Kathleen has no willpower 2021 Challenge Buffet

[Kathleen]

Bob wrote: "Another review leads to another new author to try. Penelope Fitzgerald sounds interesting, thanks."

We will never lack new authors to try around here, Bob!

[Kathleen]

Made a few updates.

My Old and New is moving at a snail's pace, but I finished my second alternate, Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. Also used it for humor in the genre challenge. Four very fun stars! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've also stalled on my short stories. Didn't read any in May, but added Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison for June, even though I realized after reading it that it's the first chapter of his novel Invisible Man. Excellent! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And added another new author, Carol Shields. Her The Stone Diaries was wonderful. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara, New School Classics]

You are making excellent progress, and three excellent reads--Big Bonus. I'm in a stall, but I hope to pick up the pace in July!

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "You are making excellent progress, and three excellent reads--Big Bonus. I'm in a stall, but I hope to pick up the pace in July!"

Yes, great reads are what it's all about! Hope you coast through your stall okay, Sara. You have read so many excellent books this year--maybe you just needed a breather. :-)

[Kathleen]

I'm behind on my two main challenges--Old and New and Women's Century, but on a positive note, I'm enjoying lots of new classic authors!

Shirley Ann Grau is someone I definitely want to read more of. The Keepers of the House has been on my tbr for a long time, and I'm glad I put it on my Old and New challenge and finally got to it. So, so good! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I should have some more Old and New updates soon ... I hope.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Still lots of time left, Kathleen, but I am also having mid-year panic about some of my challenges. The great thing is that you are enjoying so many of the books you are reading. The Keepers of the House was an awesome book and you have a couple of other guaranteed 5-star reads yet to go.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

You may feel like you are a little behind, but as Sara said, lots of time left in the year. Besides, you have read some really great books, hang in there.

[Luke]

Kathleen wrote: "I'm behind on my two main challenges--Old and New and Women's Century, but on a positive note, I'm enjoying lots of new classic authors!

Shirley Ann Grau is someone I definitely wan..."

I'm behind on my Quest for Women myself, but Women in Translation Month 2021 in August is going to really help me refocus my energies in that direction. Any possibility of you doing the same?

[Kathleen]

Thank you Sara and Bob--I appreciate your support so much! I'm very happy with my books so far, and will believe I can finish all of my challenges, right up until December or so. :-)

I'm definitely excited about Women in Translation month, Aubrey. I have a list longer than I'll be able to get to, and I'm sure a few will definitely work for my challenges:
Incidental Music: Stories (France)
Abigail (Hungary)
Optic Nerve (Argentina)
Women of Sand and Myrrh (Lebanon)
Empty Hearts (Germany)
Strange Weather in Tokyo (Japan)
Medea and Her Children (Russia)
The Land of Green Plums (Romania)

I'm a big dreamer, obviously. Would need a women in translation season to fit them all in!

[Sara, New School Classics]

lol. I was thinking as I was reading the titles that this sounded like more than a month's worth, Kathleen. You have now required me to go check out all these titles...since the only one I have read is Abigail.

[Kathleen]

Yes--I have a real problem saying no to books! I'm going to try hard to fit in the first four, but even that is a stretch for me. I had so much fun reading unusual-to-me books last WIT month. Hope you find one you like, Sara!

[Luke]

Great list, Kathleen! My guaranteed list is pretty short, but all of these books are socketed into my women's century:

Monsieur Vénus: A Materialist Novel - Rachilde (France, 1880s)
A Woman - Sibilla Aleramo (Italy, 1900s)
The Blood of Others - Simone de Beauvoir (France, 1940s)

And here's the list of what I'm hoping to finish as many as I can of:

The Proof of the Honey - Salwa Al Neimi (Syria)
The Queue - Basma Abdel Aziz (Egypt)
Arid Dreams - Duanwad Pimwana (Thailand)
Rust - Gui-ja Yang (South Korea)
In The Name of the Mother - Mahasweta Devi (Bangladesh)

[Kathleen]

Oh, very tempting, Aubrey. That first one looks crazy! I'll have to seek that out. And The Queue has been on my list for a while--thanks for the reminder. Very interesting group. I look forward to your thoughts on these--enjoy!

