Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
Buddy Reads
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Buddy Read Requests
Sara would you please set up a September buddy thread for for The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende?
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I don't think so Sara. Thanks for asking.
And thanks about the new thread for The House of Spirits.
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Sara , could you please set up a buddy read thread for Fahrenheit 451 , by Ray Bradbury . April and I will be starting this book on September 10th, 2025 . Any other members , interested in this futuristic novel , are welcome to join in . Thanks , Sara!
Savita wrote: "Sara , could you please set up a buddy read thread for Fahrenheit 451 , by Ray Bradbury . April and I will be starting this book on September 10th, 2025 . Any other me..."I would love to join!
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Sara wrote: "Putting it on the schedule now, Savita. Your thread will magically appear on September 1st.😊"Thanks so much , Sara ! 😊
Sorry for the late reply .. I forgot to click on the ' notify me ' box , so I didn't realize that you had replied !
Anshika (examzz) wrote: "Savita wrote: "Sara , could you please set up a buddy read thread for Fahrenheit 451 , by Ray Bradbury . April and I will be starting this book on September 10th, 2025..."Anshika , sorry for the late reply ! I had forgotten to click on the ' notify me ' box , so I missed your and Sara 's message!
Most welcome! Looking forward to the read next month .
Thanks Savita for asking about this. Sorry if I missed any replies from you, i will probably find them at some point.And Sara thanks for setting it up.
And Anshika- Yay! Its gonna be a full party! 😅👍
I'll join for Bradbury. Another group I'm in wants to read it so this aligns well for me. And I have a copy so I can start any time (I'm still waiting on my library hold for Sweet Thursday, which is why I didn't participate in that BR).
CJ , most welcome! We'll be starting on 10th of September . Meet you there 😊
I will comment and discuss the Bradbury as I read alone earlier this year.
Oh , how nice , Cynda ! Most welcome 😊
Cynda wrote: "Does anyone want to read The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, maybe in September for Hispanic History Month?"I'd like to join in.
Piyangie wrote: "Cynda wrote: "Does anyone want to read The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, maybe in September for Hispanic History Month?"I'd like to join in."
Hi Piyangie, Happy to see you'll be joining for this one. Looking forward to sharing.
Kimberly wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Cynda wrote: "Does anyone want to read The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, maybe in September for Hispanic History Month?"I'd like to join in."
..."
Thanks, Kimberly. I haven't read anything by Isabel Allende so looking forward to reading my first work of her.
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Yes, I'd be interested in New Grub Street. I've been meaning to read something by Gissing. November would be good for me. I think I'd better keep December open for any left-overs that I need to finish ;)
I’d like to join in too. Either month should be fine for me :)
Sara wrote: "Would others be interested in reading New Grub Street by George Gissing? I am open for November or December."I would love to join. I will try my best to complete the buddy read without DNFing in case I don't like the book. 500+ pages is a commitment to me.
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I have New Grub Street penciled in for 2026 but will try to clear space for it in my hectic schedule for the rest of this year so as to bring it forward ;o)
Sara wrote: "I have set up the threads for The House of the Spirits and Fahrenheit 451. Both are previous Group Read threads."Thank you , Sara!
BECKETT 1932-1946 : A few years ago, I read Beckett's ‘trilogy’; now I'd like to catch up on his first four novels (see below). A bit last minute, but you never know: anyone interested, even in single titles? I will follow chronological order.Date: October-December
Pages: 635 total
1. Dream of fair to middling women (wr. 1932)
2. Murphy (1938)
3. Watt (wr. 1943)
4. Mercier and Camier (wr. 1946)
Ascanio wrote: "BECKETT 1932-1946 : A few years ago, I read Beckett's ‘trilogy’; now I'd like to catch up on his first four novels (see below). A bit last minute, but you never know: anyone interested, even in sin..."Thanks Ascanio.
I am joining for Murphy (1938), Watt (wr. 1943), and Mercier and Camier (wr. 1946).
If I have time I'll try Dream of fair to middling women again. ;-)
Ascanio wrote: "BECKETT 1932-1946 : A few years ago, I read Beckett's ‘trilogy’; now I'd like to catch up on his first four novels (see below). A bit last minute, but you never know: anyone interested, even in sin..."I might join for Murphy or Watt, depending on the timing. Do you know what time frame you plan to start the different ones?
Klowey wrote: "Thanks Ascanio."Thank you, Klowey, for inspiring this little journey!
Yesterday I requested the English editions: I should receive my library copy of #1 by mid-October, while I bought #2-4 in England (Novels I, Grove ed.) and should receive it by the end of October.
