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

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

Welcome, Maria!!

I am not a Tolstoy intellectual nor have I read a ton of his works. Of the books I have read written by him the themes on christianity are many times present. Love, honor, forgiveness, and redemption are not uncommon in a Tolstoy book.

During my reading of this story the Golden Rule kept running through my mind.

Welcome, Frederico.

While looking for an old school book of interest I found this on my TBR. There must be goblins on the internet. I have never heard of or seen this book before and I have no idea how it came to be on my TBR. On the books information page I have one Goodread friend that has it listed on her TBR. No one that I am affiliated with on Goodreads has read, rated, or reviewed this book. Curious, I am keeping it on my TBR and will try to read it soon. In the meantime-

I nominate The Witness for the Defense by A.E.W. Mason, 236 pages, published in 1914, 108 total ratings, averaged 3.60.

Beth, welcome to the group!

Poul Anderson is amazingly descriptive about the wildness and violence of Jupiter’s atmosphere. Snippets from the first three short paragraphs-

“The wind came whooping out of the eastern darkness, driving a lash of ammonia dust before it.”
“Lightning cracked, immensely far overhead where clouds boiled with night."
" As if to reply, thunder toned in ice mountains and red gout of flame jumped and a hillside came booming down, spilling itself across the valley. The earth shivered.”

Jupiter doesn't sound like a fun place to visit.

I will nominate Peyton Place by Grace Metalious, 1956

Give this one a look. I will be rereading sometime if in the next few months. It really is a good story.

A thought about The Veldt.

I first read The Veldt as a standalone short story back in 2020. At that time, I gave it four stars and was impressed with the quality of Bradbury’s writing. I did not think about the story any deeper than to blame the parents for their lack of discipline and control of their kids.

This time I thought about technology, specifically video games and the internet. This was written in 1950, if memory serves television was in its infancy. I’m a child of the sixties and TV was a big thing. But it pales when compared to the power of video games and time spent on the internet. As I’m doing right now. Yes, I’m addicted and spend way too much time on-line, just like the Hadley children.

Was Bradbury giving us a warning about the dangers of technology in 1950?

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens is our 2nd Quarter (April - June) 2025 Long Read Group Choice Book.

This is the Spoiler Thread
The Spoiler Thread will open on April 1, 2025.

I jumped the gun. I read this two weeks ago and immediately followed it with Something Wicked This Way Comes. A double dose of Ray Bradbury. I am looking forward to the discussion, I hope you all like it as much as I did. Was able to use both on the buffet

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster is our May 2025 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on May 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

I bought my copy today. I am looking forward to starting it on April 1st. It will be the only new group read for me this month. I plan to read Nicholas Nickleby this year but I don’t see fitting it in during the next three months. I have read A Lost Opportunity (twice). I have also read and don’t plan to reread 1984, even if it is one of the best ever. I also won’t be rereading A Woman in White, again a very good book. So, for April, I am looking forward to continuing my Buffet challenges and reading Call Me Joe.

I may not have gotten the spirit of your question. If you are wanting books to read because you are getting older, 50 is not old, I might have missed the boat. My mind went to book characters that are older or are aging. The first book that comes to mind is Lonesome Dove. If you haven’t read it, put it on your bucket list as a must read. The book's characters Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae are a little past their prime.

The others that come to mind are McMurtry’s The Last Picture Show series. The Last Picture Show features the characters Duane and Sonny and is more of a coming-of-age story. The rest of the series, Texasville, Duane's Depressed, When the Light Goes, and finally Rhino Ranch. These focus more on the character Duane as he ages through life facing the successes and failures that come to all men.

I know that this is a lot of books by Larry McMurtry, sorry but he is my favorite and I’m biased.

Welcome, Sanchita.

Murphy, welcome to the group!

An award winning book used to provide me with a level of confidence. I trusted that the book would be worthwhile to read. After reading many disappointments, that is no longer the case. I really lost faith in Pulitzer books after reading A Visit from the Goon Squad. It is an understatement to say I disliked that book. I still feel cheated, money wasted and precious time lost.

Having never read anything by Saul Bellow I considered reading this with the group. But last year I came across a copy of Bellow’s Seize the Day and figured I would read it first. Based on the posts so far, I am happy with my decision to pass on Humboldt’s Gift. I am also now a little nervous about reading Seize the Day, time will tell, I have it planned for later this year.

Congrats, Sara! Until the Expand Your Horizon challenge I never kept track of my new author reads. I am surprised at how many new authors I read each year.

I am using books from the 30’s for my decade challenge. I immediately jumped to check out High Rising. Unfortunately, I have already read a book from 1933.

Keep going, the year is still young.

Welcome, Keenreader.

Welcome to the group, Mary.