Welcome to the What your next podcast. Hi Victoria. Hi. Hi. So excited to chat with you. As you probably know, Victoria is a frequent guest to our podcast because we do have a live show every week at Thursdays from 12 to 12:30 PM at like half an hour live show on YouTube where we talk about book recommendations for all types of reading. So Victoria's coming back to talk to us about Spring Classics. If you have set on your list, a reading list to read a classic this year Victoria is the girl for you. Her blog biblio lifestyle.com has a lot of different classic guys. It has where to get started from, very popular authors as well as some hidden Gs that you may not know, but there actually will be worthwhile reading. Victoria is gonna help us, give us some spring reading, classic reading. So let's get to the recommendations. Yay. So before I get into the recommendations, I know classics can be intimidating for some folks, so some really quick tips if you're new to in classics. First of all, take your time. I think these are the books that aren't really meant to be rushed, especially because you have to adjust yourself to the language. So I know you might be breezing through your contemporary reads and feeling like you're slogging with your classics. No, that's not the case. You do need that extra time to adjust yourself to the language, then soak it in and really get yourself into the place and setting. So just take your time, don't judge yourself. Lots of classics, depending on the edition you pick up, it will have annotations, it will have some footnotes. You'll also have introductions that provide historical context and explain some of the outdated and oftentimes problematic language. Okay? Because again, they were written a long time ago, so be mindful of that. I also think it's helpful to discuss and share them with someone. So join a book club, find a challenge online, you know, and also lastly, choose what appeals to you. I'm gonna share some recommendations with you today. And there's so many other classics available, it's important to pick ones that speak to your interest first, right? So if you're drawn to certain themes or things, then opt for those books. So I'm gonna share five spring classics. I just think they hit differently during spring. You can read them at any time. But the first one I wanna share with you is one of my favorites, that Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von. Now, here's the thing. Let's just transport ourselves already, because you're gonna have to, because some of these things are a bit wild, but just imagine getting. A discreet ad that is telling you, Hey, if you appreciate wistful living and sunshine and you want this escape to a medieval castle on the Italian Riviera sign up. That is essentially what this is. So it's old school ad in the paper kind of vibes, and you have some women who sign on and said, yes, I'm very interested in this. So in the enchanted April, we see four different women. Who have their own problems and all their different things come together for this month long retreat in this medieval castle in Italy. So we see them really just enjoying everything the med has to offer. But again, they have their own stories. They have their own histories. They have their own struggles, so we see them while they're out there just kind of shedding the weight of their past lives, but also finding unexpected friendships and happiness along the way. The reason why I think this hits different, especially in Spring, is because the novel is all about transformation and also renewal. So just as you know, you might feel like. The landscape is barren because of winter and you know, everything kind of dies and the way how things bloom in the spring. I think the enchanted April shows that sometimes a change of scenery can really change your perspectives. I. And bring about personal growth because again, they're leaving gloomy England and they're going to Italy and it's beautiful over there. So enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Aen is number one. Next on the list as well is another England to some other European country kind of vibes. Okay? And it's a room with a view by em. Foster. Again, another book I adore. It's about transformation again. This time though, we have a young woman who's just raised with very conventional, very traditional English values about everything. But then we see her finding herself captivated by the idea of going to Florence and you know, being a somewhat of a free. Spirit for some time. And then while there, she meets a man who is just that free-spirited. Now we see her being torn between, should I go off with this man and marry him? The free-spirited guy that, you know, she kind of thinks he is, or should she stick to their traditional English norms and marry, you know, some stuffy man who they have nothing in common with or anything like that. So we really see her being torn between. The thrill of following her heart and what she wants to do or having to conform to societal expectations. I. So again, going back to those spring themes, we see our main character, Lucy. Her journey is all about, Hey, should I step outta the shadow and into the light of a new life and new experiences? Should I do what I wanna do or do I need to suck it up and do what everyone else needs to do? I. So I think this novel more than anything will remind you that life is full of opportunities if we are brave enough to follow what we truly want. Again, it might not always yield positive results, but you're gonna have to read a Room with a View by Ian Forrester to kind of see that. Now, a book, I think everyone might have read or maybe watched a movie. Or something. Ann of Green Gables by Ellen Montgomery. I think that one just hits different during spring because I don't know, it just, it does. So anyway, again, I think this book needs no introduction, but we meet Anne. Okay. A fiery, little redheaded orphan girl who finds a new home on Prince Edward