Monday Musing: Reading Bucket Lists

[Theresa]

My personal bucket list effort - reading Proust -- made me wonder what reading bucket list items others on PBT might have. So let's have it -- do you have any bucket list reading?

I actually have a few more:

Re-read all of Samuel Becket -- I have a beautifully bound hardover cover set of his complete works. Not sure THAT will every happen - Proust is far easier to read!

Finish all the Sue Grafton Kinsey Milhone Series -- I read up to around M and then X.

Actually manage to read The Hobbit.

Read both of the Lindsey Davis' Falco series in their entirety in order.

Catch up on Victoria Thompsons historical series.

I see a trend here...

[Tracy]

Re-read Beckett??? I’m struggling to get through the books he has on the 1001 books list. There’s no way I could read his entire catalogue!

My bucket list is to finish reading Shakespeare’s plays.
And to at least clear out a third of the mountain of TBR.

[Theresa]

Tracy wrote: "Re-read Beckett??? I’m struggling to get through the books he has on the 1001 books list. There’s no way I could read his entire catalogue!

My bucket list is to finish reading Shakespeare’s plays..."

Well I did take a seminar in college devoted entirely to Beckett, so J have read probably 3/4, including a number of his plays (and seen them performed).

But still nuts.

[Idit]

My main bucket list is my reading a book from every year 1900-2019. Started last year and read 81 books so far, about 6-7 books from every decade. Hopefully will finish next year (when it will become 1900-2020

I keep an eye on 1001 books list, but don't plan to finish it. If only for the reason that G.J Ballard has 7 books in there and I detested the one I read

Not sure if it's a bucket list but I'm trying to get to plays - been doing one every month.

I don't have specific books or authors but have general focus on reading more classics.
When I will finish my 119 book challenge, I will probably make one for pre 20th century one (one a decade? One a century? - I think Jason had something like that)

[Jason]

Last year I did an AD Centruy Challenge. 1 book from every century starting with the 1st Century AD. I am still missing the 7th and 10th century. So I want to finish this. I have tried to read The Tale of Genji twice and it has kicked my butt both times.

I want to finish Shakespeare's plays and read some other classical plays. Denzel Washington recently said that he believes August Wilson should be included in the to 5 greatest modern playwrights, so I want to read his works too.

I am always wanting to read more classical literature and hope to once day do a BCE Century Challenge.

I have also thought of reading the "best" book from each decade of the 20th century. This is subjective, but boundaries can be given such as Stood the Test of Time, Movie Adaptation has stood the test of time. I haven't worked out all the details.

And lastly, I would like to read more American Revolution literature.

[Joanne]

My Trembling, Tilting Turret of books here on GR is my bucket list.

Mid year or so I thought about following some other members and making my own personal challenges. I added

Continue reading off of Jolene's Historical Fiction TBR. She was my first friend here at PBT and I want to honor her. I have read 4 so far, so a long way to go on this one.

Following Amy's lead I picked an author's library of works-this year it is Jeff Shaara. Unlike Amy though, I plan to continue year to year until I finish that author-not try to read them all in the year picked. And I will add another author each year, not when the previous one is finished.

I started an "Around The World" in books and am truly enjoying this. Have visited 22 countries so far! I plan to keep this one yearly. I started a tracking map on Nat Geo site and it is just fun to look at all the markers representing the places I have been by reading.

I have a few other personal challenges and I am thinking these will all carry over to 2020 too.

All of this is a true representation of of you people, who motivate,
me to take a chance on books and authors I never would have two years ago.

[Joy D]

I want continue the commitment I started in 2015/2016 to read "an author's body of work," reading at least 5 of the selected author's books in the current year. So far, I've done this for: Erik Larson, Margaret Atwood, and Isabel Allende. Next year, I'll add: José Saramago and, at some point, Louise Erdrich and Barbara Kingsolver.

Like Joanne, this year I started an "Around the World" challenge and am really enjoying reading books from a variety of countries. I've "traveled" to 30 countries so far, and I plan to continue annually.

I have a desire to read books considered "classics," but also want to enjoy my reading, so I'm being somewhat selective in this area. As an annual goal, I read 24 books I consider "classics" (pre-1900) or "modern classics" (post-1900). I look at the "1001 List," as well as others, in assembling my personal list of 24.

[Amy]

My bucket lists tend to be about making sure to read the favorites absolutely want to get to, and to finish works by authors I really love.

[Jgrace]

My bucket list is an ever changing target.

Or possibly a moonshot.

[Joi]

Les Misérables!
Just this one freaking book, lol.

In seriousness, I'd love to read the Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Margaret Atwood, definitely get to more of the "classics". But ultimately, I think the older I get, the more I'll focus on "fun reads" and less on self-proclaimed "required reading".

[Theresa]

Ah, Les Miserables is on my list. Ditto War & Peace. I spent a lot of years reading pretty much nothing but mysteries, thrillers, chicklit, contemporary and historical romance with an occasional classic in there...I'm enjoying getting to some of the bucket list reading.

[LibraryCin]

Joanne wrote: "Continue reading off of Jolene's Historical Fiction TBR. She was my first friend here at PBT and I want to honor her. I have read 4 so far, so a long way to go on this one...."

Wow, good for you! That's so great that you're doing that!

