Kathleen's 2019 Old & New and I Blame YOU Challenge

[Sue]

Wow Kathleen, all 5-stars! That is so great. I sure hope Dialog of the Dogs's is because I purchased it after seeing it on your list.

[Kathleen]

Sue wrote: "Wow Kathleen, all 5-stars! That is so great. I sure hope Dialog of the Dogs's is because I purchased it after seeing it on your list."

I hope so too, Sue! I rarely buy books, but I found my copy at City Lights Books in San Francisco and just had to have it. Don Quixote with dogs--how could it not be good?

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Great review!

[Kathleen]

Bob wrote: "Great review!"

Thank you, Bob!

[Kathleen]

Happy to report my streak of five-star reads continues! I finished Poetics, or actually my translation, which was called Aristotle On the Art of Fiction. Thank you to Cynda for sharing this read and your classical literature knowledge with me, and Ian and Elena who also came by with great insights.

I've been wanting to read this for ages, and now understand why it is considered so critical for aspiring writers. You'll find the stuff Aristotle talks about elsewhere, but not in such a clear, concise format, complete with examples and proof. Very logical and inspiring. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm working on two others for this challenge: Adam Bede and Calypso. Of course they're great!

[Sue]

Congratulations Kathleen! I have to put Poetics on my list.

[Kathleen]

Thank you Sue!

[Kathleen]

I knew this one would be five stars. David Sedaris is a favorite author, and Calypso may be his best so far. It makes me sad to move this off my reading pile. :-(

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cynda]

Thanks for letting me read Poetics with you. I enjoyed the challenge! Looking forward to following your 2020 Old &New.

[Kathleen]

Cynda, that was fun, and I learned so much from you!

Okay, it pains me to say this, but not only did I break my five star streak, but I broke it with George Eliot!!

Adam Bede was good, I still gave it four stars, but I had a hard time caring a bunch about the main characters, which is very unusual for me with this author. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now, I have one long one, two short, and one book of short stories left, if I use my alternate. I'm going to try to do this!

[Sara, New School Classics]

How neat to have so many 5-star reads...one 4-star doesn't detract from that one iota! Adam Bede is not my favorite Eliot either. I think they teach it because it is somewhat shorter than her others.

You are a shoe-in to finish this!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Seven five star reads you are already a winner.

[Kathleen]

Sara, you're probably right about the reason they teach Adam Bede, but that's too bad. Middlemarch was my first of hers, and I think everyone should read it! Her others have each been a little bit of a let down, but just because of starting at that height.

I don't know if I'm a shoe-in to finish this, but as Bob says, I do feel like a winner. :-) Thank you both.

[Sue]

Too bad Adam Bede broke your perfect list Kathleen. I still consider it a 5-star list and will remember it to look back on when I'm looking for something to read.

I'm hoping to start on Calypso in December if I can work it in. I've never read a David Sedaris book, but I've heard so many good things about them.

[Kathleen]

Thanks, Sue, and I so hope you like Calypso!

Just for fun, and because I can't imagine reading David Sedaris without having heard him speak, in case you haven't and are interested, here's a sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-CJj...
:-)

[Sue]

That was so funny! Thanks for sharing Kathleen. I saw him on Jimmy Falon once and thought he was funny there too.

[Kathleen]

Great, Sue! I just wanted to make sure you had that voice in your head as you read. :-)

[Kathleen]

Guess what? I did it! This is probably my favorite challenge so far, and of course, I blame you! :-)

I did use one of my alternates. I picked up Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, and after maybe 10 pages just knew--no! I could not read it. At least not now. The narrative voice was just not for me. Ugh.

The other alternate I didn't read, Palace Walk, I will read this year.

So I'll post two recent reviews, and then come back to post the last two because I won't be finishing my reviews until after the new year.

As many of us in this group know, the Kristin Lavransdatter series is wonderful. I finally got to book two, and it did not disappoint. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And I've long loved The Lion in Winter movie, and highly recommend it, as well as the book. Reading just lets you savor those juicy barbs!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My last two were four stars. The Dialogue of the Dogs is so unique! It will take some thinking for me to absorb it enough to write anything about it. I love Cervantes.

The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories is such an interesting collection of short stories. On the one hand they're mild and maybe best for an older reader. On the other hand, she uses the wisdom of her years to cut to the quick in some of them. Again, I'll be taking my time with this review.

So Happy New Year, and thank you all so much!

[Brina]

Kathleen, see you finished. I think I added at least three here to my tbr for the next two years. I had planned my year already so Palace Walk will be in 2021. So I blame you back lol. Here’s to more happy reading ahead.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Congratulations! I'm a big fan of this challenge as well. I really plan this one carefully because it cannot be changed, so it always contains the books I really want to get to during the year. I'll be looking for your final reviews...and now on to 2020.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Nice job Kathleen! This is a tough challenge.

[Kathleen]

Thanks so much, Brina, Sara and Lynn!

Here's my review of The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and of The Dialogue of the Dogs:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I recommend them both!