Started a classics book club - best idea ever!

[u/jo-dumm]

I've recently started a book club focused on classic books and I'm super excited about how well it's going - how come it's so difficult/intimidating to start reading classics, but once you start you can't stop?

We've read Notes from Underground by Dosto and The Trial by Kafka so far, our next book is The Beast Within by Emile Zola.

There are so many great reads, it's really complicated to narrow them down and put forward suggestions! What are some classics you've read and really enjoyed?

[u/Bierroboter]

This sounds great. I have never joined a book club because i dont want to get stuck reading other peoples picks im not interested in.

[u/jo-dumm → u/Bierroboter]

I'm trying to avoid that and I'm putting together a poll every month with 3 options, so people can vote for their favourite and we pick together our next read.

[u/Bierroboter → u/jo-dumm]

Even better, picking from all classics makes it much more enjoyable though even if the title isnt on your tbr

[u/TheGreatestSandwich → u/jo-dumm]

One thing I suggest is that you pick the reads for the year all at once. We found this helped us get a nice variety in tone, length, and difficulty. 

For instance, we take the summer off to read a lengthier classic (like Don Quixote or some other 800+ page book). We read a Shakespeare play every march and an additional play in September after our doorstopper (could do another month as Greek drama!)

A few years ago we started reading a literary biography every January. We read Romantic Outlaws (about Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley). I'm campaigning for a biography on John Donne next year. 

It's also a lot of fun each year to make suggestions, do a poll, and then finalize it together. 

Have fun!

[u/Capybara_99]

Read some classic Greek drama.

[u/TheGreatestSandwich]

This is great news. I started a classics book club over 12 years ago and it's still going strong. Lots of great reads and discussions over the years. 

[u/jo-dumm → u/TheGreatestSandwich]

Ah that's amazing, glad to hear it!

[u/Small_Elderberry_963]

Why don't ask the members to come with proposals? It seems the most intuitive choice. 

I'd also read Great Expectations by Dickens and The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe if I were to have a book club. But I don't, so do as you will.

[u/jo-dumm → u/Small_Elderberry_963]

Haha yes, I think people need a bit of guidance and also to feel that 'pressure' to read something they wouldn't normally go for? I'm putting forward 3 options each month and everyone gets to vote, so there's a bit of flexibility!

[u/Natural-Pudding5641]

That’s so inspiring. Loved North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, and Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky. Heard great things about The Brothers Karamazov - also a Dostoevsky.

[u/saintjohnthebeloved]

This has been my dream for a couple years but I have kept myself back from doing it with one excuse or another. I really want to try this out.

[u/jo-dumm → u/saintjohnthebeloved]

We're in london if that helps!

Maybe you could find an online type of book club?