Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

I usually try not to do too many challenges. But Bob has made the Buffet look so tasty, I just had to add more to my plate! Hope I don't overeat ;)

7/8 CHALLENGES COMPLETED!
Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR
✅Challenge #4 - Members Choice
✅Challenge #5 - Short Story
✅Challenge #6 - Group Reads and/or Buddy Reads
✅Challenge #7 - Expand Your Horizon With New Authors
✅Challenge #12 - A-Z Author
✅Challenge #13 - A-Z Title
✅Personal Bookshelf Challenge

Terris, so glad you have decided to pick up a plate and indulge in our Buffet. You will notice that the plates we use here are exceptionally large, so feel free to fill it up. Remember no one looks down on an unfinished plate, so don’t worry about not finishing. Just have fun!

I look forward to seeing your challenge selections and your choices to fill them. Enjoy!!

Old/New Challenge 10/15

1899 and earlier/Old School
1.✅Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore, 4****s, 1-23-23
2.✅Ruth by Ruth: By Elizabeth Gaskell - Illustrated, 4****s, 12-7-23
3.✅The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, 4****s, 4-28-23

1900-1999/New School
4.The Adventures of Augie March
5.The Sea, the Sea
6.✅The Graduate by Charles Webbm 2**, 3-9-23

My Wild Card Six
7.✅Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle, 3***s, 3-28-23
8.The Group
9.✅The Far Country by Nevil Shute, 4****s, 7-20-23
10.Wizard and Glass
11.✅Emily of the New Moon by L.M. Montgomery, 4****s, 7-5-23
12.Old School

Alternates
A-1.✅Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, 4****s, 4-12-23
A-2.✅Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, 3***s, 1-21-23
A-3.✅Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, 3***s, 1-28-23

Members Choice Challenge -- COMPLETED 2-5-23

✅1. 19th Century - Five Children and It by E. Nesbit, 4****s, 1-24-23
✅2. 20th Century - A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro, 4****s, 1-1-23
✅3. A book originally written in a language other than your own - Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami, 4****s, 1-17-23
✅4. Current or Past Group Read - Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, 5*****s, 1-2-23
✅5. An Author not read before - Clare Pooley - Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, 4****s, 1-4-23
✅6. Diversity Classic, read a book from a religion, culture, country, or race different than yours - Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, 3***s, 1-28-23
✅7. Science Fiction/Fantasy - The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer, 4****s, 1-18-23
✅8. Action/Adventure - Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore, 4****s, 1-23-23
✅9. Childrens/Young Adult - The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, 4****s, 1-12-23
✅10. Nonfiction - Adventures in Retirement: A hilarious journey into the unknown world of excess time, limited responsibilities and an uncertain future. by Lawrence G. Doyle, 4****s, 1-30-23
✅11. Mystery/Thriller - The Cloisters by Katy Hays, 4****s, 2-8-23
✅12. Horror or "Humor" - Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes by Ella Cheever Thayer, 4****s, 2-5-23

Group Reads and/or Buddy Reads Challenge -- COMPLETED 9-15-23
The challenge is to read 12 total books from this year's group poll winners or Buddy Reads, in any combination.

1. Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, 5*****s, 1-2-23
2. Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor, 4****s, 1-7-23
3. The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostoevsky, 3***s, 2-18-23
4. Children of the Corn by Stephen King, 4****s, 5-26-23
5. How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy, 5*****s, 6-18-23
6. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, 4****s, 6-15-23
7. Medea by Euripides, 3***s, 6-29-23
8. Heart of a Dog by [author[author:August Wilson|13944]:Mikhail Bulgakov|3873], 3***s, 6-30-23
9. Washington Square by Henry James, 3***s, 7-26-23
10. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, 5*****s, 8-13-23
11. The Bear by William Faulkner, 2**s, 8-30-23
12. Jitney by August Wilson, 4****s, 9-15-23

Expand Your Horizon With New Authors -- COMPLETED 3-16-23 (but always working on this one!)
Seek out at least six (6) authors that you have never previously read, from any genre or era you want.

