Sara's 2024 Another Year of Gluttony

[Wobbley]

Yup, the most important thing is to enjoy your reading -- that's the best feeling! :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Wobbley wrote: "Yup, the most important thing is to enjoy your reading -- that's the best feeling! :)"

This time of the year, when I feel myself falling behind, I have to remind myself of that repeatedly, Wobbley.

[Annette]

It is not a competition. We're all here because we like to read and find recommendations for more good books! And along the way, we make some friends :) I'm so glad I joined this group!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Annette wrote: "It is not a competition. We're all here because we like to read and find recommendations for more good books! And along the way, we make some friends :) I'm so glad I joined this group!"

Completely agree. I tend to compete with myself, however...seeing how many I can finish. Personality flaw.

I am also delighted that you are in the group, Annette. You are a valued friend.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Oh we are so much alike! I will never give up the challenges, but I hope I can discipline myself to only do a few and give myself a chance to read all those books I have already bought and cannot g..."

Yes, we are alike! I will not give up challenges, I learned my NetGalley lesson (as you say you did!), and I need to read 94 Kindle books, and around 30 physical books on my shelf-- less than you only because I do not keep physical books after I read them -- just my very favorites! I do mostly library books. But, though I have less physical books, I have tons of lists that I read from! I should probably go through those and do some clean-up!

Our motto for next year will be to do fewer challenges and read books that we really want to read AND that we already own! Sounds good to me!

And good to know there are other readers like me. I don't know anyone in my town who reads like I do (planning and setting goals, etc.), and this group makes me feel normal! You are my people :)

[Wobbley]

You are in good company, Terris. If you're not normal, none of us are! :)

[Terris]

Wobbley wrote: "You are in good company, Terris. If you're not normal, none of us are! :)"

Thanks, Wobbley!! ;)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

LOL. Couldn't help thinking maybe none of us are. But, it is very nice to have the company.

[Kathleen]

I think you may be right, Sara, but I agree with all of you how nice it is to come here and not feel so alone! I also think the way you protect those last two months of the year is inspirational. I know I won't do it this year, but maybe I can work up to it, or some version of it. :-)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

It is the first year of "protection" for me, Kathleen. I get so frustrated by the time we get to the end of the year and I'm trying to juggle so much and finish up challenges. I decided November and December needed to be calm months for me...so, October is the end of obligation. I'm hoping it works as I think it will and I will be reading things I love and Christmas stories and feeling Zen.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "It is the first year of "protection" for me, Kathleen. I get so frustrated by the time we get to the end of the year and I'm trying to juggle so much and finish up challenges. I decided November an..."

I'm feeling calmer already -- thinking about you and your "protection" months. Hope I can do something similar :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I have now finished My Family and Other Animals and The King Must Die, a pair of books set in Greece and a completion for the Fiction/Non-Fiction Challenge. Mary Renault is also a new author for me. I enjoyed both of these books, but strolling the island of Corfu with Gerald Durrell beat out leaping bulls with Theseus in Crete.

[Wobbley]

Well done Sara! I feel like I've heard a few people in the group speak well of "My Family and Other Animals".

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I watched The Durrells in Corfu on Masterpiece a few years back, Wobbley and have wanted to read it since. It is the first book in a trilogy and I enjoyed it enough to add the others.

[Annette]

I love My Family & Other Animals! I've given away then replaced my copy multiple times.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

It is that kind of book, Annette...the kind you want to share with someone else. I smiled through the entire read.

[Annette]

It is nice to be able to say -- "Here's a great book that you might like. You can take my copy."

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Yes, it is, and books are meant to be read!

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "Thanks, Terris, that little voice of sanity is always good to hear. I am determined to have the last two months stress free. NO Challenges, so whatever I don't get done in the next two..."

I am going to comment on the idea of the "socialness" of the challenges. That's a good way to put it. You're absolutely right about the fun social interaction we get. I like to encourage and be encouraged. Knowing that there are people I like out there paying attention really helps me to stay focused. I know I read more in quantity and better quality books thanks to this support group.

