Lori's Taking a Few Nibbles Buffet

[Lori]

2024 CHALLENGE BUFFET

I will attempt:
Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR
Challenge #4 - Members Choice
Challenge #5 - Short Story
Challenge #6 - Group Reads and/or Buddy Reads
Challenge #7 - Expand Your Horizon with New Authors
Challenge #12 - Series Books – Start, Continue, Complete
Challenge #13 - Travel the World One Continent at a Time.
Challenge #14 - Rereading Some do Some don't

Maybe:
Challenge #3 - Decade/Century/Millennium

[Lori]

Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR
❤️❤️❤️ complete 11-12-24 💙💙💙

Old School - before 1900
✅1.Mansfield Park - Jane Austen finished 1-21-24
✅2.Framley Parsonage - Anthony Trollope finished 6-28-24
✅3.Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy finished 11-12-24

New School - after 1900
✅1.The Yearling - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings finished 8-30-24
✅2.To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee finished 10-25-24
✅3. Lamb in His Bosom -Caroline Miller finished 2-13-24

Wild Cards - any year
✅1.Crow Lake - Mary Lawsonfinished 5-8-24
✅2.The Journey of August King - John Ehle finished 5-14-24
✅3.In a Summer Season - Elizabeth Taylor finished 3-19-24
✅4.This Must Be the Place - Maggie O'Farrell finished 2-3-24
✅5.Breathing Lessons -Anne Tyler finished 8-18-24
✅6. Anne of Green Gables -L.M. Montgomery finished 1-12-24

Alternates
1.Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë (old school)
2.Old New York - Edith Wharton (new school)
3.The Hours - Michael Cunningham (wild card)

[Lori]

Challenge #4 - Members Choice
❤️❤️❤️ COMPLETE

✅1. 19th Century, Mansfield Park
✅ 2. 20th Century, Anne of Green Gables
✅3. 21st Century, This Must Be the Place - Maggie O'Farrell
✅4. A book originally written in a language other than your own,The Tattoo Murder Case - Akimitsu Takagi
✅5. An Author never read before, Lamb in His Bosom -Caroline Miller
✅6. Diversity Classic, read a book from a religion, culture, country, or race different than yours. Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi
✅7. Science Fiction/Fantasy, Dune- Frank Herbert
✅8. Action/Adventure,This Tender Land - William Kent Krueger
✅9. Childrens/Young Adult,Pollyanna- Eleanor H. Porter
✅10. Nonfiction Memoir/Biography, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy - Eric Metaxas
✅11. Mystery/Thriller, The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman
✅12. Horror or Humor The Strange Gentleman - Charles Dickens

[Lori]

Challenge #5 - Short Story

✅1.Behind a Mask, Or, a Woman's Power -Louisa May Alcott
✅2.The Frozen Deep - Wilkie Collins
✅3. The Strange Gentleman: A Comic Burletta, in Two Acts - Charles Dickens
✅4.The Beauties - Anton Chekhov
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[Lori]

Challenge #6 - Group Reads and/or Buddy Reads
The challenge is to read 12 total books/stories from this year's group poll winners or Buddy Reads, in any combination.


Group Reads
✅1.Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
✅2.Behind a Mask, Or, a Woman's Power - Louisa May Alcott
✅3. The Beauties - Anton Chekhov
✅4. Cannery Row -John Steinbeck

Buddy Reads
✅1. Lamb in His Bosom - Caroline Miller
✅2. Miss Mole - E.H. Young
✅3. The Chosen - Chaim Potok
4. No Fond Return of Love - Barbara Pym

[Lori]

Challenge #7 - Expand Your Horizon with New Authors
💙💙💙 Complete💙💙💙

Seek out at least six (6) authors that you have never previously read, from any genre or era you want.

