Happy 2009! I hope that all of you had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year! Thank you for all the greetings here... and for my birthday last week too! A new year... Lots of possibilities ahead--I thrill to it all!
Last year there was a tag/meme going around blogland, a kind of quiz about how many of the classics in literature one has read. Remember that one? I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that I had read about 90 of the 100 great works on the lists. What I realized though, is that many of them I read soooo long ago, in my late teens/early 20's. So thinking about this, and especially now at the turn of the year, this has inspired me to re-read, rediscover the classics again in 2009! I've noticed there are a few different classics lists floating around out there, so what I will do is just pick and choose from them--not being too rigid or ultra-disciplined in this, and take this whole project as it moves me through the months ahead. In the sidebar I will display what I'm currently reading, and with a link so you too can discover the classics. Perhaps you'd like to read along with me? Taking a look at the lists, I then peeked around our home library and pulled some classic reads to consider starting 2009 with... T.S. Eliot, Sylvia Plath, Tolkien, Tolstoy, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy... Tough choice, and I'm still deciding, but will select something this weekend and dig into a good book!
This is a little view of the library corner in our living room. We have books scattered all over the house, shelves in most rooms except the bathroom! So we're not suffering for lack of reading, and there are many classic books here... and what we don't have on the shelves, our local library can supply. I'm excited about this project!
And with classics still in mind for 2009, classical music will also feature greatly at our house. Dear Husband and I subscribe to BBC Music Magazine, which we both enjoy so much. It is one of the best publications dedicated to classical music and opera. With the December 2008 issue of the magazine, a fun calendar arrived for 2009. Each month a different composer is featured and a brief list of his/her works. (Fantastic caricature drawings of each composer are by the brilliant illustrator Robert Risko.) This calendar gave us the idea to bring even more classical music and opera to our days in the months ahead. Every week we'll select a work by the month's featured composer and listen. Dear Husband and I have been wanting something new to do together, and especially with the cozy evenings of winter so well suited to hibernating with good music as well as good books... So we will be rediscovering the world of classical music. In the sidebar I will also link to what composers and works we'll be listening to for you to discover them too, if you like. Johann Strauss II is the composer selected for January. We have a good-sized music library as well as a book-filled home library, but oddly we don't have much of Johann Strauss II on CD, so a trip to our local library very soon will remedy that!
Rather than resolutions and all the connotations with those, I'm thinking of 2009 as more of a time of adventure--new things to try, things to rediscover and revisit. Classic reads and sounds will make a great start to this journey! These and much more ahead here at Pink Purl!
What does your New Year look like? What will you be doing? Where will you be going? How will you be growing?
May you find moments of magic, discovery and adventure in 2009!
Update: I've added to the right sidebar links to my current classic reading and listening. It's probably no surprise that I've chosen a personal favorite, Pride and Prejudice, to begin this year of reading the classics!
I, too, love the classics Tracy. You know how big my library is and thankfully it's not just filled with cookbooks. I just finished a novel yesterday and was going through my books before bed last night trying to decide what I am going to read next. I decided upon a novel called Beauty, which I have already read a couple of times, but I love. I am going to try quite simply as I try to do each year, to build a better me! Sending lots of love your way and hoping for a chat this weekend as well! XXOO
Posted by: Marie | January 03, 2009 at 11:32 AM
As I probably told before, I’m not much of a reader, being too restless to sit quietly. I do love classical music though, so I’m curious to read about your new discoveries and adventures!
I hope 2009 will have lots in store for you, your sweet man and your sweet cat Charlie !!
I made one resolution for 2009... not to make any resolutions! LOL!
I will take one day at a time and see how life unfolds this year! I hope 2009 does not fly by like 2008 did...
Hugs)))
Posted by: nicolette | January 03, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Oh, Tracy! LOVE this post. Yes, I'd love to read along with you. I'll listen too, but our library is severely limited music wise. They say that it's not the books you read that say the most about you, it's the books you re-read.
