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

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

You have done great. I admire the progress on the A-Z challenges, I gave them up this year, I just can’t seem to finish it.

You have got this knocked. Some great reads. I enjoyed Cousin Rachel, even though it was aggravating plot. And Moll Flanders was just great.

Why do we get sidetracked? I should have had a blackout at least two weeks ago. I started to read my last book The Sea, The Sea over a month ago and have not finished it. There is nothing wrong with the book, I like it, so far. Yet, I have let other books take precedence and have set this aside, I haven’t touched it in more than two weeks. The longer I leave it sit, the easier it is to not pick it back up. I need to finish this book before I slip into a full out reading slump.

You are so close, blackout is just around the corner, congrats.

Congratulations!! Good luck on your second card. I'm betting you will have two blackouts for the year.

You may feel like you are a little behind, but as Sara said, lots of time left in the year. Besides, you have read some really great books, hang in there.

You have got me beat, and I bow to the master. For me to finish all 8 challenges I need to read 29 more books, you need to read 35. That sounds good for me and my race crew, until we look closer. You read about 40% faster than I do, so as I am still racing toward the finish line, you will be sitting back celebrating drinking champagne.

On first look the book appears to be interesting. You just never know, I hope it improves, but thats what the alternates are for. Good luck.

Lynn wrote: "Wow nice job, Bob. There is definitely time to finish the other two if you want to."

Thanks Lynn, I have doubts about challenge #2, but I do feel like I will have enough time for challenge #5. The A-Z’s not a chance.

Sara wrote: "Bravo, Bob! Especially on not using any book twice. I have bounced around too much and not put the finish on as many as I had hoped, but I am close on a few. It would be nice to have check marks in..."

Sara, not using the same book twice has slowed things quite a bit, but it does add to the “challenge” part of the challenge. Also, I believe that if I did use the same book twice challenge #5 would be complete. For me the best part of this year’s challenges is that all I have completed has been done with books I own. With the exception of two books purchased from Better World Books, which you told me about. So far this has been a good year for good reading.

Great review, I hope you find time to read more by Shute.

Always looking for good short stories, thanks.

Mildred Pierce and Lady Audley sound great, thanks.

I have finished 4 or the 6 challenges I planned to work on this year.
✔️Challenge #3 - Second Place or Worse-Completed 7/7
✔️Challenge #6 - Short Story Challenge-Completed 24/24
✔️Challenge #7 - 2021 Group Reads Challenge-Completed 12/12
✔️Challenge #8 - Expand Your Horizon With New Authors-Completed 6/6

Challenges I intend to complete.
Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR-Completed 8/12
Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge-Completed 4/12

Challenges I don’t plan on completing, but have and will continue to work on.
Challenge #2 - Does a Century Make a Difference?-Completed 1/10
Challenge #5 - Decade/Century Challenge-Completed 2/10

No read has been used twice.

Nevil Shute is one of my all-time favorite authors. One of my bucket list desires is to read all of his that has been published. Oh, another great review!!

Welcome Mary

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Are we reading the Goblin Market only or a selection?"

Goblin Market only

During the nomination process I check the number of pages using the first page of the editions listed on goodreads. If the majority of the English editions are less than 130 pages, the nomination stands. Sometimes I must look elsewhere to determine the number of pages. There is quite a variance in page numbers. My main goal is not the varance but that the majority total is less than 130 pages. When posting the story to the group bookshelf or the discussion thread I will generally post the goodreads default edition, as was done in this case at 70 pages.

I have read this twice using the internet. It lists no page numbers but does not take a lot of time to read. I did a quick copy and paste to count the number of words in this poem. There are
3042 words.

You have selected some wonderful reads, enjoy.

Congratulations, it looks like the other challenges are also progessing well.