1. Reginald Rose - Twelve Angry Men, 5*****s, 1-2-23
2. Clare Pooley - Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, 4****s, 1-4-23
3. Elizabeth Taylor - Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, 4****s, 1-7-23
4. Dave King - The Ha-Ha, 4****s, 1-11-23
5. Hiromi Kawakami - Strange Weather in Tokyo, 4****s, 1-17-23
6.Shelby Van Pelt - Remarkably Bright Creatures, 4****s, 1-18-23
7. R.D. Blackmore - Lorna Doone, 4****s, 1-23-23
8. E. Nesbit - Five Children and It, 4****s, 1-24-23
9. Bonnie Garmus - Lessons in Chemistry, 4****s, 1-28-23
10. Charlie Mackesy - The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, 5*****s, 1-28-23
11. Lawrence G. Doyle - Adventures in Retirement: A hilarious journey into the unknown world of excess time, limited responsibilities and an uncertain future., 4****s, 1-30-23
12. Richard Hooker - MASH: A Novel about Three Army Doctors, 4****s, 1-30-23
13. Ella Cheever Thayer - Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes, 4****s, 2-5-23
14. Curtis Sittenfeld - Sisterland, 3***s, 2-8-23
15. Katy Hays - The Cloisters, 4****s, 2-8-23
16. David Grann - Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, 4****s, 2-26-23
17. Augusten Burroughs - Running with Scissors, 3***s, 2-27-23
18. Oliver La Farge - Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story, 4****s, 2-28-23
19. Charles Webb - The Graduate, 2**s, 3-9-23
20. Wendelin Van Draanen - Wild Bird, 4****s, 3-16-23

A-Z Author Challenge - COMPLETED 12-8-23

A - Ambrose, Stephen - Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier, 4****s, 3-23-23
B - Blackmore, R.D. - Lorna Doone, 4****s, 1-23-23
C - Cather, Willa - Alexander's Bridge, 4****s, 1-1-23
D - Doyle, Lawrence - Adventures in Retirement: A hilarious journey into the unknown world of excess time, limited responsibilities and an uncertain future., 4****s, 1-30-23
E - Euripides - Medea, 3***s, 6-29-23
F - Farrell, Henry - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, 4****s, 8-22-23
G - Garmus, Bonnie, Lessons in Chemistry, 4****s, 1-28-23
H - Hooker, Richard - MASH: A Novel about Three Army Doctors, 4****s, 1-30-23
I - Ishiguro, Kazuo - A Pale View of Hills, 4****s, 1-1-23
J - Jones, Brendan - The Alaskan Laundry, 4****s, 5-9-23
K - King, Dave - The Ha-Ha, 4****s, 1-11-23
L - Le Guin, Ursula K. - The Lathe of Heaven, 4****s, 2-16-23
M - McEwan, Ian - Black Dogs, 3***s, 1-21-23
N - Nesbit, E. - Five Children and It, 4****s, 1-24-23
O - O'Brien, Edna - Girls in Their Married Bliss, 3***s, 2-28-23
P - Pooley, Clare - Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, 4****s, 1-4-23
Q - Quindlen, Anna - A Short Guide to a Happy Life, 4****s, 11-30-23
R - Rose, Reginald - Twelve Angry Men, 5*****s, 1-2-23
S - Sittenfeld, Curtis - Sisterland, 3***s, 2-8-23
T - Taylor, Elizabeth - Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, 5****s, 1-7-23
U - Umrigar, Thrity - Honor, 4****s, 12-8-23
V - Van Pelt, Shelby - Remarkably Bright Creatures, 4****s, 1-18-23
W - White, E.B. - The Trumpet of the Swan, 4****s, 1-12-23
Below Only One Letter Needed for Successful Challenge
X
Y
Z - Zane Grey - Riders of the Purple Sage, 4****s, 8-12-23

