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

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

Challenge #4 - Members Choice Challenge Choose one book per category/genre for a total of 12 books.

1. 19th Century,
2. 20th Century,
3. A book originally written in a language other than your own,
4. Current or Past Group Read,
5. An Author not read before,
6. Diversity Classic, read a book from a religion, culture, country, or race different than yours.
7. Science Fiction/Fantasy,
8. Action/Adventure,
9. Childrens/Young Adult,
10. Nonfiction,
11. Mystery/Thriller,
12. Horror or Humor,

Challenge #3 - Decade/Century/Millennium Challenge

Only one version of the challenge is required to participate. For those exceptional readers, over achievers, or competitive eating gluttons, feel free to increase the difficulty of the challenge by taking on 2 or all 3 versions. There are three ways to participate. First, read one book per year for 10 consecutive years, one-decade total. Second read one book from 10 consecutive decades, one century total. Third, read one book from 10 consecutive centuries, one millennium total.

The Decade Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive years (1 book per year). The authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

Challenge Example: (Decade Challenge)

Decade Challenge
1920-Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
1921-The Narrow House by Evelyn Scott
1922-Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
1923-Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
1924-A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
1925-The Professor's House by Willa Cather
1926-The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
1927-To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
1928-Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
1929-Passing by Nella Larsen


The Century Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive decades (1 book per decade). Authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

Challenge Example: (Century Challenge)

Century Challenge
1850-1859 The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850
1860-1869 Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell, 1863
1870-1879 Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy,1874
1880-1889 Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott, 1880
1890-1899 Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling, 1896
1900-1909 The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, 1901
1910-1919 Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1815
1920-1929 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, 1926
1930-1939 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, 1937
1940-1949 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, 1940

The Millennium Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive Centuries (1 book per century). Authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

Challenge Example: (Millennium Challenge)

20th Century - 1952 The Far Country by Nevil Shute
19th Century - 1871 Middlemarch by George Eliot
18th Century - 1720 Captain Singleton by Daniel Defoe
17th Century - 1684 The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
16th Century - 1593 The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
15th Century - 1438 The Book of Margery Kempe by Margery Kempe
14th Century - 1353 The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
13th Century - 1298 The Travels by Marco Polo
12th Century - 1150 The Life of Merlin by Geoffrey of Monmouth
11th Century - 1001 The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

Challenge #2 - Second Place or Worse

Go back through the groups past polls and select Four (4) total books that are of interest to you but lost the poll and to date has never made it to our group bookshelf. Pick one book from New School, one from Old School, one from Short Story/Novella, and one from the Quarterly Long Read.

Most will agree that the books making it through our nominations process are quality reads. Reading the unsuccessful books can help broaden our personal shelves. Hopefully this challenge, through member reviews and thread comments, will bring us some knowledge on a wider selection of books and encourage members to read them. It could also lead to renomination and poll winning.

Set up example:

New School
1.

Old School
1.

Short Story/Novella
1.

Quarterly Long Read
1.

Challenge #1 - Old & New TBR Challenge

First started in 2015, this challenge is our groups oldest. It is designed to help increase our reading of the classics and reduce our personal TBR's. This challenge commits you to reading 12 books next year. Choose 12 books you want to read and list threee alternates, to use as substitutes should one of your choices need to be replaced. You do not have to read all 15 books listed, 12 books read is a successful challenge. This 12 + 3 challenge will last all year and you can read at your own pace. Once you create your reading thread, you and other members can comment on your progress.

Only six of the 12 books selected are required be Classics based on the Groups definitions, they do not have to come from the groups bookshelf. At least 3 books from the Old School category (published before 1900) and 3 books from the New School category (published between 1900 & 1999). The other six and your three alternates can be any genre or age you wish to read. Yes, even post 2000.

