Terry’s 2025 Tasting Menu at the Buffet

[Terry]

And we love it when you join in!

[Terry]

I updated my posts with Augustus, a short story by Cheever, In the Shadow of the Banyan (5 stars) and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (3 stars).

[Sara, New School Classics]

You and I have been reading together a lot this month. I'm so happy you suggested In the Shadow of the Banyan. It was a very impactful book.

[Wobbley]

That's a lot of progress! Well done with the 5-star read -- lucky you!

[Terry]

Sara, I had the same experience — I teared up a couple of times reading it. My book club passed up on this in favor of reading The Tiffany Girls. Although that book was interesting, what I would call good historical fiction, it was nowhere near the powerful impact of In the Shadow of the Banyan. I’m so glad you found it so.

[Terry]

Wobbley, In the Shadow of the Banyan is definitely recommended reading. Sara compared the story to Dr. Zhivago, which is apt, but this book isn’t quite the sweeping saga of Zhivago. It is the tale of suffering and survival when Cambodia underwent the rule of the revolutionary forces of the Kmer Rouge. I haven’t written my review yet because I am still gathering thoughts about it. I tend to write long reviews for really good books.

[Wobbley]

That does sound really good. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Terry]

I added The Five-Forty-Eight by John Cheever to Challenge 4. I added In the Shadow of the Banyan as a Buddy Read, Challenge 6, while removing The Stories of John Cheever from that same Challenge. The book of short stories was just not my cup of tea, so I am only attempting a handful of them for Challenge 4. (I actually have read 11 stories, which all could count, but only 3 of those stories are the ones I have identified for the challenge. I will keep with my original list — unless I run out of time at the end of the Challenge.

[Terry]

Wobbley wrote: "That does sound really good. Thanks for the recommendation!"

You’re welcome! If you get around to reading it, enjoy and I will look for your review!

[Kathleen]

Some great reading and challenge-shuffling, Terry. You've already made it more than half-way around the world! :-)

[Terry]

Well that’s one way to see the world! I’m afraid my International travel days are over. I can’t even get my husband on a domestic flight!

[Kathleen]

Terry wrote: "Well that’s one way to see the world! I’m afraid my International travel days are over. I can’t even get my husband on a domestic flight!"

I'm having the same problem, Terry. But books are the next best thing!

[Terry]

For Challenge #7, I completed the Rabbit series by John Updike, by listening to Rabbit Remembered. I will update about this later, but it didn’t really compare with the other books. It was sort of a tying up of loose ends and a nostalgic look back, while propelling the other characters forward.

[Sara, New School Classics]

I elected not to read it, Terry, and your comments make me feel it was a good decision for me. I suspect I am done with Updike --so many other books screaming at me and authors I really miss reading.

[Wobbley]

That's great, you finished a challenge! Bravo!

[Terry]

I updated challenge #6 by adding Augustus and Breakfast of Champions as finished.

[Wobbley]

Great progress -- I hope you really enjoyed them! I've not read Breakfast of Champions, but I have a lot of success with Vonnegut. I enjoyed Augustus.

[Terry]

Thanks, Wobbley. Breakfast of Champions was very entertaining at the start but for me it didn’t really wear that well through to the end. If you decide to read it, I recommend that you get a hard copy with Vonegut’s illustrations.

[Wobbley]

Thanks for the tip Terry!

[April]

Terry wrote: "Thanks, Wobbley. Breakfast of Champions was very entertaining at the start but for me it didn’t really wear that well through to the end. If you decide to read it, I recommend that you get a hard c..."

the illustrations!! lol

was noticing the Dickens- hard times. I hadn't heard of it. I haven't read much. curious now though to see what I might think. seems sometimes I want to read a book when the review isn't that raving just to see for myself. but i am working on A Tale of Two Cities now. Not saying it's bad, just too early to say it's great like people say it is.

[Terry]

I updated my progress today with The Promise by Chaim Potok for Challenge #6 (Buddy read) and Chesapeake by James A. Michener for Challenge #8 (North America).

And I have also started reading A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter, for Challenge #6 (New to Me Author) and Challenge #15 (PEN/Faulkner Award - 1989).

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Terry wrote: "I updated my progress today with The Promise by Chaim Potok for Challenge #6 (Buddy read) and Chesapeake by James A. Michener for Challenge #8..."

Nice. I wish I had gone more low-stress like you did. Each year I say I am not going to make an Old and New list, but then I do it anyway. Maybe next year I will really forgo that.

[Terry]

I added Gilead by Marilynne Robinson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to Challenge 2 and 11, and A Man of Property by John Galsworthy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to Challenge 6.

[Wobbley]

Two four-star books -- terrific!

[Sara, New School Classics]

Nice additions, Terry.

[Terry]

Thanks, Wobbley! I don’t know if I will continue with the Forsyte series along with the group read. We’ll see. I ha e so many books I want to read this year and the year is half gone.

