Week Two/Three

So, I didn't realise that we were supposed to be keeping weekly bulletins. Whoops. Please forgive me-I'll be better from now on!

So far, I've read two of my picks-Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

I chose The Turn of the Screw because I wanted a little bit of horror on my list. I'm only reading classics for this challenge, and I'd read about The Turn in quite a few places-all I knew was that it involved a governess and ghosts. So, I felt that it was time to actually read it! Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it that much, but since it was a short novella, I want to reread it before posting an actual review. I really enjoys James in novel form, but this is the second novella of his I've read, and I just don't seem to get too much out of them. I'm hoping that a second reading, and this time reading the introduction in my version of it, will allow me appreciate it a little more. I'll keep you updated!

I loved Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I wanted to read it, because I've read Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights, so it seemed only fair to read one of Anne's books. I chose it over Agnes Grey since it seemed to have a more interesting plotline. :) I really like Anne's writing style: she's more realistic than her sisters, and I suspect she had more of a sense of humour as well. For a full review, check out this post on my blog. It seems that most people aren't putting actualy reviews on this community blog, but please let me know if I'm wrong. :)

Next up is Les liaisons dangerueses. It should be an interesting switch, from an American gothic book condemning alcohol and lasciviousness to a French, decadent, eighteenth century novel glorifying corruption. At least, that's what I've heard. ;)

Introduction

Hi everyone! I'm Eva from A Striped Armchair. I haven't been able to begin reading yet (I graduated from college on the 2nd, and I've been moving since then), but I hope to start soon. In the meantime, I'll introduce my list. I decided to make the Summer Reading Challenge a sequel to the winter classics challenge. I love classics. :) Here's my list-I'm hoping to read all ten by the end of summer. We'll see!

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Cecilia by Frances Burney

Emma by Jane Austen

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Candide by Voltaire

Cousin Bette by Honare de Balzac

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

The Scarlet Pimpernel by the Baroness Orzcy

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope

Dangerous Liasons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

Meanwhile, I look forward to reading everyone else's entries!