Starting today you can begin creating your challenge thread. The whole month of December is dedicated to planning your challenge. You can add your books and make edit adjustments till December 31st. No challenge reading can start till January 1, 2023. No changes should be made to your list once challenge starts

If you're a current Group Member, you have until midnight 12/31/2022 to finalize your list. You can post your list and make all the changes you want until then, but no changes after midnight 12/31/2022. If you join our Classics Group after that date, you may still participate by posting and editing your list within two weeks of joining the group, but you can't make changes after you post your list.

For New Members joining in 2023, in addition to the above rules, feel free to adjust your challenge according to the number of months left in the year. Example: If you join in March 2023 and wish to participate, list 9 books and 3 alternates. If your joined after June 2023 list the appropriate number of books according to the number of months left, but only pick two alternates. Remember to add your alternates to any challenge you set up.

Example of a Challenge:

My fabulous 12 + 3 Old & New Classic Challenge

1899 and earlier/Old School
1. Les Misérables
2. Great Expectations
3. The Woman in White
1900-1999/New School
4. The Great Gatsby
5. The Red Pony
6. Of Human Bondage
My Wild Card Six
7. The Return of the Soldier
8. The Pillars of the Earth
9. Ender's Shadow
10. 2001: A Space Odyssey
11. The Law
12. Sin Killer

Alternates
A-1. War and Peace
A-2. Gone with the Wind
A-3 Home

2023 CHALLENGE BUFFET

Another year, another Buffet. Again, this year the chef has created a Baker's Dozen Menu, much of the menu is the same, but there are some changes. As always feel free to pick as few or as many challenges as fits your appetite. At this buffet gluttony is not a bad thing, take as much as you want and don't worry about not finishing all you take. This is for fun!

Remember every challenge created, every author and every book listed, becomes a resource for our members to learn about authors and books they haven’t heard of before.

Another Bakers Dozen Menu for the 2023 Buffet:
For Details See Messages 2-15

Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR
Challenge #2 - Second Place or Worse
Challenge #3 - Decade/Century/Millennium
Challenge #4 - Members Choice
Challenge #5 - Short Story
Challenge #6 - Group Reads and/or Buddy Reads
Challenge #7 - Expand Your Horizon With New Authors
Challenge #8 - Most Popular Goodreads Books Listed by Year
Challenge #9 – Fiction/Non-Fiction
Challenge #10 - The Half a Millennium Challenge with a Sour Lemon Twist of Difficult
Challenge #11 - Old and New Linked Categories
Challenge #12 - A-Z Author
Challenge #13 - A-Z Title

General/Helpful Challenge Information:
These challenges are personal. It is important that you enjoy your challenge/s, don't feel pressure to finish, this is for fun. Use your own creativity to make your challenge special. Select books that you truly have an interest in reading. It's your challenge your choices, just stick to the basic challenge configuration.

Create your own separate thread to list the challenge/s you wish to participate in. If you plan on participating in several challenges, you will want to save/reserve several message/posts at the beginning of your thread to list each challenge you intend to try. Reserve 1-14 if you are going to try them all. Remember you can always delete the save posts if you don't need them.

To Create your challenge thread simply go to the top of this folder click on the title (Challenge Buffet). Then look to the right for the words (new topic), click that, a new screen will open. In the box (topic) type the name you wish to give your challenge. In the (comment) box list your books chosen for the challenge. Use the (add book/author) link so that others can link to your choices and learn more about the book you have selected.

Feel free to mark your finished books anyway you wish. After you have finished a book you can strike it off your list. Directions are listed at the top of the comment box (some html is ok). You can list the date you finished or add the number of stars you though the book deserved.

Examples of marking books completed:
✓1. Les Misérables
2. Great Expectations 11/20/23
3. The Woman in White*****
4. The Great Gatsby Finished 1/25/23
5. The Red Pony 5 Stars, Finished

Books I very much enjoyed in 2022, not necessarily favorites, but solid reads.