[Kathleen]

Glad to add another group read and another new to me author: Honoré de Balzac, but have to say I'm not a fan.

Review of Old Goriot:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Thanks for the review. I will not be in a hurry to read it, let fate, the group, decide. Maybe someday it will win a poll

[Kathleen]

Thank you, Bob. No reason to hurry, in my opinion!

I am unrealistically positive about finishing these challenges, and have filled in a few more. I have to pick up my short-story game, and am in the middle of a very enjoyable collection right now, Incidental Music: Stories.

I am using The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble for my Women's Century. It had been a long time, but I think I can call myself a Drabble fan. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And Guy de Maupassant is letting me add to three challenges (group read, stories and new author) with the very limited effort that it took to read The Necklace. Nice but it didn't wow me. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I did slot in Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen for short stories and new author, even though the tales were more like novellas to me. I adored this one. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kathleen]

I'm half way through my Old and New now, and even though it's getting late, I have another one almost done and one I'm about to crack, so I think I'll make it.

I added two more to these challenges. I didn't get along as well with Women of Sand and Myrrh as I thought I would. Fascinating world, interesting women and story, but either the writing style or the translation didn't work for me. Still a book I'm so glad I read. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've been enjoying Françoise Sagan for a long time now, and really liked her short story collection Incidental Music: Stories. I moved her up to favorite author status. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kathleen]

Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "Oooh, I like the look of the new-to-you classic authors challenge! :-)"

Thanks, Jillian--one of my favorite outcomes of the challenges this year. And there are so many more authors to discover!

[Kathleen]

After reading it for months, I finished How Does a Poem Mean?, by John Ciardi. It was fantastic--one in a series of textbooks that I wish was more readily available. I've always loved textbooks, but haven't actually read one in a very long time. This was everything you want a textbook to be!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have at least five more to read for the challenge. I'm currently reading Travels with Charley: In Search of America, which I thought I'd finish over the long weekend, but it's a good one to savor so I'm taking my time with it. And I have Bring Up the Bodies, which I won't be able to resist much longer. So yeah, of course I'll finish the challenge! :-)

[Sara, New School Classics]

I never doubted you would finish! Is it weird that we love textbooks? I've been told it is, but I do, so I will have to check out yours. I enjoyed Travels With Charley and Bring Up the Bodies is magnificent. Happy reading.

[Kathleen]

I'm so glad you love textbooks too, Sara--you are one of a very few I know of who shares that love, so I guess that makes it weird!

I was just reviewing and updating. Added two short stories:
The Misanthrope - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and
Bookshop Memories - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm running behind on my short stories, so will have to work on that. I think the other challenges are doable. Will have to see how things go!

[Kathleen]

Two more for my Old and New:

Bring Up the Bodies - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and
Travels with Charley: In Search of America - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Definitely happy reading, Sara! :-)

[Sara, New School Classics]

😁

[Kathleen]

Maybe it's the season, but I've been in the mood for short stories, so added a few to my short story challenge Msg 6

A George Orwell Essay, A Nice Cup Of Tea
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A writer I was interested in reading, The Spindly Man by Stephen Graham Jones
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

An Asimov classic and upcoming group read,
The Last Question
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A very short Willa Cather, The Sculptor's Funeral
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And this month's group read The Gold-Bug by Edgar Allan Poe
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So now I should be able to finish the challenge, with only two more needed.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I have been fitting in some short stories too, Kathleen. Shirley Jackson for me. Love yours, must add three of them to my TBR.

[Annette]

I enjoy short stories a lot and incorporated them in my challenges more this year.

[Kathleen]

Thanks Sara and Annette. It's one of things I really enjoy about this group, that we always have a short story going and we have so many great nominations to try out!

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "Thanks Sara and Annette. It's one of things I really enjoy about this group, that we always have a short story going and we have so many great nominations to try out!"

I agree. I love the short stories.

