The 5 BEST CLASSICS I read in 2023 😊❤️📚🥳

[@janethansen9612]

I also read Middlemarch, but that wasn't my favourite classic of the year. I think The Count of Monte Cristo might take that spot. Others to round out my top five were Anna Karenina, Jayne Eyre and Tess of the D'Urbevilles. I have plans to get to Crime and Punishment, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and Swann's Way this year.

[@Kev_Cos]

Count of Monte Cristo was also my favourite classic I read this year. So entertaining and a pageturner despite being such a beefy book.

[@Shellyish]

I cannot wait to get it The Count. Been sitting on my TBR for a year and I think I’ll really enjoy it. ☺️

[@marias.5812]

This year, the standout classic for me was "Flowers for Algernon" (💔💔💔). I read"A Farewell to Arms" and can't tell you how I felt about. Except for the final few scenes, the book left me cold. Happy New Year! ❤🎉

[@Shellyish]

Thanks for sharing!! ☺️

[@stephenn3727]

Thank you Shelley!

[@Shellyish]

You are so welcome!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Some good choice there. Best wishes with your reading choices in 2024 and to your channel.

[@Shellyish]

Thank you! You too!

[@fernandamurari8577]

Hello there! Thank you very much for the wonderful review! I have some for your favourites already on my wish list. Middlemarch is such a great, profound, readable book! I do agree with you! I remember going to an office Christmas party with the book and locking myself in a toilet cubicle to carry on reading the book with Village People in the background! I am currently re-reading it. Thank you again and happy new year!

[@Shellyish]

I absolutely agree! I ADORE Middlemarch. :)

[@peterock4210]

I find it incredible that I end up going back to books assigned in HS that I pretended to skim read or ignored. Oedipus Rex was one I remember and will now have to revisit. Great vid, new sub. Your mention of humor in a great book made me think of Catch-22. Laughing out loud is a rarity while reading. This book is not only incredible as an Anti War commentary, it is also laugh out loud funny. One of my ‘23 best books.

[@Shellyish]

Oh! Thank you! Thanks for being here! I feel like I have Catch-22 somewhere on my shelves.

[@LibroParadiso-ep4zt]

The BBC in the 90's made an excellent MIddlemarch miniseries. Recommend it.

[@Shellyish]

Oh! Thank you! ❤️

[@MsReadsAlot]

Ethan frome! What an ending. 😮 Northanger abbey made me want to read the mysteries of udolpho 😊 middlemarch 🎉 nice

[@Shellyish]

I want to read Udolpho now too. ☺️

[@starlasell5698]

I found Middlemarch at an estate sale days after you first reviewed it. I can't wait to read it! I may have to put it on my tbr instead of World Without End by Ken Follett, which was my tome challenge for 2024.

[@Shellyish]

Enjoy! I was eyeing some Follett books today.

[@starlasell5698]

@@Shellyish I read my first Follett book this year, The Pillars of the Earth, and really felt immersed in the story.

[@GemofBooks]

Bleak you say? Ethan Frome just flew up my ‘need to read’ list 😂

[@Shellyish]

Ha!

[@Ursulas_Odds_and_Sods]

I got Middlemarch from a local used bookstore some time ago, but still haven't gotten around to reading it. However, I have heard portions of it over the years, from listening to the audiobooks my father played so often on long car trips and around the house.

[@Shellyish]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@TheLizardofOzzz]

Hey! Are you into the fantasy genre at all? I’m I’m in limbo waiting for GRRM to finish the winds of winter and i recently picked up the first law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. It has amazing character writing and I would totally recommend it👍🏾 The Lonesome Dove by Larry McCurty is also really great! Keep up the great work, can’t wait for the next one piece review

[@Shellyish]

Lonesome Dove is wonderful! I have yet to read Joe Abercrombie, but I've been keeping an eye out for him. :)

[@heatherfellows9465]

I also read Middlemarch this year, in my bro-sis book club. I totally loved it!! It’s definitely a top read for me this year, too. ❤

[@Shellyish]

So good! ☺️☺️

[@LaurieInTexas]

I am going to be that anal person who says you need to rename your video to "2023". You read some great books and I fully agree with your love for Middlemarch. I need to reread it at some point, but I want to finish her other novels first. My two favorite classics this year were East of Eden and Stoner. Both are sad and depressing but so good. Stoner was a bit divisive in the group I read it with as to whether it is good or not. Several people hated it and several loved it as I did.

[@Shellyish]

Thank you for the editing help! I tend to make a mistake every once in a while and appreciate sharp eyes like yours. ☺️ I’m going to read East of Eden in 2024 and I’m excited to do so. 🤗

[@zohary]

I would love your take on Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenior. It follows two families coming from Mexico, their lives, and their encounter here in America. It loved this read and would love to hear someone else's take.

[@Shellyish]

Thanks for sharing! I just added it to my TBR! ☺️

[@DarcyRussell-x1o]

I would put Middlemarch in my top 10 all time favorite classics list. This year I read "My Life in Middlemarch" by Rebecca Mead. Your review makes me think you might enjoy this book. Thank-you for sharing your thoughts.

[@ToddSmith23]

I like that shirt

[@Shellyish]

Thanks.

[@usddcm]

I too read Middlemarch, Ethan Frome , and Northanger Abbey this year. I enjoyed all three . . . well maybe more experienced Ethan Frome. Makes me want to add House of Mirth to this year's reading list. My favorite classic this year was probably Hester by Margaret Oliphant. It features women in non-traditional roles. Definitely not a traditional Victorian novel.

[@Shellyish]

Good to know! Thank you for sharing! Yes, experienced Ethan Frome - that’s one way to put it. ☺️

[@TheNutmegStitcher]

Ethan Frome -- I read it first perhaps too young. The ending was a bit traumatizing.

[@Shellyish]

YES! Traumatizing!

[@noir2024]

Have you read Don Quixote? It's my favorite book and I dare say the inspiration for One Piece.

[@Shellyish]

I own Don, but haven’t read it.

[@AmalijaKomar]

I am in reading slump. First, I couldn't write (that's my job), and now find trouble even reading. This January was terrible for me. Sorry people, I didn't want you to feel bad in any way.

[@mk9beatz]

I am a VERY new viewer (came from your One Piece reactions) so I am not completely familiar with everything you have read, so I’d love to recommend The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan if you have never read it! I am on book 9 right now and I am still absolutely LOVING the series! IF you HAVE read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts! at least up until book 9 cause i don’t want spoilers ya know lol

[@Shellyish]

I have yet to read anything by Robert Jordan, but maybe I should give him a try. :)

[@mk9beatz]

@@Shellyish i couldn’t recommend it more. It is really his only series besides a couple of Conan the Barbarian stories. He unfortunately passed away in 2007 before finishing it and Brandon Sanderson took over for the last 3 books with a bunch of his notes. it is very Lord of the Rings-esque for the first book, but it really starts to blossom into its own fantasy series during book 2. I know you’re probably extremely busy but if you ever get the chance, go for the good read!

[@jackgartner3110]

You might want to check your title; I don't think you meant to put 2024 as the year you read these

[@Shellyish]

Thank you!! I just changed it. 🤗