Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

2026 Challenge Buffet- Fingers Crossed, Something for Everyone

Another year, another Buffet. Again, this year, the chef has made some changes to the menu. Several entrees are new, while a couple of dishes have been removed. Another change to the menu is that a few dishes have been reduced in size. While others have undergone an adjustment of ingredients. These changes will hopefully add variety while reducing the stress that can occur when faced with a plate that is too full to finish comfortably. The chef is optimistic that there is still a dish for everyone. As always, feel free to pick as few or as many challenges as fit your appetite.

At this buffet gluttony is not a bad thing; take as much as you want and don't worry about not finishing all you take. This is for fun!

Remember every challenge created, every author and every book listed, becomes a resource for our members to learn about authors and books they haven’t heard of before.

Next Year's 2026 Buffet Menu:
Details See Messages 2-21

Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR
Challenge #2 - Members Choice
Challenge #3 - New Authors
Challenge #4 - Short Story
Challenge #5 - Decade/Century
Challenge #6 - Group Reads, Buddy Reads, Moderators Run Amok
Challenge #7 - Series Books – Start, Continue, Complete
Challenge #8 - Travel the World One Book at a Time
Challenge #9 – Rereading - Some do. Some don't.
Challenge #10 - Most Popular Goodreads Books Listed by Year
Challenge #11 - Future Classics
Challenge #12 - Fiction/Non-Fiction
Challenge #13 - Old and New Linked Categories
Challenge #14 - Genre Locked? Neglecting Your Favorite Author?
Challenge #15 - Award Winners
Challenge #16 - Terry's Book Chain
Challenge #17 - The Year You Were Born and 100 Years Earlier
Challenge #18 - A-Z Author
Challenge #19 - A-Z Title
Challenge #20 - No Challenge Here. A Place to List Your 2026 Impulse Reads

General/Helpful Challenge Information:
These challenges are personal. It is important that you enjoy your challenge/s; don't feel pressure to finish, this is for fun. Use your own creativity to make your challenge special. Select books that you truly have an interest in reading. It's your challenge your choices. Just stick to the basic challenge configuration.

Create your own separate thread to list the challenge/s you wish to participate in. If you plan on participating in several challenges, you will want to save/reserve several message/posts at the beginning of your thread to list each challenge you intend to try. Reserve messages 1-21 if you are going to try them all. Remember you can always delete the save posts if you don't need them.

To Create your challenge thread simply go to the top of this folder click on the title (Challenge Buffet). Then look to the right for the words (new topic), click that, a new screen will open. In the box (topic) type the name you wish to give your challenge. In the (comment) box list your books chosen for the challenge. Use the (add book/author) link so that others can link to your choices and learn more about the book you have selected.

Feel free to mark your finished books anyway you wish. After you have finished a book, you can strike it off your list. Directions are listed at the top of the comment box (some html is ok). You can list the date you finished or add the number of stars you though the book deserved.

Examples of marking books completed:
✓1. Les Misérables
2. Great Expectations 11/20/26
3. The Woman in White*****
4. The Great Gatsby Finished 1/25/26
5. The Red Pony 5 Stars, Finished

Challenge #1 - Old & New TBR Challenge

First started in 2015, this is our group's oldest challenge. It is designed to help/force us reduce our personal TBR's. This challenge commits you to reading 12 books next year from your oldest dust collecting TBR. Choose 12 books you want to read and list three alternates, to use as substitutes should one of your choices need to be replaced. You do not have to read all 15 books listed. 12 books read is a complete challenge. Any books read is a success, as you will have reduced your TBR. This 12 + 3 challenge will last all year, and you can read at your own pace. Once you create your reading thread, you and other members can comment on your book choices and progress.

Only six of the 12 books selected are required be Books based on the Groups date requirements, they do not have to come from the group's bookshelf . At least 3 old books (published before 1915) and 3 newer books (published from 1915-2006). The other six and your three alternates can be any genre or age you wish to read. Yes, even non-fiction, poetry, plays, and post 2006 publications.

Starting today you can begin creating your challenge thread. The whole month of December is dedicated to planning your challenge. You can add your books and make edit adjustments till December 31st. No challenge reading can start till January 1, 2026. No changes should be made to your list once challenge starts

If you're a current Group Member, you have until midnight 12/31/2025 to finalize your list. You can post your list and make all the changes you want until then, but no changes after midnight 12/31/2025. If you join our Classics Group after that date, you may still participate by posting and editing your list within two weeks of joining the group, but you can't make changes after you post your list.