Island. With Marilla and Matthew, now we see how her vibrant personality and just her attitude towards life actually transform everyone around her, right? So in the other books, we kind of see like the main characters finding themselves. We see how the impact of one person, as she's growing up and coming of age, of course, but how she's transforming everyone around her. This one is perfect if you're looking for something heartwarming, but also just a spirited adventure following a young girl and just seeing the world through her eyes. And again, like spring, we see Anne's stories, one of hope and just endur enduring possibilities and, and endless possibilities, rather. I also love seeing her misadventures because of course we all take her wrong foot every now and then, but just her relentless optimism just reminds us that even when or beginnings. Not what we want them to be or might be a bit challenging, we can also blossom into something extraordinary. So I think AV Green Gables is just very positive and uplifting, and I honestly think we need more optimism in our lives, quite honestly. So that is AV Green Gables. I am gonna close this one out with a personal favorite of mine, and it's a secret garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Now this is one of my favorites, like childhood favorites. I, you know, my imagination ran wild with this book, and it didn't help that my grandmother actually had a garden, and I was just convinced this was a secret garden. Yes, she had a lock and everything on her garden. Wild. So my imagination, as you can imagine, ran wild. But anyway, this story also tells a story of another young girl, not like Anne, but this one is Mary. And she stumbles upon a neglected garden on her uncle's estate because she's an orphan and she's gone there to live with them. And we see her kind of really working hard to revive this garden, but as she's reviving this physical garden. She's actually nurturing her own growth and her own healing, and in turn, kind of inspiring others as well. I do think there's something magical and there's also just parallel lines between the revival of a once forgotten garden, and especially us coming outta winter and going into spring, and just the reawakening of nature. So I really think they really coincide. The secret garden is also a celebration of rebirth. Again, an invitation to start anew and it just really mirrors the very essence of Spring, I think nothing says spring more than the secret garden. So I said at the top. So those are my four classics. Okay, so quick rundown. Classic one, enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnon, classic two, A Room with A View by Em. Foster. Book three And of Green Gables by LM Montgomery and Book four, the Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Now, like I said, at the top, pick a book that sounds like, hey, this is something I'm interested in, but if you're still not so sure, I'm gonna say if you consider yourself like a bit of a dreamer. I would definitely recommend that you pick up out of Green Gables or a Room With a View, because if you love to dream and imagine things beyond the mundane, I think those books can be very uplifting and transformative if you are looking for something where it provides some change. If you are in a phase of your life where you're seeking some personal growth or a fresh perspective. Enchanted April again but also The Secret Garden. I think those two narratives. Really mirror renewal and it might help mirror your journey. If you are a nature lover, though, I wanna recommend a completely different book. So we're gonna go off the rails here for a little and I'm gonna throw in a bonus recommendation. And it's The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham. I think that one is so whimsical you, you're gonna follow the adventure of a mole, a rat, and a badger. And of course, my. Unforgettable character is Mr. To, and we see them kind of journeying through the countryside along rivers, and it's just a very gentle classic that reminds you about found friendship. And just the beauty of the natural world. Because now when I think about it, that's the book. I think about when I think about like nature and beauty and it's just filled with adventure. It's great escapism. And you also get like some humor and a touch of mischief as well. So if you love nature, try the wind in the willow. But if you're new, new, new, new, new to classics, again, pick up the shortest book. I think. Actually the wind in the willow would be good for a beginner because it's light, it's low pressure, it's easy to get into, and I think an adventure is something that can keep you turning the pages let's start with the wind in the willow if you are a newbie to classics, and those are my recommendations. I love this. Recommendations. I love that you give us the classics to make it approachable and easier to get into it because we're most likely, we were at one point. Require to read classics and we learn, require reading sometimes can help and sometimes can just make us like, stay abort at all cost. Do not wanna do this. This is not fun. And so I love that you make it approachable and make it easier. I just wanna plug in and you also have a previous episode where you talk about classic love stories. So if you're looking for love stories, there's also you have a YouTube video about toxic. Romance, toxic couples and classics. And if you're looking for even more recommendations from Agatha Christie to other authors you can go to vivid lifestyle.com and there's authors guide, reading guide and where to get started. So there's plenty of information. If you want to have classics as one of the goals to read this year, you can actually get it. You can make it happen. Yes, you can make it happen. And again, we are no longer in school, so no required reading. If it's not working for you, just pass on and move on to something else. Yep. So thank you, Victoria, for being in the show. Thanks for having me.