Ascanio, Klowey and Greg, after reading reviews of these books, I don’t think Beckett is the right author for me, especially at this time of the year when I am trying to finish up my challenges. I do admire your ambition, though. Have fun with the novels.
Terry wrote: "Ascanio, Klowey and Greg, after reading reviews of these books, I don’t think Beckett is the right author for me, especially at this time of the year when I am trying to finish up my challenges. I ..."Thanks. Beckett is not everyone's cup of tea.
Fortunately three of those books are part of my BINGO and challenges. ;-)
Greg wrote: "Do you know what time frame you plan to start the different ones?"It would be great to have you on board, Greg. I thought I would just indicate the overall period (October-December), so that the discussion can adjust to the needs of individual participants: for example, if several people choose the same book and only that book, they could very well start the discussion from there and right away. Using a single thread, the book in question (e.g. #3) could be indicated at the beginning of each post to facilitate consultation. The idea is to devote a discussion to Beckett's first period: even if only one book is read, the notes of those reading a different one could contribute to an overview and benefit everyone. Of course, we could also adopt specific periods, if that is what the majority of participants prefer.
Personally, I will probably start in mid-October (as soon as I receive the books), dedicating 15-20 days to each book. They are all quite short.
Terry wrote: "Have fun with the novels."
Thank you, Terry!
I think you need to request Sara to put it on the Buddy Read Schedule.
Ascanio wrote: "Greg wrote: "Do you know what time frame you plan to start the different ones?"It would be great to have you on board, Greg. I thought I would just indicate the overall period (October-December),..."
I was thinking too that Beckett has perhaps three primary phases. Personally, I far prefer his 2nd and 3rd phases.
I would consider it, thus (inspired from wikipedia):
PHASE ONE
=================
Dream of Fair to Middling Women written in 1932, published in 1992 (not published in his lifetime, it was turned down by publishers)
More Pricks Than Kicks 1934
Murphy 1938, Beckett's French version 1947
Watt written in 1945, but not published until 1953
Supposedly his first play: Human Wishes (c. 1936; published 1984)
PHASE TWO
=================
After World War II, Beckett turned definitively to the French language as a vehicle.
Mercier and Camier written 1946, published 1970, English translation 1974 [Beckett's first writing originally in French]
Samuel Beckett wrote his first play, titled "Eleutheria," (written 1947 in French; published in French 1995, and English 1996).
Following that, his next well-known play, "Waiting for Godot," was originally written in French between 1948 and 1949 and premiered in 1953.
The Trilogy 1959
Molloy 1951, English version 1955
Malone Dies 1956, Malone meurt 1951
Unnamable 1958, L'innommable 1953
Plays written during this phase include:
Acte sans Paroles I (1956); Act Without Words I (1957)
Acte sans Paroles II (1956); Act Without Words II (1957)
Fin de partie (published 1957); Endgame (published 1957)
Krapp's Last Tape (first performed 1958)
Fragment de théâtre I (late 1950s); Rough for Theatre I
Fragment de théâtre II (late 1950s); Rough for Theatre II
According to many critics and scholars, Samuel Beckett considered his play Endgame to be his masterpiece and favorite work.
PHASE THREE
=================
Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, Beckett's works exhibited an increasing tendency—already evident in much of his work of the 1950s—towards compactness.
Happy Days (first performed 1961); Oh les beaux jours (published 1963)
The rest of his plays were written during this third phase.
The following are prose of the third phrase:
How It Is 1964, as Comment c'est, 1961
Nohow On 1989:
Company 1979
Ill Seen Ill Said 1981
Worstward Ho 1983
Stirrings Still 1988
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Sara wrote: "I will put it on the schedule..."Thank you, Sara.
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Hello, would anyone be interested in reading The Nun by Denis Diderot in the upcoming months, I’m not bothered as long as it’s this year because I’ve seen the book being nominated a few times and isn’t winning. It’s been on my shelf at home for a while now.It’s a short book so shouldn’t take us that long, let me know :D
Daryl wrote: "The Nun by Denis Diderot"Shall we say December?
Ascanio wrote: Shall we say December?"Perfect, thanks Ascanio!
Daryl wrote: "Perfect, thanks Ascanio!"Thank you for suggesting it, Daryl! The votes didn't go too badly; let's hope others will join in.
I think this was mentioned after our read of The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck summer of last year, but would anyone be interested in doing a buddy for the second book in The Good Earth series, Sons? Maybe in a few months or something?
Sara, Terris snd I are going to start Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart on October 15. Could you put it on the Buddy Read Schedule?
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I will request a buddy read thread.