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

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

I find this question interesting, and I have given it some thought. For me it’s easy to get bogged down over thinking it. When I first think about the question, I am flooded with authors that I have read dozens of their books. Was I inspired to read more by the authors greatness or did I become invested in the books characters. Most of these multiple reads are by authors that write series books. Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon, Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington, James Patterson’s Alec Cross, and Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt among others, are characters I enjoy reading about. I think I would still be interested even if the author changed. If the characters remain in character based on passed stories I have already read, I think I would be satisfied.

When I think about the meaning of the question and discount these series authors. There are several that after reading the first book I wanted more. While there are more than three, the question only asks for three. The first three that come to mind are:

Larry McMurtry, back in 1990 I was stuck away from home for several months and to save money I ate at McDonald’s most meals. I did splurge on reading. I could only get books at the local grocery store. The first book I bought was Anything for Billy. I was stunned by McMurtry’s wit, humor, and writing style. I immediately bought another. It was Lonesome Dove. Since then, I have read almost everything book he has authored.

Nevil Shute, several years ago I decided to read the top ten bestselling books for the year I was born, Shute’s On the Beach was apart of that list. Again, I was hooked and have been seeking his books ever since.

Elizabeth Gaskell, her book North and South started me on my journey and to date I have not been disappointed. I hope to read all that has been published.

I read this a little over two years ago. I liked the story and remembered it being both a fast-paced story and fast read.

Shaina, I read The Cactus. I decided to stop by and let you know I agree with you, it is excellent. Now I find two more I must read soon. Maybe this weekend I will get to The Ransom of Red Chief and The Last Leaf.

I nominate Stamboul Train by Graham Greene, 216 pages, 1932
Also titled, Orient Express

Greene vs. Christie

I nominate The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo, 672 pages, 1869

I nominate The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson, 1759, because I need a read from the 18th century and this looks interesting.

Now you are cooking, from a DNF to a 5 Star read, congrats!
I enjoyed your review.

Terris, I don’t wish to intrude on a question you have asked Darren, but as to MASH being a classic, I would also say yes. It will be 55 years old this year and has certainly stood the test of time.

Congrats on completing the short stories. Short stories are a favorite of mine. I have read several by O. Henry, and agree he is one of the best. I will have to read The Cactus soon.

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostoevsky is our
March 2023 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on March 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

The Praise of Folly by Erasmus is our February 2023 Old School Classics Book Read. This is a spoiler thread.

Electra is our Old School Classic Group Read for March 2023.

This is the No Spoiler Thread
The Spoiler Thread will open on the 1st.

This early posting of the No Spoiler thread is to discuss any non-plot issues pertaining to the book.

Appropriate Posts can contain:
1. Information about the author.
2. Compare editions/translations.
3. Any historical or background information
4. Are you familiar with this author’s work? Do you have any expectations going into the book?
5. What made you decide to read this book?
6. Any fan fiction that you have read or would like to read? Just link the books.
7. If you loved the book and want others to share in that experience, use this thread to motivate others, again save plot specifics for the Spoiler thread
8. If you hated the book, it would be best to keep that for the spoiler page.

Enjoy your challenge, I am familiar with several authors but only a couple of your choices. Good luck!

I’m glad you have chosen to dine at our buffet. I can give a big thumbs up to The Machine Stops, Howards End. The Maltese Falcon, East of Eden, and Murder at the Vicarage. Enjoy your challenge, good luck!

April 2023 nominations now open! Please review the requirements below for book eligibility.

In the interest of variety, please wait a month to renominate a book that has been in the poll. These are the books from
March's poll:

Poll Winner, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostoevsky
2nd, The Old Maid by Edith Wharton
3rd,The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs
4th, The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
5th, The Paying Guest by George Gissing
6th, Gimpel the Fool by Isaac Bashevis Singer
7th, So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ

1. Members nominating for a monthly Group Read will need to check that a copy of the text is reasonably available for members and is available in English. Moderators may disallow a nomination if a copy is not readily available.

2. Books that have already been featured as short story group reads or currently on our bookshelf, in any category, are not eligible to be nominated.

Short Story Book Shelf

3. Only books up to 130 pages maximum are eligible for nomination. If a story slightly exceeds this number of pages the moderator will decide if the story will pass through to the poll, (probably a coin toss)

4. A story's size will be determined by using the Goodreads default edition. If a larger number of editions listed indicate the story has more pages than the default edition, it may be ruled ineligible. If the story has no Goodreads edition and is a part of a larger collection, please identify the collection title and indicate the number of pages applied to the story you are nominating.

5. Only stories/books that were published before 1999 are eligible to be nominated in this section.

6. When making a nomination, please use "add book/author" link to help moderators and others view the book selected.

7. Only seven books, by seven different authors will move forward to the poll. This will be determined by the number of seconds a book receives. The seven books with the most seconds moves to the poll.

8. Only one nomination AND one second per member will be allowed. A nomination can be changed only until it has been seconded. Once seconded, in fairness to the member making the second, the nomination will stand.

8a. A second can be withdrawn and placed on another choice. This change must in some way be noted in a post such as, "I am withdrawing my second for book A and placing it on book B." It will be easier for the moderator to track changes.

9. Only one book per author, In the event that more than one book by the same author is nominated, the first one to receive a second will be eligible. The nominator of the ruled ineligible book will be able to nominate a replacement or second another already in nomination.

9a. Same author-multiple categories The same author may be nominated in multiple categories in a single month as long as the nominations are for different books. In the case of identical nominations, precedence will go to the first one to receive a second.

Nominations will run from today thru the 14th. Polls will open on the 16th and run till the end of the month

April 2023 Old School group read nominations are now open! Please review the requirements below for book eligibility.

1. Books that have already been featured as group reads and currently on our bookshelf are not eligible to be nominated.

Bookshelf link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

In the interest of variety, please wait a month to re-nominate a book that has been in the poll. These are the books from March that did not win:

The Aeneid by Virgil
The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith
The Symposium by Plato
The Magic Skin by Honoré de Balzac
Two Years Before the Mast: A Sailor's Life at Sea by Richard Henry Dana Jr.
Dom Casmurro by Machado de Assis

2. Only books that were published before 1900 are eligible to be nominated in this section.

3. A maximum of seven books, by seven different authors, will move forward to each poll. This will be determined by the number of seconds a book receives. The seven books with the most seconds move to the poll.

4. Only one nomination and one second per member will be allowed. A nomination can be changed only until it has been seconded. Once seconded, in fairness to the member making the second, the nomination will stand.

4a. A second can be withdrawn and placed on another choice. This change must in some way be noted in a post such as, "I am withdrawing my second for book A and placing it on book B." It will be easier for moderators to track changes.

5. Only one book per author, In the event of more than one book by the same author is nominated, only the first one to receive a second will be eligible. The nominator of the ruled ineligible book will be able to nominate a replacement or second another already in nomination.

5a. Same author-multiple categories. The same author may be nominated in multiple categories in a single month as long as the nominations are for different books. In the case of identical nominations, precedence will go to the first one to receive a second.

6. Availability Members nominating for a monthly Group Read will need to check that a copy of the text is reasonably available for members and is available in English. Moderators may disallow a nomination if a copy is not readily available.

Nominations will remain open until the 14th of the month. Polls will open on the 16th and run until the end of the month.

I read Pillars years ago. I really liked it, but then Follett us one of my favorite authors.

Looks like a nice haul. I haven’t been to a library sale is several years, a good place to get good books cheap, while still helping the library.

Welcome Debra, I'm glad you are with us.

Welcome Esther.