2010 Sign-Up
It is time for the new installment of the Really Old Classics Reading Challenge, so buckle your seat belts and get ready for lots of fun. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage everyone to read old works of literature that may not be on your everyday radar. A lot of these works have stood the test of time and for the most part we have enjoyed all the ones we’ve read, so we want to share that feeling with you.
Now you may be asking yourself, “What is a really old Classic?” Let us answer that for you, for the purposes of this challenge, really old classics are anything written before 1600 AD. Now obviously most of the translations we will be reading for the challenge have been done since then but that’s fine, all that matters is that the work was originally written before the 1600s.
The challenge will run for 4 months starting on Sept. 1, 2010 and ending on Dec. 31st, 2010. By the way, the rules couldn’t be easier. All you have to do to complete this challenge is read one work, that’s it. How easy is that!
Now for those of you whom may be feeling a little bit more ambitious, we have something for you as well. You can become a certified ”Classicist” by reading 4 pre 1600 works between Sept. 1st and Dec. 31st.
We are going to be generous with this challenge and throw in some “extra credit” as well. For a little bit of extra fun, go ahead and read a retelling of a really old classic. It can be a retelling of the work you read for the first part of the challenge or something completely different. No matter what you read, have fun with it.
So have we talked you into joining yet? If you just can’t resist, then sign up in the comments below and let us know you are going to be joining us on our journey. If you think you may be interested in becoming a “Classicist” or in doing the extra credit you can let us know now in your comment or surprise us later.
You don’t have to have a blog to join the challenge but if you do, go ahead and do a sign up post on your blog letting everyone else know what’s going on. You can grab one of the buttons and you should sign up to follow this blog so you can get updates and idea for what to read. Plus you’ll get to see what everyone else is reading.
There were some great lists of reading suggestions that were put together last year, you can find them all here. Or you can click on some of the individual lists if you would like. Here’s on to get you started. Here’s another list of Chinese and Japanese suggestions. And here’s another list of some suggestions for retellings.
If you review a book on your blog, please come back and leave a link on the 2010 reviews page.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask us, there are three of us hosting this challenge this year and all of us will be more than happy to help you out.
Heather J at Age 30+ …A Lifetime of Books
Ryan at Wordsmithonia
Michelle at Literarily Speaking
I’m in! And I definitely plan on going for Classicist and extra credit, but I make no definite promises.
I’m in! This gives me just the incentive I need to read the Divine Comedy by Dante (which has been on my TBR list forever). Don’t know that I’ll make the lofty goal of Classicist, tho. Although my current Boss in the English Department would be proud if I did considering her field….
[...] 2010 Sign-Up [...]
Sign me up. I will read at least one…and maybe a retelling. But I really doubt I’ll do four. But hey, you never know.
Sign me up-this will be my second year!-I will for sure read at least one
[...] 2010 Sign-Up [...]
I’m going for one, maybe two books
http://readinginthenorth.blogspot.com/2010/09/really-old-classics-challenge-intro.html
Sign me up !
So far, everyone that’s signed up is listed in the sidebar!
Welcome, all!
I saw Suey’s sign-up post for this challenge,and after thinking about it…I am gamed.
I will read one really old classic. Part of me is nervous about being able to manage reading one of these books because sometimes I become a bit bored and/or lost with the old language. Nevertheless, I am going for it.
I am not certain which book I will read, but I have short-listed The Faerie Queene and Utopia. I think I am leaning more towards Utopia because it was the sentimental book for the character Danielle (Drew Barrymore) in the movie Ever After. I loved that movie.
Please sign me up for this! I’ll read at least one, but probably won’t manage four.
I’ll join in for one book! I was already hoping to read The Quest of the Holy Grail before the end of the year.