Posted by: Shayla | January 03, 2009 at 06:14 PM
I have books everywhere too. I've resolved not to buy any new ones until the unread ones have been read! Take care. x
Posted by: Kitty | January 03, 2009 at 06:14 PM
I have left my love of reading behind of late. I am sure it has something to do with my migraines... but I do so love it. I enjoy all types of literature but especially those authors that succeed in taking me in from my reality into some one else's. It's always a thrill to be so immersed in the story that it is like living in a alternate reality! HA!
Posted by: Rosie's Whimsy | January 03, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Good morning, Tracy,
You've read 90 out of 100! That's impressive! Me and hubby love classics too. When our children were babies we tried to instill classical sounds to them by playing classical musics all the time...sadly, it hasn't worked, yet. ;)
Happy reading my friend!
nance
Posted by: Nance | January 03, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Happy classic reading Tracy. May I join you? Which one will you start with?
I have started a kind of music section in my Blue Café food blog. With each post/recipe I include a classic cd, and I tell why I play it :-) Come take a look.
I might write about some classic books tomorrow, may be we should start something together here .-)
Posted by: BrittArnhild | January 03, 2009 at 06:15 PM
Very cool! I love the classics. I took A-P English my senior year of high school and I tested out of a bunch of English lit/english comp classes for college because of it, which stalled my learning of English, however, I felt so inspired by the depth of the classics...I've been writing poetry since I was 4, but that year and several years thereafter I was determined to be a writer. I still am, just not so dreamy...I really should get to work on that dream, huh!? Well, thanks for the trip down memory lane, LOL! Enjoy your classic novels and I look forward to what you have to say about them! :) Thanks for being such a good bloggy friend, Tracy! Sure love ya! Give Charlie a scritchy scratch under his chin and behind his ears and tell TJ hi from me.
Posted by: tattingchic | January 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Hi Tracy!
Happy 2009 to you and your husband and may the new year be full of joys and blessings.
I love your book shelves and reading nook --so bright and cheerful!
I am very much like you in that I was a voracious reader in my late teens and early 20's and read most of the classics then. I'm sure I'd appreciate some of them much more now with my more "mature" views of life, so I think your plan to re-visit some classics sounds like a nice goal. Since my grandson has been named Leo I have been contemplating re-reading some of the Leo Tolstoy classics I enjoyed in my youth. I have "Anna Karenina" at my bedside, in fact!
My husband and I attend 5 operas a year at the NYC Met, and we have been adding all new operas the past few year branching out from our favorite Italian composers to French and German composers. We have been pleasantly surprised how much we've enjoyed all of the new productions! There is such an abundance of beautiful music in the world that it does make the long winter evenings something to look forward to, doesn't it?
Hugs, Pat
Posted by: Pat | January 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
That is a wonderful goal that you have set for yourself! I think I have about 10 books sitting on my shelf to read and I don't think I'll get to many of them until the summer. I do my best reading when I'm not in school. I look forward to see what you will be reading.
I didn't make a new year's resolution. I just want to enjoy each day to its fullest and be the best me I can be!!
take care,
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn | January 03, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Happy New Year Tracy.
When I feel like being adventurious with books I buy an anthology and if I like an author there I will look in to getting a whole book by them. I am reading Mythspring at the moment with Canadian authors and have found 3 so far! I think that is a record. When I get into an author I try to read their works in the order of composition or in the order that makes best sense if they are of the same characters.
I have a theory that books are breeding in the corners of this house LOL
Good luck with the classical composers. I love Bach best I think- very logical when you listen.
Posted by: Melanie | January 04, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Happy New Year, Tracy! Great ideas for new year adventures. I don't have any real resoltions this year - more to just carry on with some of the habits I started last year, and to make the most of the last months I'll have before both children are at school.
Posted by: dottycookie | January 04, 2009 at 02:49 PM
My classic post is up, with a link to yours.
