Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
2026 Bingo Plus
>
2026 Bingo Plus Challenge
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
The goal is to focus your reading on what you define as a classic.
Read a classic that fits the description of each square. You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge. Each book can be applied to only one square, even if it fulfills the requirements of multiple squares. All books read to mark off squares must be finished in 2026.
Challenge Levels
Level One Bingo
Four Corners: Mark off the four outside corners of the Bingo board.
Five-in-a-Row: Mark off five squares in a row. This can be done horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Level Two Bingo
Small Box: Mark off all the 9 inner squares of the board (including the free square), leaving blank the 16 outside border squares.
Level Three Bingo
Outside Box: Mark off all 16 of the outer squares, leaving blank the 9 inner squares.
Level Four Bingo
Blackout! Mark off all the squares of the board.
Mod
B1: 20th Century
B2: Your Native Language
B3: New Country
B4: Chosen by the Cover
B5: Ancient/Old or Future
I1: Group’s Bookshelf Prior to 2026
I2: Prize Winning Author
I3: Science
I4: From Your TRB Shelf
I5: Book From the Group's Favorite 2025 Reads
N1: The Americas or Oceania
N2: Action & Adventure
N3: Free Choice — Classic or Not
N4: Mystery, Suspense, or Thriller
N5: Africa, Asia, or Europe
G1: Group Poll that Did Not Win
G2: Missing From the Group’s Shelf
G3: History
G4: Recommended to You
G5: Group’s 2026 Bookshelf
O1: Birth Year
O2: New-to-You or Favorite Author
O3: Somewhere Else
O4: Translation
O5: 19th Century
Mod
Clarifications & Suggestions: B
★B1: 20th Century
Read a classic that was published in the 20th Century (1901 - 2000).
★B2: Your Native Language
Read a classic that was written in your native or first language.
★B3: New Country
Read a classic set in or written by an author from a country that you didn’t read last year, or a country to which you have never traveled.
★B4: Chosen by the Cover
Read a classic that has a cover that appeals to you. It could be in your favorite color, or perhaps you love the type set of the title, or some other reason that the cover drew you into wanting to read this one.
★B5: Ancient/Old or Future
Read a classic that was written in an ancient or older era, or read a future classic.
Mod
Clarifications & Suggestions: I
★I1: From the Group’s Shelf Prior to 2026
Read a classic that was a group read in 2025 or before.
Group’s Bookshelf Sorted by Title
★I2: Prize Winning Author
Read a classic in which the author has won a prize for writing.
★I3: Science
Read a classic that involves science, nature, or science fiction..
★I4: From Your TBR Shelf
Read a classic that has been on your to be read shelf for at least a year.
★I5: Book From the Group's Favorite 2025 Reads
Read a book that was a favorite of one of our group members. These are posted on a group thread - feel free to add your own favorites from last year also.
Catching Up on Classics Favorite Reads of 2025
Mod
Clarifications & Suggestions: N
★N1: Classic of the Americas or Oceania
Read a classic that is either set in the Americas or Oceania, or is written by an author native to that geographical area. Goodreads Places: Books categorized by setting
★ N2: Action and Adventure
Read a classic considered to be either action or adventure.
★N3: Free Choice — Classic or Not
Read ANYTHING that interests you, or just count this one as a freebie.
★ N4: Mystery, Suspense, or Thriller
Read a classic considered to be a mystery, suspense, or thriller.
★ N5: Classic of Africa , Asia, or Europe
Read a classic that is either set in Africa, Asia, or Europe, or is written by an author native to that geographical area. Goodreads Places: Books categorized by setting
Mod
Clarifications & Suggestions: G
★ G1: Group Poll that Did Not Win
Read a classic that was second place or worse in one of our group polls.
Group Polls
★G2: Missing From the Group’s Shelf
Read a classic that is missing from the group’s bookshelves.
Group’s Bookshelf Sorted by Title
★ G3: History
Read a classic considered to be history, historical fiction, alternate history, or a period piece.
★G4: Recommended to You
Read a classic recommended to you, either by a friend or a group member.
★G5: Book From Our Group’s 2026 Bookshelf
Read a book that is a group read in 2026.
Group’s Bookshelf Sorted by Date
Mod
Clarifications & Suggestions: O
★O1: Birth Year
Read a classic published in your birth year or in the birth year of someone that you admire.
★O2: New-to-You or Favorite Author:
Read a classic by an author whose works you have never read or a work by one of your favorite authors.
★O3: Somewhere Else
Read a classic that is set somewhere other than the regions listed in N1 or N5. This can be a real (Antartica, sea, moon, etc) or an imaginary setting.
★O4: Classic in Translation
Read a classic that has been translated from another language.
★O5: 19th Century
Read a classic that was published in the 19th Century (1801 - 1900).
Mod
You can earn up to ten (10) extra points (or Kudos) by choosing classic reads that fit into any of the categories below. The reads must be from those that you use to fill in a Bingo Square for 2026.
Each read and extra point category can be used only once for extra points.
Audio Book
Children’s Book
Epistolary
Essay
Graphic or Comic Book
Nonfiction
Novel
Play
Poetry
Short Story
Thank you, Katy, for your hard work on this Bingo card! I love the new "Plus" feature! Makes it a little more interesting and "challenging" (pun intended!). Can't wait to get started planning!
Mod
Have fun with the planning.
This looks great Katy! Looking forward to it already :)
Mod
Janelle wrote: "This looks great Katy!
Looking forward to it already :)"
JP wrote: "I love the "Plus" idea. Cheers!"
Enjoy.
I love this, Katy! A few to provide a challenging nudge, but the kind I look forward to. Thanks so much for all you do.
Well thought out,Katy!This is a superb challenge!
I'm looking forward to this Bingo, Katy. The extra "points" available already have me plotting... Thanks for all your hard work!
Mod
Thanks so much for all the work you put into making this challenge Katy! I love all the flexibility you've added, with multiple options available in many of the squares (e.g. - science or science fiction).
Thanks Katy for all your work. I think Bingo is one of things that makes this group special, and it was one of the reasons I joined all those years ago.
Mod
Katy wrote: "It was fun to try to make a bit of something new for the board this year. I hope you all enjoy reading."The new Bingo will be great fun. There is so much room for individual tastes and impulse reading. Thank you!
This challenge can be used with your other challenges. Books and authors selected here can be used to fill other challenge needs.
NOTE: Start your own thread for your challenge in this folder, or ask a Moderator to start a thread for you. Please include your name in your Bingo title.
Happy Reading!