Bob’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2011)

Bob’s comments from the Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) group.

Wobbley wrote: "That's fantastic progress! I was also a fan of Middlemarch and Lord of the Rings."

Thanks, I can't believe I first started thinking about reading Lord of the Rings 50 years ago. It was worth the wait.

So many that you read are not on my radar. Your posts and reviews have brought them to my attention, thanks!

Sounds like one for the TBR, thanks

Well, with half a year behind us and a half a year ahead of us, I guess it is time to take stock of how I am doing on my year long holiday meal.

I have been focusing about 85% of my reading straight from my challenges. That has allowed me to complete 7 of the 8 challenges I set out to complete. I have also been nibbling on the remaining 8 challenges, knowing full well that most of those will not be completed.

Highlights-favorites not including anything from my re-read list.

New School - The Winds of War
Old School - Middlemarch
Short Story - For The Cold Equations, this one I have dreamed about a couple of times
Science fiction - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Fantasy - The Lord of the Rings
21st Century - Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

Now it is time to loosen my belt a couple of notches, take a deep breath and dig in for the year's second half.

Congrats, Sara. I took The Mayor of Casterbridge off my bookshelf two years ago and still haven't started it. I should probably be taken to the woodshed for an adjustment of what is important.

North and South was my first by Gaskell. She became a favorite. Glad you enjoyed it.

Congratulations on finishing the short story challenge.

Enjoy your years second half reading, see you in December.

I have discovered a lot of short stories lately. I Stand Here Ironing is one of them. I haven't read it yet, but it is nice to know it rates 4 stars. Congrats on finishing challenge #14.

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These are the books that will be on the poll for September. Use this thread to discuss the merits of the book you would like to read with the group.

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster
The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
Why I Live at the P.O. and Other Stories title story by Eudora Welty
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Philomel Cottage: A Short Story by Agatha Christie
A Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka

Short story functions a little differently than our other categories. Except for the monthly winner, the below stories exist on our Master Short Story List. Notice that The Garden of Forking Paths was randomly selected twice and received enough votes to twice make the monthly poll. It lost in March and won in May. At some point in time the six losers from the list below will again randomly be selected for the primary vote and could make it to a future poll.

For consistency I am following the other categories this month. Just beware that these stories can show up in future nominations (primary vote) and polls. This is more likely to happen with short stories than with our other categories.

January
398. Behind a Mask, Or, a Woman's Power by Louisa May Alcott 70 Votes
68. The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster 51 votes
February
394. The Gentle Spirit by Fyodor Dostoevsky 45 votes
82. The Touchstone by Edith Wharton 42 votes
March
197. The Beauties by Anton Chekhov 61 votes
266. The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges 48 votes
277. Why I Live at the P.O. and Other Stories title story by Eudora Welty 32 votes
April
41. To Build a Fire by Jack London 40 votes
143. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard votes 32
May
266. The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges 62 votes
293. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 60 votes
June
37. The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol 59 votes
349. Philomel Cottage: A Short Story by Agatha Christie 46 votes
July
186. The Eyes by Edith Wharton 71 votes
231. A Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka 61 votes

It's back!! "Second Chance Nomination Month" has returned! Did you vote for a book that didn't win the poll? Would you like a second chance? Our September polls will include the second place books from January through July of 2023. (The same author may appear twice.) This month you can swim, bask in the sun, or read a book knowing that nominations will return to normal next month.

Enjoy and visit the polls when they open on July 16th. Although we are not nominating any more books, if you would like to comment below, please do.

Nominations for our October reads will be back to the usual rules

Welcome, Caleb.

The Eyes by Edith Wharton is our August 2024 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on August 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Welcome, Soren!

Congrats, I find the A-Z to be very hard.

I have yet to get to Don Quixote, but Monte Cristo and W&P are great. Good reads, lots of pages, enjoy.

Welcome, roselind_isa!

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