Kathleen has no willpower 2021 Challenge Buffet

[Pamela]

I’m so pleased for you that you had two 5* group reads! I’d like to read more Henry James too - I didn’t enjoy the shorter books that I read but I liked The Portrait of a Lady.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Glad to know you loved it, Kathleen. One of my favorite stories is The Turn of the Screw, so I know I like his writing style. I really must find the time to include him in my reading. Edith Wharton thought him the best writer ever, and that is praise that matters!

You got a lot of mileage out of that read as well in the challenges. I agree that this is a great group. :)

[Sue]

Congratulations Kathleen! It seems there a few of us who are fans of Henry James. We'll have to get a buddy read together.

[Kathleen]

Pamela wrote: "I’m so pleased for you that you had two 5* group reads! I’d like to read more Henry James too - I didn’t enjoy the shorter books that I read but I liked The Portrait of a Lady."

Thank you Pamela--I'm glad you enjoyed this one too! Yes, I have a feeling his books will be a mixed bag, but I can't wait to find out. :-)

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "Glad to know you loved it, Kathleen. One of my favorite stories is The Turn of the Screw, so I know I like his writing style. I really must find the time to include him in my reading. ..."

So much is about timing, isn't it? I think I might have read The Turn of the Screw at some point, but am looking forward to reading it again. I'm sure our paths will cross with one of his books at some time!

[Kathleen]

Sue wrote: "Congratulations Kathleen! It seems there a few of us who are fans of Henry James. We'll have to get a buddy read together."

Thank you, Sue--that sounds like a great plan!

[Sara, New School Classics]

I would definitely be interested in a buddy read with you and Sue if it isn't too soon. You guys choose, I'd be up for anything he has written.

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "I would definitely be interested in a buddy read with you and Sue if it isn't too soon. You guys choose, I'd be up for anything he has written."

This would be great! I would love to read The Wings of the Dove with you two, and I think it's on all of our lists, but it might be hard to fit in another long one. I was thinking of going for the short The Aspern Papers next, but bottom line I'd read whatever you guys are interested in too!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Either would certainly work for me. I don't mind a long read so long as we are able to take our time with it. I'm not familiar with The Aspern Papers, but have long been eyeing The Wings of the Dove.

[Lori]

I just picked up a copy of Portrait of a Lady after seeing this being read here with the group. I won't read it now, but it's encouraging that so many liked it. I've heard the opposite too. I read Washington Square last year and enjoyed it.

Great job on your progress, Kathleen!

[Kathleen]

Lori wrote: "I just picked up a copy of Portrait of a Lady after seeing this being read here with the group. I won't read it now, but it's encouraging that so many liked it. I've heard the opposite too. I read ..."

Thank you Lori. Washington Square is one I know I read and enjoyed, but it was so, so long ago. Hope you enjoy Portrait!

[Kathleen]

I have so many plates at this buffet, I'm having trouble keeping them all straight! But I added a Sherlock Holmes mystery for the genre challenge and another group read, and a couple of Pushkin short stories.

A Study in Scarlet review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Queen of Spades review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Snowstorm review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara, New School Classics]

I can see why you are having problems keeping things straight, you are just ticking off the books right and left. Off to read your reviews.

[Sue]

I have trouble keeping them straight too Kathleen. I need to get to up-dating mine, especially since I decided to add the short story one. I am going to try Snowstorm and Queen of Spades thanks to you. Congratulations on your progress!

[Kathleen]

Thank you Sara and Sue! I like keeping track, but this is a bit much! :-)

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

You have been busy, thanks for the short story link.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "I have so many plates at this buffet, I'm having trouble keeping them all straight! But I added a Sherlock Holmes mystery for the genre challenge and another group read, and a couple of Pushkin sho..."

Nice progress. I know what you mean about so many plates being
juggled. At the beginning of the year a book will seem to fit so many challenges spots that it is hard to decide which one to use. It is so different from December reading!

