Sunday, October 7, 2007

Outmoded Authors Challenge


I'm finally finalizing my picks for the Outmoded Authors Challenge that Imani is hosting. I just love the tagline for the challenge--Exploring authors kicked out of the "in crowd"!

The challenge doesn't specify how many books or authors you have to read, you just have to self-regulate so you can finish by February 29, 2008. I love that, too--so I can be a little wimpy by not choosing too many books, and then maybe I'll actually finish a challenge for the first time!

I'll be reading Of Human Bondage, by Somerset Maugham, Kinds of Love, by May Sarton, and The Heart of Midlothian, by Sir Walter Scott. And if I make it through those, I'm going to reread Elizabeth Bowen's The Death of the Heart, as a little bonus, because it is one of my all-time favorites.

16 comments:

jenclair said...

I'm really going to have to get around to Elizabeth Bowen some day. Have only ever read her short stories, especially that eerie psychological/ghost story, "The Demon Lover."

Anonymous said...

Nice choices! I'll be reading Maughm's The Razor's Edge. I've never read him before so I am very much looking forward to it.

Gentle Reader said...

jenclair--I've read some of her short stories, but never "The Demon Lover"--I'll have to check it out!

stefanie--I'm glad we'll both be reading Maugham--I'm very much looking forward to it, too. This should be a good challenge :)

Lotus Reads said...

I know I've said this before GR, but I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on "Of Human Bondage" one of my favorite novels of all time!

Gentle Reader said...

lotus--I'm so glad! I can't wait to read it :)

Anonymous said...

Everybody seems to be reading Somerset Maugham at the moment. Is he coming back into fashion? (If so, better hurry if he's going to still be an oumoded author by the time you've finished the challenge!)

Gentle Reader said...

rob--you're so right. My book club picked Of Human Bondage to read, independently of me, and Maugham seems to be everywhere at the moment. How strange! But you know, I never really thought of him as outmoded, anyway :)

Bookfool said...

I really enjoyed Of Human Bondage - both the book and the movie. I have several more Maughams on the shelf. Is he outmoded?

Gentle Reader said...

bookfool--I don't think he's outmoded, but he was on the list for the challenge, so I took advantage :)

Anonymous said...

I just bought a brand new copy of Of Human Bondage and plan to take it with me to Asia when I visit my family. I love a hearty chunkster when I fly long-haul.

I finished The Death of the Heart for this challenge and am wrapping up another one, Shadow of a Man by May Sarton.

It seems to me that most of the works are a bit sad, although the long narratives are so beautifully written. What I appreciate the most about them are how deeply they probe into the uncharted territory of humanity.

Gentle Reader said...

matt--I'm really getting into Of Human Bondage, and think it would make great plane reading! This is a sad, beautifully written book, too :)

Anonymous said...

Sorry this is off-topic.

I just received The World Without Us in the mail. Thanks again for sending me the book. :) I'll get to it soon, like tomorrow!

Gentle Reader said...

matt--glad you received the book--thanks for letting me know! Hope you enjoy it :)

Jane said...

I am planning on reading Of Human Bondage later on in this challenge. I am looking forward to your review of it.

Gentle Reader said...

jaimie--I'm glad you're reading Of Human Bondage, too--it will be fun to compare notes. I'm enjoying it so far!

Anonymous said...

The Death of the Heart is one of my picks too. I'm really looking forward to that book. It's been years since I've read Of Human Bondage but it's an incredible story. Good luck with the challenge!