[Terris]

Lynn wrote: "Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "Thanks, Terris, that little voice of sanity is always good to hear. I am determined to have the last two months stress free. NO Challenges, so whatever I don't get done ..."

Hear! Hear!

[Wobbley]

Lynn wrote: "I know I read more in quantity and better quality books thanks to this support group."

I couldn't have phrased it better!

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "I have now finished My Family and Other Animals and The King Must Die, a pair of books set in Greece and a completion for the Fiction/Non-Fiction Challenge. [author:Mar..."

These two make an interesting pair--so different! You've done an excellent job on your buffet, Sara. Some amazing reading.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Lynn wrote: "I am going to comment on the idea of the "socialness" of the challenges. That's a good way to put it. You're absolutely right about the fun social interaction we get."

Exactly how I feel, Lynn. And, I can never say often enough how many great books I have found through my friends when we are all scrambling to fill in the challenge boxes.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "Sara wrote: "I have now finished My Family and Other Animals and The King Must Die, a pair of books set in Greece and a completion for the Fiction/Non-Fiction Challenge..."

I find this challenge interesting because it makes me think of how books, that I might otherwise see no connection in, relate to one another.

[Teri-K]

Sara, for some reason I just saw your 100 Years Before Me challenge. I love that idea! I might borrow/swipe that from you to try myself, if you don't mind. It sounds like a fun, long-term challenge.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Please do, Teri. It has been a long challenge for me, but I have read some great books and it has been fun. Unfortunately, it is probably going over to one more year for me. Let me know if you want me to set up a thread for you in Personal Challenges, or feel free to set one up for yourself. Good luck.

[Teri-K]

Sara wrote: "Please do, Teri. It has been a long challenge for me, but I have read some great books and it has been fun. Unfortunately, it is probably going over to one more year for me. Let me know if you want..."

Thanks! I'll probably put it, or something like it, on my Personal Book Club Thread. I've been feeling ready to make some changes there. I'm sure it will take me multiple years to complete, but that's fine with me.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Read Absalom and Achitophel, which brings my Millennium with a Twist to four. That is as close as I am likely to get to finishing that one. Still, I enjoyed re-reading this poem and remembering how much I enjoyed my college course that included it. Here's to Dr. Elliott, long gone but never forgotten.

[Wobbley]

Yeah, the Half Millennium with a Twist is a tough one, especially as you go further back in time.

I too have a handful of terrific teachers who have persisted in my memory through the years. We're lucky to have had teachers like these!

Great progress!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Thanks, Wobbley.

I start with good intentions, but I always seem to put the harder slots to fill off until the end.

I must say I was blessed with a bevy of great teachers, all of whom inspired my reading and helped shape who I am.

[Ila]

Sara wrote: "Thanks, Wobbley.

I start with good intentions, but I always seem to put the harder slots to fill off until the end.

I must say I was blessed with a bevy of great teachers, all of whom inspired m..."

Guilty as charged of this. I still haven't started Swann's Way or The Mirror of Beauty, the heaviest books on my challenge and keep putting them off.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Can so relate, Ila! I thought I would definitely read Swann's Way when it was a group pick, but no. We can only read so much, though, and at least we were reading something.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

With only one book to go, I decided to read Tamburlaine and finish up the Millennium with a Twist.

[Wobbley]

Well done -- that's a tough challenge to finish. Sorry Tamburlaine was a bit of a clunker though... On to better things!

[Kathleen]

Ah, that was on my "Twist" challenge too, but I have no motivation since I haven't read any of the others yet, so I will not be in a rush to read Marlowe. Such an impressive challenge, Sara--well done!

[Terris]

Congratulations on finishing another challenge, Sara! We're getting close to the end of the year, and it's getting more exciting to see what we can actually finish!

