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

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

Congrats Sara! Another course finished. It feels good to check off a challenge.

Welcome spoko!!

I disliked this book. No, dislike is too mild, I detested this book. I still regret giving it two stars when it deserves only 1, if that. Jon Krakauer does an excellent job of making the reader feel sympathy for a kid too stupid to get out of a shower of rain. Katy, I agree that the author does evoke sympathy for young McCandless, but to what point. To glorify ignorance and arrogance? To romanticize stupidity?

I agree with Paula’s comment (#6). This kid disregarded all helpful information given to him by people that knew the dangers, letting his arrogant superiority rule his decision. No one as young as McCandless deserves to die for being and acting stupid. But you can’t argue that death or serious permanent injury is the most likely outcome when one goes into a seriously dangerous situation disregarding the known common sense and wisdom of people who firsthand know the dangers.

McCandless willingly walked into the mouth of the dragon with no more protection than a lamb’s fleece would provide. It is sad that he paid for his foolishness with his life, but hardly surprising.

Congratulations! You have finished what I consider to be the hardest challenge in the buffet, one I could bet money I won’t be able to finish.

Enjoyed your review, this is one to ponder.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are books I have been aware of for fifty years or more. I read The Hobbit six years ago. I enjoyed it a great deal and promised myself to quickly read The Rings. They are still sitting on my shelf gathering dust.

Will finish reading
The Far Country (completes my Bingo Card-Blackout)
The Man Who Laughs (completes Challenge #11)
The Orphan's Tale (non-group read, been on my shelf awhile)

Start Reading-finish ??
A Confederacy of Dunces (7th for Old & New)

I can’t plan beyond these. When I finish the above, I will just have to look at my list and pick something that feels right. That’s how I picked The Orphan’s Tale last month, I just felt it was time to give it a go.

Thanks. Kathleen. I read “Sweat” several years ago, I remember it being interesting.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Why was it foolish? You have a list of 400 now, right?

Who is "we" in "We will keep adding"? Do you want more suggestions?"

Foolish? Because I never thought it would be possible to post 400 titles in less than a month.

“We” is our current and future members who have not yet added up to 10 titles to the list.

Do you want more suggestions? Yes, from any member who is interested in contributing and hasn’t yet.

I nominate Little Big Man by Thomas Berger, 422 pages, 1964

This is an amazing book, sadly it has only been rated by 7800+ Goodreads members for a 4.27 rating. This book deserves more than to be lost in obscurity. It is, at least for me an outstanding read.

"I am a white man and never forget it, but I was brought up by the Cheyenne Indians from the age of ten."

So starts the story of Jack Crabb, the 111-year old narrator of Thomas Berger's masterpiece of American fiction. As a "human being", as the Cheyenne called their own, he won the name Little Big Man. He dressed in skins, feasted on dog, loved four wives and saw his people butchered by the horse soldiers of General Custer, the man he had sworn to kill.

I want to remind each member interested in adding to our short story collection, you can post up to ten (10) stories to be added to the list.

I was foolish thinking we would have a good list with 400 stories. We will keep adding until we have no more character space left in the message boxes already set aside.

I will add five (5) stories at the beginning of each month. This will add an additional 60 stories per year, helpful if we don’t get much member participation.

Here are the five I will be adding for June. Three female and two male authors. I will reverse this next month.

The Last Asset by Edith Wharton

The White Quail found in The Long Valley by John Steinbeck

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? title story by Joyce Carol Oates

The Angel in the Alcove by Tennessee Williams

Felipa by Constance Fenimore Woolson

I believe this was my second book written by Greene. For what it’s worth I thought it was good, well worth reading.

I read this last year, to call it a tragedy is an understatement. It is a worthy read.

Eight is a great month. I hope June is just as good. Of your “*” for June I remember “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” well. For me Anne Bronte was a better writer than her sisters.

I’ve enjoyed most of my reads by Christie, but she is never going to be listed as one of my favorite authors.

I too agree, you have plenty of time and some great books to choose from. Slow and steady, just enjoy your reading time.

Congrats on finishing your Members Choice challenge. The Moon is Down, is a book I had no plans for. Until the group read thread took off, now it is a must. Maybe in a couple of months.

Nice review. Thanks!

Congrats on finishing. I will have to investigate Dorothy Whipple, Thanks.

Wow, you are just a small handful of reads away from finishing these challenges. Maybe a big handful for you’re A-Z. Well done.