[Joanne]

LibraryCin wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Continue reading off of Jolene's Historical Fiction TBR. She was my first friend here at PBT and I want to honor her. I have read 4 so far, so a long way to go on this one...."

Wow,..."

Thanks LC-When we had the "Memorial" reads for JoLene I actually won the drawing at the end and got to pick one her books as a prize. That is when I made the decision to continue reading off her shelf-it was like she was still looking out for me

Here is another story about her you may not know:
I was only here 2-3 weeks when I had a really bad day with borrowed Library books (about 6 of them). I spilled an entire bottle of water on top of them. Some of them were toast, but a few salvageable However, my Library is known for not taking back books that are in the slightest bit marked/watered on. I ending up paying for them all. I don't have room for a huge library so I thought I would put a notice in Footnotes to see if any one wanted some of them. JoLene jumped right in and took 2-I only asked for postage-but she ended up covering half the cost of the book. We were fast friends after that. Then she was gone....so sad but so wonderful how someone you barely know can make such an impact.

[Nicole R]

That is so lovely, Joanne. I am glad that PBT could enrich your life by connecting you with JoLene. It is amazing the friends you make on PBT and I have benefited from so many lovely connections.

[Susan]

Theresa wrote: "My personal bucket list effort - reading Proust -- made me wonder what reading bucket list items others on PBT might have. So let's have it -- do you have any bucket list reading?

I actually have ..."

Sure wish there were some Sue Grafton's left for me to read. I just adore Kinsey and there are no more. What fun I had with those.

[Amy]

Joanne, I haven’t known your story about Jolene, but it really moved me. She and I were book twins of a sort, and she turned me into some that became favorites. I still have a list of books that I’m reading for her. Love that I’ve been able to form a friendship with you as well.

[Rachel N.]

My deceased husband was a big fan of Stephen King and Rex Stout so I'm slowly working my way through all the books written by them in his memory. My husband also had a few unread books he owned that I want to read, I know I put at least one on my trim list. I also would like to continue reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order.

[Joanne]

Amy wrote: "Joanne, I haven’t known your story about Jolene, but it really moved me. She and I were book twins of a sort, and she turned me into some that became favorites. I still have a list of books that I’..."

I am glad you and are buddies too Amy!

[punxsygal]

Finish The Count of Monte Cristo. I have it on my phone, so whenever I'm out and about without a book I work on it. Have been reading it for about a year and am approximately 40%. Still enjoying it when I pick it up. Then, maybe, on to Les Misérables.

[Theresa]

punxsygal wrote: "Finish The Count of Monte Cristo. I have it on my phone, so whenever I'm out and about without a book I work on it. Have been reading it for about a year and am approximately 40%. Still..."

This reminds me that a friend of mine did that with Atlas Shrugged - downloaded it on her phone and just read it when opportunity hit. I need to find out if she has finished it yet. Last I checked she said she had made significant progress, far more than when she was trying to read it in print.

[Joanne]

punxsygal wrote: "Finish The Count of Monte Cristo. I have it on my phone, so whenever I'm out and about without a book I work on it. Have been reading it for about a year and am approximately 40%. Still..."

Ha! That is a great idea-I have tried reading C of MC so many times....and failed!

[Charlie]

Rachel N. wrote: "My deceased husband was a big fan of Stephen King and Rex Stout so I'm slowly working my way through all the books written by them in his memory. My husband also had a few unread books he owned tha..."

I love your idea. I'm a big King fan but have never read Stout. Curious what you're favorite King book is so far, how far into his work are you and whether the books you're reading are one's your husband kept (as I imagine that would be very cool)? Also, what's your favorite Stout book so far as I'm keen to add one of his to my endless TBR list.

[Jason]

punxsygal wrote: "Finish The Count of Monte Cristo. I have it on my phone, so whenever I'm out and about without a book I work on it. Have been reading it for about a year and am approximately 40%. Still..."

For large books like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, I find audiobooks work great for me. I normally get the book or ebook and follow along while be read to. I then can also listen while driving or whatever else.

[Rachel N.]

Charlie, my favorite King books so far are The Shining, 11/22/63, and Duma Key. I've been reading his older books in publication order while also reading some of his more recent books as they are published. For the older books I have been reading my husbands copies when possible, he didn't own all of King's books but did have a lot of them, and it is cool and is a way for me to continue to remember him. For Stout f you haven't read any I recommend the first book in the series Fer-de-Lance. They don't have to be read in order but it's a great introduction to Archie and Nero Wolfe. My husbands books of Stout's are in more fragile condition so I've mostly been reading the library copies of those books.

[Charlie]

Rachel N. wrote: "Charlie, my favorite King books so far are The Shining, 11/22/63, and Duma Key. I've been reading his older books in publication order while also reading ..."

Very cool and thank you! The Shining is one of my favorites and I will definitely check out Fer-de-Lance. Btw, not sure if you've ever read A Three Dog Life but if not, I recommend it. I think King was reading it in advance of writing Duma Key.

[NancyJ]

Joanne wrote: "punxsygal wrote: "Finish The Count of Monte Cristo. I have it on my phone, so whenever I'm out and about without a book I work on it. Have been reading it for about a year and am approx..."

You might want to try one of the abridged versions? Honestly, I suspect the ratings are higher for the abridgment.