P.S. I just finished Angel for my Old/New challenge and I really liked it!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Wobbley wrote: "Well done -- that's a tough challenge to finish. Sorry Tamburlaine was a bit of a clunker though... On to better things!"

I agree. Not a challenge I can usually finish, so it felt like one more book was just a "must-do".

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "Ah, that was on my "Twist" challenge too, but I have no motivation since I haven't read any of the others yet, so I will not be in a rush to read Marlowe. Such an impressive challenge, Sara--well d..."

Thanks, Kathleen. Not putting Marlowe on my list of people to get back to any time soon.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Terris wrote: "Congratulations on finishing another challenge, Sara! We're getting close to the end of the year, and it's getting more exciting to see what we can actually finish!

P.S. I just finished [book:Ange..."

I just saw you had finished! I want to get back to Elizabeth Taylor--she just wows me every time.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Terris wrote: "Congratulations on finishing another challenge, Sara! We're getting close to the end of the year, and it's getting more exciting to see what we can actually finish!

P.S. I just fini..."

I was wondering which ones you had read or what you might plan to read next of hers. But I just looked at your "read" list and saw that you gave 5 stars to A Game of Hide and Seek, Blaming, and In a Summer Season, which are ones that are available to me through my library. The only other one I can get (easily) but was not on your list is You'll Enjoy It When You Get There: The Selected Stories of Elizabeth Taylor. And here is a short description of it: "Offers a selection of the author's short stories that often deal with everyday English domestic life and its nuanced emotional undercurrents." Sounds interesting doesn't it?! And of those four books, that one gets the highest rating on GR! I think I might be interested in that one, and the short stories might even show a little more of her range of writing skills. I'll let you know if I get to it. If not this year, definitely on my 2025 list! :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I have her full short-story collection and have been reading them slowly over the year. I hope to get finished before the end of the year, but might go over to 2025. I have The Sleeping Beauty, which will be next up for me.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I read November by Jorge Galán for my Travel the World Challenge. What a sad story this is. I confess that I did not remember the events, although I did remember how horrible the civil war in El Salvador was, even from this remove.

Although El Salvador is in Central America, and I am told it is considered to be on the North American continent, I am taking the position that Central America can be part of either continent I choose and I am choosing South America. (Give me a break--it is getting to be late in the year!)

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "I have her full short-story collection and have been reading them slowly over the year. I hope to get finished before the end of the year, but might go over to 2025. I have [book:The Sleeping Beaut..."

I have not heard of that one, but will keep it in mind!

[Wobbley]

Sara wrote: "I read November by Jorge Galán for my Travel the World Challenge. What a sad story this is."

Great progress, Sara! And I think you can classify the book however you like. Perhaps Central America is officially part of North America, but culturally it seems more similar to South America, and maybe that's what matters more in literature.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "I have her full short-story collection and have been reading them slowly over the year. I hope to get finished before the end of the year, but might go over to 2025. I have [book:The S..."

It kept me from having to buy all the individual short story collections!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Wobbley wrote: "Sara wrote: "I read November by Jorge Galán for my Travel the World Challenge. What a sad story this is."

Great progress, Sara! And I think you can classify the bo..."

Thanks, Wobbley. I'm sure you are right that it feels more South American because it is culturally closer.

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "I read November by Jorge Galán for my Travel the World Challenge. What a sad story this is. I confess that I did not remember the events, although I did remember ho..."

Central America deserves some attention, so great choice, Sara. Sounds fascinating!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Thanks, Kathleen. I think it's sort of sad that I know so little about countries that are literally neighbors. I even got a geography lesson--as I did not know that El Salvador is the only Central American country that does not touch the Atlantic. I certainly need to read more literature from and about the countries south of us.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

My Lady Ludlow entered for the Second Place or Worse Old School. What a delightful little trip to Victorian England...always a nice place to visit.

[Wobbley]

Oh, I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this one. I haven't read it yet, and it's always nice to have a Gaskell to look forward to. Well done with your progress!