Lori's First Ever 2021 BINGO Challenge

[Veronique]

Lori wrote: "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 under..."

Wow! That’s a great review! Making me reconsider reading that title.

[Lori]

Veronique wrote: "Lori wrote: "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 ..."

Thank you so much, Veronique! It was remarkable! I do hope you consider reading it.

[Lori]

Bob wrote: "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!!"

Thanks Bob! I am definitely excited about reading Tess. I am hearing nothing but great things from others like you!

[Lori]

Completed I4 Book Published in the 19th Century

Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens

I loved it and look forward to my next Dickens long read! I don't know if I'll get another in this year as I don't have one planned, but you never know!

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

[Sara, New School Classics]

I'm going to squeeze The Old Curiosity Shop in before year end. Can't wait for Bleak House.

[Lori]

G1 Classic Female Author

I am going to use the group read of Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell for this category. 4 Stars

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

[Sara, New School Classics]

Congrats, Lori.

[Lori]

I1 - Classic Adventure completed. I've decided to use my buddy read book The Big Sky by A.B. Guthrie Jr. for this square. It fits perfectly being an adventure story of young Boone Caudill who leaves Kentucky and makes his way up the Missouri River to the mountains and valleys of the west. He's a savage at heart and learns the ways of living a completely wild life as a mountain man, fighting Indians, killing buffalo, taking scalps. I've now read the first two of this 6 book series and look forward to the 3rd, Fair Land, Fair Land later this month.

My review:

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

[Sue]

Congratulations on another square checked off Lori. I'm excited for Fair, Fair Land too.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Perfect fit for this square. You are making good progress.

[Lori]

O3 - Pulitzer Prize winner

I have been waiting all year to get to this book so I can complete this category even though I've already read 3 or 4 other Pulitzer winners this year. I wanted Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry to the the book I read here. Amazing characters - two of the most iconic male characters every created are in this book. I loved it and want to start all over and read it again!

My 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Laurie]

Lori wrote: "O3 - Pulitzer Prize winner

I have been waiting all year to get to this book so I can complete this category even though I've already read 3 or 4 other Pulitzer winners this year. I wanted [book:Lo..."

Good to see that you loved Lonesome Dove! It is one of my all time favorite books.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I finished my re-read today and need to write my review before I read yours. One of the best books ever written and you are so right about the iconic characters. Feel like people you actually know, don't they!

[Lori]

Laurie wrote: "Lori wrote: "O3 - Pulitzer Prize winner

I have been waiting all year to get to this book so I can complete this category even though I've already read 3 or 4 other Pulitzer winners this year. I wa..."

Thanks Laurie! You are not alone in this being your favorite. It's certainly a fantastic favorite to have. It will definitely be in my top 5.

[Lori]

Sara wrote: "I finished my re-read today and need to write my review before I read yours. One of the best books ever written and you are so right about the iconic characters. Feel like people you actually know,..."

I so hope it was everything this time around. I hope that when I re-read it, I can appreciate it even more. I look forward to reading your review, Sara.

[Kathleen]

You're doing great on this challenge, Lori. Look at all of those stars! :-)

[Lori]

Finally have my first bingo with the B's!!!! Finished B5 Classic of Europe with Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.

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


I also completed G2 Book published in 18th century with Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe.

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

[Janelle]

Congrats Lori!

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

I am glad you enjoyed Tess and Moll Flanders. Very nice reviews. I think Moll Flanders in particular is difficult to review. There are so many ups, downs, twists and turns. Nice job.

[Lori]

Thanks Janelle and Lynn. It seems like it's taken forever to get the first Bingo. I'm trying to focus this month on my challenge reads, so maybe it will go quicker now.

Lynn, I agree, Moll was not very easy to review but it was definitely a worthwhile read. Lots of interesting discussion as I followed along in the thread.

[Terry]

Congrats, Lori! 🎉. When are you planning to read The Good Earth? We could do a Buddy read, if you’re up to it.

[Lori]

Thanks Terry! Honestly, I go through my lists each month and choose what sounds good for that month. I've not determined when to read The Good Earth, but would love to read it with you in a buddy read. I'm open to any time in the fall. What do you think?