For New Members joining in 2026, in addition to the above rules, feel free to adjust your challenge according to the number of months left in the year. Example: If you join in March 2026 and wish to participate, list 9 books and 3 alternates. If your joined after March 2026 list the appropriate number of books according to the number of months left but only pick two alternates. Remember to add your alternates to any challenge you set up.

Example of a Challenge:

My Crusty Musty Dusty TBR Clean-up Challenge
1914 and earlier
1. Les Misérables - 1862
2. An Ideal Husband - 1893
3. The Secret Agent - 1907
1915-2006/New School
4. Of Human Bondage -1915
5. The Caves of Night - 1958
6. The Road - 2006
Six Bookshelf Dust Collectors
7. The Return of the Soldier - 1918
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey - 1968
9. The Pillars of the Earth - 1989
10. Ender's Shadow - 1999
11. Sin Killer - 2002
12. A Gentleman in Moscow - 2016

Alternates
A-1. The Law - 1849
A-2. Gone with the Wind - 1936
A-3 The Women - 2024

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

1. 18th Century or Older -
2. 19th Century -
3. 20th Century -
4. 21st Century -
5. A book of interest from another diner's buffet -
6. Members Choice Genre -
7. Members Choice Genre -
8. Members Choice Genre -
9. Members Choice Genre -

Some Genre Choices-
Fiction - Science Fiction. Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Suspense, Young Adult, Poetry, Plays, Romance, etc.
Nonfiction - History, Biography, Memoir, Politics, Religion, Science, Philosophy, Sports, Travel,
Self Help, etc.

Challenge #3 - Expand Your Horizon with New Authors

Seek out at least four (4) authors that you have never previously read, from any genre or era you want.

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4.

Challenge #4 - Short Story Challenge
Read 16 short stories.

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16.

Challenge #5 - Decade/Century Challenge

Only one version of the challenge is required to participate. For those exceptional readers, over achievers, or competitive eating gluttons, feel free to increase the difficulty of the challenge by taking on both versions. There are two ways to participate. First, read one book per year for 10 consecutive years, one-decade total. Second read one book from 10 consecutive decades, one century total.

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.

Challenge Example: (Decade Challenge)

Decade Challenge
1920-Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
1921-The Narrow House by Evelyn Scott
1922-Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
1923-Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
1924-A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
1925-The Professor's House by Willa Cather
1926-The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
1927-To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
1928-Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
1929-Passing by Nella Larsen


The Century Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive decades (1 book per decade). 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.

Challenge Example: (Century Challenge)

Century Challenge
1850-1859 The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850
1860-1869 Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell, 1863
1870-1879 Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, 1874
1880-1889 Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott, 1880
1890-1899 Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling, 1896
1900-1909 The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, 1901
1910-1919 Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1815
1920-1929 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, 1926
1930-1939 Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, 1937
1940-1949 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, 1940

Challenge 6 - Group Reads, Buddy Reads, or Moderators Run Amok
The challenge is to read 10 total books/stories from this year's selected group reads. Your reads can come from this year's poll winners, the Buddy Read Requests, or the new Moderators Run Amok! There should be plenty of choices.

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10.

Challenge #7- Series Books – Start, Continue, Complete
Many of us read series books. Sometimes these books are neglected in favor of other reading. As much as I like reading several of the series I have on my shelf. I have at times left them untouched for as much as a year. This year’s series challenge is to break the neglect and bring series books back into our current annual reading.

Start
For those who aren't reading a series currently, here is your opportunity to start one.
Continue
If you are currently reading a series and have stalled out and set it aside, here is your chance to get back to it.
Complete
If you are close to finishing a series, but have not been actively reading them, here is your chance to finish it.

To help members find new reading, list a few series that you enjoy.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

The challenge is to read at least two books. That is only 1 every six months. This is doable

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2.

Challenge #8 - Travel the World One Book at a Time
Select 5 books, by 5 different authors, from 5 different countries, other than your own.

Book Title - Author/Country - Book Setting
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4.
5.

Example
1. The Violent Land - Jorge Amado/Brazil - Brazil

Challenge #9 - Re-reading? - Some do, Some don't

Some of us reread regularly, others reread rarely, if ever. We have all read books that we found fantastic. We finish the last page, set it aside and think someday I would like to read this again. Let us know the titles of five or more books you found worthy of rereading. This year’s challenge is, reread two of your selections.

