LITERATURE DEGREE YEAR 2 BOOKS 🏛️ the books I'm reading for year two of my DIY lit degree

[@the_bookish_took5348]

Reading The Enchanted April is literally like taking an armchair vacation to Italy!

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Ooh, I'm so there for that!

[@robinkirk1821]

“I probably would fail myself.” 😂 This had me dying. Don’t worry, I’d fail myself too. But I want to try again. I found this talk very encouraging. 😊

[@ericagoehring1089]

I love this! My husband and I both teach English at the college level, and I love your DIY project. This is so awesome!! Enjoy! Each summer, I give myself a theme of study.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

That's a great idea, what different themes have you done in the past?

[@minettasmith9931]

What a great list. I think you will love Jamaica Inn. I've actually been to the inn in England that the book is based on. The Miss Read series is wonderful! Miss Read is a school teacher in a small village in England. Start with the first book Village School. I have collected the whole series over the year and I've read and re-read them many times. My comfort books!

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Oh, I had no idea Jamaica Inn was based on an actual inn, putting that on the bucket list for sure!

[@amyofhearthridge]

I looooove ESPECIALLY all your children book ideas. My heart. ♥️

[@wanderingwithstacy]

We followed The Well Trained Mind curriculum, and one of the things I loved about it was the fiction book recommendations it gave for every time period and for different reading levels. I loved pairing fiction along with the history the kids were working on. It really helped make history come to life for them. I know it gave high school lit recs, but it would probably work well for your degree. You can get just the well trained mind book for yourself and jot down the recs. I think they're at the end of every chapter. I can't find my copy, but I will probably pick up another one, even though my kids are in college now:)

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Oh I have the Well-Trained Mind book too! I should totally use that as a resource, thanks Stacy!

[@darrylartist]

Really enjoy your DIY Literature Degree series. As someone who never even studied at university level, I have been thinking about studying English and World Literature at home by myself, but was unsure about the best way to plan it. Your series has really help me structure together ideas. Thank you.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Yay, I hope you enjoy putting your "degree" together!

[@bujobyfilo]

Your project sounds great! There are some books here I'm dying to read too. And it's always nice to hear someone planning on reading Daphne du Maurier, she's one of my favorite authors!

[@amyofhearthridge]

I did ok 👍 this summer with my “Woman’s Well Refill” degree. I only read/finished 1/4-ish of the books, I picked, but over all, I was challenged and learned bits & pieces, Lord-willing. Maybe I’ll do an autumn/winter new version. Probs at my blog, though. Thanks so much for inspiring this! 😊

[@ChautonaHavig]

I deliberately didn't do this last year. I wanted to see what you did, what you'd change, all the things. So now I'm going to go back, rewatch your original video, and figure out what I want to do.

[@yiskahrose1474]

This is such a brilliant idea! I love it!

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Thanks, it's fun to put together!

[@justlifeacoustic]

Thank you for sharing this with us! Truly love how you have created this

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Thanks, I hope it helps!

[@elisabethprice4697]

G.K. Chesterton is one of my mom’s favorite authors and I have yet to read him but I really want to!!!!

[@Backbencherbooks]

OMG I can't believe I came across this video when I needed it the most! I am creating a DIY literature degree for myself as well. Currently in the drafting session but I hope to get a full plan by the end of October so I can start finally. I have chosen to read an era of literature each year. I plan to read 5 prose and 3 verse texts each year. I'll start with Edwardian and Georgian Literature, then move on to Victorian and finally go to Renaissance or neoclassical era.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

It sounds like you've got a great outline planned out!

[@starlasell5698]

Good luck with your "degree course" this year. East of Eden is a great book!

[@amyofhearthridge]

East of Eden. 😮 I still think about it. I loooove John Steinbeck’s writing style. His stories are a bit hard hitting, but wowsers. So many good authors/books! ☺️♥️🌻☺️

[@The3GMom]

Loved Betsy and Tacy and Tib are so good!

[@FortheLoveofStory]

What a fun project you've set for yourself! I, too, am trying to catch up on classics I should have read but never got around to. This year I got to Les Mis, and am very glad I did, even though it was an extremely tedious read in parts. "East of Eden" is also on my TBR list, but thanks for the "Come, Tell Me How You Live: An Archaeological Memoir" recommendation! I've never heard of it and will have to put it on my list!

