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

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

Another for the TBR, thanks!

Wow! What a month!!

Wobbley wrote: "There's nothing wrong with bragging about your reading -- well done!! What were the highlights for you?"

Wobbly, my reading was truly spectacular, more five star reads than three stars. As great as The Winds of War and The Lord of the Rings are I will give my highest recommendation to A Cry of Angels: A Novel. I first read it in 1977 and still consider it the best ever.

I also had an exceptional January, I hope it continues for both of us. I agree with you about The Lover. If it had not been so short, I would not have finished it.

January was good for you. I hope in February you have at least as many 4 and 5 star reads.

It maybe your first for the old and new, but you are killing the a-z.

I nominate The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham, 1944, last read January 2022

I nominate Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence, 400-450 pages, 1913, rating 3.64.

I haven't read much by Lawrence, one novel and a few short stories, so I thought I would give this one a try.

I second That Affair Next Door

I nominate The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, 518 pages, 1989, rating 4.35, setting South Africa

I nominate Gone To Soldiers: A Novel by Marge Piercy, 703 pages, 1987, rating 4.26

After reading a good book. I have a habit of keeping them permanently on my bookshelf if I think they were great. I read this at least thirty years ago and I admit I don't remember it with any kind of detail. Yet, every time I see it, I can't shake the feeling of how good it was and how much I enjoyed it. I confess, this is on my reread list, and win, lose, or draw I will be revisiting it. I just wanted the group to be aware of it.

I know it is wrong to brag and boast on oneself and I will have to buy a new hat to fit my swelled head, but I have had a great month. I usually read 4-6 books per month. This month I read 10, 7 novels, 2 short stories, and 1 novella. All have worked out for my buffet. Retirement and a month of bad weather makes for good reading.

Including this one I have read three by Gaiman, all were enjoyed. I think the group will like this one and I look forward to reading the posts.

I have been planning on reading this for several years. I put it on my Old and New challenge to force the issue. I am glad it won the poll.

A very nice start. I am planning on starting The Chrysalids tonight.

A great month!!!

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

352. An Imaginative Woman and Other Stories title story by Thomas Hardy
374. The Web of Earth by Thomas Wolfe
334. The Poor Clare by Elizabeth Gaskell
296. Childhood by Tove Ditlevsen
167. Big Blonde and Other Stories title story by Dorothy Parker
76. Le Colonel Chabert by Honoré de Balzac
10. How the Two Ivans Quarrelled by Nikolai Gogol
143. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
218. alphabet by Inger Christensen
262. Teddy by J.D. Salinger
41. To Build a Fire
298. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
319. A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce
48. Dreamtigers

The Beauties by Anton Chekhov is our March 2024 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on March 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Ah, Peyton Place, I remember that one. You are off to a great start.

It has been a good month for reading. I thought Moonstone was a great little mystery. I hope you like it.

Enjoy your challenges, happy reading.