I picked up an Goudge book for a buck at a book fair to see whether Tim doth protest too much. A dozen pages in and I read “his dark, coiled hair was like the pelt of some wooly beast” and I was sufficiently horrified until I realized that there are two Goudges and I picked the wrong one.
I’m late to the party, having just discovered Close Reads through a friend. The 2024 back catalog has kept me busy, and it’s been delightful to discover new authors as well as modern releases that are worth the time/effort. 2025’s classics will be interesting to listen to as I am neither a Wuthering or Gatsby fan. And having to pick a Dickens, I’m glad it’s A Tale of Two Cities; that’s my favorite of his works.
I realize I'm late to this post but I have to say, I LOVE Elizabeth Goudge but I found Green Dolphin Street way too stressful, sad and LONG. I'm relieved not to be reading it again, but I would love to read The Scent of Water.
a great list of books. Thanks. It is a worthy endeavour to re-read books from high school or college. I'm excited to find some new authors as well. I'm new to Close Reads and so happy to start the reads.
I agree. Mantel and Wolf Hall is akin to a college course, not a monthly book choice I think. Some of us are busy moms trying to keep our place in the swim lane! ...Dickens? Coughing and sputtering already
As a busy mom who feels guilty sitting down to read, I love when a good hefty book I haven't made time for it a Close Read! Then it feels like an accomplishment. Audiobooks at practices and in the car line all the way.
These look great! I’ve already read all of them except Piranesi but rereading is a sign of culture! I’ll plan to read along with some of these and will listen in to the spritely conversations regardless.
Yes, excited to revisit great titles and looking forward to a couple episodes with some more debate. :) Thanks for posting - these winnowing episodes make me laugh so much!
Great list, though I wish there were a little more variety in the types of classics - I love all of these but it seems we stick with the more serious and realist classics - Wuthering Heights (as a gothic romance) and Much Ado will provide a little change. :) Sad Handful of Dust didn't make it (wasn't sure why it was described as long) and would love to see that another year! Doesn't seem like we do much satirical and dark humor so that would be a nice twist, and it has some really interesting points about literature and culture!
Just caught up and listened and I’m a little bummed My Brilliant Friend got cut. I read the first 3 in the series with a friend a few years ago and we both felt like we were immersed in an Italian soap opera, so we stopped. It’s one of those books I would have loved to listen to a discussion about to broaden my understanding.
So I want to throw out the possibility of the quartet being a subscriber series, in addition to Heidi’s suggestion of the Mantel trilogy. I loved the deep dive and months and months of Kristin Lavransdatter and would repeat that experience in a heartbeat.
If Wolf Hall ends up on the subscriber show, Close Reads will have officially jumped the shark. The Netanyahus was one thing, but nearly 2000 pages of pro-Cromwell fake news is quite another.
If you want to read Mantel, head over to Footnotes and Tangents - -Simon Haisell will be doing a slow read of the Wolf Hall trilogy through all of 2025.
Love this comment so much! I picked up a used hardcover copy of Wolf Hall a while back and fully intend to read it someday -- but in the meantime it stays on our bedroom floor, because it's the perfect height to set our cat's plate of kibble on. Ever since reading your comment, when I feed her I say, "Here's your dinner and 2,000 pages of pro-Cromwell fake news!" She doesn't really react either way.
I would enjoy the whole series as a HQ item as well. I found it to be an unbelievably fast read because I couldn't stop.
Also, the reference and reverence for classic works is woven in so much, it's hard not to love it. It's so highly ranked because it's an author or book lovers book.
I don't think it will ever happen, but I bet we get My Brilliant Friend next year.
In spite of having read a lot of classic works in high school & college, noticing references in other stories is only something just now becoming part of my reading in my late 30s. Another reason I want a reread and a close read!
Wow, I will be busy next year! So excited for the old books!
I'm glad you didn't select My Brilliant Friend. The Neapolitan quartet is excellent. I am in a weekly reading group on Zoom going through all four books in a year (finishing book 3 this week). They are about a complex relationship between two girls and several other families from mid-20th-century Naples, and they're definitely discussion worthy. But I would not say any of them stand alone. They are one long story, and each of the first three books ends in a cliff hanger. You won't want to stop after one. For an Elena Ferrante read, I nominate stand alone Days of Abandonment (which was also in the top 100 of the 21st century).
I have not read this one! Going on my list b/c I love the Waugh I have encountered so far. I love that this list made me smile with relief - b/c I own all but one - but then I looked at my list of extras from the episode and I still have plenty going on my shopping list!
I picked up an Goudge book for a buck at a book fair to see whether Tim doth protest too much. A dozen pages in and I read “his dark, coiled hair was like the pelt of some wooly beast” and I was sufficiently horrified until I realized that there are two Goudges and I picked the wrong one.
Sean rather.
I’m late to the party, having just discovered Close Reads through a friend. The 2024 back catalog has kept me busy, and it’s been delightful to discover new authors as well as modern releases that are worth the time/effort. 2025’s classics will be interesting to listen to as I am neither a Wuthering or Gatsby fan. And having to pick a Dickens, I’m glad it’s A Tale of Two Cities; that’s my favorite of his works.
