good luck with your read-along.
Words For Worms
Alliteration is my favorite!!!
Darlene
Haven’t read it. Or heard of it. But I thought of Wilkie as a man, and lazy-saurus-rex made me smile, then chuckle, then laugh. I’ll be using that one with my twin 15 year old boys.:)
Thanks man.
Words For Worms
Oh your boys are going to just loooove me when they’re trying to sleep and you throw open the blinds declaring them a pair of Lazy-Saurus-Rexes!
mj monaghan
I must have missed the boat on “Woman in White.” I thought I knew the major classics, but this I know not. Must catch up at some point. I’m with you on having to try harder on the classics vs. contemporary works.
Truth be told, Pinterest is even easier to consume than the classics! 😉
Words For Worms
You know, I’ve never heard of it being taught in schools, and those are the books I think of as the “major” classics. I’m trying to get some good wholesome vegetables in my literary diet :).
Jenny @ Reading the End
I have all the words of encouragement! Wilkie Collins is so great, and I love the Woman in White, and I am excited that the blogosphere loves him too. I can’t wait to read everyone’s posts on Woman in White later this month!
Words For Worms
With you as my cheerleader, there is no WAY I can fail. I feel so encouraged!
Heather @ Capricious Reader
How about I tell you that The Woman in White has one of the most devious, hilariously fun, cunningly witty villians ever? If you don’t love Count Fosco, I will eat my hat. Never mind that I don’t HAVE a hat, I WILL GET ONE.
Words For Worms
Bwahahahaha! As much as I’d love to see you eat a hat (I have one you can gnaw on), I believe I made it past the slow part because things started getting pretty interesting as I was reading last night. I haven’t met Count Fosco yet!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
I haven’t read it, but I’m rooting for you! I’m sure you can do it 🙂
Words For Worms
Thanks Katie!
Melinda
I have this one on my kindle too, but still haven’t had the courage to read it! Goodluck
Claire 'Word by Word'
Well, I thought I had this on the shelf, but have just realised it’s The Moonstone I have and should be getting on and reading. I do want to read The Woman in White as well. I will be interested to see how you get on with it.
Words For Worms
I’ll definitely keep you posted!
Cindie @ Nonfictionado
A friend of mine recommended Wilkie Collins a few years back, and I devoured almost all of his books in just a few months. The Woman in White is probably the best, although I really loved Man and Wife too. I hope everyone participating enjoys it as much as I did!
Words For Worms
So far so good! It started a little slow for me but now I’m intrigued!