[@lindaw8958]

We had to read Catch 22 in high school - and the literature teacher was required to hand out a document to each of us that listed all of the page numbers we were supposed to skip - because of "adult content". Of course everyone in the class grabbed their copies and started to go right to those pages. The teacher was cracking up. This was back in 1976 - when I was a senior in high school. Maybe things have changed since then. East of Eden was fantastic - one of my all time favorites - and I actually pulled it off the shelf a few months back to re-read and just never got to it. I'm still hoping that I can get to Gatsby one of these days. You have a great list of books there. Have you ever thought of a buddy read or book group to have others do the DIY Literature Degree with you? Could be fun - I'm always looking for a buddy read.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Ha, of course that's how high schoolers would react! I think it could be better to read some of these classics with others but sometimes when I commit to reading a book I instantly like it less so I'm a little hesitant to do that but I'm thinking about it!

[@lindaw8958]

@@ChantelReadsAllDay I totally get that - it seems more like a chore when you feel like it's an obligation. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on some of these books!

[@CandlewickLibrary]

I loved seeing your plans for the next step!

[@kalliopelovesbooks1375]

Oh, there is a book series by Jessica Fellows which takes place at Mitford Manor and Nancy Mitford is one of the main characters solving crimes and mysteries. Just as Bella Ellis did with the Bronte Sisters. First in that series is called The Lost Bride, I assume.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Interesting! If I have time I may look into that!

[@elisabethprice4697]

I said I was going to do this at the beginning of the year and completely failed/forgot about it but I would love to really try harder and do it next year!!

[@Coffee_and_a_Book]

Love your ideas! I know you have a lot of 20th century books, but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is also a good one. A couple children's books you could also look into reading (if you haven't read them yet) are The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Twenty-One Balloons. Good luck with your reading!

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Thanks for those suggestions, Charlene!

[@amyofhearthridge]

Sigh. Again so many AMAZING books/authors. I can’t even begin to talk about these. I’m leading The Man Who Was Thursday next year for our Highschool Co op! 😨😬 I need to do more research on it soooon!

[@m.appleton9956]

I read Heart of Darkness for the first time last year and LOVED it. Conrad is a wild and crazy writer-some of his stuff is like reading prose poetry, it’s so heartachingly lovely.

[@wholeheartedhomemaking]

Love this, wish I had the time to commit to something like this, but 7 kiddos, and expecting again not this year!

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

You have a lot going on, enjoy your year and the new baby!

[@tammys5687]

I absolutely LOVE vintage children's fiction. SO SO fun. I read Five Little Peppers and How They Grew when I was little, and again when I was an adult. As a child, it was definitely different, still enjoyable as an adult though. The Betsy-Tacy series is adorable. Simply love love love it. This series is unique in that the older Betsy gets the reading level advances with Betsy's age (so the first book is a lower level book, the second book slightly above that book, etc. it follows Betsy all the way through high school and into her young adult life).

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

This is great, thanks for the extra info on Betsy-Tacy!

[@Novaturient_Liv]

W. Somerset Maugham is a great author. "Razor's Edge" is a favorite book of mine (and many others) and has two movie adaptations. "Human Bondage" is on my TBR too! He has short stories (although I do not think they're as good as Razor's Edge) that might also be of interest. Excited to see where this goes! I love the Children's literature aspect too.

[@chelsiecasey2387]

Love this idea

[@humblyhaley]

So many great books on this list! The Enchanted April is one of my favorite books of the year, reminded me of Jane Austen’s writing in some ways. Would love to read East of Eden and some Elizabeth Goudge this next year as well! I loved Lucy Worsley’s Jane Austen biography and would like to read her Agatha Christie now that I’ve finally read some of her. You’re going to have a great reading year! 🙌🏼

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Thanks Haley!

[@sandyokey7728]

Oh, I love The Great Gatsby! It is one of, if not my all time favorite book. Steinbeck is also becoming a favorite author, although he can be difficult to read simply because of the sadness some of his characters encounter and the heaviness of topics. Beautifully written, but heart wrenching. I really love this idea of yours and would like to tailor a course for myself. I just read Lucy Worsley’s bio of AC earlier this summer and enjoyed it so much! Her second husband was the archeologist.

