Shaina's Mid Year Bingo Challenge

[Shaina]

I think I am the last to add my challenge however I joined this group so I could start reading beyond the usual stuff I read so it is only fair I join the challenge and read as much as I can in these 6 months (better late than never). I have tried to add as many books as I could from my TBR. This is my first Bingo challenge so please forgive any mistakes in the list.

So here goes my list. Recommendations are welcome.

Edited List:

B1: Classic of Asia - Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
B2: Classic Tragedy - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
B3: A Book Published at Least 200 Years Ago - Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
B4: Memoir, Autobiography, or Biography - The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
B5: Classic of Europe - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I1: Classic Mystery or Crime - Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers
I2: Group Bingo Participant Pick - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - Recommended by Lynn
I3: Classic Drama or Play - An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
I4: Book From Group’s 2020 Bookshelf - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
I5: Classic Gothic or Horror - Dracula by Bram Stoker

N1: Book From Group’s Old School Classic Shelf prior to 2020 - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
N2: Winner of a Foreign Literary Prize - The Color Purple by Alice Walker
N3: Reader’s Choice - Animal Farm by George Orwell
N4: Classic Short Story - The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
N5: Book From Group’s New School Classic Shelf prior to 2020 - A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

G1: Classic Science Fiction or Fantasy - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
G2: The Bigger Read List by English Pen - Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
G3: Poetry or Essay Collection - Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids by Meghan Daum
G4: Banned Book - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
G5: Classic Science or Philosophy - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

O1: Classic of Africa, Antarctica, Australia, or Oceania - Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
O2: Classic Western - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
O3: Book Published the Year You Were Born - Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe
O4: Classic Adventure - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
O5: Classic of the Americas - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

[Terris]

If you're the last to join the challenge, it's not by much! I just joined last month ;)
You have a wonderful list and a lot of good reading to look forward to! Enjoy :)

[Shaina]

Thank you Terris. I hope I finish atleast half of it. Good luck to you too! I will soon take a peek at your list as well.

[Shaina]

2 Squares Completed
N4: A Short Story Classic - The Yellow Wallpaper
G5: Classic Science or Philosophy - The Little Prince

[Katy, New School Classics]

Welcome to the challenge. And congrats on getting two squares right off the bat.

[Cynda]

Shaina, you have some good selections here. A few Persépolis movie scenes are posted on YouTube. One made me laugh out loud. Enjoy your reading :)

[Shaina]

Thank you Katy... So many books so little time..

[Shaina]

Thanks Cynda..I will sure look them up... I love watching an adaptation after reading ..be it on a radio show or a video

[Rosemarie]

Good luck on your challenge, Shaina!

[Shaina]

Rosemarie wrote: "Good luck on your challenge, Shaina!"

Thank you!

[Shaina]

Another square completed. G1: Classic Science Fiction or Fantasy - Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Curiouser and Curiouser....

I changed my mind about sci-fi yesterday and chose fantasy. I loved the book. I loved the Mock Turtle and his reasoning and so many things about this book had me laughing.

I'm glad the book got published and didn't remain as a forgotten gift in someones attic.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Welcome to the challenge, enjoy.

[Shaina]

Thank you Bob...I'm happy to say I am definitely enjoying it

[Shaina]

Another square done! B4: Memoir, Autobiography, or Biography - The Complete Persepolis. I loved her humor and her way of expressing things.

[Shaina]

I would also appreciate a few recommendations for B1: Classic Crime or Mystery as I don't feel Endless Night fits that square and would like a better book.

[Terris]

Shaina wrote: "Another square done! B4: Memoir, Autobiography, or Biography - The Complete Persepolis. I loved her humor and her way of expressing things."

Congratulations, Shaina, on another book read! :)

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

Shaina wrote: "I would also appreciate a few recommendations for B1: Classic Crime or Mystery as I don't feel Endless Night fits that square and would like a better book."

We have several Sherlock Holmes mysteries on the shelf. I enjoy those. Another book from our shelf is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It is long, but I flew through it and really loved it.

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

In a completely different genre, I reread Anne of Green Gables this Spring and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is light, happy and optimistic, which seemed to help me at the beginning of the lockdown. You might like that book or another teenage girl coming-of-age book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

[Shaina]

Terris wrote: "Shaina wrote: "Another square done! B4: Memoir, Autobiography, or Biography - The Complete Persepolis. I loved her humor and her way of expressing things."

Congratulations, Shaina, o..."

