Matt’s (Yes, Bob Dylan is a Nobel Laureate) 2019 Classic Bingo Challenge

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Looking good so far, Matt. Welcome to the challenge. Happy reading in 2019.

[Kathleen]

Good to keep yourself flexible about the titles, Matt, but this is an exciting list of great books! Have fun.

[Susie]

Good luck on your challenge!

[Sue]

Great list Matt! You have some of my favorites on here. I loved Circe, Hamlett, C.S. Lewis (have that same book) and Confederacy of Dunces & A Prayer for Owen Meany. I'm going to start on Little Women in a couple of days and hope to get to Middlemarch in 2019 also (even though it's not on a challenge yet!)

How ambitious to get through all of Sherlock Holmes! I have a complete volume and hope to read a couple next year. I read his first and my first this year and loved it.

[Terris]

Nice list!! You have some really good ones there! The one I need to read (and will watch for your review) is A Confederacy of Dunces. I just don't know if I'll like it. It sounds kind of crazy and it's pretty long. But I still think I'll try it sometime. I just don't know if 2019 will be the year :/

[Brina]

I’m excited for your challenge because you get to read my favorite book- Allende- and include Alexander Hamilton as well. I should read some of his works after reading the biography this year.

[Susie]

So far, so good!

[Terris]

Matt wrote: "DONE N1: South American Classic - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

DONE O1: 19th Century Classic - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

..."

I think you'll love Robinson Crusoe!! :)

[MK]

Matt wrote: "DONE N1: South American Classic - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

DONE O1: 19th Century Classic - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

2 books down / 2 spaces marked off - N1 and O1. I just started Robinson Crusoe for my B1 square. "


Terris wrote: "I think you'll love Robinson Crusoe!! :) ."


I agree with Terris ! :)
Just recently read it. Well, read it, and listened to it, too. Enjoyed it so much, I may check the audio book out of the library again sometime later this year.

[MK]

Matt wrote: "Thanks Terri’s and MK! Robinson Crusoe has been on my TBR for a long time. I’m enjoying it so far!"

thumbs up :)

btw, different versions of Crusoe end differently (not different outcomes! just at different points in time - some cut off parts, I followed along with three versions, they each included different amounts at the end). Interested to see where yours ends!

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Matt wrote: "Current reading my B118th century or earlier classic - Robinson Crusoe, and just started reading Hamlet for my I3 Classic play square.

I’m enjoying seeing everyone’s updates for the Bingo Challen..."

Good luck to you to! You have a nice start and some interesting books on your list. Two I would like to get to someday are your A Prayer for Owen Meany and Middlemarch

[Howard]

I’m new to this group. Could someone please explain what the Bingo Challenge is and how it works. Thanks very much.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Howard wrote: "I’m new to this group. Could someone please explain what the Bingo Challenge is and how it works. Thanks very much."

Hi Howard. Here is a link to the rules. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Set up your own thread and choose books to fit the categories. Then if you are like the rest of us, you will change your mind about a dozen times before you finish all 25 reads.

I think that it is a lot of fun, and a really good way to get new book ideas from others.

[MK]

Matt wrote: "Current reading my B118th century or earlier classic - Robinson Crusoe, and just started reading Hamlet for my I3 Classic play square.

I’m enjoying seeing everyone’s updates for the Bingo Challen..."

Good luck back atcha, Matt! I really enjoyed Crusoe.
Now I'm reading Crusoe in Space (aka The Martian by Andy Weir :D), or, ...
ehrm, Potatoes on Mars, someone else suggested :D :D :D

[MK]

I am :). It is!

[Petrichor]

Nice list!
You've got a couple of books that I've read already. I hope you'll enjoy them!

I really like the idea of putting the cover instead of the title for B2. I think I'm going to do the same once I found a book.

[Kathleen]

You are working your way through some wonderful books here, Matt. I hope you enjoy Middlemarch--it's one of my favorites. :-)

[Tammy]

Matt wrote: "DONE N1: South American Classic - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

DONE O1: 19th Century Classic - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

..."
How did you like The House of Spirits? I have it on one of my reading lists this year and am curious to know how it went for you.