I am glad you enjoyed A Study in Scarlet. I like Sherlock Holmes, but honestly never read any other mysteries - except Father Brown by The Complete Father Brown
G.K. Chesterton. I even find Agatha Christie boring (gasp!). Father Brown solves mysteries due to his insights into human nature. I suppose Sherlock Holmes does much the same.

[Kathleen]

Thanks Bob and Lynn! I know what you mean about Agatha Christie, Lynn--but I am not at all a mystery reader. Sherlock Holmes is something a little different. :-)

[Kathleen]

The one book that ended up being in almost all of my challenges is now complete: The Cross by Sigrid Undset, the last of the Kristin Lavransdatter series.

Loved it. Loved the whole trilogy. What a saga. Undset gives us a woman's life from many centuries ago, that still we can relate to.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And I was able to tick off another for my Old and New, Women's Century and genre challenges. :-)

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I've been thinking about this trilogy for a while, still on the fence. Another nice review!

[Kathleen]

Bob wrote: "I've been thinking about this trilogy for a while, still on the fence. Another nice review!"

Thank you, Bob. You will know if and when the time is right!

[Kathleen]

Adding Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine to my group read challenge. It had been decades since I last read it, but not only is it still a favorite, I decided it was the favorite. Even though it wasn't for everyone, I'm so happy to have read it with the group!

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sue]

Kathleen wrote: "Adding Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine to my group read challenge. It had been decades since I last read it, but not only is it still a favorite, I decided it was the favor..."

I'm so glad you reread it too, Kathleen so that we could have that amazing review!

[Sara, New School Classics]

You have had some amazing reads lately, but I am so happy and grateful that you took the time out to revisit this one with us. It went right in my favorite, as well, Kathleen, and I know it will be read again and savored.

[Ila]

I've heard good things from many people regarding Dandelion Wine. Is this a good introduction to Ray Bradbury?

[Kathleen]

Sue and Sara, I am just thrilled to have shared this one with both of you. Thank you for nominating it, Sara!

Ila, that is a tough question. I'm very biased toward it, and it's not for everyone, but I'm going to argue that it is a good introduction because I think this book is sort of the essence of Ray Bradbury's personality. I've seen interviews and you can tell he felt very strongly about some of the points he makes in it, and that he really savored life. If you are reading him for plot or for sci fi, this is not a good place to start though, and I'll let someone else make a best recommendation for readers coming from that side of it. :-)

[Sara, New School Classics]

I was just stoked that it won, Kathleen!

Ila, I would read this and then, even if you don't like it, read Fahrenheit 451. They are completely different kinds of books and represent two different sides of this amazing author. I'm glad to have met both sides of him at last.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Sue wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Adding Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine to my group read challenge. It had been decades since I last read it, but not only is it still a favorite, I decided..."

Wonderful review. I have a copy of this on my bookshelf just waiting for me.

[Kathleen]

Lynn wrote: "Sue wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Adding Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine to my group read challenge. It had been decades since I last read it, but not only is it still a favorit..."

Thank you Lynn. I hope you enjoy this when you get to it. I think you've read most of his other books!

[Ila]

Sara, Kathleen thank you for your opinions. I will certainly consider reading Dandelion Wine sometime

[Kathleen]

I added another one for my Women's Century Challenge, Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. It is so uncomfortable, but so powerful. It's only my second book of hers but I think she is quite a special writer.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara, New School Classics]

Congratulations! I find this is about the time of the year when ticking off on the lists becomes harder.

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "Congratulations! I find this is about the time of the year when ticking off on the lists becomes harder."

Thanks, Sara! You're right, and I think I'll prepare myself now to not finish, to make the rest of the year easier. :-)

[Sara, New School Classics]

lol. I remember whispering that to myself when I was making up the lists..."you cannot finish all of this". Fun to try, but not required.

