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The Summer Classic Reading Project

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:Artistic (contact)
Swap categories: Books  Letters & Writing 
Number of people in swap:10
Location:International
Type:Type 2: Flat mail
Last day to signup/drop:June 30, 2009
Date items must be sent by:August 30, 2009
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Take the summer and read a classic novel.

For the purpose of this swap, a classic is defined as a book that would make a high school or college literature teacher/professor proud. Maybe it’s one you skimmed through enough to pass an exam or that book you never got around to reading. You’ll have 2½ months to read the book then send your partner a letter (via post, not e-mail) about your summer classic.

Summer Classic details

Step 1: Choose a book. Post the title and author below in the swap discussion area.

Step 2: Read the book

Step 3: Send your partner a two-page letter (minimum) addressing the following:

a) Why you chose the book

b) Whether this is the first time you’ve read it or is summer 2009 a re-read? If you’ve read it before, what did you take away this time that you missed when you first read it?

c) A plot/story summary

d) Your overall thoughts on the book

Feel free to include any other information in your letter (i.e. author bio; whether you’ve read the book your partner posted she/he was reading over the summer; other classics you want to read, etc.)

Need some help choosing a book?

Feel free to peruse any of the following lists or do a Google search for classics:

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/oct/12/features.fiction

www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100rivallist.html

www.listology.com/list/1001-books-you-must-read-you-die

www.listsofbests.com/list/5884

www.cincinnatilibrary.org/booklists/?id=classics

The small print: International swap. Group membership. 4.8 or higher rating to participate.

Discussion

Swan 06/16/2009 #

Great idea. Behind one of the links I already found a couple of books that I've sitting around to be read. I bought them as used books somewhere thinking they're classics that I should read sometime. So this will give me the motivation to actually pick one of them up and actually read it. I guess by the sign-up date I'll be ready to decide which one and then post it.

ndnchick 06/16/2009 #

I signed up but I need a few days to decide on which one I want to read....LOTR, Atonement or Emma. (they were on the first link) I have all three but just haven't read them. :)

Artistic 06/16/2009 #

Glad to have you both. I too, am trying to narrow it down to one choice. Dickens is a contender at the moment. :)

DebP 06/16/2009 #

so we don't actually send the book off to our partner? I have this on my watch list for now, but I think I'll be joining. I have a couple books in mind, just need to decide. :)

mommyfelicia 06/17/2009 #

I'll go ahead and commit: Catch-22, have not yet gotten around to reading it

BabaKatya 06/21/2009 #

I will be reading Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro. I'm looking forward to being a part of this group.

kgeslab 06/22/2009 #

I'll read To Kill A Mockingbird. I never did read it, so this is a first for me. Thanks for the inspiration, Artistic! I love your swaps!

beaglemom 06/22/2009 #

I am going to read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I had read something else that refered to this book so I mooched it and so this will give me the oppurtunity to read it! I love this idea and thanks for giving us a lot of time to read the book - classics take me a lot of time for some reason...

Artistic 06/22/2009 #

DebP: No, you won't see the book (unless you want to as a swap extra). You'll be mailing a letter to your partner.

Artistic 06/22/2009 #

Oooh, we have some excellent books posted so far.

DebP 06/24/2009 #

OK. I'll play. Since I am reading The Great Gatsby right now, that will probably be my book. But what if I change my mind about the book? Decide on something else that seems better?

aTrueBella 06/26/2009 #

I'm gonna read Wuhering Heights. This is an awesome idea.

secretterrabite 06/28/2009 #

I'm going to read Madame Bovary by Flaubert. I've never read it before and I keep coming across it, hearing it mentioned etc. So I feel drawn to it.

Britt 07/ 1/2009 #

do plays count?

Levenekj 07/ 1/2009 #

Well I just read "Night Train to Lisbon" - by Pascal Mercier An amazing book, that just captured me.

Artistic 07/ 1/2009 #

I'm going to read "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens.

Artistic 07/ 1/2009 #

I'm ready to assign partners, but there are five people who still need to post their selections. Please do so. Thanks.

Swan 07/ 1/2009 #

Sorry, I didn't realize I had to post my selection before partners are assigned.

I've started reading "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas, so that's my selection.

Sasy 07/ 1/2009 #

Oh, I'm very sorry that I'm late. I'm going to read "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov. :)

CayleighTheShell 07/ 1/2009 #

My apologies. I'm going to be reading 2001: A Space Odyssey

ndnchick 07/ 5/2009 #

I'm going to read Atonement.

ndnchick 07/12/2009 #

Can I change my book to LOTR? I can't find my Atonement book (think my mom might have it) but I am currently on a LOTR craze. :)

Artistic 07/17/2009 #

that's fine.

Artistic 08/17/2009 #

a classic reading report is en route to my partner. Enjoy!

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