I truly meant to read more…challenging…works of literature this year. So far, I’ve only succeeded in reading one book that I was determined to read: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Vol 1. Well, I meant to read Vol 2 as well, but I feel I need a break inbetween volumes. I have a TON of classics and huge honking whopper books that I want to get to, but I can’t decide which I want to read. It’s TOO varied a choice! So I’m asking for your help.
Which book should I read next?
1 – Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
2 – The Agony and the Ecstacy by Irving Stone
3 – The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser
4 – The Lord of the Rings (Nope, never read them! Only The Hobbit)
5 – Oh go on and finish up Sherlock!
6 – Other
So let me know in the comments. What challenging book should I read next???
*Yeah, I changed a book. So sue me. 
It's summer. Read an adventure. My vote: The Lord of the Rings.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS!!!! I'd I'd known you haven't read 'em I would've been on your tail a LOONNNNNGGGGG time ago! I really think you will ADORE them (see how many caps I'm using…I'm very serious).
While I think that everyone should read the Lord of the Rings at least once in their life, I am going to vote for The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. Mainly because a.)I want to know what you think of it and b.) I like the title.
Oops. “If I’d known…” If, If…
Hate my fingers sometimes.
I vote for the Undset. I read about it on another blog and it sounded awesome. I plan to get it tomorrow.
I vote for Kristin Lavransdatter. I have no good reasons why. Just going with what sounds the best to me at the moment.
Personally, I'd go with Spencer. The Lord of the Rings is great, but I found it too easy to get bogged down in. As for finishing Sherlock, the second volume isn't quite as good.
How about The Agony and the Ecstasy? Selfishly because I've had a copy in my TBR stacks for literally years! And it'd be nice to hear what you think of it.
Reading "The Faerie Queene" in its entirety was one of the greatest achievements of my life in graduate school. I really enjoyed it, but I should tell you that it took me about six months of slow and steady reading. So I am not going to vote for that, because verily you have never experience getting bogged down until you have experienced being midway through Spenser. I vote for "Kristin Lavransdatter," not out of knowledge, but because I have never read it, but long wanted to, myself.
I have a copy of Spenser's book and since I apparently can't read middle english, I haven't been able to get past the 5th page (4 attempts). I just finished LOTR and recommend it highly as a lovely adventure. There are bits you may get bogged down on but overall it is a wonderful read. (If you wanted to read the Fairie Queene together starting in September or October then I'd give it a go with you.)
I suggest you finish Sherlock. You'll have the added bonus of feeling like you completed something.
I vote for the Undset, too. I plan on reading it this fall after I finish Don Quixote!!
Don’t feel like you’re far behind, I hadn’t read the LOTR books until last year and I have really only been a fan since the movies were released. Odd coming from such a huge fantasy fan? Yes, indeed, but those are the facts. Now, however, I consider myself a huge Tolkien nerd as I am slowly but surely devouring everything I can about this man and his creation.