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

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

Of the few I have read. I think you will enjoy Oliver Twist and especially The Neverending Story. Looking forward to the rest of your choices. Happy reading.

I don’t see a problem with John Quincy, if you really have interest in the book. Don’t read it just to fill a letter. Personally, I have used Zane Gray for “Z” and I sleep guilt free. Have fun, happy reading.

Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose is our January 2023 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on January 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

February 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
January's poll:

Poll Winner, Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose
2nd, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin
3rd, The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
4th, A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
5th, Reginald by Saki
6th, The Man Who Turned into a Stick: Three Related Plays Title play by Kōbō Abe
7th, Jealousy by Alain Robbe-Grillet

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

Welcome to the buffet, looking forward to dining with you. See you at the dessert table, enjoy.

Welcome to the buffet, so glad you will be dining with us. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy your challenges, good luck.

I'm so glad you are back for another meal at the buffet. I'm looking forward to next year. Enjoy!

Another well balanced meal. I look forward to your selections, enjoy.

Looking forward to your selections, have fun.

You have started with an appetizer. Rarely does an appetizer satisfy. Looking forward to your next entrée. Don’t forget dessert. Happy reading!

By the way, I love BABLE,

I’m glad you added another challenge. I hope you are successful.

Perfection does exist. Excellent planning and terrific book selections, well done. Good luck and enjoy!

Alissa, I like selections and your book choices, good luck. A word of caution, I enjoyed Their Eyes Were Watching God very much, but it was very very difficult to read. My advice is to take it slow. If the written book proves to rough or time consuming, I have heard great things about audio. It was worth the effort.

Thank you all for the kind thoughts. I am happy that the challenges are well received. I hope they are enjoyed by all who participate. I feel a little like an absentee head chef, I’ve neglected my restaurant. I have been absent from the challenges and the group in general for most of this past year. It was just not the greatest year for reading and keeping up with the things I enjoy. I apologize for my short comings this year and will work to do better this upcoming year. See you all at the buffet.

Terris, so glad you have decided to pick up a plate and indulge in our Buffet. You will notice that the plates we use here are exceptionally large, so feel free to fill it up. Remember no one looks down on an unfinished plate, so don’t worry about not finishing. Just have fun!

I look forward to seeing your challenge selections and your choices to fill them. Enjoy!!

I look forward to watching your planning progress. Good luck and enjoy your choices.

Who knew that 1962 was such a good year for books. Your new authors are all good, McMurtry is a favorite of mine. Enjoy the rest of your planning.

To me, the A-Z challenge is the hardest to complete. In fact, I believe that over the years I have only finished it once. Enjoy!

Only four, you have a dainty appetite, but your choices look not only look healthy, but terrifically appetizing. Good luck and enjoy!