Bob's 2016 Bingo Challenge

[Sara, New School Classics]

You have certainly had some good books on your list. I loved A Separate Peace but saw it was only a "good" read for you. I need to read Pastoral for sure and Lamb in His Bosom also ranks very high with me.

Glad all your reading is a fit. I seem to be reading all around my challenges instead of into them.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sara wrote: "You have certainly had some good books on your list. I loved A Separate Peace but saw it was only a "good" read for you. I need to read Pastoral for sure and [book:Lamb in..."

Sara, the story was especially good and I can highly recommend it for content. My problem was personal. Many times in the book my mind just couldn’t grab hold of John Knowles writing style. His sentence structure and choice of words would occasionally seem mingled and would stop my reading cold and I would have to reread passages. It distracted from my enjoyment and was the reason I gave it 3 stars.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Number thirteen completed. O3: Classic of Asia or Oceania-Nectar in a Sieve, 2/15/16, excellent story, 4 stars.

[Pink]

Woop, woop, 2 gold cups! Well done on completing your 10th book!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Boy, you are plowing through this challenge. We are going to have to come up with a "Just for Bob" challenge for you to do when you finish this one.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Thanks, Pink

Sara, things have been going great for me so far I did some pre-planning and most of my Women's Century and a few of my Old & New challenges have crossed the lines and helped. That said unless I find the time to get back to the drawing board, I will hit the doldrums around book number 17.

As of now I don't have a clue what to read for about one third of this challenge. What looks like fast sailing is quickly becoming dead in the water. Break out the oars.

[Sara, New School Classics]

You are doing so well--obviously planning helps. I was hoping for more cross-over in my reading, but so far little of what I am reading fits into the bingo squares. I'm using oars right now and hoping for a good wind so I can put up the sails around March or April. :) I just want to be able to get there in the end. January and February seem to have gone by pretty fast and I already feel like I have fallen behind.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Finished 17/24
#13 Classic of Asia or Oceania-Nectar in a Sieve, 2/15/16
#14 Sci-fi or Fantasy Classic-The Island of Dr. Moreau, 2/17/16
#15 Classic of the Americas-The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, 2/26/16
#16 Short Story Collection-The Awakening and Selected Short Stories, 2/28/16
#17 Gothic Classic-The House on the Strand, 1968, 3/9/16

Looks like I'm going to become obnoxious with Level One Bingo's. By finishing my 17th book I now have five level one bingo's, both diagonals, four corners, and two five in a rows-the O Row and the 2 Row.

My Bingo Board

The best thing to result from this challenge is I have read some wonderful books.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

You are the true Bingo winner Bob. Perhaps a gold medal is deserved along with your gold cups.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Wow! 17 books! You're really reading at a good clip!

[Pink]

Bob, 17 books and 5 level 1 bingos! That's just rubbing it in. Of course you'll never win our anti-bingo challenge, which is obviously what we're all aiming for ;)

Seriously, well done, great job, I think Kathy is running out of rewards!

[Sara, New School Classics]

lol. Pink is right, Bob, you could never under-achieve the way I do.

I'm really impressed with the quality of your reads, as well. Medal well-deserved.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Thanks everyone it’s nice to get positive feedback, well mostly positive. Now as to the metal, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but perhaps a little engraving is in order. It could be engraved with a silhouette of an old potbellied knight holding a lance with the caption “Sir Bingo Slayer.” It’s a title befitting a modest, unpretentious, and humble servant of the people, such as myself.

Sara I must have had the angel of good book selection standing over me, I still marvel at how good these books have been. a great year of reading so far.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

LOL

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Then we must crown the King

[Kathleen]

I love hearing that you've found such good books, Bob, or should I say Sir Bingo Slayer. Congrats!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Oh my my, mom will be so proud, she worried I might not amount to much.

[Leni]

[Bat-Cat]

Well, Bob, you deserve all the accolades you are receiving!!! Congratulations on your most amazing achievement. I guess that is why you are the King Moderator and we are the lowly Plebeians - one can only aspire to coming even close to your level of greatness. All Hail King Bob!!!

[Leni]

Duh! Of course, I should have gone with a minions image of King Bob. But what can I say, Ash rules.

[Maarit]

Congratulations Bob! So many books and so many bingos.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I've started my 20th book of the challenge, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, published in 1989. This is a reread from 24 or 25 years ago, it was a five star read then I hope it holds up in rereading. Its actually a favorite.