[Cynda]

Kathleen, you are the second of my GR friends of has enjoyed reading Portrait. I read it in my 30s. May be time to reread and appreciate. . . . .I particularly enjoyed both novel and movie versions of Washington Square. There is a play version I hope to someday watch.

[Kathleen]

Cynda wrote: "Kathleen, you are the second of my GR friends of has enjoyed reading Portrait. I read it in my 30s. May be time to reread and appreciate. . . . .I particularly enjoyed both novel and movie versipns..."

Ah, Washington Square! I think that was one of the first of his books that I read and I loved it too. Then later saw the classic movie which is fantastic. So we are in agreement on that, and I'll watch for the play too. About The Portrait of a Lady, I know people had strong feelings both ways, and if you try it again you'll probably be able to tell early on whether you'll like it more this time.

[Sue]

Congratulations, Kathleen!

I missed yours and Sara's comments before about a Faulkner buddy read. I could definitely fit in the shorter The Aspern Papers and would see how it goes if you guys read The Wings of the Dove. I could probably spread that over 2 months.

[Kathleen]

Sue wrote: "Congratulations, Kathleen!

I missed yours and Sara's comments before about a Faulkner buddy read. I could definitely fit in the shorter The Aspern Papers and would see how it goes if..."

I forgot about this too, Sue, but would love to read both of them if we could swing it. Maybe we could do The Aspern Papers sometime soon, and then see if we're up to The Wings of the Dove a little later in the year? I'm open to fitting it in whenever is good for you guys.

[Sara, New School Classics]

This had also slipped my mind. Pick a date anytime August or later and I am in!

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "This had also slipped my mind. Pick a date anytime August or later and I am in!"

Let's do it! We'll shoot for August. I'll put it on the buddy read thread.

[Sue]

Kathleen wrote: "Sara wrote: "This had also slipped my mind. Pick a date anytime August or later and I am in!"

Let's do it! We'll shoot for August. I'll put it on the buddy read thread."

Perfect for me to read The Aspern Papers in August and potentially Wings of the Dove later. If we remember, maybe we could nominate Wings for the 4th quarter long read and even if it doesn't win, take our time within in a similar fashion (but maybe over two months?).

[Sara, New School Classics]

That works well for me, Sue. I know we will need some time for Wings of the Dove, but at least with a buddy read we aren't on any time schedule and can take the two months if we like.

[Kathleen]

It works for me too! I'm happy to let Wings take as long as it takes. :-)

[Kathleen]

I can highly recommend The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. I actually bumped Barbara Pym's Quartet in Autumn to add it to my Women's Century challenge for the 70's. (I will still read Quartet soon I hope!) I'm excited about reading more Fitzgerald, and if anyone has read her other books, I'd love to hear recommendations.

My Bookshop review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm hoping to make some headway on my Old&New soon. Should have three to add there in a month or two. And I have a bunch of short stories I keep meaning to get to. Baby steps ...

[Sara, New School Classics]

That old adage "slow and steady wins the race". You are doing quite well. I keep reading books that don't fit anywhere. Need to get back on track in the latter half of the year, but not too concerned as long as the reading is fun.

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "That old adage "slow and steady wins the race". You are doing quite well. I keep reading books that don't fit anywhere. Need to get back on track in the latter half of the year, but not too concern..."

Thank you, Sara. Yes, as nice as it is to tick the books off challenges, it is all about fun!

[Ila]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Sticking to a list can get boring real fast.

[Carolien]

Kathleen wrote: "I can highly recommend The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. I actually bumped Barbara Pym's Quartet in Autumn to add it to my Women's Century challenge for the 70's. (..."

I'm considering Offshore and will definitely bump it up on my list based on your recommendation.

[Kathleen]

True, Ila!

And Carolien, I'd also like to read Offshore, and look forward to your thoughts when you get to it.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Another review leads to another new author to try. Penelope Fitzgerald sounds interesting, thanks.