Back to the Classics Challenge 2022

Published on by Margaret

It’s back! This is the 9th year that Karen at Books and Chocolate has hosted the Back to the Classics Challenge and this is the second time I’ll be joining in. Last year I completed 6 of the categories and this year I’m hoping to do more,

See Karen’s sign-up post on Books and Chocolate for more details about the challenge.

There are twelve categories and these are the books I’ve initially chosen for some of the categories – but there are others I could choose, so this list may/probably will change.

  1. A 19th century classic. Any book first published from 1800 to 1899 – David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  2. A 20th century classic. Any book first published from 1900 to 1972. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1972 and posthumously published. Another Part of the Wood by Beryl Bainbridge
  3. A classic by a woman author. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
  4. A classic in translation.  Any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer. 
  5. A classic by BIPOC author. Any book published by a non-white author. The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
  6. Mystery/Detective/Crime Classic. It can be fiction or non-fiction (true crime). The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
  7. A Classic Short Story Collection. Any single volume that contains at least six short stories. The book can have a single author or can be an anthology of multiple authors. The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
  8. A Pre-1800 Classic. Anything written before 1800. Plays and epic poems, such as the Odyssey, are acceptable in this category. 
  9. A Nonfiction Classic. Travel, memoirs, and biographies are great choices for this category. In Cold Blood. by Truman Capote
  10. A Classic That’s Been on Your TBR List the Longest. Find the classic book that’s been hanging around unread the longest, and finally cross it off your list!  
  11. A Classic Set in a Place You’d Like to Visit. Can be real or imaginary — Paris, Tokyo, the moon, Middle Earth, etc. It can be someplace you’ve never been, or someplace you’d like to visit again.
  12. A Wild Card Classic. Any classic you like, any category, as long as it’s at least 50 years old!

16 thoughts on “Back to the Classics Challenge 2022”

  1. This looks like a really interesting challenge, Margaret! I like the breadth of categories, and you’ve chosen some fine reads, too. I’m especially interested in what you’ll think of the Capote. That’s certainly a classic, but it’s not universally loved. I’ll look forward to your other reviews, too!

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  2. Hi Margaret! Enjoyed your post and was very happy to see this challenge was back (I’ve participated for the past three years, but never managed to complete it). I really liked In Cold Blood, although as Margot points out, it’s not to every one’s taste. I don’t think I’ve read any of your other choices (although I love Beryl Bainbridge’s novel) so I’ll look forward to reading your posts!

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    2. I also like Beryl Bainbridge (forgot to put an “s” on the “novel” in my comment); at some point I want to do a project where I read them all. Last year I read one of her latter ones, Every Man for Himself, and loved it. So I eagerly await your thoughts on Another Part of the Wood, not to put any pressure on you or anything!

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  3. I’m almost certain I’m going to give this a go this year. I would probably just try to read half a dozen though, rather than every prompt. I’ll think on it.

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  6. I’ve been dithering whether to join this or go fora second round of the classics club. My hesitation is that I don’t do too well with challenges that I have to decide in advance on specific books

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  7. I’m still dithering about going for a second round of the classics club too. Although you have to list which books you’re going to read you can change them at any time, which works quite well for me.

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  8. Glad to hear you are doing this challenge also! In Cold Blood is chilling, good, but haunting. I think David Copperfield is my favorite Dickens–I did a reread not too long ago, and enjoyed it just as much as ever. I’ll be interested how you like The Black Tulip–I’ve been wanting to read Dumas and this appeals to me.

    Happy Reading!

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  9. I never sign up for these challenges but every time you list them I spend some happy time seeing which boxes I could tick! I could get most of these from the books I have planned for the Classics Club this year, but I’d have to give some thought to the short stories and the pre-1800. Enjoy your choices!

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