[@lyddie8]

I would’ve failed myself this year too 🙈but I’ve really enjoyed the books that I read while trying and hope to continue next year.

[@mandyc1280]

I'll be interested to hear what you thinknof East of Eden. It's a book that has stayed with me. I read it with my Classics group and it sparked some great conversations. Looks like you've got a great list going.

[@remindmewhymill92]

I read Elusive Woman this summer. Super in depth and insightful. I really enjoyed it and felt I learned a ton. I will admit it felt like a bit of a slog towards the end because it was sooooo long and I had three young children to claim my energy. But it’s one that really stood out to me.

[@SarahAsYouWish]

I think you’re in for a treat with East of Eden. It is many people’s favorite book of all time and is a retelling of the fall of Adam and Eve and the story of Cain and Able.

[@heartsandmindsathome]

I’d love to hear more on this… I started East of Eden because I got with my free thriftbooks offer after reading reviews and it sounded intriguing. But I got rid of it because I couldn’t get past the harsh parts. For some reason I was just super sensitive about it. It’s hard for me to keep books around that I’d be mortified if my kids picked it up and saw what I was reading… but I didn’t get to the redeeming parts. Maybe when I don’t have a house full of younger readers, I will give it another go!

[@tinar590]

Oh, I hope you like that first group of books more than I did! Glad I don't have to re-read most of them. The children's lit books, though, those I'd love to read again. I do like the idea of putting together a curriculum for myself. Will need to give it some thought.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Haha, well, I hope so too, otherwise it's going to be a hard year!

[@robinkirk1821]

I have read Fahrenheit 451 and actually did appreciate it. I’m glad I read it.

[@Olivia-mom25]

Sounds fun! When you get to The Man Who Was Thursday I’d recommend the episodes of The Literary Life Podcast covering that book. It’s weird … the book I mean 😂

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Ha, good to know!

[@Sarahac8]

I LOVE The Enchanted April! Also, if you're into podcasts, the Literary Life did a great series of episodes on that book and it's sooo good!

[@Anit.M]

Hiiii Amazing video as always ✨️✨️✨️ Can you please make another video on clean book recommendation?

[@tbrooks529]

My plan for the coming year is to deep dive into mythology. I'll be reading nonfiction academic books and also reading books, stories, plays, and poems from thousands of years ago. I will read some contemporary myth retellings too. I'll also be continuing a deep dive into prehistory. This year I want to read a book on flintnapping, a book on bows and arrows, and a few books about archeological sites that are still being studied. I'll also include some fictional books set in that time period. I also want to read another Steinbeck novel and a non fiction book titled Eve Bites Back which is about the forgotten women writers from the English Literature history.

[@Mkayreadsandvlogs]

Happy fall 😊

[@angelahenry2493]

Looks like you have a great year planned! I loved doing this last year ( although i also would have failed myself!🤣) I had Victorian period, translated works, and Dickens as my mentor...😬 Now for year 2 I had chosen. Modern Classics, Dystopian as my specialty, and L.M Montgomery as my mentor. ( its terrible that i am Canadian and STILL have not read the whole Anne series) I plan on just working on both years simultaneously. Its more of a 10+ year plan! 😆 Thanks for the challenge!

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

I'm hoping to do a readalong for the Anne series next year! I love your picks for year two. Honestly, I think my degree will be ongoing, this is a 20+ year degree! Lol.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I'm glad to hear you'll keep The Great Gatsby even if you don't like it. I read it in college. But I definitely liked it better as an adult when i reread it a few years ago. Ohhh Everyman's of Catch 22. I haven't read it yet either but I'll get to it next year probably. East of EDEN!!!! One of my alltime favorites!🎉

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed East of Eden! It has such mixed reviews, I think possibly because it is one that people need to read in school, I know pretty much every time I'm told I have to read a book I don't really enjoy it.

[@princesssimplicity5172]

I would love if you to read Ulysses by James Joyce and then made a video about your opinion of it. I majored in Literature, and it was one of the assigned books first semester freshmen year.

[@leanneroot4159]

I just learned about Nancy Mitford after reading the Mayfair Bookshop (historical fiction). I'm interested in learning more about her. You've got some good ones on your list!!!