[Kathleen]

I read one last scary story for Halloween, The Shadowy Third by Ellen Glasgow. I liked her writing. Short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And I just finished The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. This is definitely a case of reading strictly for the challenge, which I rarely do, but am so glad I did! Who knows when I would have gotten to this classic, if not for the Sci Fi category in the Genre challenge.

A must read classic. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara, New School Classics]

Thanks for the ghost story, Kathleen. Really enjoyed it. Also glad to know you found the Wells a must. I keep putting it off, but maybe it will be a surprise like for me.

[Kathleen]

Thank you, Sara. One thing I love about classics is the variety! And it's always fun to unearth a winner.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "I read one last scary story for Halloween, The Shadowy Third by Ellen Glasgow. I liked her writing. Short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A..."

I really like H. G. Wells. I am so glad it worked for you.

[Kathleen]

Lynn wrote: "I really like H. G. Wells. I am so glad it worked for you."

Thank you, Lynn--I'm glad to hear that from you, with your experience in this genre. Do you have a recommendation for another of his books? I'm thinking of The Invisible Man.

[Kathleen]

I'm going to use The Wings of the Dove by Henry James for the second place or worse challenge. And worse it was! Why this is considered James' best I just don't understand. But the buddy read was fun. :-)
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara, New School Classics]

I used it in the same category, Kathleen. I think we should pat ourselves on the back for finishing.

[Kathleen]

We certainly do deserve credit for finishing that one, Sara!

So I've read something completely different: Jazz by Toni Morrison. A really unusual read that won't be for everyone, but I loved it. Using it for my Women's Century, so only have two left there now and hope to get to both soon. (Guess I have to--can't believe it's mid-November already!)

Jazz Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara, New School Classics]

Yes, time runs short. Can't believe 2021 is almost over, but it isn't a year I am going to look back too fondly on! Here's to a better world in 2022.

[Carolien]

Kathleen wrote: "We certainly do deserve credit for finishing that one, Sara!

So I've read something completely different: Jazz by Toni Morrison. A really unusual read that won't be for..."

I've just read Beloved and your review of Jazz gives me the courage to try Jazz. Beloved was brutal, but such a good book.

[Kathleen]

I agree, Sara--may your wish for 2022 come true.

And Carolien, so true that her books can put you through the wringer, but Jazz wasn't nearly as painful for me. Hope you enjoy more Morrison, whatever you choose!

[Kathleen]

With The Muses Are Heard for non-fiction, I've finished the Classic Genre challenge! Really enjoyed it--a good way to make sure to read a variety. Hope we have that one again next year!

Muses are Heard review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(Truman Capote as journalist, telling the story of Porgy and Bess goes to Russia--so fun.)

I'm getting close on some others--more great reading ahead!

[Kathleen]

Reflections in a Golden Eye is as good as everyone said it was! Carson McCullers amazes me. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And that completes my Old and New. I used my alternates for two of them, but I'm fine with 12, and really enjoyed them--all four and five stars!

Still working on my Women's Century, but I've got the last book in my hot little hands, ready to start soon.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I'm so glad you loved Reflections! The end of the year is exciting as everyone closes out their lists and we see how much was accomplished in a year's time. Congrats, Kathleen.

[Carolien]

Congratulations on completing the Old and New challenge!

[Kathleen]

Thank you Sara an Carolien! Sorry I didn't see your comments until now.

It's time to push myself away from the table at this buffet. It was quite the enjoyable feast! I finished all of the challenges I attempted, except I cheated on the Second Place or Worse challenge--ended up with nothing Old School, but did read seven from the other categories.

With the extremely short A Letter from Santa Claus, I've read 24 short stories/collections, but I do have more planned for this month that I will come back and fill in later.

And The Grass Is Singing completes my Women's Century with quite a flourish. Not a pleasant read at all but the most impressive of the always impressive Doris Lessing books I've read so far.

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

[Kathleen]

Had to come back one last time to add two fantastic five-star reads.

A classic Christmas short story that I somehow missed, A Child's Christmas in Wales, gave me my 25th short story (and a nice even block of author images here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And one last new classic author, Vicki Baum. I loved her Grand Hotel!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Happy holidays everyone--can't wait to see what we all discover next year!