Lori’s Very Lean Buffet 2025

[Lori]

I think the only challenge I’m even thinking about attempting this year is the Old and New. I know I will read books that will fit so it would be a shame not to see how it works out. I will leave it open to the other challenges because I know I will be working on series, so….. I’m running out of t8me to get my plan in for O&N but in the next freeway hours, I’ll get get it in before the deadline!

[Lori]

Old and New

1914 and earlier Old School
✅1.The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas 4 stars finished 3-27-25
2.Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe
✅3. Sylvia's Lovers - Elizabeth Gaskell 5 stars finished 6-9-25

1915-2005 New School
✅1. The Enchanted April - Elizabeth von Arnim 5 stars finished 7-12-25
✅2. Jenny Wren - E.H. Young 5 stars finished 1-9-25
✅3.Mountain Path - Harriette Simpson Arnow 5 stars finished 2-13-25

Six from My Dusty Shelves (or Kindle)
1. The Small House at Allington - Anthony Trollope
✅2.The Greengage Summer - Rumer Godden finished 3-1–25 5 stars
3.Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
✅4.Someone at a Distance - Dorothy Whipple 4 stars finished 8-3-25
✅5.Blackwood - Michael Farris Smith 3 stars finished 6-27-25
✅6.So Long, See You Tomorrow - William Maxwell finished 6-15-25 4 stars

Alternates
1. Emma - Jane Austen
2. Hold Autumn in Your Hand - George Sessions Perry
3.Eve Green - Susan Fletcher

[Lori]

Challenge #2 - Members Choice Challenge Choose one book per category/genre for a total of 9 books.

✅1. 19th Century or Older - The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
✅2. 20th Century - Jenny Wren - E.H. Young
✅3. 21st Century - Rednecks - Taylor Brown
✅4. Nonfiction - Tramp for the Lord - Corrie ten Boom
✅5. An Author never read before - Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland - Patrick Radden Keefe
✅6. Diversity, read a book from a religion, culture, country, or race different than yours - Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri
✅7. Members Choice Genre - Historical Fiction - Mountain Path - Harriette Simpson Arnow
✅8. Members Choice Genre - romance - Edenbrooke - Julianne Donaldson
✅9. Members Choice Genre -nonfiction - The Story of Charlotte's Web: E.B. White's Eccentric Life in Nature and the Birth of an American Classic - Michael Sims

Science Fiction. Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Suspense, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Poetry, Romance, etc

[Lori]

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[Lori]

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[Lori]

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[Wobbley]

Welcome Lori! Your Old & New TBR plan looks great!

[Sara, New School Classics]

We have so many of the same books on our list this year. I hope that means some reading together! I will hold Sylvia's Lovers for the Dickensians' read...serendipity because it was a carryover from last year.

[Lori]

First one done!! Jenny Wren by E.H. Young was fantastic! 5 stars and ready for the sequel The Curate's Wife.

Sara, I can't wait to read Sylvia's Lovers. Claudia did a superb job with Mary Barton so I know it will be great! Of course we'll be reading together! It would be weird if we didn't!

[Wobbley]

Wow, well done finding a 5-star read so early in the year. That's amazing!

[Sara, New School Classics]

I have The Curate's Wife on my Century Challenge. Just saying!

[Terris]

You have so many good ones on your list, Lori! I am going to try to read more by E.H. Young, but they are sometimes hard to come by. But I am faithfully watching for your reactions, comments, and reviews so I know which ones are the best!

I am planning to read The Small House at Allington next month. We'll see what we both think about it :)

And I'm excited to see William Maxwell on your list! I love his writing and So Long, See You Tomorrow is very good! You have lots of good reading to look forward to!

[Lori]

I’ve been trying to get to Maxwell as Sara recommended him highly and am making this year the one! I’m equally happy to know that you approve of him as well!

I look forward to your response to Trollope. I love getting absorbed in his worlds every time I start one!!

I was trying to find Young’s books on thrift books today and most are very pricey! Good luck finding copies!