Saturday 5 January 2013

Classics Club Readathon


The Classics Club readathon is here!  Even though it doesn't techincally start until 1pm GMT, I have decided to just read on the day, January 5th, rather than trying to follow American times.  I was all set to read Bonjour Tristesse, but then last night I was struck with an urge to read something 1930s and miserable.


Enter Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald!  I read about fifty pages or so last night and so far I am enjoying it and already feel more of a connection to it than I did to The Great Gatsby.  The characters are all very rich, but aimless, bored and miserable.  Perfect for January.

I'm probably going to concentrate just on this book today, but if I need a break from it I might still pick up Bonjour Tristesse.  I'm also hoping to spend some time commenting on blogs and being social, as this is my first readathon.

Happy reading everyone!

Edited to add the classics club questionnaire:
  1. Name and Blog: I'm Sam (the female kind) and my blog is called Tiny Library.
  2. Snacks and Beverages of Choice: It's almost 2pm here, I've just had some homemade minestrone soup and croutons for lunch.  I plan to snack on Christmas chocolates throughout the afternoon (dairy milk, yum!) and then I'm visiting my parents for a chicken madras later on.  It's going to be a good food day!
  3. Where are you reading from today? My home, which is near London in the UK.  I'm moving between my sofa and comfy reading chair.
  4. What are your goals for the Readathon? Just to enjoy the day.  I go back to work on Monday so a lovely relaxing day reading is perfect preparation.
  5. What book(s) are you planning on reading? I'm reading 'Tender is the Night' by Fitzgerald.  If I finish that, I'll continue the French Riveria theme and pick up 'Bonjour Tristesse' by Francoise Sagan.
  6. Are you excited? Of course!

19 comments:

  1. This is one Fitzgerald I have not read yet but am hoping to get to soon. Spending the day reading sounds lovely. Enjoy :)

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  2. American time discriminates against us Europeans!
    Your reading choice sounds lovely and the cover is incredibly pretty. Have fun!:)

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  3. You're reminding me that I need to read more Fitzgerald. Maybe I should add Beautiful and the Damned to my list. I hope you have a great day reading!

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  4. I love Fitzgerald and Tender is the Night. This Side of Paradise is also very good if you haven't read it yet. I haven't officially joined the challenge, but am planning on reading and lurking all day today.
    Good luck :)

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  5. I love your description of why Tender Is the Night is perfect for January. Hee. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this one.
    Have a lovely day of reading!

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  6. I will be following this challenge! so many interesting books will be read.

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  7. I like this idea of a readathon.

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  8. I don't know Sagan's novel, so I'll be checking back to see what you think of it. I'm a Fitzgerald fan, so I think you've got a great list! Have a great day! --Harrieet

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  9. I haven't read ANY Fitzgerald yet so I'll be interested to hear how you like Tender Is The Night. :)

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  10. Mmm, minestrone and cookies!

    I wanted to read The Great Gatsby today since I never finished it in high school, but was surprised to find that I don't have it. Oh well. Enjoy your Fitzgerald pick!

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  11. What a lovely book cover! I haven't read any Fitzgerald since high school and will be looking forward to your thoughts.

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  12. Have fun reading :) I haven't read Fitzgerald since we read The Great Gatbsy years ago in high school. Definitely want to try this one :)

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  13. I've only read The Great Gatsby so I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on this one. Have a lovely reading day. :-)

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  14. Oh I have longed to read Tender is the Night for some time now so I'm glad you're reading it. Best of luck!

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  15. Good luck with your Fitzgerald.
    I debated which Fitzgerald to do as TITN is also on my list...but my copy doesn't have the amazing art deco cover that my copy of The Beautiful and Damned does...so the pretty cover won!
    Brona's Books

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  16. I'll be really interested to read your thoughts on Bonjour Tristesse. I have great affection for it because it got me out of my reading rut, but I do believe my review of it was one of the worst reviews I've ever written! (I was off the mark on a number of points, I'm afraid)

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  17. I'm so very jealous of your Fitzgerald. I'm reading Infinite Jest, which I like a lot, but I love the Fitzgerald world. Much better for a readathon

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  18. Tender is the Night is one of my all-time favorite books. In my opinion, it (and not Great Gatsby) is Fitzgerald's masterpiece. It's highly underrated, though of course most readers & scholars consider it to be a great book - just not "as great" as that "great American novel" we're all forced to read in school. I sound bitter, but actually, I've read Gatsby 3 times and love it more every time. Tender is the Night just holds a special place in my heart - it hits deeper and on a more personal level.

    Anyway - rambling done. Good luck! Have fun!

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  19. Hi Sam! I hope you had a great readathon. I had my nose in my book the entire readathon--not very sociable of me! I am a Gatsby fanatic myself, but I remember also loving Tender is the Night when I read it many years ago. I read Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses, which was even better than I expected.

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