Friday, May 3, 2013

Classics Club May Meme

For May the Classics Club asks: Tell us about the classic(s) you're reading this month.




Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford

A subtly perceptive psychological novel and a richly descriptive chronicle of the public events of a decade (1912 - 1922).
Through the story of Christopher Tietjens, his beautiful wife, Sylvia, and the principled young Valentine, Ford draws us into the world of the British upper class as it goes through a period of crisis and transformation.

Parade's End consists of four related novels published between 1924 - 1928 under the titles, Some Do Not, No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up and The Last Post. 

No wondering what I would read this month - the BBC series begins this Sunday night so this is the perfect time for reading  Parade's End. In February I read The Good Soldier and thought it was brilliant and if this one is written in the same non-linear, thoughts and inner dialogue style as that was I'm interested to see how it will adapt to the screen. 

So far I've read 60p and loving it!



Middlemarch by George Eliot

Middlemarch is my year long project and at present I've read 417/959 pages so not quite halfway. I didn't manage any pages last month so would like to finish Book 5 by the end of May.


The Unrest-Cure and other stories by Saki

The whimsical, macabre tales of British writer H.H.Munro - better known as Saki - deftly, mercilessly, and hilariously skewer the banality and hypocrisy of polite, upper -class English society between the end of Queen Victoria's reign and the beginning of WWI.


Good reading ahead for May!


15 comments:

  1. I just posted my answer today too! I've read nothing by Ford Madox Ford, bit I want to. Middlemarch took me awhile to get into, but it's really good.

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    1. I can recommend The Good Soldier! I'm enjoying Middlemarch in a quiet way - I never feel compelled to pick it up though.

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  2. I've been reading Parade's End for a couple of months now. I didn't intend to be reading it so long (I'm not even half way through yet!) but it lends itself to a slowly but surely approach. I am loving it. The BBC adaptation is absolutely wonderful. It's hard to see how they'd make it work but they really do. I hope you enjoy it!

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    1. I discovered that FMF needs plenty of attention with The Good Soldier so started this one prepared for slow and careful reading. I'm excited about the BBC programme and sure it will be fantastic.

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  3. I really need to read some of that Saki. Especially in the edition you show!

    I loved Middlemarch, but it was years ago. Hope you're enjoying it.

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    1. I like the idea of the illustrations with the stories which are selected from various other editions of his work.
      Middlemarch I'm liking so far.

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  4. I'm interested to try Ford, and though I don't usually see TV or film versions of books I like, I'm wondering about starting with that one and then reading the book, since all the reviews I've seen have been so positive.

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    1. Having now watched the first episode I'm impressed but was glad I'd read that part of the book first and formed my own first impressions of the characters.

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  5. I intended to read Parade's End along with the TV series, but I missed it (it's already screened in Australia). I look forward to your review,

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    1. It's very good but the thought of reviewing it is a bit daunting - maybe several smaller posts.

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  6. I read Middlemarch a long time ago, but I can't quite remember what it's about. I remember liking it though.

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    1. I find I can't read too much of it at a time so it's as well I made it a year long project.

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  7. Parade's end sounds very intriguing. I am reading Oliver Twist, a carry over from April

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    1. It's years since I read Oliver Twist - maybe one day I'll do a reread. Parade's End is great!

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  8. Parade's End is on my list too - the TV series is brilliant! And I thought Middlemarch was so good.

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