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Smiling Shelves

A Way to Conquer Your Classics Club List

10/6/2016

2 Comments

 
I don't know about you, but I always wish that I would read more classics. Instead, my time is spent with the new, shiny books - all of which are very good. But there's just something different about escaping into the world of Anthony Trollope or Charles Dickens. That's why I signed up for the Classics Club back in 2013. I created a list of 51 books that I needed to read within 5 years. This seemed like the perfect way to include the classics in my regular reading.

Well, I've certainly gone in spurts, sometimes reading lots of classics and sometimes going for months without picking one up. I have currently read 28 out of my 51 books, and I have just under 2 years left to finish the list. That seems like a pretty tall order.

And then, I discovered Serial Reader through a post on The Broke and the Bookish. Serial Reader will send you a chunk of a classic book to read every day. (Let me say right now that I am in no way being compensated for raving about this app. I just really love it!) Each chunk takes between 10 and 20 minutes to read. They have a wide range of literature divided into genres. It's easy to find something to read, and you can always request the book you're looking for if they don't already have it. There is everything from Sherlock Holmes stories (which are 2-4 issues long) to Moby Dick (79 issues) and War and Peace (235 issues). You also earn badges for various accomplishments, which I have to admit is always strangely motivating to me.

Right now, I'm halfway through The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. It's so easy to spend 10 minutes a day reading, and just like that, I'm halfway through checking another book off my Classics Club list!

Since I'm sure that I'm not the only one looking for a way to fit more classics into my reading life, I thought I would share the wonders of the Serial Reader app. Try it out for yourself! It's fun!
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2 Comments
Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
10/12/2016 11:54:54 am

I joined the Classics Club in 2013 as well and have quite a way still to go -- you're definitely ahead of me! I also learned about this app recently. It sounds really interesting, but I haven't tried it yet because I'm not a big fan of reading on my phone. Though on the other hand, I waste a lot of time on my phone anyway, so maybe this would be better!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
10/12/2016 09:50:09 pm

I'm not very fond of reading on my phone, either, but I figured I spend a lot of time doing nothing on it while I'm feeding my little guy. Might as well use it for something productive! I couldn't read for a long time on my phone, but I can handle ten minutes a day! :)

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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