This was the most entertaining episode with all the great sound effects!
I realize I'm late to this post but I have to say, I LOVE Elizabeth Goudge but I found Green Dolphin Street way too stressful, sad and LONG. I'm relieved not to be reading it again, but I would love to read The Scent of Water.
To go in the suggestion box: Middlemarch on the HQ episodes, in 2025?
a great list of books. Thanks. It is a worthy endeavour to re-read books from high school or college. I'm excited to find some new authors as well. I'm new to Close Reads and so happy to start the reads.
I agree. Mantel and Wolf Hall is akin to a college course, not a monthly book choice I think. Some of us are busy moms trying to keep our place in the swim lane! ...Dickens? Coughing and sputtering already
As a busy mom who feels guilty sitting down to read, I love when a good hefty book I haven't made time for it a Close Read! Then it feels like an accomplishment. Audiobooks at practices and in the car line all the way.
I am quite excited about this list. I might make it a goal to read along for everything, which I have never done before...
These look great! I’ve already read all of them except Piranesi but rereading is a sign of culture! I’ll plan to read along with some of these and will listen in to the spritely conversations regardless.
Yes, excited to revisit great titles and looking forward to a couple episodes with some more debate. :) Thanks for posting - these winnowing episodes make me laugh so much!
Great list, though I wish there were a little more variety in the types of classics - I love all of these but it seems we stick with the more serious and realist classics - Wuthering Heights (as a gothic romance) and Much Ado will provide a little change. :) Sad Handful of Dust didn't make it (wasn't sure why it was described as long) and would love to see that another year! Doesn't seem like we do much satirical and dark humor so that would be a nice twist, and it has some really interesting points about literature and culture!
When can we expect to see the final list?
final list is posted above!
Just caught up and listened and I’m a little bummed My Brilliant Friend got cut. I read the first 3 in the series with a friend a few years ago and we both felt like we were immersed in an Italian soap opera, so we stopped. It’s one of those books I would have loved to listen to a discussion about to broaden my understanding.
So I want to throw out the possibility of the quartet being a subscriber series, in addition to Heidi’s suggestion of the Mantel trilogy. I loved the deep dive and months and months of Kristin Lavransdatter and would repeat that experience in a heartbeat.
I'm two books in, starting the third, and I would also love a close read.
Oh... just wait. That's all I i will say.
If Wolf Hall ends up on the subscriber show, Close Reads will have officially jumped the shark. The Netanyahus was one thing, but nearly 2000 pages of pro-Cromwell fake news is quite another.
If you want to read Mantel, head over to Footnotes and Tangents - -Simon Haisell will be doing a slow read of the Wolf Hall trilogy through all of 2025.
Love this comment so much! I picked up a used hardcover copy of Wolf Hall a while back and fully intend to read it someday -- but in the meantime it stays on our bedroom floor, because it's the perfect height to set our cat's plate of kibble on. Ever since reading your comment, when I feed her I say, "Here's your dinner and 2,000 pages of pro-Cromwell fake news!" She doesn't really react either way.
Maybe so, but I bet her her heart she agrees with me 😂
😂 😂 😂
I would enjoy the whole series as a HQ item as well. I found it to be an unbelievably fast read because I couldn't stop.
Also, the reference and reverence for classic works is woven in so much, it's hard not to love it. It's so highly ranked because it's an author or book lovers book.
I don't think it will ever happen, but I bet we get My Brilliant Friend next year.
In spite of having read a lot of classic works in high school & college, noticing references in other stories is only something just now becoming part of my reading in my late 30s. Another reason I want a reread and a close read!
Wow, I will be busy next year! So excited for the old books!
I'm glad you didn't select My Brilliant Friend. The Neapolitan quartet is excellent. I am in a weekly reading group on Zoom going through all four books in a year (finishing book 3 this week). They are about a complex relationship between two girls and several other families from mid-20th-century Naples, and they're definitely discussion worthy. But I would not say any of them stand alone. They are one long story, and each of the first three books ends in a cliff hanger. You won't want to stop after one. For an Elena Ferrante read, I nominate stand alone Days of Abandonment (which was also in the top 100 of the 21st century).
Agree with Sean about Waugh's Sword of Honor. I would love you guys to do that book on the subscriber show at some point.
I have not read this one! Going on my list b/c I love the Waugh I have encountered so far. I love that this list made me smile with relief - b/c I own all but one - but then I looked at my list of extras from the episode and I still have plenty going on my shopping list!
It's my favorite Waugh after Brideshead. Though Helena is close after it and could probably change places if I re-read it.
Such a great list -- I'm literally excited about every single book! (Even after hearing this about A Farewell to Arms ...
Tim: It is gonna rip people's hearts OUT.
Sean: And their arms!
😂)
This made me laugh out LOUD. Sean is moving up on my funny-people list.