Ila's classic buffet 2023

[Kathleen]

Ila wrote: "Well atleast I now know that the next read will be great."

Ha. I love this--a pattern! And we appreciate hearing about the good and the bad of course. I'm with you on overly-creative styles and unreadable layouts. Why make reading miserable?

[Lori]

You're going to finish your challenges in no time, Ila! Sorry you've had a dud. I hope your next one IS a great one!

I may have to steal your Mythology category idea. I read Circe and haven't even looked at possible pairings so maybe the Stephen Fry....

[Ila]

Wobbley wrote: "I'm so impressed by how much progress you are making in your Old and New Challenge! I'm only 2 books into mine..."

Thanks, Wobbley! I hope you'll make good progress on your Old and New challenge too.

[Ila]

Kathleen wrote: "Ila wrote: "Well atleast I now know that the next read will be great."

Ha. I love this--a pattern! And we appreciate hearing about the good and the bad of course. I'm with you on overly-creative s..."

Well said. Let the process of reading be as joyful and painless as possible.

[Ila]

Lori wrote: "You're going to finish your challenges in no time, Ila! Sorry you've had a dud. I hope your next one IS a great one!

I may have to steal your Mythology category idea. I read Circe and haven't eve..."

Thanks, Lori! Steal away, I heard that Stephen Fry is good at explaining the essence of the myth, so I figured he'd be a great addition.

[Ila]

And I was proven right!

Just finished with The Swedish Cavalier and loved it. Definitely one of my favourites so far. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I enjoyed your review. This is an add to my TBR, thanks.

[Ila]

Bob wrote: "I enjoyed your review. This is an add to my TBR, thanks."

Thanks, Bob!

[Ila]

Finished Flower of Iowa and loved it. I was in tears by the end but then war novels are that way. Another favorite read for this year.

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

[Ila]

Just finished Strange Fruit. Solid 3.5 stars. A gut-wrenching depiction of a lynching in the Deep South in the 1920s. Highlights the ugly racism and cruelty of the times. I'm especially not surprised that the book was banned for decades.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I rated Strange Fruit a little higher. I found it to be extremely powerful. Ms. Smith writing was influential and emotionally moving, I 'm glad you liked it.

[Ila]

Hurrah! I've completed the Authors New to Me challenge.

Finished The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 1: The Golden Days. I call this one of the most important novels I've ever read and boy am I hooked on the series. After avoiding it for so long, I am glad to have finally read it. Already deep into the second one.

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

[Wobbley]

Ila wrote: "Finished The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 1: The Golden Days."

I'm so glad to hear this! This has been on my list for a long time too, and I've been a bit intimidated about starting. I'm happy to hear about someone who is enjoying it so much. Which translation are you reading?

[Kathleen]

Congrats, Ila! Two five star reads in this challenge is great, and glad to hear you continue to enjoy the series. I'm moving this up my list. :-)

[Ila]

Wobbley wrote: "Ila wrote: "Finished The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 1: The Golden Days."

I'm so glad to hear this! This has been on my list for a long time too, and I'..."

I totally get the feeling, Wobbley. The David Hawkes translation is the best in my opinion. He not only explains key concepts about Chinese culture and Xueqin's family but also translates the poems and epigraphs in such a way that they often rhyme in English, a feat in itself.

[Wobbley]

Ila wrote: "The David Hawkes translation is the best in my opinion."

Thanks so much for the recommendation!

[Ila]

Finished Jud Süß. One of the most conflicting and disturbing books I've read. Really exposes the underbelly of historical antisemitism in a way you cannot ignore.

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

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Enjoyed your review, this is one to ponder.

[Ila]

Bob wrote: "Enjoyed your review, this is one to ponder."

Thanks, Bob!

[Ila]

Finished The Conquest of Plassans by one of my favorite authors Émile Zola. Zola really drives home his message painfully here. Solid 4 stars.

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

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Another great review. I have only read one by Zola. I remember it was really good.

[Kathleen]

I enjoyed your review too, Ila. I've yet to read Zola, but am sure it won't be long now!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Zola is also on my list of unread authors I must get to. I had intended to start with The Fortune of the Rougons, and you have made me feel that might be a good choice.

[Ila]

Bob wrote: "Another great review. I have only read one by Zola. I remember it was really good."

Thanks, Bob!