[Terry]

How about mid-September? Is that too soon?

[Lori]

Not at all. It gives me a definite plan! Sounds great!

[Terry]

Okay, that sounds great. I will ask Katy to set up a Buddy Read for us and maybe some others will join.

[Lori]

That would be awesome, Terry! Thanks so much!

[Connie]

Congratulations on your bingo, Lori!

[Liesl]

Congratulations on your bingo.

[Lori]

Thank you very much, Connie and Liesl!

[Kathleen]

Doing great, Lori. Congrats!

[Sara, New School Classics]

There you go, Lori...now you are off to the races and will be bingoing all the time.

[Veronique]

Congrats on your bingo. Great reviews too!

I may join you for The Good Earth. I grew up reading Pearl S. Buck. Weirdly she is (was?) very famous in French speaking countries, much more than here in the UK. No idea why.

[Lori]

Thanks Kathleen, Sara & Veronique! I'm so happy to get the first one and can't wait to get the next one!

Veronique - I sure hope you join in the buddy read for The Good Earth.

[Lori]

Adding two more and both are 5 star reads! How lucky is that!

Thanks to Anne and Sara for directing me to A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. I loved this story so much and thought it was so well done. Such a complex yet impactful story.
This will now fill my N3 category for Reader's Choice!

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

Next is my 04 block for Book in Translation.
I read All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. It was a wow read, one that everyone should put on their lists. I watched the movie version with Ernest Borgnine last weekend. It also had the actor who played John Boy in the Walton's. He did a good job playing the part, but I couldn't get the Walton's out of my head.

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

[Sara, New School Classics]

Just a heads-up, Lori, that the second link takes you to A Town Like Alice review instead of All Quiet. So glad you enjoyed both these terrific books. You are having a great reading year! And, congratulations on checking off two more squares.

BTW, I cannot really imagine John Boy in that role. I think I might be glad I didn't seek out the movie.

[Lori]

Thanks Sara for the heads up, I'll see about fixing that.

I am really enjoying my reading this year thanks to so many great recommendations!

[Lori]

I'll add my review of All Quiet here as well since I made the mistake in the earlier post. It's fixed there and here as well.

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

[Lori]

Another category finished: N5 Newbery Medal winner

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

A fantastic read and one I did with my boys so many years ago when we briefly homeschooled. Speare is a brilliant children's author.

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

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

You have read some wonderful books this year, several are on my favorite list.

[Lori]

Thanks Bob! This group and challenge has given me the opportunity to read so many wonderful books!!

[Lori]

7 more to go for blackout after completing O2 - Classic Mystery.

I read the original sensation novel for this.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

This was my first novel by Wilkie Collins and I definitely plan to read more. The Moonstone will be next one.

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

[Sara, New School Classics]

Way to go, Lori! So happy you are reading Collins...you've got a lot of good books in front of you.

[Veronique]

Great review! Marion is everyone’s favourite :0) I’m so happy you enjoyed it. This book is one of my all time favourites. The Moonstone is great too but different.

[Lori]

Thanks so much Sara and Veronique! I have definitely had a great reading year so far and hope to continue the trend!

[Lori]

2 more completed with a BINGO on the O's and one diagonal BINGO. Getting closer! I'm working on my satire and nonfiction reads now.

I3 Classic Short Story Collection
The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers
4.5 stars I loved this collection and I love McCullers.


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

O1 Classic of Africa
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
3 stars and not my favorite read but one more finished!


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

[Sara, New School Classics]

Bravo, Lori. Close, indeed.

[Kathleen]

So glad you enjoyed the McCullers, Lori. It won't be long now!

[Lori]

Thanks Sara and Kathleen! I'm getting excited to complete it!

[Terry]

So close! Breakfast of Champions and Look Homeward Angel are both on my TBR, Lori. We could do a Buddy Read but I would need to get one or the other.

[Lori]

Terry, are we still buddy reading The Good Earth? It’s on the schedule for Sept but I don’t know what to do next.

I am actually reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court right now instead of Breakfast of Champions for satire. I gave Vonnegut a try but wasn’t feeling but I didn’t log it as a dnf.


Look Homeward would be a great buddy read. Maybe in October?