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

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

Welcome, Mia!!

Congrats, hope you try another.

I second The Good Earth

Lilly, welcome to the group.

An excellent month, I'm envious.

Matt, I'm not going to be much help. But I read The Count of Monte Cristo in 16 days, rated it 5 stars, and list it as one of my favorites. I read Two Cities in 7 days and rated it 4.5 stars. Both are truly classics and really great reads. I agree with Shaina, Monte Cristo seems to fly, a true page turner. I was surprised to look back an see it took so many days, it felt much faster. Unless, you have serious time limits, toss a coin and read the winner. You won't lose either way it lands.

I nominate The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad, 1907

I hate to be a killjoy, but the new rule is--2. Eligible publication dates for books are 1915 - 1999.

Sue I see that you nominated Kidnapped in Old School. I planned to nominate Lord Jim as my Old School nomination. I am just as happy with The Secret Agent. Let me know it that works for you.

Welcome to the buffet, now seating a table for one. You have some really good reads ahead, enjoy.

I nominate Seize the Day by Saul Bellow

I nominate The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe, last read by the group November 2017

The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges is our May 2024 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on May 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

These are the 14 titles randomly selected from our Master Short Story List. Please vote for the one that interests you the most. You can cast your vote by using the list number or the titles name. The top 7 will move forward to the poll on the 15th. A maximum of 7 titles will move to the poll. If there is a tie for 7th place only 6 titles will go to the poll.

Example: I vote for #__ -or- I vote for Story Title

313. Do You Love Me? found in The Fat Man in History and Other Stories by Peter Carey
46. Morning In The Burned House by Margaret Atwood
77. Diary of a Superfluous Man by Ivan Turgenev
37. The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol
72. Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell
219. The Devil by Leo Tolstoy
106. The Door in the Wall by H.G. Wells
323. The Wonderful O by James Thurber
169. A Wagner Matinee by Willa Cather
110. The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
14. The Sailor Boy's Tale by Isak Dinesen
349. Philomel Cottage: A Short Story by Agatha Christie
279. Butterfly Valley: A Requiem by Inger Christensen
266. The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway

I finished this last week. It started a little slow and finished with a WOW that was good!

Wow, another challenge finished, excellent!

The Day of the Triffids was my first by Wyndham. I agree he wrote unique "Classic" Science Fiction, I have followed up with The Chrysalids and The Midwich Cuckoos. All three are outstanding.

Congrats on finishing challenge #12 and I agree with you about Wilde, truly gifted.

Oh, I do like and enjoy your reviews. Nice to see you nibbling away at the buffet.

Welcome, Craig and Sheryl. I'm glad you have joined us!

Welcome, Mike.