[Terry]

Thank you, Sara. I struggled with Gilead. I thought by the end it was very good, though. Maybe it just didn’t have enough plot for me.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Terry wrote: "Thank you, Sara. I struggled with Gilead. I thought by the end it was very good, though. Maybe it just didn’t have enough plot for me."

I adored the entire series, but as you say you are not religious and I would say that I am quite religious, that might be the difference. No doubt about the skill of the writer, but it is mostly introspective and without any serious plot. I'm glad it was good for you in the end.

[Terry]

I made progress on Challenges 3 and 6, and completed Challenges 7 and 15, with the reading of The Human Comedy, The Man of Property and In Chancery. I rearranged a bit in the process since I hadn’t previously planned to read The Forsyte Saga, but it fit nicely into several categories. Thanks to Katy!

[Wobbley]

Super progress Terry!

[Terry]

Thank you, Wobbley, I have been very much enjoying The Forsyte Saga.

[Sara, New School Classics]

How lovely when the things you are reading just fit into place. Glad you are enjoying The Forsyte Saga.

[Terry]

I made progress on Challenges 2 and 3. I am also continuing with To Let from The Forsyte Saga as another credit for Mods Run Amok.

[Terry]

I am very close to completing Challenge #6, with one more book to go. I actually am reading one now and will read another in October, so I will exceed that Challenge.

I think we should get extra credit for not only completing, but exceeding the required numbers for the individual challenges, don’t you agree?

For me, Challenge #12 (Fiction/Nonfiction) will be the most difficult, so I have been saving it for last. I may not finish that one, but I might get to some of it.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Terry wrote: "I think we should get extra credit for not only completing, but exceeding the required numbers for the individual challenges, don’t you agree?"

I absolutely agree, and I am trying to figure out how to get credit for books I read that I simply cannot shoehorn into any challenge at all. 🤔

#12 is a tricky challenge. I always come down to the wire with challenges that I have to either press for or abandon. Good luck with it, Terry.

[Terry]

LOL Thanks, Sara, for your tireless support, and — dare I say — immoderate moderation! 😉

[Terry]

I made lots of updates today and completed challenge 6 with the Buddy Read of Fahrenheit 451. I will exceed this Challenge when I read The Gift of Asher Lev in October. There are also a couple of challenges which I am certain I have completed, but I am leaving them open until I read The Forgotten Garden and Sea Swept — just to keep me motivated. and I am working on Challenges 11 and the dreaded Challenge 12!

[Terry]

I could add Challenge #5 as a Century Challenge. I would only have to add 2 books — in 1910-1919 and in 1930-1939 — to complete that one by the end of the year. But I think I should complete my existing challenges first!

[Wobbley]

Wow, you've found so many 4-star and 5-star books in Challenge 6 this year! You must be really happy with your progress. :)

[Terry]

Wobbley, Challenge 6 has definitely been my favorite with divine such great books!

[Terry]

I added Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides to Challenges #11 and #12. Do not hesitate to read this book which is a three generation family saga. This may be my best book of 2025!

I was going to modify my list of books for Challenge #12, but just realized I did that. As a former Beatlemaniac, I am in a nostalgic mood.

[Wobbley]

Wow, how wonderful to find a book you love so much!

[Terry]

Thanks, Wobbley. It is a book that I couldn’t put down!

[Teri-K]

Just have to comment on how much you're getting done! And you've found a lot of books you really liked with those group reads - that's great, isn't it? I'm just too much a mood reader for group or buddy reads to work well for me. I do enjoy the ones I manage, though. :)

[Sara, New School Classics]

Glad you enjoyed Middlesex so much, Terry. You've had a great reading year, so high praise to rate it the best. It was a surprise winner for me.

[Terry]

Teri-K, thanks for your comments. I have had some really great reads this year and you are right that many of them have been buddy reads, which I’m sure added to my enjoyment of them. We are about to read The Gift of Asher Lev, which should be really good, based upon how good Potok’s other books have been. Why not join us?

[Terry]

Sara, I have had a stellar reading year and maybe that’s because I finally got to some books that have been on my shelf for years. Or maybe because I decided to take on the Buffet, including to challenge to include Buddy Reads. In any case, it has been great!

As for Middlesex, it was sitting on my shelf for the longest time. I found a way to apply it on the Buffet and voila! Loved it. I think I am becoming a big fan of family sagas. I didn’t really know that about myself. I will have to find one for next year!

[Sara, New School Classics]

If you haven't read The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan, you might consider that one for your family saga!

[Terry]

Ah, I have read it, back when first released. I became a fan of Amy Tan when reading The Joy Luck Club.

[Teri-K]

Terry wrote: "Teri-K, thanks for your comments. I have had some really great reads this year and you are right that many of them have been buddy reads, which I’m sure added to my enjoyment of them. We are about ..."

I haven't read the first Asher Lev book, unfortunately...