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

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

Welcome, Archana.

You are moving along nicely. I agree Enders Game is a special book, quite unique.

I do plan on reading this, but I am concerned about the language. The number one complaint/concern I've read is the dialogue being difficult. This has been on my TBR for years, now it the time.

I jumped the gun and read this a couple of weeks ago. Some plays don't read well since they are meant to be seen. I thought this one did really well and I enjoyed it. I would like to see a performance, other than the move which I've also never seen. Movies don't usually hold to the book and that could be a problem.

It also covers The Pulitzer bingo square for 1948 Drama

Sara wrote: "My first 5-star read for this year, The Long Home. Hope it is the beginning of a trend. One more off the Old and New Challenge."

Five stars, give me the dunce hat and put me in the corner, I've never heard of William Gay

This information is from J_BlueFlower,

For Danish readers : How to find Gooseberries on Ereolen in Danish.

Ereolen har éen lille bog med et udpluk af Chekhov's noveller "Om Kærlighed". (Forfatternavnet er Tjechov). Gooseberries hedder "Stikkelsbær". Det er en underlig skæv samling fx er Kvinden med den lille hund ikke med.

In keeping only one thread per short story I've copied the above infor here.

Gooseberries by Anton Chekhov is our April 2021 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on April 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Rob, welcome to the group.

I am happy to announce that Sara has agreed to become our Old School moderator. For several years she has been an active member of our group and most of us are already acquainted with her. So, join me in welcoming Sara aboard and wishing her well in her new job.

After serving as moderator for many years, Pink has decided to step down. Her contributions to the group have been many and she will be missed.

Marilyn wrote: "They Shoot Horses, Don't They? - I can't come up with a descriptive word for this story...."

How about Strange, Astonishing, Bizarre, Outlandish, or Weird. It would make for a good addition to our short stories collection

You really have had a good month, congrats.

I finished War and Peace and it only took me 55 days. I want to thank everyone who encouraged me to finally read this long put off bucket list book. My only regret is that I waited so long to finally read it. It was excellent. I am sure that over the next several days I will miss the morning reading time I spent with this story.

Withdrawal symptoms aside, this now consigned to memory. Like old friends not seen for decades, time will dull some of these memories. But many will never fade. The death of the little princess, the death of Petya Rostov, Piere’s experience with the French firing squad, the POW Platon Karataev unable to continue a forced march shot on the side of the road. These and many more scenes will stick with me for as many years as I have left.

I have also made advancement on a few other challenges. I have read 3 books for my Old & New. I have read 2 books and currently reading 2 more books for the Second Place or Worse challenge. I have read 6 Short Stories, as well as 4 more that I won’t count toward the 24 needed. Lastly, I have finished 4 current group reads.

All and all, I’m happy with my progress.

Welcome Jenny!!

I still smile when I think about Cranford.

Five, five star reads, you need to get a lottery ticket.

Welcome to the group Allison, enjoy your quest for classics.

PinkieBrown wrote: "Out of interest; what are the possible categories?"


Our five monthly reading categories
Old School, Books Published prior to 1900
New School Books Published between 1900-1999
Short Story/Novella, Published before 2000 and no longer than 130 pages
Quarterly Long Read, Published before 2000 and longer than 600 pages
Revisit the Shelf, A monthly reread of any book currently on our shelf, must not have been read by the group in the last year

To date no genre nominated has been refused, of course there maybe a few that will raise eyebrows.

Children's books are currently on our bookshelf and there is no reason to think others can't make it.

As Katy mentioned above Buddy reads can be used to seek reading partners for books that maybe of interest.

I read The Princess of Mars a few years ago, a fun read is the perfect description.

For me Anna Karenina and The Caine Mutiny were excellent. Your off to a great start, enjoy.