Matt's 10 Trips to the Buffet in 2024

[Lynn]

Matt wrote: "Challenge #15 - A-Z Author

On this challenge, I've added myself a twist to try get back to reading more of my favorite genre - fantasy or epic fantasy authors. I can't have a fantasy list without ..."

I find the A-Z lists so hard. You've done a great job with Fantasy Authors. It looks fun. Ursula K. Le Guin and Roger Zelazny are authors I am always interested in reading.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Oh, goodness, now you have made me hungry for French fries, Matt. 🍟

Planning can be half the fun. Best of luck next year.

[Ila]

The French challenge looks great, Matt! I'm reading Swann's Way this year too. Hope we can share notes on that one. All the best.

[Wobbley]

Wow, the A-Z challenges are so difficult, and yours is already planned out. Enjoy!

[Lori]

Wow, Matt! I’ve never tried the A-Z challenges- they are so intimidating to me. Best of luck to you!

[Kathleen]

You are such an inspiration, Matt. This year, Shakespeare, next year, an entirely French Old and New challenge! Wow.

These look so fun. I have a soft spot for The Once and Future King, so I'll look forward to seeing if you get to that one.

Enjoy!

[Terris]

Wow! A lot of nice lists there, Matt! You're making me hungry! haha!

I see that you have "Mysterious Island" on your Old/New Challenge. That was my very favorite of his! It has really stayed with me. I hope you enjoy it :)

Happy Reading in 2024! I'll be looking for some good recommendations from you!

[JenniferAustin]

Oh, Matt, this is so inspiring! I am excited about your lists, and off to think more about mine!

Happy Reading! Enjoy!

[Terris]

Matt wrote: "Terris wrote: "Wow! A lot of nice lists there, Matt! You're making me hungry! haha!

I see that you have "Mysterious Island" on your Old/New Challenge. That was my very favorite of his! It has real..."

Matt, you've just blown my mind! I did not know that Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was BOOK #2 of a three book series! AND I didn't know that Mysterious Island was the sequel to Twenty Thousand Leagues!! Now I'm going to have to go back and read Book #1 In Search of the Castaways; or the Children of Captain Grant! I've never even heard of it. It must not have been very popular ;)
Thanks for the info!!

[Shaina]

I love the French Fried theme, Matt! I love Verne and read one book by him every year. You also have my all-time favourite The Count of Monte Cristo.

Lots of great books on your list that I have read of plan to read and I look forward to seeing your thoughts on them.

[Carolien]

Love the French themed Old and New, Matt. Look forward to your thoughts on some of them!

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

What great books you have once again chosen this year, Matt! And I am absolutely in love with your French Fried New & Old choices! Most of your books fall into two categories with me: Read and Want to Read. So I can't wait to see what you think of your choices.

Happy reading!

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Matt wrote: "I wish I had room for Les Misérables but I have already read it and it is awfully long..."

I felt the same way, Matt, when I saw that a Buddy Read was forming in 2024. Even with the year-long schedule, I still don't think I could fit it in my schedule.

[Veronica]

Good luck with your challenge Matt! You have some great books listed.

[Regina]

The one good/bad thing about reading everyone’s lists is that I keep finding more and more books to read. Good luck with your challenges, Matt!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Wow! You have both A-Z challenges fully planned. I have only been successful once. Looks like you have a good year ahead. How about them dawgs.

[Lynn]

LOL your ten trips sounds like my husband. He is never so happy as when he has multiple plates in front of him at a restaurant.

[Rora]

Matt wrote: "Challenge #15 - A-Z Author

On this challenge, I've added myself a twist to try get back to reading more of my favorite genre - fantasy or epic fantasy authors."

Great list Matt. For many years I read mainly fantasy books.

[Wobbley]

It sounds like you've made a lot of progress! What have been the highlights for you so far?

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Matt, I agree this has been a great start. I'm reading more than normal, and the variety has been good. I am hitting the short stories hard, 15 to date. I hope the rest of the year continues as good.

[Kathleen]

You're doing great, Matt, and I like your philosophy on the challenges leading to mood reading. Keep enjoying!

[Terris]

Great job, Matt! I'm glad to hear you say you were doing more "mood" reading and that it felt liberating. That's what I'm going for!
You've given me inspiration that I can do that, too! :)

[Veronique]

Nice progress!
Wouldn’t mind getting to 11.22.63 too.

[Wobbley]

Hmm, I bet you'll get a lot of conflicting opinions on that one. I personally preferred The Count of Monte Cristo, but both are good books.

Well done with the ones you've finished so far -- you're ahead of schedule!

[Shaina]

Matt, I loved The Count, so I'm biased, but the 1000 pages flew by, and I still wanted more...