A-Z Title Challenge - COMPLETED 12-23-23

A - Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather, 4****s, 1-1-23
B - Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, 3***s, 1-21-23
C - The Cloisters by Katy Hays, 4****s, 2-8-23
D - Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens, 3***s, 3-3-23
E - Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg, 4****s, 2-7-23
F - Five Children and It by E. Nesbit, 4****s, 1-24-23
G - Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, 3***s, 1-28-23
H - The Ha-Ha by Dave King, 4****s, 1-11-23
I - Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley, 4****s, 1-4-23
J - Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf, 2**s, 7-27-23
K - Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, 4****s, 2-26-23
L - Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore, 4****s, 1-23-23
M - Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor, 4****s, 1-7-23
N - The Night Garden by Lisa Van Allen, 4****s, 4-22-23
O - Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, 4****s, 4-12-23
P - A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro, 4****s, 1-1-23
Q - Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym, 4****s, 2-12-23
R - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, 4****s, 1-18-23
S - Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami, 4****s, 1-17-23
T - Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, 5*****s, 1-2-23
U - Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Elizabeth Bergthor:Stephen E. Ambrose|5882], 4****s, 3-23-23
V - Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh, 4****s, 12-23-23
W - Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes by Ella Cheever Thayer, 4****s, 2-5-23
Below Only One Letter Needed for Successful Challenge
X
Y - The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg, 4****s, 8-23-23
Z

Personal Bookshelf Challenge -- COMPLETED 9-20-23 (but always working on this one!)
Read 12 books from my own bookshelves: physical and virtual.

1. The Ha-Ha by Dave King, 4****s, 1-11-23
2. The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer, 4****s, 1-18-23
3. Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, 3***s, 1-21-23
4. Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore, 4****s, 1-23-23
5. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit, 4****s, 1-24-23
6. Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, 3***s, 1-28-23
7. MASH: A Novel about Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker, 4****s, 1-30-23
8. Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes by Ella Cheever Thayer, 4****s, 2-5-23
9. Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld, 3***s, 2-8-23
10. The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin, 4****s, 2-16-23
11. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, 4****s, 2-26-23
12. Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge, 4****s, 2-28-23

Bonus:
1. Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose, 4****s, 3-23-23
2. Last Day on Earth: Stories by Eric Puchner, 3***s, 3-31-23
3. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, 5*****s, 9-20-23

Short Stories Read in 2023 - COMPLETED 8-30-23 (but will continue to read Short Stories!)

I don't read many short stories, but I'm going to try to read at least 12 this year. It doesn't seem like I read many short stories, but then I see how many I read last year. And I already have two lined up to read right now! We'll see how many it adds up to :)

1. Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose, 5*****s, 1-2-23
2.The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman, 4****s, 2-14-23
3. The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostoevsky, 3***s, 2-18-23
4. The Egg by Andy Weir, 4****s, 4-17-23
5. Children of the Corn by Stephen King, 4****s, 5-26-23
6. How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy, 5*****s, 6-18-23
7. The Paying Guest by George Gissing, 4****s, 6-20-23
8. The Grey Woman by Elizabeth Gaskell, 4****s, 7-10-23
9.The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, 5*****s, 8-13-23
10. Bliss by Katherine Mansfield, 5*****s, 8-15-23
11. The Witch by Shirley Jackson, 4****s, 8-23-23
12. The Bear by William Faulkner, 2**s, 8-30-23

Bob wrote: "Terris, so glad you have decided to pick up a plate and indulge in our Buffet. You will notice that the plates we use here are exceptionally large, so feel free to fill it up. Remember no one looks..."

Thanks, Bob! Looking forward to reading in 2023, whether I finish my plate or not! :)

All the best, Terris!

Ila wrote: "All the best, Terris!"

Thanks, Ila!

Looks great, Terris! I’m excited to see how you’ll fill these up! Have fun doing it!

Thanks, Lori! You know I will! ;)

A very reasonable portion, Terris. This will not make you feel overstuffed but should be quite satisfying. I really need to adopt your personal challenge--I keep adding more than I subtract.

