Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Challenge #5:

The Decade Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive years (1 book per year). The authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

My Decade Challenge, Authors-Some Old Some New:

✓1980: Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson *; Read 11/6/20
1981: The Ship of Widows by I. Grekova
1982: Second Heaven by Judith Guest *
1983: Look at Me by Anita Brookner
1984: Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie
1985: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson *
1986: Niccolò Rising by Dorothy Dunnett
✓1987: Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively; Read 6/19/20
✓1988: Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood *; Read 4/27/20
1989: Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places by Ursula K. Le Guin *

* Authors I've read before

Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List and read 12 books for each of the following categories.

Here are some of my possibilities:

18th Century or older: Evelina or Dangerous Liaisons

✓19th Century: Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell; Read 2/17/20

✓20th Century: The King's General by Daphne du Maurier; Read 4/24/20

✓Current or Past Group Read: Chess Story by Stefan Zweig; Read 5/18/20

✓An Author not read before: Stoner by John Williams; Read 1/6/20

✓Diversity Classic, read a book from a religion, culture, country, or race different than yours: The Street by Ann Petry; Read 10/14/20

✓Science Fiction: Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang; Read 2/25/20

✓Romance: My Coney Island Baby by Billy O'Callaghan; Read 2/24/20

✓Historical fiction: Shiloh by Shelby Foote; Read 2/5/20

✓Nonfiction: West with the Night by Beryl Markham; Read 1/13/20

Mystery/Crime: The Murder of my Aunt or A Covenant with Death: A Novel or Broken Harbor

✓Horror or Humor: The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson; Read 4/20/20

Reserved

Reserved

Reserved

I think I may only do a couple of these challenges, we'll see! Definitely giving up on the New/Old Classics Challenge. I can't seem to stick with a challenge with pre-selected books without much wiggle room.

Enjoy, I'm doing the Old & New this year, but I failed badly this year. A New Year, another chance, have fun.

Thanks, Bob! Good luck with your challenges too!

Candi if you would like a buddy to read Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places, will you let me know in time to order the book? I would definitely appreciate it.

Cynda wrote: "Candi if you would like a buddy to read Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places, will you let me know in time to order the book? I would definitely appreciat..."

Sure, I will let you know, Cynda! I'm not anticipating finishing any of my challenges, but these are all books that I hope to try to get to. We shall see which ones make the cut when it comes to me having little reading time anymore!

Oh no, I have only read two of the books on your list...so, now I have to go check all those others. You are so guilty of making me grow my already obese TBR.

Oooh, lots of interesting books — good kick on your challenges and hope that you enjoy them! =) I will be curious to hear what you think of Dorothy Dunnett — I started reading The Game of Kings several years ago and have been ambivalent about giving it another go.

Sara wrote: "Oh no, I have only read two of the books on your list...so, now I have to go check all those others. You are so guilty of making me grow my already obese TBR."

So funny, Sara! Well, you know you will get right back at me! :D

Erin wrote: "Oooh, lots of interesting books — good kick on your challenges and hope that you enjoy them! =) I will be curious to hear what you think of Dorothy Dunnett — I started reading [book:The Game of Kin..."

Thanks, Erin! I've never read anything by Dunnett, so I thought I'd give her a try. A challenge is always a good place for me to insert someone new :)

I've only read two from your lists also. I loved Housekeeping and liked Persuasion. I have a few of these on my TBR but have not even heard of most. I can't wait to hear about your favorites and expand my list!

Sue, it's so much fun to make these lists! I'm looking forward to some great reading in 2020 - hope yours is wonderful too!

Cat’s Eye is a book that I have owned and not read since before I started a TBR list. I should get to it soon!

I've owned it for quite some time too, Terry! And I love Atwood, so I don't know what's taking me so long to get around to it :)

Oh! I love your decade challenge, Candi. Housekeeping, Moon Tiger and Cats Eye are all fantastic. Cats Eye is one of my very favorites. Now, to pour over the ones I don't know on your lists to find new favorites … :-)

Kathleen wrote: "Oh! I love your decade challenge, Candi. Housekeeping, Moon Tiger and Cats Eye are all fantastic. Cats Eye is one of my very favorites. Now, to pour over the ones I don't know on your lists to find..."

Thanks, Kathleen! I am excited about it because I feel as if I have a nice little mix of reading going. No way to get bored! I'm pleased to hear you have read and admired some of them :)

Checked one off the list for Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List

An Author not read before:

Stoner by John Williams

My Review

After a three week wait, I'm picking up a copy from the library this afternoon. Until I read this I am avoiding reviews, but it appears I am in for a really good read. I see a bunch of 5 star ratings.