[Terris]

I definitely preferred The Count of Monte Cristo! Also, I am a lover of Dickens, but The Tale of Two Cities was not one of my favorites of his (though, I'm sure others disagree with me). I say Read "The Count"! ;)

[Wobbley]

I'll just add that, unless you read it in French, your experience with The Count of Monte Cristo will likely vary quite a bit depending on which translation you read. I read the English translation by Robin Buss, and I highly recommend it -- very engaging.

[Kathleen]

I haven't read The Count, but am loving A Tale of Two Cities so far. Congrats on your progress, and good luck with your decision!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Matt, I'm not going to be much help. But I read The Count of Monte Cristo in 16 days, rated it 5 stars, and list it as one of my favorites. I read Two Cities in 7 days and rated it 4.5 stars. Both are truly classics and really great reads. I agree with Shaina, Monte Cristo seems to fly, a true page turner. I was surprised to look back an see it took so many days, it felt much faster. Unless, you have serious time limits, toss a coin and read the winner. You won't lose either way it lands.

[Wobbley]

It sounds like you're making great progress. Well done on the 5-star reads!

[Terris]

I read The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, Matt. I think you'll really enjoy it!

You're reading some great books. Glad you're enjoying yourself :)

[Kathleen]

Your Paris pair sounds wonderful, and happy anniversary, Matt!

[Veronique]

Happy GR anniversary :O)

I’ve been toying with re-reading Monte Cristo for a while. Everyone does say it is a very quick and engrossing read. Hope you enjoy it.

[Wobbley]

Wow, so many huge classics on the go. I've not yet read Don Quixote, but I really enjoyed Monte Cristo and War and Peace (although War and Peace took me one and a half tries -- I threw it away in disgust halfway through my first reading when my favourite couple broke up, haha). Good luck with your VERY ambitious reading!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I have yet to get to Don Quixote, but Monte Cristo and W&P are great. Good reads, lots of pages, enjoy.

[Shaina]

I really hope you like Monte Cristo and Don Quixote. I enjoyed them both.

[Rora]

I just started The Count of Monte Cristo, another one of those classic books that I somehow never read. So far I'm enjoying it, hope you are too Matt. : )

[Lynn]

Matt wrote: "After a mid-year assessment of my reading challenges, I realized I’ll need to postpone my A-Z author reading challenge. This will allow me to focus on other challenges I have set up for myself this..."

It's good to reassess. Make it fun for you. You've read quite a lot already.

I really liked The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg.
I nominated it a couple of times, but it didn't win yet.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Just catching up on a lot of missed posts, Matt. Congrats on all your marvelous progress. Hope you read and enjoyed The Count of Monte Cristo. It is a personal favorite of mine.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I fully agree on the timing element. It can be like reading a completely different book--and it can swing both ways.

[Wobbley]

Bravo! What did you think of The Count of Monte Cristo? Was it worth the investment for you?

[Sara, New School Classics]

So very happy that you gave The Count 5-stars!

[Kathleen]

You give such good advice in your review, Matt, to have patience with these books. So glad you enjoyed it! Maybe I'll fit it in next year.

[Wobbley]

Matt wrote: "Thanks Wobbley! Yes - The Count of Monte Cristo was wonderful. 5 stars. Worth the effort."

Yay! Glad to hear it.

[Terris]

Matt wrote: "Just finished The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas for my Old & New.

Phew!. That was a big hurdle in my reading year and now am motivated to finish up the Ol..."

I'm so glad you loved it, Matt! I thought you would! I read it in high school and it has been at the top of my favorites list ever since! Yay for another lover of "The Count"!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Great progress, Matt. I think the Old and New is one of the harder challenges to complete, so congrats on whittling it away!

[Terris]

You're moving right along, Matt! I'm glad you enjoyed Madam Bovary and Germinal, but The Mysterious Island is one of my very favorites of Verne's! I love all the problem-solving (BTW, have you read The Swiss Family Robinson? It has a lot of problem-solving, too, and is fun!).
I'm also trying to finish my Old/New Challenge. So, we'll just have to keep reading and be glad that there are 3 1/2 months left to do it in ;)

[Terris]

Matt wrote: "Terris wrote: "You're moving right along, Matt! I'm glad you enjoyed Madam Bovary and Germinal, but The Mysterious Island is one of my very favorites of Verne's! I love all the problem-solving (BTW..."

The Disney movie was entertaining, but I think you'd really enjoy reading the book. It also tells why the author wrote the book (to entertain his sons). I think you'd really like it :)

[Wobbley]

Wow, you've made such great progress in your Old & New TBR challenge. I'm really glad to hear you're getting a lot out of it too!

[Wobbley]

Wow, three door-stoppers in a row is a lot of commitment. Well done! And it's great that you enjoyed them all too.