Lori's First Ever 2021 BINGO Challenge

[Connie]

Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh were perfect for the roles of Rhett and Scarlett. I hope you enjoy the movie as much as the book, Lori.

[Lori]

Matt wrote: "Lori wrote: "It took 23 days but I finished reading my
B2: Book That Has Been Made Into Film today!! It was a first read for me and one that I'm so glad to have accomplished! It was fantastic and ..."

Thank you Matt! I could see Vivien Leigh in my mind as I read even though I've never seen it. I've certainly seen clips and she is iconic!

[Lori]

Terry wrote: "Great start, Lori!"

Thanks Terry!
It's great to get a huge read off my list!! And one I've wanted to read for years!

[Lori]

Connie wrote: "Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh were perfect for the roles of Rhett and Scarlett. I hope you enjoy the movie as much as the book, Lori."

I am looking forward to it! I hope to get to it soon!

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Wow, two great books for your first two reads. I am glad you like them both! I still have Cranford on my to-read list, but the discussion looks like overall people are really happy with it. Nice start to the year.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Great start, i agree Gone with the Wind is excellent. Twenty-three days I sympathize, I'm on my 25th day reading War and Peace, and still shy of half way, but it's worth it.

[Veronique]

Congrats on Gone with the Wind! It’s one I also want to try but haven’t, yet :O)

[Lori]

Lynn wrote: "Wow, two great books for your first two reads. I am glad you like them both! I still have Cranford on my to-read list, but the discussion looks like overall people are really happy with it. Nice st..."

Thank you Lynn! I enjoyed Cranford very much! It's a bit Jane Austenesque if I had to compare. I hope you get to it this year. You won't be disappointed.

[Lori]

Bob wrote: "Great start, i agree Gone with the Wind is excellent. Twenty-three days I sympathize, I'm on my 25th day reading War and Peace, and still shy of half way, but it's worth it."

Wow, Bob! Keep it up and you'll get there!! It's good to hear that it's worth reading. Is it a difficult read? I thought GWTW was very easy to read and I wanted to see what was going to happen next every day. I was also able to read several short stories and shorter novels at the same time with no trouble. Usually I'm no good at that. GR has taught me well!

[Lori]

Veronique wrote: "Congrats on Gone with the Wind! It’s one I also want to try but haven’t, yet :O)"

Thank you Veronique! I'll tell you what encouraged me to read it now: I found a beautiful new copy with nice big pages. It was less than 1,000 and made reading it easy and fun!
I hope you find some inspiration to read it! Well worth it!!!

[Susie]

Great book and accomplishment to start the new year!

[Sara]

What an amazing start for your Bingo, Lori!
It's great to know that you too enjoyed Gone with the Wind so much, it's such an excellent book.

Personally, I still have to read Cranford as my library copy arrived only very recently, but it seems I won't be disappointed given all the positive feedbacks I've read on the group so far :)

[Philina]

23 days is totally fine, Lori, it's a HUGE book! So congratulations!

[Lori]

Susie wrote: "Great book and accomplishment to start the new year!"

Thank you!! I'm very pleased!!!

[Lori]

Philina wrote: "23 days is totally fine, Lori, it's a HUGE book! So congratulations!"

Thanks, Philina! Now I feel like I can take on more longer reads!

[Lori]

Sara Ⓥ wrote: "What an amazing start for your Bingo, Lori!
It's great to know that you too enjoyed Gone with the Wind so much, it's such an excellent book.

Personally, I still have to read Cranford as my librar..."

Cranford was so good! I do hope you enjoy it!

[Lori]

Finished another read and it wasn't my planned one but it fits perfectly into the N2: History or Historical Fiction category.

My first read of an Ernest J. Gaines novel. The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman was just fabulous. Inspiring and very realistic portrayal of a fictional character.

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

[Sara, New School Classics]

I remember this movie from back in the 70s, Lori. I really need to read the book.

[Carolien]

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is definitely going on my TBR. It looks so interesting. Lovely review!

[Lori]

Sara wrote: "I remember this movie from back in the 70s, Lori. I really need to read the book."

Yes, you do, Sara and I will need to find the movie to watch now! I hope it's as good as the book!

[Lori]

Carolien wrote: "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is definitely going on my TBR. It looks so interesting. Lovely review!"

Oh, I'm so glad you added this Carolien. It's a very powerful story.

[Lori]

I have read and finished A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams with the group and really enjoyed the discussions we had. Still not too late to join in for anyone who still wants to read it! So much to talk about in such a short play.

I think I will put this read under I5 Author new to me since this is my first by Tennessee Williams. I still really want to get to The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. I'm finding that there are group reads I really want to read and that I can use them in my challenges so my planned read gets put off a little longer.

