Since I didn't think that the Back to the Classics reading challenge was going to continue into 2022, I started a book club with my family. I asked for favorite genres and specific book suggestions. There is a genre/theme for each month and 3 books to choose from. I have included the book(s) I plan to read for each month.
The good news is that Back to the Classics 2022 has officially been posted! This will be the 5th year I'm participating! For those not familiar with the reading challenge: There are 12 categories (which are meant to be filled with 12 different books). In order to qualify as a classic, the book has to have been published (or written) 50+ years ago, so 1972 or older. There are several other minor rules (like having to read all the books in 2022), which you can read at the link above. If you are interested in joining the challenge, the deadline to sign up is April 1st. I'd love for others to join me in doing this!
Every year, I try to read a play and a Christmas story. I also am working on 2 author challenges and clearing out my TBR shelf. That being said, I already came up with a book list for my family book club and I'm trying to keep my goals realistic this year. Instead of reading 12 books for the Back to the Classics challenge, I plan on reading 9 books. I will link my reviews below as I finish the books.
Author Challenges - all TBR
Tamora Pierce (American, 1954- )
The Circle Reforged Series (unfinished? TBD)
-The Will of the Empress (2005) - Sandry
-Melting Stones (2008) - Evvy (simultaneous to The Will of the Empress)
-Battle Magic (2013) - Briar (Prequel to The Will of the Empress)
-The Will of the Empress (2005) - Sandry
-Melting Stones (2008) - Evvy (simultaneous to The Will of the Empress)
-Battle Magic (2013) - Briar (Prequel to The Will of the Empress)
Mercedes Lackey (American, 1950- )
The Arrows Trilogy
Family Book Club and Classics
January - Mystery
-No classic category
by GK Chesterton (English, 1874-1936)
February - Romance
-Classic by a female author
by Jane Austen (English, 1775-1817)
March - Feminism
-20th-century classic
by 14 authors, edited by Elizabeth Jordan (American, 1865-1947)
-19th-century classic
by Louisa May Alcott (American, 1832-1888)
April - Fantasy
-No classic category
by Mercedes Lackey (American, 1950- )
by JRR Tolkien (English, 1892-1973)
by Adrienne Young (American, 1985- )
May - Comedy/Satire
-Classic that's been on your TBR list the longest.
Fahrenheit 451 (1953) - TBR
by Ray Bradbury (American, 1920-2012)
June - Thriller
-Classic set in a place you'd like to visit. (London, England)
by GK Chesterton (English, 1874-1936)
July - Romance
-No classic category
Arms and the Man (1894) - Play
by George Bernard Shaw (Irish, 1856-1950)
August - Comedy/Satire
-No classic category
The Carpet People (1971)
by Terry Pratchett (English, 1948-2015)
September - Fantasy
-No classic category
Associated Shades Quartet - TBR
-A House-Boat on the Styx (1895)
-The Pursuit of the House-Boat (1897)
-The Enchanted Type-Writer (1899)
-Mr. Munchausen (1901)
by John Kendrick Bangs (American, 1862-1922)
October - Thriller
-Wild card classic
The Call of Cthulhu (1928)
by HP Lovecraft (American, 1890-1937)
November - Mystery
December - Christmas/Winter
-Classic short story collection
Home for Christmas: Stories for Young and Old (2002) - Christmas
(17 stories first written/published 1841-1966; 3 stories written/published 1922-1996)
by 20 different authors
Non-Month/Genre Connected Classic
Note: In order to have read 9 books for the Back to the Classics challenge, I need to read 1 book from the below options:
The Brave African Huntress (1958) - didn't finish
-Nonfiction Classic
by CS Lewis (British, 1898-1963)
I also have a large TBR shelf if I happen to finish all the other books early. I'm just starting to get back into reading, though, so I'm trying to keep my goal realistic this year. I still have 21 books to read, which seems like a lot - but several are pretty short. We'll see how it goes...