[Luke]

I see you have some Xueqin in your list, Matt. Nice. I'm currently taking a break after finishing the third volume, but I'll definitely be finishing the last two volumes for 2019 is through.

[Erin]

Looks like a varied selection and glad to see Cao Xueqin on your list — I’m also reading through the Story of the Stone this year and am enjoying it! :) Happy reading!

[Rosemarie]

You finished a big one with Middlemarch. I hope you get a bingo soon.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Matt wrote: "June month-end update.

I finished B3 Les Misérables and the Free Space square N3 I read A Prayer for Owen Meany

Still no bingo yet, but I'm happy with the progress I've..."



You should be happy! Two great books for June, both of which I want to read.

[Veronique]

Great titles! Can’t believe I haven’t tried Terry Brooks yet...
There is still plenty of time for the blackout ;0)

[Veronique]

Thanks! I did wonder where to start :0)

[Rosemarie]

Congrats on your bingo, Matt! You finished some hefty books!

[Pink]

Well done on your bingo!

[Renee]

Congrats on getting a bingo!

[Luke]

Matt wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "Congrats on your bingo, Matt! You finished some hefty books!"

Thanks Rosemarie! I just reviewed my GR stats year-to-date - My average pages/book this year is 481 pages/book. In r..."

That page average's impressive. I'm usually around the 300s myself. I check the page average of others sometimes to make myself feel better if they're zooming ahead, but sometimes I'm just not reading enough.

[Susie]

Great reads... Congratulations on your 1st bingo! 👏👏👏👏

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Congratulations on your Bingo!! Looks like you will have others rather quickly, too.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Way to go Matt! I am ashamed to admit it, but I still haven't read Little Women. Everyone seems to like it so much.

[Rosemarie]

Congrats, Matt!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Congratulations Matt! Well done.

[Pink]

Congrats on the bingo!

[Sue]

Congratulations Matt!

[Rosemarie]

You're making progress, Matt. Every book helps.
I really like Dune, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

We will look forward to you joining us in reading Dune next month, Matt. Love you bingo updates.

[Kathleen]

That is a big list, but it's amazing how much we can get read in the last few months sometimes. The Stand and A Little Life are both huge, so you should get extra points for those. :-)

You have been reading some great books this year, so cheers for the most important thing!

[Sue]

Good luck Matt! Like Kathleen says, it is a big list. In addition to the ones she mentions, The Name of the Rose although not huge in length, takes a good while to get through. It's very dense. I loved it, but it's not for everyone. You have to be in the mood for deep philosophical discussions.

[*]

Nicely done!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Congratulations on the bingo, Matt. Go for the blackout -- so close.

[Sue]

Congratulations on 2 BINGO's Matt! I'm so glad you like The Name of the Rose.

Here are some short suggestions for your remaining spots. You can do it!
Romance: The Loved One 127 p (dark romantic comedy) or White Nights 82 p (unrequited romance)
Award your country: Death of a Salesman 117 p or The Glass Menagerie 104p
Asia -Siddhartha 143 p or if this square doesn't have to be a classic A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea 159p

[Sue]

Matt wrote: "Sue wrote: "Congratulations on 2 BINGO's Matt! I'm so glad you like The Name of the Rose.

Here are some short suggestions for your remaining spots. You can do it!
Romance: [book:The Loved One|309..."

I didn't love Siddhartha as many do, but I'm glad I read it. It's a good one to be familiar with.

[Kathleen]

Go Matt! I think you're going to do this. See you here on December 31. :-)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Soldier on, Matt. You will make it.

[Brina]

You look to have had a great year, Matt. The Eight sounds fascinating so I’m fitting it into my year.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

You had some really hefty reads in there, Matt. I say bravo for you! See you in the 2020 game.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Matt wrote: "...Still 24/25 is not too shabby and I’m glad I’ve done this challenge.."

I'd call that a success, congratulations on what you have read.

[Kathleen]

Congratulations, Matt, on an excellent challenge and knowing where to draw the line. So glad to hear Little Women was your favorite. I believe if I re-read it now I would still find it a favorite too. Happy New Year!

[Rosemarie]

Congrats on your reading accomplishments, Matt!