I remember once going through a phase where I read so many classics one after the other, and I loved it. It’s sad though, as I haven’t picked one up in such a long time; the last one I remember finishing (this doesn’t include modern classics – I read quite a few of those) was back in December. I think it’s partly to do with setting myself a fairly high (but realistic) Goodreads goal – and there will be a post towards the end of the year as to why next year I’ll be setting a very low goal, if one at all.

Later this month I am moving to uni; I know, I’ve mentioned it loads of times. As I’m studying English Literature I feel as though I should read more classics in preparation, though realistically I’m not going to finish anything before I go (unless I sit for three days and read solidly, but with all the packing I have that won’t happen). Instead, I’ve decided to make a list of five classics that I want to have read before the 1st January, 2017.

• Something by Jane Austen – Okay, I realise this is very vague, but I’m undecided between Emma, Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park. I’ll probably be on my way back from holiday when this post goes up, and I’m hoping to read one whilst I’m there, and I’m leaning towards Sense and Sensibility, though I don’t know why.
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – Expect to see this on my December TBR as I love to read Dickens around christmas. His stories are so perfect for that time of year and I knew when I purchased this novel I would be saving it for then.
• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – This one is haunting me. I’m halfway through and I can’t even remember when I started it. I just can’t get into it for some reason, though it’s perfectly good and I cannot pinpoint why this is. Wilde’s writing is fabulous and I really need to finish it.
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – I’ve heard so much about this book and I loved the film (the one in which Johnny Depp plays the Hatter) but have never picked it up. It’s super short and has illustrations in and I’m really looking forward to getting to it.
• Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy – Opinions on this have been very, very mixed, though I want to pick it up anyway and decide for myself. I picked it up on an open day before the summer holidays in 2015, so it’s about time I read it.

I’ve actually really enjoyed writing this post (and it’s also helping me narrow down the books that I want to take with me to uni, as the list is way too long at the moment). I think, therefore, that I’ll do lists for modern classics, other fiction, and poetry. Sorry about the absence as well; I fell into a slump (reading / blogging / life in general) and I was lacking ideas for posts. I’m hoping to get back to it with reviews (there may be some up by the time this is posted) and with my schedule (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday). Are there any classics you want to get to before the end of the year?