Leslie’s 2020 Group Read Challenge

[Leslie]

For 2020, I want to have a little more freedom in my reading. But I still want to keep reading the classics, so this challenge seems perfect: 12 books from the Group Reads selections. I’m going to try to read one of the four monthly selections. And I’ve already completed January’s.

January - Cask of Amontillado - Edgar Allan Poe - read January 2 - ****

[Leslie]

I was away for most of February, but I managed to read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter before the end of February! I found it slow going and although I was engaged by some of the characters and their stories, I found i had to force myself to read it. I’m glad I finished, I think it is a book that will stay with me and that I may appreciate more on a second reading.

[Leslie]

Finished Death on the Nile last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it but not a deep thinking book. Entertaining though.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I still plan on reading Death on the Nile this month, I'm kind of happy it isn't a deep think. I hope it has a few of the famous Christie's twists along the way.

[Leslie]

Finished The Mayor of Casterbridge last week. I didn’t really like the story or the main character, or really any of the characters. Now I’m wondering if I were to reread Tess whether I would like it.

[Leslie]

Finished White Fang late last night - just squeaked by. I quite enjoyed most of the book. The opening sequence in particular was very suspenseful. And I found Jack London to be a very descriptive writer. However, I had a hard time getting through the chapters involving dog killing and dog fighting. I ended up skimming through some of those chapters because they were too upsetting for me. As a result, I continued the rest of the book in a state of dread, expecting further violence. Although the vivid writing would likely have gotten the book a 5* rating, the subject matter I’m the middle of the book reduced the rating to a 2 or 3 * for me.

[Leslie]

Finished The Spy Who Came in From the Cold last night. I was completely surprised by the plot - never saw it coming! So the plot and the writing were worthy of 5* but I didn’t connect with the characters and the tone is detached, almost clinical. I can’t find the right word to describe it - I just didn’t feel engaged by the book or the characters even though the plot kept me guessing what was going on. So I’m torn between 3* or 4*.

[Leslie]

Finished Brideshead Revisited - I enjoyed the description of university life, particularly having been to Oxford a couple of years ago. But i found the family dynamics incomprehensible - why would Lady Marchmain treat Sebastian’s drinking the same way she treated her husband when it didn’t work with her husband? Not sure how to rate this - didn’t really enjoy it - had to force myself to read it - but I also think I would get more out of it I’d I read it again knowing about the Julia section and the religious awakening at the end. But I definitely don’t want to read it again. Oh dear. Maybe ***.