Thank you Terris!

[Shaina]

Thank you, Lynn. I have read all the Sherlock Holmes several times. The Secret History looks like a good read. I'll sure try that.

As for Anne of Green Gables, I do have the book however I drop it after the first few pages every time I try. Maybe I will get it on my e-reader and try.

Now that I looked at your list I think I too will read Lonesome Dove under O2: Classic Western. Everyone seems to praise it so much.

[Shaina]

Another square completed! N1: Old School CLassic Shelf (Pre 2020) but instead of Dracula I read Little Women.

A little shuffling around of books to fit the criteria of the square once I realised Little Women was not Published 200 years ago. Frankenstein, Dracula and Little Women have played musical chairs. That's all

[Marilyn]

Shaina wrote: "I would also appreciate a few recommendations for B1: Classic Crime or Mystery as I don't feel Endless Night fits that square and would like a better book."

If you like crime noir I suggest Laura by Vera Caspary or The Asphalt Jungle by W.R. Burnett.

[Shaina]

Marilyn wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I would also appreciate a few recommendations for B1: Classic Crime or Mystery as I don't feel Endless Night fits that square and would like a better book."

If you ..."

Marilyn these books are great... Thank you! I have already added them to my TBR and downloaded one as well. I will definitely read them before the year is out.

I also think I will look through your bookshelf for similar stuff.

[Shaina]

Another square down! O5: Classic of the Americas The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

6 books down 19 more to go...

[Katy, New School Classics]

You are going strong with your challenge. Keep up the awesome reading.

[Sue]

Congratulations on another one done Shaina! All the ones you've read so far have been either 4 or 5 star reads for me. I read The Complete Persepolis this year too and loved it.

[Shaina]

Katy wrote: "You are going strong with your challenge. Keep up the awesome reading."

Thank you, Katy. I was skeptical about this challenge but I have no doubt now about finishing it.

[Shaina]

Sue wrote: "Congratulations on another one done Shaina! All the ones you've read so far have been either 4 or 5 star reads for me. I read The Complete Persepolis this year too and loved it."

Thank you, Sue. I loved Embroideries too which was short but really hilarious. It was my first graphic read. Then I saw Persepolis and joined the challenge at the same time so decided to read it. I couldn't stop reading it.

Cynda also mentioned watching a few funny clips of Persepolis on YouTube. I hope to watch them soon.

[Sue]

I saw the film in the theatre when it first came out. I liked it even better. It was so well done.

[Shaina]

Sue wrote: "I saw the film in the theatre when it first came out. I liked it even better. It was so well done."

Thanks for letting me know. I will sure try to watch it soon. The author in an interview i watched didn't have a lot of praise for the movie and so I was skeptical to watch it.

[Shaina]

Another square down. I3: Classic Drama or Play An Ideal Husband

[Terris]

Wow, Shaina, you are moving right along!

[Shaina]

That's right. Let's hope I continue at the same pace too.

[Shaina]

Completed N5: Book From Group’s New School Classic Shelf prior to 2020 A Room with a View

[Sue]

Shaina wrote: "Sue wrote: "I saw the film in the theatre when it first came out. I liked it even better. It was so well done."

Thanks for letting me know. I will sure try to watch it soon. The author in an inter..."

That is very interesting that she didn't like the film. I LOVED it. Now I'm curious as to why. I saw it so long ago, but don't recall there being anything drastically different.

I just read An Indeal husband too and Loved it and I'm about to read A Room With a View. We are on the same path!

[Shaina]

Sue, I enjoyed An Ideal Husband (4 stars) a great deal more than A Room With a View (2 stars). Yes, I'm glad we are on the same paths here as we can compare notes.

Let me know how you feel about A Room With a View

Regarding the movie Persepolis she just made the film because her friend wanted to become a producer ( link to watch the clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9onZ...)

[Sue]

Shaina wrote: "Sue, I enjoyed An Ideal Husband (4 stars) a great deal more than A Room With a View (2 stars). Yes, I'm glad we are on the same paths here as we can compare notes.

Let me know how you feel about ..."

Thank you Shaina. That was very interesting. She was too close to it to love the changes. I highly recommend the film. It's very cool.

I'm not too excited about A Room With a View since I've seen a lot of mediocre reviews. I own it though so I'm giving it a try, plus it's short so that helps!

[Shaina]

Yes! That's so true. She is too close to be objective about it. Yes, I will sure watch the movie before the year is out.

