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

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

Susie wrote: "Thank, Bob for providing a wonderful buffet again for us.
It looks sooo good I'm adding another serving, even though I have many leftovers from this year!"

Thank you Susie, I hope you and others enjoy and have fun with it.

Jeri wrote: "Bob wrote: "Challenge #5 - Short Story Challenge
Read 24 short stories. This equates to only two per month for the year. Read them all at once or spread them out, it's up to you."

Bob, is the 130 page limit relevant here or is it only for shorter works? ..."

No, I think 130 pages for this challenge is extreme. To me that fall into the novella size and could prove difficult to read 24 in a year along with other desired reading. for me a short story can be one page (250+-) words up to 5000 (20+-) pages. But anything one figures is a good short story regardless of pages is fine for this challenge.

Welcome Savita!!

Katy wrote: "Great looking list so far, Bob. Always good to see what you plan to read, and what you read."

Thanks Katy, the planning is always fun, the execution can sometimes be difficult.

Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "Bob wrote: "I found Caldwell to be a good writer. Tobacco Road was smooth reading. Caldwell just aggravated me with his less than savory depiction of poor southern sharecroppers, both sets of my gr..."

I appreciate you sharing this information, Thank you.

Cynda wrote: "Bob, for most of my life I have lived in a place where the American South meets the American Southwest and for a while lived in the Deep South. So if the dialect does become an issue for your read ..."

Cynda wrote: "Better yet Bob, tell me what chapter you are reading from so that I can find what you looking at and puzzling over (lol dialect here) in an online copy I have access to on Scribd."

Thanks for the offer, no wonder this is the best group on Goodreads,

Lori wrote: "Bob wrote: "I need a little advise. The Way West was read by several members last year and all spoke highly about it. I happened to find a copy and set on my shelf, now I notice it is..."

Terry wrote: "I think you will be fine, Bob. A few of our Buddy Read participants did them in that order and they loved both books. I would read The Way West first, and then back read The Big Sky. I think you wi..."

Thanks, I am looking forward to reading this. I may make it book number one come January.

Well Sara, it’s another year and another challenge. Your choices are as usual great, enjoy.

Lori, I see a lot of coin tossing in your future. I can see no other way you can decide between some of your choices. Good luck.

All your other good choices aside, I do hope you enjoy A Cry of Angels. It is a true favorite and the only book I have read 4 times.

Jillian, you have put together the best bingo board I have ever seen. Looks great. You have some outstanding selections, The Giver, The Color Purple, Fahrenheit 451, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Huckleberry Finn were top notch reads for me. I especially liked Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Dandelion Wine. You have some good time ahead this year, enjoy.

Kathleen, you have made some excellent choices. I truly enjoyed The Martian Chronicles, The Secret Garden, Alias Grace and The Grapes of Wrath. I had Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy on my list for this year, I won’t make it, some other day.

Cynda, I see you have already found a recommendation for G4. I will still recommend The Front Porch Prophet. If you can find a copy, I think you will find it worthwhile. I do hope you enjoy your challenge.

Terris, Good luck with your bingo, I hope you archive a blackout. Your list provides a lot of new material for me. I am especially drawn to The Reivers, even if I do fear Faulkner, I have never been able to get over The Sound and the Fury.

As of now, I too have Possession on my challenge.

Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "Bob wrote: "Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "I'm interested in read God's Little Acre as well. Best wishes with this, Bob!"

Jillian, this will be my second book by Erskine Caldwell. Fingers crossed it turns ou..."

I found Caldwell to be a good writer. Tobacco Road was smooth reading. Caldwell just aggravated me with his less than savory depiction of poor southern sharecroppers, both sets of my grandparents were sharecroppers.

Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "Bob wrote: "Cynda, I have had Their Eyes Were Watching God on a past challenge and failed to read it. It has been on my TBR for a long time, I hope this forces me to finally read it. I have heard m..."

Thanks Jillian, I’m encouraged.

I need a little advise. The Way West was read by several members last year and all spoke highly about it. I happened to find a copy and set on my shelf, now I notice it is the second book in a series. I need to know does it stand alone, or should I read The Big Sky first? I have several other books I can substitute for the G2 square. Thanks.

Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "I'm interested in read God's Little Acre as well. Best wishes with this, Bob!"

Jillian, this will be my second book by Erskine Caldwell. Fingers crossed it turns out OK.

Kathleen wrote: "Interesting picks so far, Bob. Such a good point about The Jungle belonging on our shelves (I need to re-read it but am a little afraid). I'm happy to see The Wreath--I thi..."

Kathleen, The Jungle has been on my list for years. I’m a little timid about giving it a read. It’s kind of a bucket list read, one I should read but easy to put off because of a just or unjust perception it's difficult. The Wreath along with the whole Kristin Lavransdatter series I have heard nothing but good, so I’m going to give it a go.

Cynda wrote: "I think several people are planning to read Their Eyes were Watching God. I read that long ago. And ever since I have been trying read more Zora Neale Hurston. . . . Enjoy."

Cynda, I have had Their Eyes Were Watching God on a past challenge and failed to read it. It has been on my TBR for a long time, I hope this forces me to finally read it. I have heard mostly good about this book, but also alot about problems with the dialect.