There were two books I considered for the Africa Square, this one and Congo by Michael Crichton, published in 1980. Congo is an older book but I felt I could make the case that Power is the better classic.

[[deleted user]]

I've been wanting to read The Power of One, I even nominated it for a New School read but it hardly got any votes. I remember the film, it was so powerful, watching it more than once as a kid. So hopefully I get round to reading it soon! Plus, the author's Aussie! :)

You've got great books on your list Bob! I'm sure you've been enjoying yourself plenty. I'm hoping to get round to Robinson Crusoe and Don Quixote this year.

Annd ... you're nearly done! Well done on progressing so swiftly through the challenge! Congrats

[Sara, New School Classics]

Unfamiliar with The Power of One and have added it to the ever-growing TBR. I wish I were making the kind of progress you are.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

My Bingo Board

21/24 Plus 1 for the Free Square-total of 22

I completed my 21st square N-4 Poetry-100 Best-Loved Poems. I'm kind of shocked that after a really rough start I started to like some of the poems I read, some I found to be excellent. From now on I can't say I don't like or can't read poetry, well there is a lot of it I can't read. I had a hard time with the works earlier that the mid-19th century. All in all I ended up liking this book of poems.

Three squares left for Blackout. I now have 9 Level One Bingo's and the Level Two Bingo. I think I can get two more Level one Bingo's before Total Blackout. Blackout and Level Three will be achieved on the last square. I want to finish this by the end of May.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Wow -- great reading.

And I am so glad that you can now read poetry!

[Susie]

So what comes after May? :)

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Great going Bob!

I'll have to look into 100 Best Loved Poems. I'm not much of a poetry aficionado, but perhaps since this is a collection of those that are "Best-loved," this volume will work for me.

[Veronique]

Congratulations!
Great selection of books. You reminded me of Shute - loved A Town Like Alice - and I should try another of his.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Susie wrote: "So what comes after May? :)"

Susie I still have the Old & New Challenge and the A-Z challenges, but after I finish Bingo this month I plan on being like a kid out of school and read only what catches my attention. If it sounds good read it!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Great going Bob!

I'll have to look into 100 Best Loved Poems. I'm not much of a poetry aficionado, but perhaps since this is a collection of those that are "Best-loved," this volume will work for me."

Andrea I'll never be a poetry lover and it will always be difficult for me to read poetry. That said I think you can find a lot to enjoy in the 100 Best Loved Poems. I surprised myself, I probably liked half of the poems and of the half I liked some were simply great. Of course that leaves half the book I couldn't hardly read.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Veronique wrote: "Congratulations!
Great selection of books. You reminded me of Shute - loved A Town Like Alice - and I should try another of his."

Veronique Nevil Shute is one of my all time favorite authors. If you liked A Town Like Alice I can recommend Pied Piper, Requiem for a Wren, and On the Beach.

[Veronique]

Bob wrote: "Veronique wrote: "Congratulations!
Great selection of books. You reminded me of Shute - loved A Town Like Alice - and I should try another of his."

Veronique Nevil Shute is one of ..."
Thanks for the recommendations. Adding them to my list :0)

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Blackout!!!

[Laurie]

How awesome!!! If I remember correctly, this is the second challenge you have completed so you are the challenge king this year. Congratulations.

[Katy, Old School Classics]

Bob wrote: "Blackout!!!"

Score! Great job on the challenge Bob!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Congrats Bob!

Well done you!

[Christine]

Wow, congratulations Bob! You are definitely the challenge speed demon this year! :-)

[Nathan]

Go, Bob! Congratulations!

[Susie]

Well done, and quickly too...congrats!

Will you share a few of your favorites?

[Kathleen]

Congratulations, Bob--our inspiration!

[siriusedward]

Congrats Bob!!

[[deleted user]]

Well done Bob!

[Leni]

Congrats on the blackout!

[Pink]

Woop woop, well done! All hail the master of the challenges, Sir Bob :)

[Bat-Cat]

Really well done, Bob!!! Congratulations!!!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I want to thank everyone for their congratulations and apologize for just posting the one word “Blackout”, but I’m rarely on line on a Sunday. Yesterday was an exception because I realized I had not created the R/V and S/S polls that opened last night. Once I got finished I had a little time so I posted my thoughts about an audiobook I completed and then I was out of time. Blackout was all I could think of to post.

I feel blessed to have read so many good books this year. Just about all my reading this year is in my bingo challenge and it’s been great. But the best thing is the encouragement that comes from the group, thank you all for keeping me motivated. Now, on to the Old & New challenge.

[Sylwia]