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

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

I first read this in 1977 while I was overseas. It grabbed a piece of me back then and has held it ever since. My most recent reread was back in January 2014, I can't remember if I had read it two or three times prior to that, but for me, it is the most reread novel ever. I have tried several times over the years to get this book on our shelf and it failed every time. I am happy to see this as a Buddy Read and I hope it becomes a reader favorite.

Before the Party by W. Somerset Maugham is our October 2022 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on December 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

January 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
December's poll:

Poll Winner, Before the Party by W. Somerset Maugham
2nd, A Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka
3rd, The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
4th, The Christmas Truce by Robert Graves
5th, The Murder of a Buttercup, as found in, The Ballerina and the Body by Alfred Döblin
6th, So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
7th, Tonka And Other Stories Title Story Only by Robert Musil

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

Sara (taking a break) wrote:"I'm at a funny place with the group reads...."

Sara, I am in the same funny place with group reads. Of the 48 poll winners so far this year, I have read 13 selections (2 were rereads), while 19 selections were read prior to their winning this year's poll. Worse 11 winners I have no plans to ever read and 7 more hold only slight interest, and I don't plan to read them anytime soon.

My whole year has been weird, I know that’s not a good description, but it fits. My most enjoyed past time, reading, is I guess on pace, but it still feels off, somehow lacking. I can't explain it, I've read some really good books.

My biggest shame is lack of group participation, especially the group challenges. I have been keeping up with my Bingo and Buffet challenges, but neglecting others. What bothers me most about that is, the challenges are my most enjoyed group activity. I've had more than one five star read that originated from another members challenge. I'm calling this year a wash and crossing my fingers for a better year to come.

Welcome Catherine!

I don't know whether this would be considered good luck or bad luck but it's certainly annoying. Last month every pole winner ended up being a book that had already read. This month with the exception of revisit, every single book that won the poll is a book that I haven't read. My problem? None of the books winning this month are books that I have any interest in it. Oh well let's see what next month brings.

I have to give Highsmith credit. She created the most despicable character I have ever read. I disliked Ripley so much I had to take breaks during my reading. She did such a good job I will probably never read another book authored by her.

The Mark on the Wall by Virginia Woolf is our November 2022 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on November 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Welcome Anusha!

Welcome Don!!

Dan, Welcome to the group!!

Berenice by Edgar Allan Poe is our October 2022 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on October 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Hallie, I think you have found the right place. Welcome!

Yes, feel free to set up a Personal challenge folder, you can do this challenge or any other that you may like.

William wrote: Hi, I just joined the group. My name is Adam and I love reading classics, when I have time to! ..."

Welcome to the group!

Flush by Virginia Woolf is our September 2022 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on September 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Welcome Alyssa.

I'm a couple of days short of being at the half way point. So far I don't find this read overly enjoyable, and the characters for me are not interesting. It is like reading a textbook, sometimes interesting, most of the time not. I will stick till the end and hope for better.

You are an inspiration. Congratulations!! I guess I need to bear down in focus. You have read some great books.

Welcome Will