1.Grace Metalious - Peyton Place
2.Caroline Miller - Lamb in His Bosom
3.Frank Herbert - Dune
4.Shelby Foote - Love in a Dry Season
5.Kerry Greenwood - Cocaine Blues
6.Martha Wells - All Systems Red
7. Katherine Center - Things You Save in a Fire
8. Richard Osman - The Thursday Murder Club
9. James Agee - Let Us Now Praise Famous Men
10. E.H. Young - Chatterton Square
11. Mary Lawson - Crow Lake
12. Eleanor H. Porter - Pollyanna
13. Akimitsu Takagi - The Tattoo Murder Case
14. Eric Metaxas - Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
15. Mary Doria Russell - Doc
16. Harriette Simpson Arnow - The Dollmaker
17. Toshikazu Kawaguchi - Before the Coffee Gets Cold
18. Erica Bauermeister - No Two Persons
19. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings - The Yearling
20. Rachel Joyce - The Music Shop
21. Hiro Arikawa - The Travelling Cat Chronicles
22. Barbara Pym - Excellent Women
23. Grady Hendrix - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
24. Jean Rhys - Good Morning, Midnight
25. Victor Hugo - Les Miserables
26. Richard Wagamese - Indian Horse
27. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley - Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

[Lori]

Challenge #12 - Series Books – Start, Continue, Complete

I had no idea until I got started figuring out what series I've started and wanted to start that there were so many! I'll never get through this many books in several years! But it's fun to look at the lists! I'll plan to read several.

Read:
✅Anne of Green Gables
✅The Angry Tide
✅The Stranger from the Sea
✅The Journey of August King
✅ Dune
✅Framley Parsonage
✅ My Name Is Lucy Barton
✅ Anything Is Possible
✅Oh William!
✅ Lucy by the Sea
✅Tell Me Everything

Continue the following:
Poldark - Winston Graham
✔️#7 The Angry Tide
✔️#8 The Stranger from the Sea
#9 The Miller's Dance
#10 The Loving Cup
#11 The Twisted Sword
#12 Bella Poldark


Chronicles of Barsetshire - Anthony Trollope
✔️#4Framley Parsonage
#5The Small House at Allington
#6The Last Chronicle of Barset

The Mountain Novels -John Ehle
✔️#2 The Journey of August King
#3 Time of Drums: A Novel
#4The Road
#5 The Winter People
#6Lion on the Hearth
#7Last One Home

Thomas Cromwell - Hilary Mantel
#2Bring Up the Bodies
#3The Mirror & the Light

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
#3Jo's Boys

Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
#2Home
#3Lila
#4Jack

Rabbit Angstrom - John Updike
#2Rabbit Redux
#3Rabbit Is Rich


Kristin Lavransdatter - Sigrid Undset
#2The Wife
#3The Cross

The Border Trilogy - Cormac McCarthy
#2The Crossing
#3Cities of the Plain

Thalia, TX/ The Last Picture ShowLarry McMurtry
#3/#1The Last Picture Show
#2Texasville
#3Duane's Depressed
#4When the Light Goes
#5Rhino Ranch


Lonesome Dove -Larry McMurtry
#2Streets of Laredo
#3Dead Man's Walk
#4Comanche Moon

Houston - Larry McMurtry
#1Moving On
#2All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers
#4

📌Lucy Barton Amgash #1-5 - Elizabeth Strout
✔️#1 My Name Is Lucy Barton
✔️#2 Anything Is Possible
✔️#3 Oh William!
✔️#4 Lucy by the Sea
✔️#5 Tell Me Everything



Start the following:
✔️#1Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery (8 books)

#1The Emmigrants - Vilhelm Moberg (4 books)

Mitford Years #1At Home in Mitford - Jan Karon (14 books)

Williamsburg - Elswyth Thane (7 books)
#1 Dawn's Early Light

The Women of Genesis - Orson Scott Card
#1Sarah (5 books)

MaddAddam - Margaret Atwood
#1Oryx and Crake (3 books)

✔️#1Dune - Frank Herbert (8 books)

