Time for a new spin! The Classics Spin #43

The Classics Club
2024-2029

My challenge for the Classic Club is to read my list of 50 classics over 5 years 2024-2029.

What is the spin?

It’s easy. At your blog, before next Sunday 8th February, 2026 create a post that lists twenty books of your choice that remain “to be read” on your Classics Club list.

This is your Spin List. 

You have to read one of these twenty books by the end of the spin period.

Try to challenge yourself. For example, you could list five Classics Club books you have been putting off, five you can’t WAIT to read, five you are neutral about, and five free choice (favourite author, re-reads, ancients, non-fiction, books in translation — whatever you choose.)

The Classic Club

On Sunday 8th February we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 29th March, 2026. 

We’ll check in here on the 29th March to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!

Here are the directions from The Classics Club:

We will announce a number from 1 through 20. When we announce it, go to your Spin list. Find that number, read (and hopefully, review) the book listed for that number by 29th March 2026.

• Go to your blog.
• Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
• Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 8th February 2026.
• We’ll announce a number from 1-20. 
• Read that book by 29th March.

I’ve decided to stick with the list created for CC Spin #42 replacing number 17 (the book I read for that spin – A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED BY AGATHA CHRISTIE | 1950 | 256PP (45 ON MY MAIN LIST) – MY POST) with a ‘wild card’ that is if CC Spin #43 lands on 17, what are the odds? Pretty low so I felt this would be a bit of fun, I can choose any book on my full 50 titles including any listed below that have not been read.

I’ve also since read Mrs Dalloway (No.18 below) so I’m going to even up the odds above and expand the fun element of this spin and make this a ‘wild card’ too!

I’ll indicate the spin number chosen on or shortly after 8 February 2026 and link to my thoughts once I’ve read it.

Here are 20 titles I have selected from my list:

1. TREASURE ISLAND BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON | 1883 | 210PP (5 ON MY LIST)
2. MOMENTUM MORI BY MURIEL SPARK | 1959 | 225PP (6 ON MY LIST)
3. SILLY NOVELS BY LADY NOVELISTS & OTHER ESSAYS BY GEORGE ELIOT | 1836 | 100PP (8 ON MY LIST)
4. THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES BY ARTHUR CONAN-DOYLE | 1902 | 176PP (9 0N MY LIST)
5. THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE BY EDGAR ALLAN POE | 1841 | 56PP (10 ON MY LIST)
6. THE SNOW GOOSE BY PAUL GALLICO | 1940/1 | PP64 (15 ON MY LIST)
7. THE 4.50 FROM PADDINGTON BY AGATHA CHRISTIE | 1957 | 256PP (20 ON MY LIST)
8. THE BIG SLEEP BY RAYMOND CHANDLER | 1939 | 277PP (21 ON MY LIST)
9. THE THIN MAN BY SAMUEL DASHIELL HAMMET | 1933 | 259PP (23 ON MY LIST)
10. THE CRIME AT BLACK DUDLEY BY MARGERY ALLINGHAM | 1929 | 240PP (24 ON MY LIST)
11. BY GRAND CENTRAL STATION I SAT DOWN AND WEPT BY ELIZABETH SMART | 1945 | 112PP (27 ON MY LIST)
12. THE SECRET GARDEN BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT | 1911 | 196PP (36 ON MY LIST)
13. POEMS BY WILFRED OWEN | 1920 | 96PP (37 ON MY LIST)
14. A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN BY MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT |1792 | 134PP (40 ON MY LIST)
15. THE THIRD MAN BY GRAHAM GREEN | 1949 | 160PP (41 ON MY LIST)
16. COVER HER FACE BY P.D. JAMES | 1962| 298PP (44 ON MY LIST)
17. Wild card!
18. Wild card! – having read MRS DALLOWAY BY VIRGINIA WOOLF | 1925 | 208PP (47 ON MY MAIN LIST)
19. THE WHEEL SPINS BY ETHEL LINA WHITE | 1936 | 256PP (48 ON MY LIST)
20. HERCULE POIROT’S CHRISTMAS BY AGATHA CHRISTIE | 1939 | 179PP (49 ON MY LIST)

The Winner

2. MOMENTUM MORI BY MURIEL SPARK | 1959 | 225PP (6 ON MY LIST)