Posted by: BrittArnhild | January 04, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Thanks for stopping by, Tracy!
While I was working at Borders, I resolved to read the classics every summer. That never worked out very well, though! Good luck with your resolution - I hope to pick up some suggestions along the way.
Hmmm...I wonder if I could do a post on Pennsylvanian artisans living abroad... ;)
Posted by: Tara | January 04, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Such an interesting post!
Yes, the classics never let one down. They didn't get to be classics for nothing!
I'm so glad we in blogland share our passions with like-minded people.
I have discovered a wonderful publisher in England called PERSEPHONE books (you can google them) they issue mostly 20th century women writers - some small classics of wonderful writing.
You should send for their wonderful catalogue.
Happy reading and happy everything, dear Tracy
Posted by: ewix | January 04, 2009 at 07:42 PM
What a wonderful plan. I, too, read most of the classics when I was younger, and I would love to revisit them.
Happy New Year.
Posted by: Beverly | January 04, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Hello my dear friend Tracy. Your 2009 reading and music goals are impressive. I too read so many classics as a young woman but I was only exposed to classical music later in my life. My niece is a classical music piano artist. She is amazing and she used to play semi-professionally, but now with children of her own, she teaches. I do have a pretty complete library of the classics and I keep telling myself I will read them all, some again and some I haven't read. It would be a daunting task to say the least. You just have to start, one book at a time.
Best wishes in the New Year and with your plans to improve your knowledge. I think it is lovely that your dh will be involved too. He is a keeper for sure. smile.
Hugs, Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
In case my attempts to post from the beach failed (dial-up woes) - here's a big Happy Birthday to you!!!
I'm continually impressed with how literate knitters/bloggers are in general ~ and you are certainly no exception. P&P is one of my all time favorite books.
It occurs to me you might enjoy Wolf Winter (not a classic ~ but it's set in Norway). Add it to next year's reading list!
Posted by: Mr Puffy | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Hello Tracy, so much to catch up on in your blog as I have not been around for a while. What lovely thoughts about books and music. I have been pondering the book question just this weekend and will post my thoughts in a day or two. Happy New Year!
love
Sheila
Posted by: sheila jones | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
No resolutions at Willow's Cottage, just hopes and goals. Read from my own book shelves. I'm reading a book for an author friend and will be doing a book review when I finish. I think this year that I'll let my reading go where it wills. Last year's focus on history didn't work out so well.
Posted by: willow | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
How interesting and Happy Belated Birthday. I have read most of Pride and Prejudice, and find that it is a little hard to follow. So I prefer the BBC/PBS remakes. I will definitly check out the BBC music thing. Happy New Year and enjoy your upcoming adventures.
Posted by: Lacey | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Looks like you'll have a good year of reading. I have P&P on my TBR list for this year also :) I read Persuasion last year and loved it.
Posted by: Tammy | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Hi,Tracy,welcome back,and thanks for your lovely letter and comments! Sorry for not catching up earlier,we still have computerproblems...
I'm a reader,but I've not read many of the classics, it's more Agatha Christie, Dan Brown, Anne Cath.Vestly and J.K. Rowling...so Im really impressed with your list! It will be fun to follow,and it's always nice to get suggestions for new books to read!
Take care:-)
Posted by: marit | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Mr Darcy and Elizabeth! Good first choice. I'm SO inspired reading your post. I am planning on discussing this with hubby when he comes home! What fun. I love love love the classics... in music and literature. I just may have to join you. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Stacey | January 05, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Hello Tracy!
There are few things as wonderful as curling up with a good book! I love to read, especially poetry, short stories and books that empower!:o) Looks like you will have a year of wonderful reading. I myself have no real resolutions for this new year, but like you I plan to take on a few new things and continue with my present ventures!:o) I will be posting a giveaway sometime today, a little something special before surgery. When possible drop by!:o) Wishing you a beautiful week!
Smiles....
Beverly
Posted by: tea time and roses | January 05, 2009 at 07:44 PM