⭐️ Complete! ⭐️ - Wobbley's 2025 Buffet Challenge

[Sara, New School Classics]

Wow. Congratulations. How lovely to wrap everything up in October and then have nothing to press for during the holiday season. I always hope for that every year, but it has never happened to me.

[Wobbley]

Thanks Sara! I still have a lot left on my Bingo though. I kind of like being finished the challenges by the end of October or early November if I can. I worry that if I don't get a bit of a break, I won't be excited to plan for next year's challenges when they come out in late November.

[Teri-K]

You are really doing a super job! Only two group reads to go and you're done. (I cut that in half and did a half serving - it's a lot to get through!)

[Wobbley]

You're right, Teri-K, it is a lot. Thanks so much!

[Wobbley]

I've finished two more group reads, and this finishes off all my planned challenges in the Buffet!

✅ Farewell, My Lovely - ⭐️⭐️½: A private detective tries to solve 2 murders he accidentally witnesses, without getting killed himself. This one had its moments, but on the whole hard-boiled detective fiction isn't my thing, full of unlikeable characters and nearly impenetrable slang.

✅ The Invisible Girl - ⭐️⭐️⭐️½: A simple but engaging gothic short story. I enjoyed this one!

Also, I discovered that I'd accidentally completed the A to Z title challenge along the way, and that by reading just one additional story I could complete the A-Z author challenge too, so I've added those two challenges to my roster as well.

✅ A Rose for Ecclesiastes - ⭐️⭐️⭐️½: An Earth poet on Mars is given access to the records of the local Martians, and becomes involved in their culture. This was my first read by Roger Zelazny (hooray for last names beginning with "Z"!). While I didn't think this was the masterpiece some think it is, I did enjoy it. It had some interesting ideas.

2025 Buffet Challenge complete!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Congratulations, Wobbley. It is lovely to be done before the holidays set in, and what a sense of accomplishment you must have! You did some awesome reading this year.

[Janelle]

Amazing Wobbley! So much great reading :)

I didn’t particularly like Farewell My Lovely either, just such an unpleasant read in the end.

[Wobbley]

Sara wrote: "Congratulations, Wobbley. It is lovely to be done before the holidays set in, and what a sense of accomplishment you must have! You did some awesome reading this year."

Thanks Sara! This is about the time of year I like to finished up my challenges, so I'm happy with how that went!

[Wobbley]

Janelle wrote: "Amazing Wobbley! So much great reading :)

I didn’t particularly like Farewell My Lovely either, just such an unpleasant read in the end."

Thank you Janelle! You're right, I've read a lot of terrific books this year. And now I know that Raymond Chandler and I are not a very good match. ;)

[Terry]

Wobbley —You are a five star reader! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Wobbley]

Terry wrote: "Wobbley —You are a five star reader! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

Haha, thanks Terry!!

[Terris]

Wow! Great finish, Wobbley! It's hard to finish a whole "buffet" of challenges, but you read so many good ones I'm sure it was a pleasure! And, you finished in time to add in a few postprandial reads ;)

Enjoy!

[Wobbley]

Terris wrote: "Wow! Great finish, Wobbley! It's hard to finish a whole "buffet" of challenges, but you read so many good ones I'm sure it was a pleasure! And, you finished in time to add in a few postprandial rea..."

Thanks Terris! Yes, I always enjoy the challenges in this group, and I hope I'll still find some more great reads this year. :)

[Kathleen]

More great reading, Wobbley! I'm in the middle of Farewell, My Lovely and so far feel like you do. We'll see how it goes.

[Teri-K]

Great job, Wobbley! I share your feelings about hard-boiled mysteries.

I'm currently rereading A Night in the Lonesome October by Zelazny. It's an off-beat book that takes place over every day in October, (there must be a better way to phrase that), full of Halloween vibes but mysterious and fun. Horror-light maybe? Anyway, I don't read horror but I really like this one. Might be worth looking up if you want to try more of him, as it's a stand alone and perfect for this time of year.

[Wobbley]

Kathleen wrote: "More great reading, Wobbley! I'm in the middle of Farewell, My Lovely and so far feel like you do. We'll see how it goes."

Thank you Kathleen! Yeah, that one wasn't a big success for me, although I know some people really love it. Hopefully it will turn around for you...

[Wobbley]

Teri-K wrote: "Great job, Wobbley! I share your feelings about hard-boiled mysteries. I'm currently rereading A Night in the Lonesome October by Zelazny. It's an off-beat book that takes place over every day in..."

Thanks Teri-K! And thank you for the recommendation -- that one sounds really fun! I'll add it to the endless TBR ;)

[Terris]

Teri-K wrote: "Great job, Wobbley! I share your feelings about hard-boiled mysteries.

I'm currently rereading A Night in the Lonesome October by Zelazny. It's an off-beat book that takes place over every day in..."

I read that one last October! It was kind of quirky but fun :)

[Wobbley]

Terris wrote: "I read that one last October! It was kind of quirky but fun :) "

Great -- a double endorsement! Thanks!

[Teri-K]

Terris wrote: "I read that one last October! It was kind of quirky but fun :) ..."


It's so hard to describe, isn't it? Especially as in this case I really don't want to give away what's going on. Figuring it out and guessing as I read along was part of the fun.

[Wobbley]

Teri-K wrote: "It's so hard to describe, isn't it? Especially as in this case I really don't want to give away what's going on. Figuring it out and guessing as I read along was part of the fun."

You definitely have me intrigued!

[Lorraine]

Bravo Wobbley for completing the challenge!

[Wobbley]

Lorraine wrote: "Bravo Wobbley for completing the challenge!"

Thanks so much, Lorraine!