Thoughts about reading fiction, nonfiction, & children's books, new & old
Really Old Classics Challenge Retrospective
27Jul2009 Filed under: Blogging Miscellany, Challenges, Non-Reviews Author: Rebecca Reid
The 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
- Hippolytus by Euripides
- The Iliad by Homer (trans. Robert Fagles)
- The Odyssey by Homer (trans. Robert Fagles)
- Utopia by Thomas More
- The Arabian Nights, trans. Husain Huddawy
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.
- Really Old Classics Mini-Challenge Round-Up
- Really Old Classics Challenge
- The Odyssey by Homer, trans. Robert Fagles
- Really Old Classics Challenge
- The Iliad by Homer, trans. Robert Fagles: Love and Hate But Mostly Love
- My Really Old Classics Choices
- Fun Facts about Homer
- Reading The Iliad by Homer, trans. by Robert Fagles
- BBAW Voting is Open + Rebecca Reads Shortlisted!
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This blog is a collection of my thoughts about books and reading and reviews of books I've read. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too. Please share!
For more information about my current challenges and projects, visit my Reading Lists page.
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Congratulations on finishing the challenge. I would love to join up if you launch it again.
I’m probably going to read The Odyssey soon, as someone said you get a much better appreciation of Ulysses if you’ve read it.
Good luck with your carnival. I’m afraid I won’t have any reviews available in time, but look forward to reading it.
Hi Jackie, I’m glad to hear that you’d be interested in the future. I’m not sure when I’ll do it again.
I didn’t join the challenge, but I SHOULD have. I’m really enjoying The Iliad and I now have a list of other really old classics I’d like to tackle.
Just a thought … would you be open to a co-host for the next time? or maybe alternating hosts? I’d definitely be interested.
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Heather J., I just sent you a long email…Thanks for the offer to help! I think I need it…
Oh no! I completely forgot about challenges in my months away from the blogging world. And this one’s over already. Can’t believe how fast time flies…
Thanks again for hosting this one. I really enjoyed what I did get around to reading, and I learnt a lot about translations too! Very educational
Hopefully I’ll finish the rest of the books on my list. I really, really want to read Metamorphoses someday.
tuesday, I completely understand. When someone says “I’m stepping away from blogging” I take that to mean “I’m dropping all my challenges.” You were actually the most active participant in this challenge, so now worries! It’s hard to get all the books read, huh. Good thing we have an entire life!