[Marilyn]

Shaina wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I would also appreciate a few recommendations for B1: Classic Crime or Mystery as I don't feel Endless Night fits that square and would like a better bo..."

I definitely want to read more by Vera Caspary. In my opinion, she should be as well-known as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.

[Terris]

Shaina wrote: "Completed N5: Book From Group’s New School Classic Shelf prior to 2020 A Room with a View"

Shaina, you are really getting through a lot of books fast! I hope you are enjoying them. You have so many good ones on your list! :)

[Matt]

What a great list of books you’re reading for this challenge. Good luck!

[Shaina]

Marilyn wrote: "Shaina wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I would also appreciate a few recommendations for B1: Classic Crime or Mystery as I don't feel Endless Night fits that square and would l..."

Marilyn I'm definitely going to read both books you recommended before the year is over. I have already downloaded both books. However, I haven't yet read either Raymond Chandler (is on the list of TBR) or Dashiell Hammett (never got beyond the first pages of the Maltese Falcon) so I won't be able to compare them till I read some work by each. I will keep you posted for sure.

[Shaina]

Terris wrote: "Shaina wrote: "Completed N5: Book From Group’s New School Classic Shelf prior to 2020 A Room with a View"

Shaina, you are really getting through a lot of books fast! I hope you are"

Terris, with the exception of A Room With a View, I have liked every book I read and I read literally every minute of my day that I wasn't asleep (I'm still at home twiddling my thumbs due to the ongoing COVID scenario).

I have now managed to read the list of books in most people's challenges and thus altered my list with better books than I had at the start of the challenge. I am reading books other than those on my list as well. So yes I am enjoying myself a lot.

If I were brave enough to read Ghost stories I would have also joined the Edith Wharton reading too believe me.

[Shaina]

Matt wrote: "What a great list of books you’re reading for this challenge. Good luck!"

Thank you, Matt! It took me a while to refine my list. When I started out I think I just used books that I knew of rather than learn about new books that could add value to my reading.

After having read most lists in the group I yesterday made final changes to the list and I'm quite happy with it.

[Shaina]

Finished O4: Classic Adventure - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

[Terris]

Carrie wrote: "Shaina wrote: "Finished O4: Classic Adventure - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne."

What were your thoughts on this one? I am trying to choose between thi..."

Not to butt in here, but.... Carrie, I will tell you I enjoyed "Robinson Crusoe" much more than "Gullivers Travels." Just my humble opinion :)

[Terris]

Shaina wrote: "Finished O4: Classic Adventure - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne."

Keep up the good work, Shaina!! You're doing great!
I'm hope you enjoyed "Around the World in Eighty Days." I have read several of Verne's books and enjoy him more and more :)

[Shaina]

Carrie wrote: "Shaina wrote: "Finished O4: Classic Adventure - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne."

What were your thoughts on this one? I am trying to choose between thi..."

Carrie I was afraid of being asked this (reason mentioned below).... I loved the story. It was hilarious, kept me wondering how challenges would be overcome, and kept me guessing till the end (yes I'm one of those who hasn't watched the movie ever). What I disliked is the Geography and the time difference calculation and talk of distance (I hate Geography and barely scraped through it in school).

Most people I know don't hate this or are ambivalent to it. So I'm going to say read the book because it is really interesting until the end. As for Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver Travels, they are on my TBR list as well ( Yes, I have neglected my classics altogether and hence catching up now).

Have fun reading!

[Shaina]

Terris wrote: "Shaina wrote: "Finished O4: Classic Adventure - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne."

Keep up the good work, Shaina!! You're doing great!
I'm hope you enjo..."

Terris, thank you for sharing your opinion with Carrie (I don't have one as I haven't read either). I enjoyed the book a lot apart from the various calculations of time difference and distances (I hate Geography).

I plan to read more of Verne's books though as I loved his style of writing. I had my quilt and cup of tea ( I wish I had a cat to cuddle too) while I read this book (and it was pouring outside). It loved how it made me feel.

[Shaina]

Carrie wrote: "Shaina and Terris, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Shaina, you have others on your list that I am adding to my tbr. You are making great progress."

Thank you, Carrie! I tried comparing our shelves but I'm unable to view your profile. I think only your friends can view your shelves/profile. What books would you like to read from my list? Do share your list too.

Im new to groups on GR so I have been looking at member's shelves and lists to get more suggestions and lists.