Old School
The Pilgrim's Progress
Mary Barton
The Old Curiosity Shop

New School
The Jungle
Sounder
The Moviegoer

Short Story
Youth: A Narrative
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
Barn Burning

After 1999 (New)
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
A Gentleman in Moscow

,

These seven are moving forward to the poll

Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy, 1871, 512 pp

The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett, 1896, 224 pp

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad, 1899, 400 pp

The Symposium by Plato, -380, 90 pp

Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac, 1833, 200 pp

Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley, 1899, 376 pp

The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins, 228 pages, 1879

Old School Poll Link

.

These are the seven moving forward to the poll


Centennial by James A. Michener, 1974, 1056pp

Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon, 1997, 773 pp

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, 1943, 704 pp

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, 1995, 603 pp

The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne, 1580, 1344 pp

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding, 1749, 975 pp

The Cider House Rules by John Irving, 973 pages, 1985

Long Read Poll Link

Our winner for the January read is Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose

These seven are moving forward to the poll


Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, 25 pages, 1957

Reginald by Saki, 112 pages, 1904

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, 25 pages, 1894

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin, 32 pages, 1973

A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux, 99 pages, 1983

Jealousy by Alain Robbe-Grillet, 103 pages, 1957

The Man Who Turned into a Stick: Three Related Plays Title play by Kōbō Abe, 25+- pages, 1971

Short Story Poll Link

Welcome Darya!

Last day status, check for errors

Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy, 1871, 512 pp
Piyangie, Michaela,

The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett, 1896, 224 pp
Sam, Pat, Lori,

The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon, 11th century, 416 pp
Squire,

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad, 1899, 400 pp
Pat, Terris, RJ-Slayer of Trolls, Matt,

The Symposium by Plato, -380, 90 pp
J_Blueflower, Chuck, Cynda

Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac, 1833, 200 pp
Kimberly, Luffy, Janelle, AiK, Margaret

Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley, 1899, 376 pp
Marilyn, Shaina, Laurie, Wreade 1872

The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins, 228 pages, 1879
Janelle, Jaqui, Heather L,

Last day status, check for errors

Centennial by James A. Michener, 1974, 1056pp
Squire, Robynne, Katy, Lori

London by Edward Rutherfurd, 1997, 1154pp
Michaela, Shannon SA,

Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon, 1997, 773 pp
Darren, Sam, Margaret, Gerard

Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac, 1843, 656pp
Janelle, Luffy,

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, 1943, 704 pp
Robynne, J_Blueflower, Kimberly, Wreade1872, Marilyn

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, 1995, 603 pp
Pat, Terris, Terry, Carolien, Dave, Lorraine

The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne, 1580, 1344 pp
J_Blueflower, Heather L., AiK, Andrew

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding, 1749, 975 pp
Kimberly, Pat, Tina, Mary

The Cider House Rules by John Irving, 973 pages, 1985
Paula W, Nike, Shawn, Matt,

Updated, three are tied for sixth place.

Bookworm, welcome. I have read your four favorites, they are all great, especially Tess.

Current Status

Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, 25 pages, 1957
J_BlueFlower - Shaina, Terris, Luffy, Darya Silman

Reginald by Saki, 112 pages, 1904
JohnDishwasher - Janelle, Kathleen, Carolien,

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, 25 pages, 1894
Marilyn - Heather L, Janice, Jen,

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin, 32 pages, 1973
Tina - Klowey, Dave, Andrew, Irphen,

A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux, 99 pages, 1983
Sam - AiK, George P,

Jealousy by Alain Robbe-Grillet, 103 pages, 1957
Kimberly - Jaqui, Fed

Letter from Lord Chandos to Francis Bacon by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, 16 pages, 1902
Fed - Michaela,

The Man Who Turned into a Stick: Three Related Plays Title play by Kōbō Abe, 25+- pages, 1971
AiK - Wreade1872, John_Dishwasher

Welcome Jason.

Happy to have you with us, Amy!!