Bob's Two Card 2020 Bingo, Going to Try For Two

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

No square in six weeks. I will have to start seeking books using my still needed squares. In the last six weeks I’ve read-
2BR02B
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Casino Royale
The Country of the Blind
Scenes of Clerical Life
The Arabian Nights
The Short Forever
And All the Earth a Grave
Mr. Spaceship
I'm half way through with The Talented Mr. Ripley
and 85% finished with Moll Flanders

And nothing fits a needed square, from here on out this gets much harder.

Still holding at 16/25 on my second card

[Sara, Old School Classics]

It does get harder as you get toward the end, but geez how amazing is it that you have 16/25 on a SECOND card.

[Laurie]

It looks like you can use The Talented Mr. Ripley for winner of a foreign literary prize. It won a French award for best international crime novel.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sara wrote: "It does get harder as you get toward the end, but geez how amazing is it that you have 16/25 on a SECOND card."

I'm looking forward to your second card, bet you have more squares filled than you think.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Laurie wrote: "It looks like you can use The Talented Mr. Ripley for winner of a foreign literary prize. It won a French award for best international crime novel."

Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now I have incentive to finish it.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Bob wrote: "Sara wrote: "It does get harder as you get toward the end, but geez how amazing is it that you have 16/25 on a SECOND card."

I'm looking forward to your second card, bet you have more squares fill..."

We'll see, Bob. I had two I could plug in immediately. I'm sorry you are having difficulty with Mr. Ripley, I remembered it as an easy read. 😞

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

First Bingo on card #2

B1: , I1: , N1: , G1: O1:

17/25

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

There you go, Bob, congratulations. Plenty of time to get a second card in.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Just the beginning!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Well no bingo, but I finally finished The Talented Mr. Ripley it has proved to be this year’s albatross, glad it’s done.

Second card is at 19/25

[Sue]

Bob wrote: "Well no bingo, but I finally finished The Talented Mr. Ripley it has proved to be this year’s albatross, glad it’s done.

Second card is at 19/25"

Congratulations on finishing it Bob. I have that one on my list so it's disappointing that it was a challenge to get through. I saw the movie long ago and liked it.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Goodness you are a breath away from finishing the second card! I'm sorry Ripley gave you so much trouble. I enjoyed it and was glad I read it before watching the movie. Sometimes we just don't mesh with certain books.

You are an inspiration to me!!!!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sue wrote: "Bob wrote: "Well no bingo, but I finally finished The Talented Mr. Ripley it has proved to be this year’s albatross, glad it’s done.

Second card is at 19/25"

Congratulations on fin..."

Sue it is nothing structural, she writes an excellent story. It just rubbed my sense of justice wrong. I disliked the character Tom Ripley to the point I had to take breaks from my reading.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sara wrote: "Goodness you are a breath away from finishing the second card! I'm sorry Ripley gave you so much trouble. I enjoyed it and was glad I read it before watching the movie. Sometimes we just don't mesh..."

Sara, I don't think I can take a breath big enough to insure success. I will start book 20 in the morning, but odds are not in my favor for finishing. I have one book for my birthday challenge that will also work here if I can get it from the library. Its been on request for almost three weeks. What to do about the remaining four, no clue, but I will keep trucking till the end.

[Annette]

Very impressive!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Finished Alias Grace today, takes me to 20/25 on card number two. Still have doubts as I can see the years end in sight, if I don't make it I'll go down swinging.

Next up The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains for the Western square.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I feel that pitter-patter of time pushing me as well, Bob. I hope you loved Alias Grace. Have fun in the Wild West.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Sara wrote: "I feel that pitter-patter of time pushing me as well, Bob. I hope you loved Alias Grace. Have fun in the Wild West."

Yes, great progress. I also am now focusing to try to finish Bingo. I should have done one challenge at a time, instead of a little here and a little there.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I made the same mistake, Bob. Now I have two or three boos to finish any challenge and two challenges that I can pretty much say won't get done.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sara wrote: "I feel that pitter-patter of time pushing me as well, Bob. I hope you loved Alias Grace. Have fun in the Wild West."

The year isn't creeping to the end, it seems to be running full speed. Next year I will put less on my plate.

Alias Grace was fantastic, my second Atwood this year. As for The Virginian, it's to early to tell. For me a safer bet reading Westerns is to read something by either Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour, tried and true and rarly fail.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

If I can fit it in, I am going to read Old Yeller for my Western slot. I have not read a Zane Grey or a Louis L'Amour yet, but I had a friend when I was young who always had one or the other in his back pocket.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Yesterday I finished my Classic Western square , giving me 21/25 on my second bingo card. The book had a few ups and downs but overall I really liked it.

