Shawn H. 2016 Bingo Challenge

[Shawn]

B1: Written by Nobel Laureate (The Magic Mountain) by Thomas Mann (1929)
B2: Sci-fi or Fantasy Classic (The Island of Dr. Moreau)
B3: Classic of Africa (The Stranger)
B4: Children's Classic (A Wrinkle in Time)
B5: Winner of a Foreign Literary Prize (American Pastoral) - Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger for Roman (2000)

I1: Published/Written Before 1600’s (Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table)
I2: New-to-You Author (Swann's Way) by Marcel Proust
I3: Classic Play- (Waiting for Godot)
I4: Banned Book (Tropic of Cancer)
I5: Published in the 1700's (Gulliver's Travels)

N1: Classic of the Americas (A Farewell to Arms)
N2: Short Story Collection (The Illustrated Man)
N3: FREE SPACE (Northanger Abbey)
N4: Poetry Collection
N5: Classic of Europe (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)

G1: Published in the 1600's (Macbeth)(Published in 1606)
G2: Book from Le Monde’s 100 Books of the Century (Journey to the End of the Night)
G3: Classic Non-fiction (The Diary of a Young Girl)
G4: Classic from School) (Great Expectations)
G5: Published in the 1800's (Far from the Madding Crowd)

O1: Literary Prize of Your Country/Region (Johnny Got His Gun) - National Book Award for Fiction (1939)
O2: Gothic Classic (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
O3: Classic of Asia or Oceania (The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea)
O4: Mystery or Crime Classic (Death on the Nile)
O5: Prize-Winning Female Author (The Age of Innocence)

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Welcome to the challenge, Shawn. Happy Reading

[Shawn]

Completed my first book for this challenge. Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. I choose to use this book for Task O1 - Literary Prize of Country/Region.

It was very good. A view of war that I have not yet read. Leaves a lasting impression. I would highly recommend.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Shawn wrote: "Completed my first book for this challenge. Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. I choose to use this book for Task O1 - Literary Prize of Country/Region...."

Congrats on your first square! I am hoping to read Johnny Got His Gun this year.

[Pink]

Shawn wrote: "Completed my first book for this challenge. Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. I choose to use this book for Task O1 - Literary Prize of Country/Region.

It was very g..."

I read this last week and didn't realise it was a prize winner, so I'll be using it for my foreign prize winning square!

Good luck with your other choices!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I've nominated Johnny Got His Gun a couple of times as a possible New School read. It's gone down in flames when it came to polling. It's still one of the books I keep an eye open for when walking the isles at the used book store.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Bob wrote: "I've nominated Johnny Got His Gun a couple of times as a possible New School read. It's gone down in flames when it came to polling. It's still one of the books I keep an eye open for when walking ..."

I read it as a teen and still remember how it affected me, I plan to reread it soonish.

[Shawn]

Square #2 complete - O3: Classic of Asia or Oceania

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

First, to be fair, I did not know anything about this book. In fact, it was only very last minute that I decided to use it for this challenge. I wasn't sure if it was a "classic" but decided to consider it a "modern classic" (published in 1963).

I found this book on the David Bowie 100 list, which I saw posted on social media shortly after his passing. I just happened to pick this and my local library had a copy available. I couldn't resist.

Now on to the book itself. I found this to be a very quick and easy read. The length is just under 200 pages, but the story itself moves right along. There is definitely a dark element to this one, but it is done in a fun way. I can see how this book would make a top 100 list. I would recommend this to others and hope they find it as enjoyable as I did.

[Elise]

Sailor Who Fell was so disturbing yet gorgeous. By far my favorite from last year.

Swann's Way is also incredible and lives up to the hype. Hope you love it!

[Susie]

Shawn wrote: "Square #2 complete - O3: Classic of Asia or Oceania

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

First, to be fair, I did not know anything about this..."

I need some ideas for that square, so thanks!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Shawn wrote: "Square #2 complete - O3: Classic of Asia or Oceania

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

First, to be fair, I did not know anything about this..."

It's on my possibilities list now!

[Shawn]

General Question - hopefully someone can give me a little guidance with the N4: Poetry Collection

Will the The Illiad or The Odyssey work for this task?

For some reason I don't think of these as traditional poetry collections.

[Pink]

I'd say they count if you're not reading the prose versions. I think the challenge is pretty open to interpretation anyway, so do whatever works for you. I'm hoping to read The Odyssey at some point after I finish Ulysses.

[Shawn]

Finally completed my 3rd square....it seems like it took forever to get the 3rd one. I finished G1- Published in the 1600's.

I read Macbeth by William Shakespeare - first published in 1606.

I should start by saying that I have not read much by Shakespeare. What I have read, was finished in high school, which seems to be further in the past than I would like to admit. With that being said, I really enjoyed Hamlet and have read it on more than one occasion.

I found this to be a bit more dark than Hamlet, but still enjoyable. I did not really care for any of the characters, but understand modern references to the Weird Sisters a bit better. Getting used to the writing took some time, but once back into it, it seemed to go much better.

I do look forward to reading more Shakespeare. It is usually a struggle for me to get started, but once into it, I enjoy his works and feel accomplished when I finish.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Congrats on finishing one of the Bard's plays.

Like you, I too haven't read Shakespeare since school. But now you have!

I think I'll try to get an annotated edition when I finally decide to try another one of his plays to help with the language.

[Pink]

Shawn wrote: "Finally completed my 3rd square....it seems like it took forever to get the 3rd one. I finished G1- Published in the 1600's.

I read Macbeth by William Shakespeare - first ..."

Oh this is interesting for me. Like you, I hadn't read much (any) Shakespeare since leaving school over 20 years ago. But, I picked up Hamlet last month, went to see it performed and have read and watched it again since then. I loved it! I'm planning on revisiting A Midsummer Night's Dream or Romeo and Juliet next, as I feel like I know these the most, but I'm looking forward to Macbeth and King Lear, neither of which I know very well.

[Shawn]

I think Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare thus far. I have also seen it performed and watched a film adaptation. They were all very well done. I am much more familiar with Romeo and Juliet than any of his other works. I have been meaning to read A Midsummer Night's Dream and Merchant of Venice. Maybe now that I've managed to get through one that was completely new to me, I'm up for the challenge of continuing with his works.

[Pink]

I feel the same, I think half the problem is actually starting.

[Susie]

Even though I have filled my Classic Play square, I still plan to get to All's Well That Ends Well this year. I thought I would try one of his comedies...

Same as many people...a little Shakespeare in high school and I've seen several of his plays.
Special memories as kids...our mom would take us to see his plays in replica of the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park in San Diego CA. I remember seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream
there and it was magical....also saw Macbeth there in their outside, 'in the round' theater...fabulously spooky!