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

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

Practical and artistic, a great plan.

Gloom, despair, and agony on me,
I let wishful thinking get the best of me.
I don’t have a Bingo with my first five books.
My wishful thinking has made a fool of me.
I should have looked closer at square I2,
My lack of attention has made me look the fool
Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

I2: Book Published or Written 1700 or earlier. The “or earlier” is important here. Yesterday I thought I had a Bingo with the first five books I have started to read this year. Sadly I have screwed up. Songs of Innocence and of Experience was published in 1789, not 1700 or earlier. I can use it for square G2: Book Published in the 18th Century, but that doesn’t help feeling foolish about not paying attention and losing the unplanned bingo.

Oh well, live and learn. And steal from old TV shows, Hee Haw!

If this doesn’t meet the definition of Catch and Catch Can, I don’t know what does. I started the year off reading five books. I admit that these five books work for various Buffet Challenges, but nothing has been planned for Bingo. This morning I was reviewing my bingo card and all five of my books work in various squares. The best part is it also gives me my first Bingo. Of course I have to wait 6-7 weeks to finish War and Peace, but I don’t see me abandoning it.

So I’ll list this as a future potential bingo. I just had to share the coincidence. None of these are finished by all are well under way with a couple almost finished.

Five books no planning and a Bingo. I need to go get a lottery ticket.

Diagonal Future Bingo

B1: , B2: , B3: , B4: , B5:
I 1: , I 2: , I 3: , I 4: , I 5:
N1: , N2: , N3: , N4: , N5:
G1: , G2: , G3: , G4: , G5:
O1: , O2: , O3: , O4: , O5:

Welcome to the group Emma!

I enjoyed your review. Bleak House is on my TBR, but I don't think I will get to it anytime soon. I read two novels and three shorts by Dickens last year. I may take a little break.

Welcome Kaitlin.

There is plenty of time till the 15th, lets give Pink another day. If she is still absent, I'll post Old School tomorrow afternoon.

Welcome Veronica and Original.

January 1, 2021
I read the first five chapters of War and Peace this morning. A longtime bucket list is finally underway. I will start Angle of Repose later today, gotta love a holiday, and tonight I will visit with Nevada Barr in the Deep South.

The new year has started!

Emma wrote: "Hi! This will my first challenge with this group and I really enjoyed planning the books I’m going to read. I’m really a beginner when it comes to Old school classics and many of you seem to be ver..."

No problem set it up when you can.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake is our February 2021 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on February 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Victoria, welcome to the group.

Enjoy your travel challenge, it looks great!

It's a buffet take as little or as much as you want, no extra charge if you leave some on your plate. We didn't criticize. Have fun and enjoy, by the way if Nevil Shute is new to you, your in for a treat.

Fee wrote: " Additional Challenge: Classic Vampires

Read at least one Vampire Story for each decade, starting in the 19th century with some additional poems of the 18th century.

I find it totally interestin..."

Interesting challenge!

I see you already have Wilkie Collins, but if you can live with two he wrote The Dead Secret in 1856.

You have some great choices, enjoy!

I usually check my status in April. I didn't do that this year so for the years end, here is where I stand

December 4, 2012 - 21/47 = 45%, 26 books unread
April 24, 2014 - 45/84 = 54%, 39 books unread
April 6, 2015 - 66/105 = 63%, 39 books unread
April 4, 2016 - 100/142 = 70%, 42 books unread
April 13, 2017 - 134/180 = 74%, 46 books unread
April 9, 2018 - 180/217 = 82.9%, 37 books unread
April 5, 2019 - 212/256 = 82.8%, 44 books unread
December 30, 2020 - 264/321 = 82.2%, 57 books unread

Percentage is still looking good, but the number of unread books went up a bunch.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I will never read the whole shelf. Even if I wanted to read all of our selections, which I don't, I don't see how I can ever keep pace with all of our new selections and hope to read any other non-group books.

No bend, no break, all challenges except #1 can be adjusted anytime you want. Congrats on #4, you read some great books.

With just a couple of days left till the new year start I’m done with my pre-planning. All books listed except for challenges #2 & #7 are books that I own a copy of, no library and no new purchases. I know I will not make it very long into the New Year until I buy new books, but I will hold off as long as I can.

I have not pre-planned any books for challenge #4. I have already got a bunch of books planned in other challenges that will work, but I plan to try doing my challenges with no duplicates. May not be a pure no duplicates plan since the new authors books will most likely be used in other challenges, but they are still new authors for challenge #8.

On Jan. 1 I will start War and Peace as my Kindle read, giving it my one hour per day as my post morning walk read. I will start Angle of Repose as my day/evening print and paper read, and I will start one of my brain candy books as my reading in bed till I get tired read.

That’s it Happy New Year!!

Rebecca or Death on the Nile, I give a slight edge to Rebecca. Good luck and enjoy your challenges.