Two months and four books left, beginning to think I may make it, any ideas for a Tragedy

[Shaina]

Wow! I'm amazed your almost done with your second Bingo. This is apart from all your other challenges and reads. It's amazing Bob.

[Kathleen]

Good job, Bob!

For the tragedy square, I readJude the Obscure and loved it. I know you like Wharton--have you read Ethan Frome?

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Short and powerful tragedy, So Long, See You Tomorrow.

Super progress. You will definitely make it. How impressive you are!

[Sue]

Only 5 left on a second blackout? Wow, that's amazing Bob, especially considering all of your other challenges. I think you'll do it.

[Renee]

It's amazing that you're so close to getting a second blackout! Any favourites you would like to share?

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Bob wrote: "Yesterday I finished my Classic Western square , giving me 21/25 on my second bingo card. The book had a few ups and downs but overall I really liked it.

Two mon..."

I am thinking about La Dame aux Camelias or Camille in English. The group read reviews are in the 3s for the most part, but I still think I might read that.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I missed the group read as well, Bob, but I also think I will tackle it in time.

I'm very impressed with the volume of your reading this year! Goodness!

[Anne]

Bob, Camille is an easy and quick read. I didn't love the book but I was glad to have read it for it's place in history as the basis for many plays and for the opera La Traviata. The biggest criticism was it's melodrama. If you can stomach melodrama you should be fine with this novel.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "Good job, Bob!

For the tragedy square, I readJude the Obscure and loved it. I know you like Wharton--have you read Ethan Frome?"

Kathleen, Hardy and Wharton are favorites. I have read both and agree they are tragic. Ethan Frome was the first book by Wharton I ever read and hooked me.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sara wrote: "Short and powerful tragedy, So Long, See You Tomorrow.

Super progress. You will definitely make it. How impressive you are!"

This is good enough tor me, it is on order, I'll start it as soon as it arrives.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Yesterday I finished Light-Horse Harry Lee: The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero - The Tragic Life of Robert E. Lee's Father, it completes my B-4 Square. This gives me 22/25 finished on my second card, three to go!

By the way, I really enjoyed Light-Horse Harry Lee. I always marvel at how people can attain levels of greatness and still be susceptible to human weakness and folly. During the Revolutionary War this man performs as a warrior beyond measure. After the war a life of business and politics defeats him and leaves his finances and reputation in ruins.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Do hope you like it, Bob. Will be waiting to hear.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Bob wrote: "Yesterday I finished Light-Horse Harry Lee: The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero - The Tragic Life of Robert E. Lee's Father, it completes my B-4 Square. This gives me 22/25 fi..."

It is interesting how brilliance in one area doesn't even guarantee competence in another. I am fascinated with this man and still know too little about him, but I lived very close to his home in Virginia and have visited a number of times.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Finished #23, G2: The Bigger Read List by English Pen-Cousin Bette, Finished 11/23/20.

Two left and I'm reading one now and have the other one ready to go.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

You have really been amazing this year, Bob! I am in awe.

[Anne]

You'll finish easily before the end of the year. Way to go, Bob.

[Angie]

Awesome job!

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Bob wrote: "Finished #23, G2: The Bigger Read List by English Pen-Cousin Bette, Finished 11/23/20.

Two left and I'm reading one now and have the other one ready to go."

Excellent. You have really read a lot this year! I hope you had fun.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Well I2 is finished. One to go and I'm half way through it

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Feels good to put it away, doesn't it Bob? You really did have a great year!

[Terry]

You’ve got this, Bob!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I took Sara’s advice and used So Long, See You Tomorrow for my B2 square. As usual her advice was spot on and perfect.

I’m traveling and finished this on the plane. I’m only using a phone for the next week so I will be absent for a while.

The completion of this book is also the completion of my second Bingo card. Two cards, 50 different titles, no duplicates. I feel pretty good.

[Brina]

That is a great book, Bob and congrats to you for finishing two cards. Happy travels and hopefully our reading overlaps a bit next year.

[Anne]

Congrats Bob! Great book to end your second bingo!

[Kathleen]

That's amazing, Bob--you should feel good! Safe travels, and congrats on a great reading year.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

You should feel great! Happy travels, glad you liked the book, and since I will also be absent starting next week, see you in the New Year.

[Annette]

Congratulations! A great accomplishment for this trying year.

[Laurie]

Congrats, Bob. You are amazing! Enjoy your travels.