[Ila]

Kathleen wrote: "I enjoyed your review too, Ila. I've yet to read Zola, but am sure it won't be long now!"

Thanks, Kathleen! Hope you like Zola.

[Ila]

Sara wrote: "Zola is also on my list of unread authors I must get to. I had intended to start with The Fortune of the Rougons, and you have made me feel that might be a good choice."

The Fortune of the Rougons is a good book to get into Zola. I did so too since Therese Raquin (the book most people start as an introduction to Zola) is not his best work.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Thank you, Ila! I had Therese Raquin as the other Zola on my list--I will definitely start with The Fortune of the Rougons now.

[Ila]

Finished Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de' Medici. Well-deserved 4 stars. It's always interesting to read something bout the Italian Renaissance.

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

[Wobbley]

Wow -- you're almost done your Old and New Challenge. I'm so impressed!

[Ila]

Wobbley wrote: "Wow -- you're almost done your Old and New Challenge. I'm so impressed!"

Thanks, Wobbley!

[Kathleen]

Magnifico sounds great, Ila! Congrats on your progress.

[Ila]

Kathleen wrote: "Magnifico sounds great, Ila! Congrats on your progress."

Thanks, Kathleen!

[Ila]

I'm back after a long hiatus! This semester was really hard and am proud to have successfully borne it.

Finished They Were Found Wanting by Miklós Bánffy. This felt like a rehash of part 1 of the trilogy, hence the low rating. I don't think I'll finish the trilogy, but reading They Were Counted is really worth it and I'd recommend it to everyone.

[Kathleen]

So glad to see you back, Ila, and congrats on completing a rough term! I'm hoping to get to They Were Counted before too long.

[Wobbley]

I'd never even heard of They Were Counted -- thanks for introducing this book to me.

Well done on your progress!

[Ila]

Kathleen wrote: "So glad to see you back, Ila, and congrats on completing a rough term! I'm hoping to get to They Were Counted before too long."

Thanks, Kathleen! Hope you like it.

[Ila]

Wobbley wrote: "I'd never even heard of They Were Counted -- thanks for introducing this book to me.

Well done on your progress!"

Thanks, Wobbley! Reading translated literature can be fun.

[Ila]

Finished A Harlot High and Low by Honoré de Balzac. 3 stars. I love Balzac's writing and parts of the book were a pleasure to read but I was irritated by Esther (and her lack of a personality in general).

With this, the Old and New Challenge is finished! Happy that I could finish it this year. Only The Agony and the Ecstasy left to finish the buffet.

[Wobbley]

Well done -- you're so close! And especially well done for finishing New and Old TBR, that one is so hard!

[Kathleen]

The Agony and the Ecstasy will be quite a way to finish out the year! Bravo on finishing the Old and New--always an accomplishment.

[Ila]

Wobbley wrote: "Well done -- you're so close! And especially well done for finishing New and Old TBR, that one is so hard!"

Thanks, Wobbley! I wasn't able to finish the Old and New challenge last year, so I'm really happy this time.

[Ila]

Kathleen wrote: "The Agony and the Ecstasy will be quite a way to finish out the year! Bravo on finishing the Old and New--always an accomplishment."

Thanks, Kathleen!

[Terris]

Congratulations, Ila! I have only finished the Old/New Challenge once! And this year is not one of them!! So I am jealous ;)

I hope you enjoy The Agony and the Ecstasy -- it's a good one :)

[Ila]

Terris wrote: "Congratulations, Ila! I have only finished the Old/New Challenge once! And this year is not one of them!! So I am jealous ;)

I hope you enjoy The Agony and the Ecstasy -- it's a good one :)"

Thanks, Terris!

[Ila]

I had to dnf The Agony and the Ecstasy because of the sheer amount of infodumps. Michelangelo seemed like a distant figure and never felt real. Add the one-dimensional portrayal of the Borgias and this was disastrous. I think a nonfiction book would have been better at handling it all.

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

I did it! I finally managed to finish all my challenges this year and it's the first time I've done so. It's been great guys. Thanks for your help and motivation. Cheers!

[Janelle]

Congrats on completing your challenges Ila!! 🎉🎉

[Kathleen]

You finished them all, and early! Bravo, Ila!

[Wobbley]

Wow, well done Ila!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Bravo, Ila.