[@capturedbyannamarie]

If you don’t wanna read such a big Steinbeck, Grapes of wrath is the one most people read in high school. It’s also apparently the one people like more, if they don’t like East of Eden. I’ll be really interested to see what you think of all these. Looks fun! I just look at top 100 classics lists and read books from there. That is my way of doing it. Also Benjamin Mccevoy on KZbin has a list of books they read each year. He is an Oxford grad. I try to read most of his list each year.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Yes, Benjamin McEvoy has a lot of info on his channel, I used some of his info when creating my DIY lit degree outline last year.

[@trampledheart1]

Grapes of Wrath is my fave Steinbeck, I still think of it after having read it in the 1970's. I also enjoyed East of Eden, it doesn't seem long when you're reading it, although the movie with James Dean kinda ruined it for me.

[@sandra3616]

Very interested in hearing how you get on with GK Chesterton!

[@trampledheart1]

I'd like to recommend Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, written in 1929 by Rachel Field and winning one of the first Newbery Awards that year. Hitty is beloved by many, many doll collectors, and is a lively adventure around the world narrated by a little wooden doll.

[@museinthemachinery5691]

Lucy Worsley's book on Agatha Christie is GOOD. Took me 2 weeks to read but that's normal for me when it's that size of a book (400ish pages), but it was really good.

[@Mkayreadsandvlogs]

My BFF read the great gatsby in grade nine English class

[@robinkirk1821]

Chantel, with this DIY Literature degree, are you doing any type of writing assignments with the reading? Such as, book reviews or summaries? I’m just curious because I want to incorporate writing along side the reading but not quite sure what to do. What do you think?

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

My original hope was to read some critical essays in addition to the books and short stories and then write something in response to that. Did that happen last year? No. Will it happen this year? No idea. Ideally it would though.

[@NatalyaVins-blueflower775]

I want to do this for next year. I haven’t decided on the period yet. I had to read The Man Who Was Thursday for my first year English class at university. I hated it and all the other books I had to read for that class 😅

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Honestly, as soon as I HAVE to read a book I often hate it too. Since I'm doing this on my own hopefully I won't hate The Man Who Was Thursday but who knows . . .

[@benellison6232]

For the norton anthology, which edition is it? I believe i had the 6th and 9th edition when i waa in college

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

I have the 7th edition, I'm pretty sure it's the same edition I used in university, though I got rid of mine and just bought this one from a thrift store a couple of years ago.

[@tammyd4208]

I fail myself for last year, too! What was I thinking! I also had a big cross country move.😅 I still want to try this year, I may just use the same list because I didn’t get to very many. I found a copy of Daphne Du Maurier’s The King’s General and was excited. I really like her writing.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

That reminds me that I also have The King's General on my shelves, how did I miss that?! Pulling that off and adding it to the pile!

[@tammyd4208]

@@ChantelReadsAllDay yay! 😀

[@rrichards1210]

Katherine Mansfield is a celebrated New Zealand writer, so her writings would add an international flavour.

[@robinkirk1821]

I don’t know if you have read Gone With the Wind, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or My Antonia, but I believe those were all prominent 20th century books.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Oh, I do have My Antonia and Gone with the Wind on my shelves, I'll pull those off and add them to my stack! I've tried A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and didn't get very far, maybe it's time to give it another try!

[@robinkirk1821]

I think I’m going to redo my first year, sticking with the Victorian era. It’s like going to school part-time. My degree may take 8+ years. 😆

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

Haha, nothing wrong with that!

[@richarddelanet]

James Hilton _Lost Horizon_

[@NevsBookChannel]

Fahrenheit 451 is worth reading but I think it’s way overrated

[@marthacanady9441]

Don’t waste time with Catcher in the Rye. Vastly overrated, and I can’t figure out why.

[@leopercara3477]

I loved it 🤷

[@trampledheart1]

It blew me away as a teenager in the 1960's. I should read it again to see how it stands up.

[@journeygentil1512]

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but every time you pulled up a book and then moved it around, the camera kept changing the focus. To the point where you couldn't really read or see the book you were holding.

[@ChantelReadsAllDay]

I usually have the books linked in the description if you miss any of the titles!