The Civil War Trilogy -
#1Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara
#2The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara
#3The Last Full Measure - Jeff Shaara

#1Plainsong - Kent Haruf (4 books)

A Dance to the Music of Time - Anthony Powell
#1A Question of Upbringing (12 books)

The Raj Quartet - Paul Scott
#1 The Jewel in the Crown (4 books)

[Lori]

Challenge #13 - Travel the World One Continent at a Time

Select a book or an author from each of the seven world continents, *Antarctica is optional, I understand that most around the world challenges are much longer in both time and number of books required. Our challenges only run from January 1-December 31. So, this seems more doable.

Africa
✅Asia The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yōko Ogawa
Australia
✅Europe Mansfield Park
✅North America Lamb in His Bosom
South America
*Antarctica

[Lori]

Challenge #14 - Rereading Some do Some don't
💙💙💙Complete💙💙💙

Some of us reread regularly, others reread rarely if ever. We have all read books that we found fantastic. We finish the last page, set it aside and think someday I would like to reread this again. Let us know the titles of five books you found worthy of rereading. This year’s challenge is, reread two of your selections.

1.Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel
2.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
3.Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
4.A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
✅5.Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
6. The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
✅7. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

[Lori]

Maybe
Challenge #3 - Decade

1950's

1950 The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury or The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

1951 My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

✅1952 Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis or ✅Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

1953 Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple or Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger or The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts by Arthur Miller

✅1954 The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow

1955 Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart

✅1956 Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

1957 On the Beach by Nevil Shute

1958 Old Yeller by Fred Gipson or The Travels of Jamie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor

1959 A Separate Peace by John Knowles or Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

[Terris]

Couldn't resist, huh, Lori?! Well, enjoy your nibbles! I'll be looking to see if I can pick up some of your crumbs ;)

Enjoy!!!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I knew you wouldn't let me pig out alone!

[Lori]

Terris wrote: "Couldn't resist, huh, Lori?! Well, enjoy your nibbles! I'll be looking to see if I can pick up some of your crumbs ;)

Enjoy!!!"

I know, it was difficult to turn down! Thanks Terris! Here's to hoping I'll read something you haven't yet!

[Lori]

Matt wrote: "Good luck on your challenges Lori!"

Thanks Matt!

[Lori]

Sara wrote: "I knew you wouldn't let me pig out alone!"

Never! I have to try and enjoy as much as I can pig out on!

[Terris]

Lori wrote: "Terris wrote: "Couldn't resist, huh, Lori?! Well, enjoy your nibbles! I'll be looking to see if I can pick up some of your crumbs ;)

Enjoy!!!"

I know, it was difficult to turn down! Thanks Terris..."

I'll take that challenge! haha! ;)

[Wobbley]

Enjoy your reading, Lori! I've particular enjoyed crow lake.

[Lori]

Wobbley wrote: "Enjoy your reading, Lori! I've particular enjoyed crow lake."

Thanks Wobbley! I’ve put that one off too long.

[Kathleen]

Oh, I like your planning, Lori. You've reminded me of some series (the Marilynne Robinson especially) I'll have to add--thanks! And your Old and New is full of winners, so I predict you'll get that done handily. I think you'll love Jude and Lamb in his Bosom. Have fun!

[Lori]

Thanks Kathleen!! I’m excited about the choices and planning on the buffet. It’s going to be a great year!! It’s been awhile since I read Gilead so it will work nicely as a reread before continuing the series. Been wanting to read Lamb and Jude for a while!!!

[Shaina]

Great series planning, Lori! I think I should do that too. Enjoy your reading, and keep nibbling away!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I have Jack to read in 2024, and I am so tempted to go back and reread the three before but I know I haven't got the time.

Your series list is awesome!

[Lori]

Shaina wrote: "Great series planning, Lori! I think I should do that too. Enjoy your reading, and keep nibbling away!"