I know what you mean! I'm really going to try to lighten my bookshelf load this year :)

And, as I looked at these challenges, they all looked like they would fit in with the books I'll be reading anyway -- not adding to my reading list. So, since I love marking things off of lists, I'll just have more lists to mark off of -- Win - Win! ;)

Terri, the old & New looks interesting! Good luck with your challenge. I have marked The Graduate as to read a couple of days ago. Let me know when you plan to read it and I might read along ;)

Shaina wrote: "Terri, the old & New looks interesting! Good luck with your challenge. I have marked The Graduate as to read a couple of days ago. Let me know when you plan to read it and I might read along ;)"

Sure!

Your old and New is looking great, Terris. That is my favorite challenge and you have quite a few books on there that I'd like to get to. Good luck with all your categories!

Sue wrote: "Your old and New is looking great, Terris. That is my favorite challenge and you have quite a few books on there that I'd like to get to. Good luck with all your categories!"

Thanks, Sue!

Great start, you can never go wrong with Nevil Shute. I hope you like Ruth, I found it excellent.

I’m looking forward to both! Thanks, Bob :)

I'm happy to have read two on my Old/New Challenge already! This is a challenge that I don't always finish, and I don't know if I will this year either. But I'm certainly going to try!!
These were two good ones to start me off:

Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, 3***s, 1-23-23
Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore, 4****s, 1-23-23

Off to a great start, Terri!

Shaina wrote: "Off to a great start, Terri!"

Thanks, Shaina! AND I was able to use Lorna Doone four times on my Popsugar challenge! Yay!!! ;)

I noticed you have also completed New Authors, a really good start.

Thanks, Bob! I forgot the New Authors challenge was only "6" to complete. I added more numbers! haha!

I'm loving the Buffet!
I'm having fun seeing where the books I'm reading fit in :)

Wow Terris you have read so many books so far. You are flying through the challenges.

It's funny -- I've just been finding books that I like and they fit into my Buffet challenges! I'm loving it! :)

I love that you are reading what you love and still checking off all those slots!

Sara wrote: "I love that you are reading what you love and still checking off all those slots!"

I love it too, Sara! :)

I finished "Challenge #4 - Members Choice"!! That was fun and quick :)

Whoa, that was quick! And, look at all those 4 and 5-star ratings. Huge congats.

Thanks, Sara! Yes, several good ones there, of which I am very glad!

Wow. Well this shows the variety of your reading! Well done, Terris!

I am impressed, congrats!!

Thanks, all!! I’m certainly enjoying my reading so far this year :)

I'm happy that I completed my goal of reading 12 books off my personal book shelf -- but that's hardly a drop in the bucket! So, I'm going to continue with it. But at least this is a start! And it feels so good :)

It is a marvelous start, Terris. I have such a hard time sticking to my owned books...I keep straying to library books and group reads. I am reading at random, I just need to pick up books off my own bookshelf!

You should try it — you’ll like it! ;)

Terris wrote: "I'm happy that I completed my goal of reading 12 books off my personal book shelf -- but that's hardly a drop in the bucket! So, I'm going to continue with it. But at least this is a start! And it ..."

Congrats, Terris! I totally get the feeling; sometimes it feels like the books you read have hardly made a dent in the reading pile before you add new ones. All the best!

Ila wrote: "Terris wrote: "I'm happy that I completed my goal of reading 12 books off my personal book shelf -- but that's hardly a drop in the bucket! So, I'm going to continue with it. But at least this is a..."

Exactly! Thanks :)

I really like the idea of the personal challenge, congrats on finishing yours.

Thanks, Bob! It’s very satisfying ;)

Well, I finished another one on my Old/New Challenge, but it wasn't very satisfying -- The Graduate. I think the writing is what got to me -- it was awful! I think I'm going to have to watch the movie, it sounds like it was so much better than the book. I think if this had not been a popular movie the book would have gone nowhere :/

The movie was quite good, but I could see how it might not work as well as a book. Hope the next one is a winner.

Sara wrote: "The movie was quite good, but I could see how it might not work as well as a book. Hope the next one is a winner."

Me too! But I think I'm pretty safe with that -- I can only go up from here!! haha! ;)

I've yet to see the movie but it really is shocking when you find out the book isn't what it's cracked up to be. Wish you better luck with the next read!

Thanks, Ila!