Would anyone like to join me in a modern classics challenge for 2015?

[mmack]

This year I read some very good books but a lot of mediocre ones as well. So next year I plan to read 12 modern classics that I haven't read before. Would anyone be interested in doing something similar? Or in discussing any of the books with me? My list is below. It's a bit male-dominated but that's because I tend to read mostly female writers so the classics I haven't read are mostly by male writers.

1. Saul Bellow; Herzog 2. Martin Amis; Money 3. Truman Capote; In Cold Blood 4. John Updike; Rabbit, Run 5. Philip Roth; American Pastoral. 6. Kent Haruf; Plainsong 7. Kurt Vonnegut; Slaughterhouse 5 8. Iris Murdoch; The Sea, The Sea 9. Doris Lessing; The Golden Notebook 10. Margaret Atwood; The Handmaid's Tale 11. Ron Moody; The Ice-Storm 12. J.M. Coetzee; Disgrace.

I hate RL crime stuff ...

I will probably need therapy afterwards ...

The beautiful Folio edition isn't in the sale ...

It'll get lost in the New Year post ...

"HELP! Strangers on the Internet are bankrupting me "

Amazon says I might have it by the 2nd Jan ...

In Cold Blood is absolutely brilliant, and very very easy to read. (Journalistic but not sensational)

Can I join in? I love reading but my reading habits have left a lot to be desired over the last year.

Quite excited to be starting with in cold blood.

That is true LeBear. But I'm not sure I'm keen on the new "approved list" either. I wish "literature from Africa" didn't have to be about "African issues" to merit Western interest ...

I'd like to join in but am a bit lost - is there a definitive list yet? Seems to have been tons of interesting suggestions!

EvenFlo, I'm reading one book a month for my list in the original post. I picked In Cold Blood for January. A good few other posters are reading In Cold Blood too. I started a thread for it but I need to bump it up the page. I am hoping that people will join me for a book-club type discussion on the evening of Mon 26th January.
Some people have posted lists of books they plan to read this year also and hopefully will start threads about the other books too.

Will there be a thread for you guys reafing ICB?

I have read it many times so won't re-read, but would like to throw some questions/observations out to you if that's ok?

Could we not keep the off piste reading on this thread?

(That way I'll have all my new besties in one place ... And it'll be easier to keep up with the authorised list as well.)

zero that has my vote .

I want to know what everyone is reading in addition or instead of ICB.

I got a kindle for Xmas and DH has downloaded hundreds of books for me! If I didn't know better I could swear he has been on this thread!

I am both screaming with joy and frustration! What will I read ? Aaaggghhhhh.

Perhaps now is not the time to mention I started reading The Shock of the Fall this morning ( from DD's Xmas pile ).

Also can I ask OP what will be February's book?

I want to make sure I leave enough time/ space to read it, or re- read if necessary.

Sounds good. I need a list.

At the moment I can't handle anything as dark as In Cold Blood but may join in with the thread for the February choice when that title's decided.

So I'll be posting regularly on this thread for my non-book club choices, and I think my first modern classic will be Stoner, or The Secret History.

Zero, mmack - I also love the film of The Accidental Tourist so even if the book is half as good as the film I'll be happy.

I am currently reading a Jack Reacher book. Nothing much to discuss about that though. I got the latest Wally Lamb book for Christmas so will probably read that next before In Cold Blood. I got a John Updike book too but not the one on my original list.

southeast The Secret History is one of my fave books of all time.

It is one of those incredible feats of impeccable craft and blistering plot.

The Handmaid's Tale is going to be my February book as I've been meaning to read it for so long.

Then I think American Pastoral will be the March book because I really enjoyed Nemesis so I want to read another Philip Roth book soon. Southeastdweller-I ordered Stoner from the library so should have it sometime next week. We can discuss it off piste, to use Zero's expression.

Happy new year everyone

What's everyone's first modern classic for 2015? Mine's Stoner and starting it next week.

Happy New Year!

Gentle start for me: C. Day Lewis The Otterbury Incident today.

Happy to talk about Stoner anytime. (Wish I had a paper copy so I could underline small brilliances.)

Will start In Cold Blood as soon as it arrives, maybe tomorrow. (Wish I'd downloaded it so I could delete afterwards if necessary ...)

And I'm changing my mind every day about the twelfth book for my own list. Today it's Sarah Ruhl In The Next Room - The Vibrator Play.

Read a few of mmacks books so DH has come up with some books to fill the gaps. Starting with Antony Burgess Earthly Powers. Anyone read?

And American Pastoral is a work of god like genius.

I've started in cold blood and finding it a good read thus far.

Will keep it at that until a few more have read it.

Magnificent day. C.Day Lewis in print, Tolstoy on the radio ...

I know I've read lots of Anthony Burgess. Unfortunately I don't remember a single thing - even though I was so immersed at the time that the stories used to turn up in my dreams.

Zero, Have you read Elizabeth Jane Howard's autobiography? Cecil-Day Lewis features in it a lot. I put Martin Amis on my list of classics partly because of his connection to her.

No. Isn't there a R4 feature on her - is it this coming weekend? Seem to have heard Amis in the trailer.

Btw are there any C. P Snow fans here? One of the characters in Stoner reminded me of a Strangers and Brothers character.

I'd like to join. I don't read anywhere near as much as I used to.

I'll have a think about my list. I hated Slaughterhouse 5 though. Thought it was a load of rubbish. Handmaid's tale was good and I might re-read it.

I haven't read any of the others in the OP's original list.

Southeastdweller, I ordered Stoner and In Cold Blood from the library so should have them both next week. I just started We are Water by Wally Lamb. It's OK so far but I'm not loving it as much as his others.