Thursday 29 December 2011

National Novel Reading Month

John Wiswell has been discussing National Novel Reading Month over on his blog. January is the designated month, with the intention being that participants will finally dust over one of those classic novels they've had lurking on their shelves, and delve into literature the way it used to be. I suppose the definition of 'classic' is possibly somewhat flexible, but no, I don't think Bridget Jones' Diary or The Da Vinci Code count. I have to confess a particular fondness for Wilkie Collins having read The Moonstone a couple of years ago, and having just finished Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger, I began his short story collection, The Haunted Hotel & Other Stories, just before Christmas. I'm probably two thirds of the way through the eponymous story, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Sadly, it doesn't count as a classic novel, so I'll just have to hope that I get it finished before long, so I can break open the 'proper' classic I shall be reading in January.

So what will that be? Well, I've had the intention to read it for some time, but providing I've finished reading the Collins collection, then I'm going to give The Time Machine a whirl. I've read War of the Worlds (naturally also by HG Wells - give yourself a slap if you didn't know that) and I enjoyed it, and I felt like it's about time I read some of his other work. After all, it's a science fiction classic, and I've seen various film adaptations, but I've never read the source work. I might not write sci fi but I certainly enjoy reading it, and I find it somewhat remiss of me not to have read it! If I finish it in time, then I'll finally get around to Jane Eyre. I've meant to read it for some time but I've always found something else I'd rather read, but after the many glowing reviews given it by my mother, I feel I should probably read it sooner rather than later.

What about you? Will you be joining in?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some classics I can't get into. But I'll give them a chance. January will be my summer holidays, so hopefully lots of reading. Right now I'm re-reading The Hobbit, to be followed by LOTR trilogy.
Adam B @revhappiness

Morgan Drake Eckstein said...

I am thinking Moby Dick, but I may change my mind before the beginning of the month.

Anonymous said...

I'm reading Jane Eyre for my #NaNoReMo! I love that John decided to do this. It's a good excuse to kick ourselves in the butt to read the things on our backlist.

John Wiswell said...

Time Machine works for me. I've been considering giving it a re-read - it's been a while.

dan powell said...

I too might give Moby Dick a go. It'll be that or the other end of the spectrum with some of Chekhov's short novels.

Anonymous said...

I've been immersed in Great Expectations and loving it. Just as well because my new HD Recorder failed in its task over xmas and missed the BCC version.

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