More on the Turn of the Century Salon.

Taken tonight.

The sunset tonight was remarkable on the way home. Already, I've noticed it stays light that little bit longer. When this picture was taken, it was about four o' clock, and by the time we were driving back the sky was incredible - I wish I could have taken a picture. In the east, it was already dark - the sky was the darkest plum, like a bruise, but in the west the sky was still light - delicate pinks and purples, however the horizon was lined with a thick, blackest of black cloud. Spectacular.

I've been looking forward to coming home today. This afternoon was somewhat wasted - missed a bus, then a train was cancelled, and when I eventually got to my mother's, it was almost time to come home again. And tomorrow, well, there's lots to do, but Big C has a day off, and since the middle of November, he's only had three days off. I'm also looking forward to an early night - I'm desperate to settle with one of my books; either Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky (really loving it so far), or Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (I can't say I'm enjoying it terribly, but even so I want to read it). And, as I said on Twitter - The Conquest of Plassans arrived today - the fourth Zola in the 'Rougon Macquart' cycle. I promised myself tonight I would make good progress with one of my books before starting it, but whatever the case is, I've decided to start it tomorrow! So excited: I've not read a Zola since The Belly of Paris. Now I have the series up to the 11th book, so for a while there should be no long reading gaps. And, as I've said and as others say, this series does not have to be read in order, this is just my preference. If you want to try Zola, you must pick whatever book calls to you. No need at all to read them in order.

I've also been thinking some more about Katherine's 'Turn of the Century Salon'. I've blogged a little bit about how I'm going to approach this, but consider this my official introduction post! Katherine has some questions up, so here are a few of my answers...

What draws you to read the Classics?

I have answered this question so many times (here are two posts: Reading the Classics and On Hating the Classics) but I never tire of answering it! In short: I read the classics for many reasons, but mainly to understand life and living, and to feel a part of something; the history and the connection to something so much bigger than myself. It's not just entertainment, nor to relax and unwind, but of course that can be an element of it.

What era have you mainly read? Georgian? Victorian? Which authors?

Victorian. I've loved the Victorians for a long time, but I especially got drawn in over the summer. I've read all the Dickens novels, and I'm beginning on Trollope. And you've seen me mention Zola, I think! I've also read all the Bronte novels, and I appear to have read a respectable amount of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, neither of which were a deliberate endeavour.

What Classics have you read from the 1880s-1930s? What did you think of them?

My favourite author from this period is Virginia Woolf. I've read all her novels, most of her short stories, and a respectable amount of her essays. I'm intrigued by James Joyce, although I can't say I like reading him, it doesn't mean I don't want to! Reading Finnegans Wake is my finest achievement! I also dabble in a little Hardy. I think, because of my Victorian fascination, post 1900 I sort of tail off a tad, which is one of the reasons why I'm so eager to participate in this salon.

Name some books you're looking forward to read for the salon.

Zola - the last half or so of the Rougon Macquart cycle. Nana was published in 1880, the ninth book of the twenty book cycle. But, that is a different project and I will be reading other authors from this time. I'm especially looking forward to Parades End by Ford Maddox Ford, some Edith Wharton, E. M. Forster (A Room with a View particularly), W. Somerset Maugham, and some John Steinbeck (I'm really looking forward to reading Adam's posts on his John Steinbeck project).

And with that, I'm going to work on a little Ancient Greek (it's beginning to dawn on me how complex this project will be!), after which I'm going to have my early night and read (contradiction in terms, but there it is).