Thanks Shaina! I will enjoy looking at these lists and will be happy to check a few off as complete!

[Lori]

Sara wrote: "I have Jack to read in 2024, and I am so tempted to go back and reread the three before but I know I haven't got the time.

Your series list is awesome!"

Thank you Sara! I am sitting here already realizing I've left off others. I am most excited to reread Gilead. I am hoping it will be similar to my Olive Kitteridge reread - I wasn't in the right mind for it at the time. These would be excellent buddy read books, wouldn't they? Hmmm...?

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Oh they would! You are tempting me...kind of like setting a plate of brownies in front of me when I am trying to give up sugar. 😋

[Terris]

Oh Sara! It's just like that! :)

[Lori]

😝 💙

[Ila]

Several interesting choices, Lori. You have a lot of books on the South and the West. I've been thinking of completing the Civil War trilogy but have only read Killer Angels so far; what a fantastic book! Lonesome Dove and Wuthering Heights are wonderful and I hope you like them. All the best!

[Lori]

Thanks Ila! The South and West are favorite settings for me. I look forward to getting started.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

You look well prepared for the buffet and your New and Old is really special. Have a good year!

[Sue]

I agree with Sara that your series lists are awesome, Lori! I need to add Lonesome Dove to mine. I purchased all the books at used bookstores but haven't had time to get to them and I need to because I want to read Lonesome Dove again!

I've also wanted to do the Border Trilogy. I read Cities of the Plain so long ago that I feel I'd need to re-read.

I loved the Haruf and Robinson books! I look forward to following your progress.

[Lori]

Thanks Bob and Sue! I’m really taking it easy this year and trying to read some great books. I hope to make that happen!!

[Terry]

I wanted and failed to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2023, so I want to get to it this year. Good luck with your list and I hope your 2024 is fantastic!

[Marilyn]

Great series list. I have the Williamsburg and Emigrants on the tbr. Starting a new series is always tempting but I need to finish the ones I have already started. Have a good reading year!

[Lori]

Thanks Terry snd Marilyn!

Terry I do hope you start the Narnia series. I love it!! Read it to my kids when they were little.

Marilyn I am looking forward to trying at least the first of the Williamsburg series. I have kindle versions which I hope will be good.

Hope you both have great reading years!

[Lori]

Anne of Green Gables checked off several spots including my first read for the old and new. Now working on Mansfield Park.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Congrats on a great beginning, Lori.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Nice start. I read Anne of Green Gables a few years ago and was surprised that a cranky old man, me, enjoyed it so much.

[Lori]

I love that Bob! Even Anne can tame the cranky bits!🤗

[Lori]

Updating my challenges today with Mansfield Park in a couple of spots and Peyton Place for new author and a spot on my “maybe” Decade challenge. I guess I’m in on that challenge now! Haha! That’s ok, because there are some great books on that list I want to read. Priority to the ones I already own though!

[Rora]

Good luck on your challenge Lori, you have so many great books on your list.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

LOL. I love the way those challenges just sneak in on us.

[Ila]

Good work, Lori! We simply can't resist a challenge

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Ah, Peyton Place, I remember that one. You are off to a great start.

[Lori]

I’m excited to have even this little progress in a month! Looking forward to seeing what comes in February!

[Sue]

Congratulations, on getting two on your Old and New already. That's always the hardest one so I try to focus on it. These challenges become addicting!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

You have just been knocking off these challenges and I haven't had an inkling. Congratulations, Lori. Job well done. I will be watching your finish!

[Lori]

I’ve been terrible about posting this year. I’ve added my progress very quietly.
I focused on New and old and just started Jude the Obscure to finish that one. I couldn’t get steam for the short stories this year. I don’t know why? I’m pleased with what I have finished. Thanks Sara!!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

For what it is worth, I think Jude is Hardy's best novel. I keep promising myself a re-read, so I'm a little jealous.

[Wobbley]

Wow, you really have completed a lot here! Well done.