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

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

I've completed Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre and I have completed Challenge #6 - Short Story. I will continue to read short stories. I've never really kept track of my short story reads. I am curious as to how many I will finish by the end of the year.

With as many short stories already read this year, I'm surprised, when I look over the titles that most are remembered in good detail. Very few reviewed titles have left me wondering "what was that about." So many good reads this year.

There is a lot of time left in the year and it only takes five in a row for Bingo. You'll make it.

Short stories have made a huge difference in my reading this year. I like the 24 different authors idea

Welcome John, 200 classics what a treasure, enjoy!

I’m fond of Gaskell’s writing, I consider her a favorite. But I have only read three of her books, North and South, Cranford, and my favorite, so far, Ruth. But I’ve never read any of her short stories, that will be remedied soon.

I was in the service when I read Watership Down. I've been out of the service 40 years, maybe it's time for a reread.

Connie wrote: "Adding The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell which was wonderfully Gothic.
(Available online on Project Gutenberg.)"

Another for my list, will read it soon.

Welcome Xxa, glad you are with us.

Congrats!!!

Congrats on your Bingo, I too enjoyed The Book Thief it was great.

My Current Status, through the 1st quarter, Jan-Mar

Challenge #1 - Old & New TBR Clean-up
Completed 7/12 as of 4/6/20 currently reading #8 The Moonstone

Challenge #2 - The Year You Were Born and 100 Years Earlier
Completed 5/10 as of 4/6/20
No change, most of my choices will have to come from the library, this is on hold for now.

Challenge #3 Your Birth Year Top 10 Best Sellers
N/A - Done years ago

Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge
Completed 11/12 as of 4/6/20
I'm currently reading #12 and I'm 70% finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Challenge #5 - Decade/Century Challenge
Completed 6/10 as of 4/6/20

Challenge #6 - Short Story Challenge #1
Completed 13/24 as of 4/6/20
This part of the challenge is planned to include the groups short stories, so it can't be finished till the end of the year.

Challenge #6 - Short Story Challenge #2
24/24 Finished 2/19/20

Challenge #6 - Short Story Challenge #3
24/24 Finished 3/6/20

Challenge #6 - Short Story Challenge #4, No Pre-set Number to Read
Challenge to Finished 12/31/20
This is to record the Short Stories I read from 3/3/20 till years end.
12 Read as of 4/6/20

73 Short Stories is my combined total as of 4/6/20 -

Challenge #7 - 2020 Group Reads Challenge
Completed 9/12 as of 4/6/20
Currently reanding #10 White Fang

Challenge #8 - A-Z Author Challenge
Completed 18/26 as of 4/6/20
Letters needed - E, I, Q, R, U, V, X, Y Who would think E & R would be difficult to come across

Challenge #9 - A-Z Title Challenge
Completed 20/26 as of 4/6/20
Letters needed - L, Q, U, X, Y, Z

Your short stories list is great. There are several I will be reading. I'm happy you are enjoying your challenges

Terris, I agree, it just wasn't for me.

Four and five star reads, outstanding. Congrats on the Bingo!. I too read Dandelion Wine earlier this year, so good.

Welcome Delia, glad you are with us.

Another month is finished. On my first card I currently have 23/25 squares completed. For a Blackout I need N2: Winner of a Foreign Literary Prize and G4: Banned Book. My thoughts right now are to read The Blind Assassin, Booker Award 2000 for N2, and the Bastard Out of Carolina for G4. Any suggestions or am I OK.

Not sure when I will start these, or if I will change my choices. One thing is sure I haven’t stuck to a plan this year. Many of my Decembers planned books have been substituted for something else. But I sure have read some good stuff. So far this year I have 12, 5 star reads. That’s only two less than the last two years combined.

My second bingo card is currently at 9/25 squares completed, no Bingo, but three of these are 5 stars. I should play the lottery as lucky as I have been at picking books. I won’t be using the same book on the two cards. If I get two blackouts it will be with 50 different reads. It would be a lot easier to just switch squares and use the some book twice.

The New School poll just ended was one of the best I've ever seen. I'm glad London won, but there wasn't a looser in the bunch. I plan on rereading White Fang, it will be my third reading. First was as a young boy, about 50 years ago and last time was in 2012.

The Lover by Marguerite Duras, was selected as our Monthly Short Story for April 2020. The discussion thread is located in the Monthly Short Story Folder:

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers.

Whoop, there it is. It's all downhill from here, congrats!

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Bob wrote: " At the time I worked the list book #265 Denemeler or The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne is on the Listopia list but is not a group read."

I have deleted it from the list.

Wou..."

Thank you!!