really-old-classics2-copy1The Really Old Classics Challenge, which I’ve been hosting, ends this week.

If you participated in this challenge, I’d love to know what you think now that it’s coming to an end.

But first, if you’d like, go to the reviews post and leave a link to your reviews so we can come read your thoughts.

  • How well did you do on completing your reading goals?
  • What was your favorite book read?
  • What was your least favorite book?
  • What would you have liked to be different in the administration of this challenge?
  • Would you be interested in joining a similar type of challenge in the future?

I started this challenge in October 2008 kind of on a whim, and I feel that my energy for the program has wavered a bit through the past ten months. I didn’t know what I was doing as a challenge host, and I feel I didn’t provide enough motivation for participation. I feel I’ve learned a lot.

I’d love to host a similar challenge in the future (maybe not for another year or so). If I did so, it would be hosted on its own blog, there would be mini-challenges, and there would be prizes for participation. I probably would go for a shorter period of time, although I’m not sure what time of year would be best. I’d also make it more structured; I thought the “choose the number of books you’d like to read” format would make it easy, but sometimes more structure is better.

Even if you haven’t been participating in this challenge, keep in mind that I’m looking for any reviews of really old classics for the upcoming Bookworms Carnival. Details here.

My Progress

I had made a goal to read five works for this challenge, and I met it. I read

I intended to read The Aeneid as well, but I didn’t get to it. While I enjoyed each read (even though some were difficult), my favorite by far was The Iliad. I love it so much I hope to revisit another translation of The Iliad next year. I do want to continue reading really old classics. The reviews that others shared just got me eager to read those books too. There is so much good stuff out there.