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

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

Welcome, Zeynep.

Welcome, Zeynep!

Welcome, Diana!

This month's nominations and seconds have not a very active. I will second The Toilers of the Sea

Brian, I enjoyed reading your review. I have crossed the halfway point and agree the story improves with every turn of the page. Looking forward to the ending.

I am finished. I may have read faster than most of you, but I kept to reading only two per day.

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I rarely link to a review of mine, but since I differ from most of the above posts, I thought I would try to explain.

Maugham’s creepy description of Oliver Haddo is great.

Mira, welcome to the group!

The book I voted for finished dead last. Had I voted for this one, its being authored by Dickens would have been reason enough for my vote. I joined this group 14 years ago. With the exception of A Christmas Carol, I had never read a book by Dickens.

Before joining the group, the thought of reading Dickens was scary, I just couldn’t see myself reading one, I guess I thought the language would be too hard. In 2011 the group voted for Oliver Twist, I figured what the hell, I ‘d give it a try. I learned I really like Dickens. Since then, I have read 9 novels and half a dozen short stories.

Prior to this one winning, the next Dickens on my TBR was Bleak House. The group voted for it in 2016 and I have yet to get to it. Instead I read The Pickwick Papers and The Old Curiosity Shop. If reading another Dickens novel is in my near future I will make it Nicholas Nickleby, simply because the discussion will be fresher.

Five days into our nominations and only 5 books nominated, I'll nominate a long shot. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence.

I nominate How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn, Published 1939, 448 pages,
National Book Award for Fiction (1940), Goodreads Rating 4.20

I started this last night. It will be my ninth book written by Maugham. In addition to the six books listed by Brian E, I have read Ashenden and Liza of Lambeth. I highly recommend the latter. It was also his first publication. My first encounter with Maugham was The Razor’s Edge, a five star read for me, I’ve been hooked ever since.

Socraticist, I don’t think Maugham or London are overrated or underrated. I think they are simply forgotten. Fame is fleeting and time marches on. Are the “Beatles” as popular now as they were in the sixties and seventies?

I am always hoping for a good story regardless of the author's fame. Nevil Shute comes to mind. He has never delivered to me anything less than a good solid story. His placement on the writers pyramid of fame will be considerably lower than the likes of Faulkner and Hemmingway, both of which I prefer to leave on the shelf. He is less known than both Maugham and London. Yet, all three deliver good solid memorable stories that the public seems to have forgotten.

It is interesting how popularity works. It seems to have less to do with quality and more to do with promotion.

The winner Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, 1838, 817 pages

A Lost Opportunity by Leo Tolstoy s our April 2025 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on April 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Sorry for the inconvenience

I never mind guinea pigging myself for the betterment of reading. I am sure that any incurred mental scars won't be permanent. I will be on the lookout for book one The Light Years

Would this series appeal to the XY reader? Looks like you having a grand year so far, me too!

Welcome, Sofia.

Welcome, Kate!

Welcome, Jen!