The Classics Club: Spin#42
I hope I’m not setting myself up for a fall with the latest round of the Classics Club spin. I did so well last time, reading the selected book, Scoop by Evelyn Waugh, ahead of the “deadline”. Can I be lucky again??
For the 42nd Classics Club spin, I’ve revamped the list I used last time around. This new version has six more books in translation with authors from France, Germany, Jamaica and Croatia. They’ve replaced Edith Wharton, Patrick White and Dorothy Whipple.
Here’s my new spin list.
- The Nose by Nikolay Gogol (1836)
- Cousin Bette by Honoré De Balzac (1846)
- A Sentimental Education by Gustav Flaubert (1869)
- A Study In Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (1886)
- New Grub Street by George Gissing (1891)
- What Maisie Knew by Henry James (1897)
- Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan (1915)
- Anderby Wold by Winifred Holtby (1923)
- Quartet by Jean Rhys (1929)
- The Edwardians by Vita Sackville West (1930)
- Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (1932)
- Princes in the Land by Joanna Cannan (1938)
- On the Edge of Reason by Miroslav Krleža
- Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)
- Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry (1947)
- Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada (1947)
- No Highway by Neville Shute (1948)
- The Far Cry by Emma Smith (1949)
- In the Castle of My Skin by George Lamming (1953)
- Strike for a Kingdom, Menna Gallie (1959)
I’ll get to discover on Sunday (19th October) which of these books has “won” the spin. Then all I have to do is read it by 21st December 2025.
If this list was yours, which titles would you be hoping to see come up in the spin??
No Highway by Nevil Shute — #ClassicsClub : BookerTalk
[…] Highway was the book I landed in the ClassicsClub Spin#42. I’m astounded that I read it well before the “deadline” of December […]
hopewellslibraryoflife
Good choices–Princes of the Land is on my list, too. Cold Comfort Farm is fun! Grapes of Wrath….spare me.
BookerTalk
Oh well now I know `i didn’t get any of these!
Karen
I’ve read four of the books on your list – The Grapes of Wrath, A Study in Scarlet, Thirty-Nine Steps, and Cold Comfort Farm. I haven’t heard of most of the others believe it or not. I need to look some of these up! Good luck with the spin!
BookerTalk
I didn’t get any of these. I did however end up with something that sounds very readable – No Highway by Neville Shute
Margaret
I’d be hoping to get Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck because although it is longer than some of the others on your list I loved it.
BookerTalk
One day I will get around to it….
Jane
I’ve actually read a few and loved them but I suppose I would choose The Thirty Nine steps for a dark evening read!
BookerTalk
It also has the benefit of being one of the shorter ones in my list. I’m familiar with the plot having seen various film versions so I’m intrigued to find out whether the book is different
kaggsysbookishramblings
Love your list – would probably be happy with any of them!
BookerTalk
I just hope its not one of the really long ones that I get
WordsAndPeace
Great list, I have raed 6 of them. I would actually enjoy rereading your #3.
And wouldn’t mind 3 for my list: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/10/13/the-classics-club-the-classics-spin-42/
BookerTalk
I did love Madame Bovary so am sort of hoping this Flaubert is just as good
Davida Chazan
I’ve only read Grapes of Wrath from your list, but that was over 50 years ago. I recall it being a hard read, though. Good luck with the pick. My list goes up on Saturday.
BookerTalk
The subject of the Steinbeck does seem fairly grim from what my husband has told me, but still engrossing.
Calmgrove
I’d hope to get the Gogol, particularly as I stalled on a brief collection of Gogol’s short stories when seeking authors with a connection to Ukraine (he was born there) – I do need to complete them, including (as they do) ‘The Nose’.
BookerTalk
I think I’ve read a couple of his short stories though I have little recollection of the details. One of them was something about a religious settlement on an island
FictionFan
I hope you get Strike for a Kingdom because I’d like to hear what you think of it!
BookerTalk
It was thanks to you that I learned about this book!