Books I'd Love to Reread
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Read Again in 2026
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Challenge #10 – Most Popular Goodreads Books Listed by Year
Locate and list 10 books that most interest you from the year of your choice. The challenge is to read 2 books from that list.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/popula...

NOTE: click on the link above then change the date to the date you wish to search.

10 Books of Interest for 1929
1. A Farewell to Arms
2. Letters to a Young Poet
3. Passing
4. Look Homeward, Angel
5. Partners in Crime
6. Red Harvest
7. Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story
8. The Secret of the Caves
9. The Last September
10. The Blacker the Berry...

2026 Books Read
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Challenge #11 - Future Classics
A Quarter of the 21st Century has passed; did you read any potential classics? For discussion, and the benefit and curiosity of our members please list 5 books you have read over the last 25 years that you believe will still be actively read in 50-100+ years.

Examples
These Five Were Great, I Believe They Will Stand the Test of Time
2003 - The Kite Runner
2006 - The Road
2011 - 11/22/63
2016 - A Gentleman in Moscow
2021 - The Lost Apothecary

The Future Classic Challenge - List 3 unread books published between 2000-2025 that you feel have the potential to become a classic.

The challenge, read 1 of your 3 selections. Then let us know if you think it has a chance at greatness, or will it pass into oblivion.

Examples
These Might have a Chance at Greatness?
1. 2008 - The Hunger Games
2. 2012 - A Man Called Ove
3. 2024 - The Women

Book Chosen for Challenge
1, 2, or 3
_____________________

Challenge #12– Fiction/Non-Fiction

Using the below categories or a selection of your own pick two subjects of interest and read a fiction book and a non-fiction book about that subject. Total number of books for this challenge is four.

Categories
Space Exploration
War
Sea Travels/Adventures
Family
Exploration
Animals
Historic Event
Natural Disaster
Survival
Death
Civilization
Justice
Religion/Faith
Slavery
Politics
Royality

Example:
Sea Travels/Adventures
Fiction - The Sea Wolf
Non-Fiction - Two Years Before the Mast: A Sailor's Life at Sea

World War II - Europe: The Beginning of the End
Fiction - The Steel Wave
Non-Fiction - Normandy '44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France

Challenge #13 - Old and New Linked Categories

Using the below categories or choices of your own, pick two subjects of interest. Link the chosen subjects to an old book 1914 or earlier to a newer book 1915 -present. Total number of books for this challenge is four.

Categories
Contains a Trial
Has a Murder
Contains Time Travel
Coming of Age
An Error in Judgement - Paying the Ultimate Price
Set on or has The Sea involved
Animals
School
Travel
Life Changing Action
Survival
Friendship
Bravery/Courage
Generation Gap

Example:
Life Changing Action
Old - A Horseman in the Sky
New - A Separate Peace

Generation Gap-Mother and Children
Old - Sons and Lovers
New - Peyton Place

Challenge #14 - Break Your Reading Rut
Part A-Are you Genre Locked?
Part B-Are you Neglecting a Favorite Author?
If the answer is yes, then this challenge is for you.

Part A - Are you stuck in a Genre Rut? Reading to many romance novels or God forbid to many classics? Break out of that rut by picking a couple of different genres, any two genres will do.

Challenge-pick and read one book from two different genres that are not your normal go too. Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Suspense, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Poetry, Plays, Romance, etc.

Genre Selected - Book Chosen
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Part B - Who have you been neglecting the most? Has your favorite author slipped away from you because life is hectic or other books get in the way? Think about your favorite author or authors, who haven't you read in a while?

Challenge-pick one or more favorite authors you have been mistreating by leaving them on your shelf for far too long. Pick up that book you have been meaning to read and READ IT!

Neglected Author - Book Chosen
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Other Neglected Authors - Book Chosen - Not a requirement
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Challenge #15 - Award Winners
From the below book prize lists, or a prize from your country or local region, seek out and read two award winning books. Please let the group know what prize list or lists you use, as well as the book information.

Nobel Prize in Literature - since 1901
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Booker Prize - since 1969
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booke...
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - since 1918
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitze...
Hugo Award - since 1953
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Aw...
Newberry Medal - since 1922
https://www.britannica.com/art/Newber...
European Union Prize for Literature - since 2009
https://www.euprizeliterature.eu/

Books Chosen
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2.

NOTE: I won't promise that these links will work for everyone. Given the prize names listed, plus you can select and use any other book award of interest, I don't think there is a serious problem for members to search out web sites if the links fail.

