Pam’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2018)

Pam’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

I’m on ch 10 and have to agree with Book Nerd. It’s just one speech after another. I’m not enjoying it at this point.

Read Classics 1-20
My Goal: Yellow Ribbon (5 books)
Completed: 3/5
*- Currently reading
✅- Finished

1. Book from Mike's The AND List
✅2. Book written by an opposite sex author - The Iron Heel by Jack London Fin: Jan 11 (2.5 stars)
3. Translated fiction Classic
4. Classic Mystery
✅5. Read a Classic by an author written from Around the World - The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington fin: March 8 - 4 stars
6. Classic with a City in the title
7. Classic with an Isolated Setting
8. Young Adult Classic
9. Classic in Epistolary
10. Classic where the story takes place during a Road Trip - On the Road by Jack Kerouac
✅11. Classic with a Pastoral setting (rural) -Animal Farm by George Orwell Fin: April 13 (4 stars)
12. Protagonist with a unique Occupation
13. Classic that you Read before - Dune by Frank Herbert
14. Classic book with Shifting narrative styles
15. Author using a Pseudonym/pen name - So Disdained by Nevil Shute
16. Classic using a Drop Cap on the first page
17. Classic written before the year 1900 - The Paradise by Émile Zola (1883)
18. Classic Short Story collection
19. Classic recommended by another Member
20. Read a classic and watch the movie adaptation

I’m in for another year in translation!

Relaxed Reader:
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I’m glad to see that some of you are either going to continue or start journaling! I didn’t do so well with mine this year. For 2025, I bought a larger journal (Book Lover’s Journal) with 2 pages per book. Two things I like are space to note 1) why you chose the book and 2) other books by the author. For the 2nd prompt, I would also include books mentioned in the book that I want to read, similar books, and related non-fiction. I’m going to focus on only books I’m reading for book clubs or group reads and 4-5 star reads. Happy journaling everyone!

Happy New Year everyone! 🎉🎉🎉 I’m looking forward to a new year of reading and discussing books! 📚📚📚

I’m hoping to read this one. My only familiarity with Shirley Jackson is reading “The Lottery” short story in school.

That’s quite a goal John! I’d be curious to see what you’re reading and your thoughts.

Leona wrote: "Anyone join challenges this year? I am doing Catching Up On the Classics and plan to read from my books this year as much as possible..."

Leona - I've spent all morning updating my 2025 challenges! I don't know why I do this to myself. I have at least 10 challenges in other GR groups + 5 on StoryGraph + whatever I do in this group! For StoryGraph, I just fill them in (or not) as I realize I've completed one. I don't actively search for books. Two challenges that I recently added are Buzzword Challenges (one is title based and the other cover based. They look fun and not too restrictive. I think it's a Youtuber's challenge, which she also posts on StoryGraph and Instagram). I'm also doing the Catching up on the Classics Buffet challenge, if that's the one you're talking about. Like you, I am planning to read books I own as much as possible! If only authors would stop publishing new books that are so enticing!

We are having unusually warm weather. High of 60, sunny with no wind. I usually walk an indoor track with my neighbor. Today we are going to do an outdoor 5k loop. I haven't done it in ~10 years, when I was in much better shape, but I think I will be fine. Hope everyone enjoys these last few days of the year!

Welcome to the group Jim!

I’m reading The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor. Getting a head start on the January reads. I have way too many books planned for January!

Happy Birthday Lesle! Enjoy! 🎂🎉

Leona - that sounds like a wonderful gift for you and your granddaughters! I love hearing about the other gifts, too. My husband gave me a gift card for the spa at the casino resort. I’m calling today to schedule an appointment! I love their hot river stone massage. So relaxing!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of the year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah everyone! Did anyone get any books for gifts?? My daughter gave me Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. I’m excited to start it, being the bird enthusiast that I am! I think my grandson will enjoy her drawings.

I found The Iron Heel on SimplyE (free app). It has a lot of SF, including short stories that are hard to find outside of a collection.

I inquired at our used bookstore and the library about the Primo Levi book. I was told that they don't have it and it is out of publication. However, my library has Survival in Auschwitz and The Reawakening: The Companion Volume to Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi, which I checked out. It looks like they might be the same books but published under different titles.

Has anyone played the Jane Austen boardgame? I saw it at the bookstore yesterday.

Hi Jimena and welcome to the group!

Thanks Samantha. I do use the ILL process. I even found one of my favorite books ever through the system. My experience recently is, that by the time I get the book, I’m reading other books and don’t have time to read it. The last few books I’ve requested I returned unread. I feel guilty doing that. I might request one later in the year, though. For January, I’ll likely order the book so I can read it in January.

Thanks Samantha! I’m interested in the books for Jan, Feb, June, Sept and Nov but will probably not be able to fit in all of them. My library only has 2 of them. I might order If This is a Man. Interestingly enough, that title was a crossword puzzle clue recently that my husband asked me about.

I finished the challenge but had to get a little creative with September. I had a book that I didn't even realize was in the classics range. That was a fun challenge, Lesle! Thanks for putting it together.