Bob wrote: "After a three week wait, I'm picking up a copy from the library this afternoon. Until I read this I am avoiding reviews, but it appears I am in for a really good read. I see a bunch of 5 star ratings."

Bob, you are most definitely in for a treat. Can't wait to hear what you think.

Checked another off the list for Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List

Non-fiction:

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

My Review

Another one completed for Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List

Historical Fiction:

Shiloh by Shelby Foote

My Review

Candi wrote: "Another one completed for Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List

Historical Fiction:

Shiloh by Shelby Foote

My Review"

NIce review! It was very thoughtful. I have actually visited the Battlefield Park where the battle of Shiloh happened; I should get more background knowledge from a book like this, especially by an author like Shelby Foote. Thanks for the review.

Thanks, I appreciate that, Lynn! This one would be a great choice. Neat that you visited the battlefield :)

Another great review!

Bob wrote: "Another great review!"

Thank you, Bob!

Another one completed for Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List

Classic:

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

My Review

I'm happy you liked Mary Barton, Gaskell is a favorite, it increases the odds I'll like it too.

Bob wrote: "I'm happy you liked Mary Barton, Gaskell is a favorite, it increases the odds I'll like it too."

Thanks, Bob. If you are a fan of her writing already, then you should really enjoy this one :)

Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List:

Romance:

My Coney Island Baby by Billy O'Callaghan

My Review

Making marvelous progress on this challenge, Candi. I haven't settled on a "romance" novel yet but leaning toward a du Maurier.

Sara wrote: "Making marvelous progress on this challenge, Candi. I haven't settled on a "romance" novel yet but leaning toward a du Maurier."

This one seems pretty easy for me to get through, Sara! However, I've made no progress on my decades challenge - oops!

I had some other choices slotted for the Romance category, but this one ended up fitting in nicely. You can't go wrong with du Maurier though!

Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List:

Horror or Humor:

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

My Review

Candi wrote: "Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List:

Horror or Humor:

The Lottery and Other Stories by [author:Shirley Jackson|..."

Cool review! I enjoy Shirley Jackson immensely too and glad you enjoyed her stories. Her identity crisis stuff is eery even if it's not in the "traditional" horror way.

Thank you, Emily! I much prefer Jackson's brand of 'horror' myself anyway. The realistic, psychological stuff really grabs me!

Challenge #4 - Members Choice Classic/Genre Challenge List:

20th Century:

The King's General by Daphne du Maurier

My Review

Challenge #5 - My Decade Challenge, Authors-Some Old Some New:

Checked my first one off the list for this challenge. I best speed it up a bit if I'm going to try to finish it this year!

For 1988:

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

My Review

I have Cat's Eye on my home shelf and I'm currently reading The Blind Assassin. I'm really enjoying her writing.

Bob wrote: "I have Cat's Eye on my home shelf and I'm currently reading The Blind Assassin. I'm really enjoying her writing."

Oh great, Bob! I'm glad you're enjoying it. Add this one to your list then too!

I love your reviews, Candi! Margaret Atwood is another author I’ve not yet read and want to read soon! =)

Erin wrote: "I love your reviews, Candi! Margaret Atwood is another author I’ve not yet read and want to read soon! =)"

That's very kind of you to say so, Erin! I'm pleased to hear you are interested in reading Atwood too and I hope you like her work! She seems to have such a variety to choose from :)

Challenge #5 - My Decade Challenge, Authors-Some Old Some New:

For 1987:

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

My Review

You are steadily putting check marks up. One challenge almost finished and lots of time left for the other.

Bob wrote: "You are steadily putting check marks up. One challenge almost finished and lots of time left for the other."

Thanks, Bob. Not sure how I'll do on the decades, as I'm having trouble getting some books from the library right now. I have been buying a lot of books, so need to curb that habit a bit too!

I have a similar problem with my "year I was born" challenge, Candi. I hope things will loosen up and I will be able to get the books without buying them. Still half of the year to go, so we have time.

Sara wrote: "I have a similar problem with my "year I was born" challenge, Candi. I hope things will loosen up and I will be able to get the books without buying them. Still half of the year to go, so we have t..."

Yes, my fingers are crossed, Sara! Although, I have to say that by not following a strict schedule, I've come across some very rewarding books regardless :)

I also find that some of my best reads in a year are ones I did not have on my "plan". I seem to enjoy making the plan at the beginning of the year whether I stick to it or not. Must make some kind of comment about me, but I'd probably rather not know what that comment would be. :)

The important thing is we read and we enjoy it, Candi.