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

[Sara, New School Classics]

Streetcar is a marvelous play and I can see how it would spark a lively discussion. I sympathize with the planned reads getting pushed back. Seems to happen to me constantly.

[Lori]

Sara wrote: "Streetcar is a marvelous play and I can see how it would spark a lively discussion. I sympathize with the planned reads getting pushed back. Seems to happen to me constantly."

I guess it's a good problem to have! Gotta look at it in a positive way, I suppose!

[Kathleen]

You found a good spot for Streetcar, Lori! It was my first time reading Williams too, but won't be the last for either of us I'm sure. :-)

[Lori]

Kathleen wrote: "You found a good spot for Streetcar, Lori! It was my first time reading Williams too, but won't be the last for either of us I'm sure. :-)"

I'll definitely read more Williams, Kathleen. It'd be great with a group!

[Carolien]

Lori wrote: "I have read and finished A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams with the group and really enjoyed the discussions we had. Still not too late to join in for anyone..."

I love The Enchanted April, hope you enjoy it too!

[Lori]

Carolien wrote: "Lori wrote: "I have read and finished A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams with the group and really enjoyed the discussions we had. Still not too late to join ..."

Carolien,

I will look forward to getting to it still sometime this year!

[Lori]

Finished G4 Book Published in the 20th Century (could have put it in pulitzer but I really want to read Lonesome Dove for that!)

I have had this on my shelf waiting for some time now and so glad to have read it finally. I enjoyed Wharton's style and her portrayal of Newland.

4 stars

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

[Sara]

Amazing progress, Lori! You're really going great :)

[Veronique]

Great reviews!
You’re all singing the praises of Streetcar.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Wharton is a true favorite, enjoyed your review,

[Sid_rw]

Bob wrote: "Wharton is a true favorite, enjoyed your review,"

I'll second that, Bob, she's one of my favourite writers too!

[Lori]

Bob wrote: "Wharton is a true favorite, enjoyed your review,"

Thanks, Bob and Sid!

[Terry]

Oh yes, let’s read more Wharton!

[Lori]

Finished B3 square Booker Prize winner

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

3 stars

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

[Lori]

B1 Book from our Group's Shelf Prior to 2021
Stoner by John Williams

I've completed another wonderful 5 star read for this square. I have to thank my GR friends who've read this and rated it so highly which encouraged me to read it as well. This is such a heartbreaking story of a very quiet, contemplative, principled man that many write off as a huge failure. He is nothing like that at all. This one left me tearing up throughout and when I read the final chapter especially. I highly recommend it!

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

[Terry]

Isn’t it wonderful to read a book which makes such a lasting impression? And another Bingo square checked off!

[Sara, New School Classics]

So glad you read and loved Stoner. A marvelous novel and such a quiet masterpiece.

[Sara]

Couldn't agree more with Sara regarding Stoner. It's one of my all-time favourites as well and I'm really glad that you loved it so much too, Lori!

[Lori]

Thank you everyone!! So glad I chose to read it!!!!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

If it wasn't for friends on Goodreads, I would never picked up Stoner and would have missed out an excellent read. Glad you liked it

[Lori]

Bob wrote: "If it wasn't for friends on Goodreads, I would never picked up Stoner and would have missed out an excellent read. Glad you liked it"

Exactly the same sentiments, Bob. I'm thankful for GT friends and for the wonderful books I find through them!!

[Lori]

I finished B4 Classic Romance with a 5 star rating!! Had I known it was a Nobel Prize winner, I would have put it in that category. But I'll stick with where it is. I loved this novel and can understand why some don't finish it. But it is worth it to go slow and take it all in. In my opinion, you don't have to understand everything or try to keep track of the many, many characters to enjoy it.

Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One more B until I get my first Bingo.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I see you have Tess of the D'Urbervilles slated for your final "B". I do so love Hardy! Looking forward to your thoughts. The B category for Bingo was certainly a marvelous set of reads for you.

[Lori]

I'm definitely looking forward to Tess and I think it may win the poll for June so that would be awesome!!!

[Sara, New School Classics]

You should really enjoy that group read. Wish I had the time to "revisit" but I just don't.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

It did win Lori! I may try to read it to. There are so many books on my list right now, though.

[Lori]

Yay, Lynn! I look forward to reading Tess with the group!!
I hear you, my list for June is looking really long but great and there will be others to add that I don't even know about. But first, May.....

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Lori, for me me Tess was spectacular. Both New and Old school poll winners are books I think are great and if time would allow I would reread them, even though both were recent reads for me. Enjoy!!