Challenge #16 Terry's Book Chain

This challenge comes from Terry. At first look it seems easy, on further thought it looks kind of difficult. One thing for sure is that it looks like a ton of fun. The idea is to start with a book you want to read, then take one word from that title, and find another book you want to read with that word in the title. Repeat the process until you have the total required to make your chain. The idea is to take yourself on a somewhat random journey through the year. Terry's example has 12 books needed to complete the challenge. Since overeating at the buffet can be a problem for some, for our challenge the total needed is 6 books.

Terry's Example:
1. The English Patient
2. The Silent Patient
3. These Silent Woods
4. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
5. A Walk to Remember
6. Elephants Can Remember
7. The Elephant Whisperer
8. The Horse Whisperer
9. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
10. The Fox Wife
11. The Time Traveler's Wife
12. If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler

There is no restriction on book types, age, or genres. So as to not add undo pressure it seems fair to allow a "mulligan". If one of your selections turns out to be a dud and you DNF it, simply select another one that will fit your need. If the replacement proves to difficult by needing to match the top link to the next link, simply skip the DNF'ed book and move to the next link. If this happens, add an additional link to the bottom of the chain to keep a total of six.

Don't get bogged down with suffixes, wood, woods, wooden, woodland, etc. all work.

Challenge #17 - The Year You Were Born and 100 Years Earlier
Select 7 books from the year you were born. Select 7 more from 100 years earlier, for a total of 14 books. The challenge is to successfully read 4 of the 14 books selected. 2 from your birth year and 2 from 100 years earlier.

Note: Should you feel that your birth year is too personal, please feel free to choose any date that has significance. Such as a family member's birth, an anniversary, or graduation, etc.

Examples: If you were born in 1960
1960
To Kill a Mockingbird
Green Eggs and Ham
Rabbit, Run
The Incredible Journey
A Man for All Seasons
Trustee from the Toolroom
The Sot-Weed Factor
Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Violent Bear It Away
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

1860
The Mill on the Floss
First Love
The Trail of the Serpent
Castle Richmond
The Black City
Framley Parsonage
The Marble Faun
Conduct of Life: A Philosophical Reading
Tithonus
The Semi-Attached Couple and the Semi-Detached House

1960
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2-
1860
1-
2-

Challenge #18 - A-Z Author Challenge

I find this to be a very difficult challenge. Many others consider it one of their favorites. For those who really enjoy this challenge in its pure form use all 26 letters. For those of us who struggle, with this challenge consider it successful by using only 22 letters. There are 4 optional letters marked with an (*), you only need to use one.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
*Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
*X
*Y
*Z

Challenge #19 - A-Z Title Challenge

I find this to be a very difficult challenge. Many others consider it one of their favorites. For those who really enjoy this challenge in its pure form use all 26 letters. For those of us who struggle, with this challenge consider it successful by using only 22 letters. There are 4 optional letters marked with an (*), you only need to use one.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
*Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
*X
*Y
*Z

Challenge #20? No, Just a Place to List Your 2026 Impulse Reads

Use this thread any way you wish.

We encourage December pre-planning. Most people enjoy the planning, and all members benefit from members' plans by learning about books they may have been unaware of before December's buffet planning. The only buffet challenge that can't be pre-planned is Group Reads. They will occur throughout the year. The other issue is that life will get in the way of even the best laid plans. Unplanned books are going to come our way, and we are going to read them. That is one of the reasons these challenges are for fun, and there is no requirement to finish them.

Take me as an example. Last December, I sorted through 89 books to plan and create my buffet. Sixty-nine of these were books that I own, while the other 21 would have to be secured if I needed them. I only planned a few short stories reads and no group reads.

In addition to the books, I planned last December to read in 2025. I, on impulse, came across 26 novels and 108 short stories. None of these were planned or thought about last December.

Now you have a place to record them.

save

WoW. Thank you Bob

Thanks, Bob!! Your first paragraph had me hooked!! I knew I couldn't pass up this scrumptious menu!! My compliment to the chef ;)

Can't wait to get started! :)

This really looks amazing, Bob!
Can’t wait to get started on it :)

Woah! That's quite a spread! Thank you, Bob! I hope all my exclamation marks express how much I love this Buffet!!

Thank you so much Bob! I really like your changes for this year, especially the new "favourite author" challenge! Thank you for putting together a set of challenges every year that always enriches my reading. :)

Thank you, Bob! This is excellent!