Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

I'm going to over-plan, and see what happens this year. I am usually pretty bad at recording what I read for the challenges - but the planning is always fun.

2026 Buffet Menu:


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

Challenge #1 - Old & New TBR Challenge


Old School: 1914 and Earlier
1. No Name by Wilkie Collins
2. On the Niemen by Eliza Orzeszkowa
3. Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments by Sappho

New School: 1915 - 2006
4. Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
5. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
6. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick

Six of Whatever
7. Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim
8. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
9. The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
10. Ariel by Sylvia Plath
11. Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
12. Candide by Voltaire

Alternates
A1. Watchmen by Alan Moore
A2. Independent People by Halldór Laxness
A3. The Forty Days of Musa Dagh by Franz Werfel

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 -- The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick
✅ 4. 21st Century - Winter of the World by Ken Follett
5. A book of interest from another diner's buffet -
✅ 6. Members Choice Genre -Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life by Jason Roberts
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.

✅ 1. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick
2.
3.
4.

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

1.
2.
3.
4.
.
.
16.

Challenge #5 - Decade/Century Challenge

Decade (1960s) Challenge
1960: Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman
1961: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
1962: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
1963: The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
1964: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
1965: Ariel by Sylvia Plath
1966: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
1967: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
1968: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
1969: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Century (1900s) Challenge
1905: The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Jules Verne
1912: Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
1925: The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
1933: Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell
1944: Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
1952: The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
1969: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
1978: The World According to Garp by John Irving
1982: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
1996: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

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.

✅ 1. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick
2. No Name by Wilkie Collins
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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
✅ The Century Trilogy
✅ 1) Winter of the World by Ken Follett
✅ 2) Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

Complete
If you are close to finishing a series, but have not been actively reading them, here is your chance to finish it.

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

1.
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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Read Again in 2026
1.
2.

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 ?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

2026 Books Read
1.
2.

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.


These Five Were Great, I Believe They Will Stand the Test of Time
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.


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.


These Might have a Chance at Greatness
1.
2.
3.

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

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

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
1.
2.

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
1.
Other Neglected Authors - Book Chosen - Not a requirement
2.
3.

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
1.
2.

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.

Challenge #18 - A-Z Author Challenge


A
B
✅ C. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
✅ D. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick
E
✅ F - Winter of the World by Ken Follett
G
✅ H. The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell
✅ I. The Will of the Many by James Islington
J
✅ K. Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
L
✅ M. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
✅N. The Summer War by Naomi Novik
O
P
*Q
✅ R. Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life by Jason Roberts
S
✅ T. Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
U
V
✅ W. Fireblood by Jeff Wheeler
*X
*Y
✅ *Z Zoë Schlanger - The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth

Challenge #19 - A-Z Title Challenge


✅ A. Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
✅ B. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
C
✅ D. Dryad-Born by Jeff Wheeler
✅ E. Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
✅ F. Fireblood by Jeff Wheeler
✅ G. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick
✅ H. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
✅ I. Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
J
✅ K. The Killing Fog by Jeff Wheeler
✅ L. The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger
M
✅ N. Native Nations: A Millennium in North America by Kathleen DuVal
O
✅ P. Poisonwell by Jeff Wheeler
*Q
✅ R. Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
✅S. The Summer War by Naomi Novik
T
✅ U. The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell
V
✅ W - Winter of the World by Ken Follett
*X
*Y
*Z

Challenge #20
Just a Place to List My 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.

.

Have fun with planning your Buffet, Katy. I hope you have a terrific year of reading!

Wobbley wrote: "Have fun with planning your Buffet, Katy. I hope you have a terrific year of reading!"

Thanks, and really just going through my TBR shelves is so nice to see what I want to read next.

Katy, do you want me to delete my earlier comment so that you can then delete you reply and have this challenge be connected to your others? Or actually, you're a mod, so I think you can delete it yourself right? Anyway, feel free to delete my comment if that works best for your challenge organizing. I can always comment again later. :)

Wobbley wrote: "Katy, do you want me to delete my earlier comment so that you can then delete you reply and have this challenge be connected to your others? Or actually, you're a mod, so I think you can delete it ..."

I had saved space, so things worked out great. Thank you for thinking of me.

Looking forward to tracking along with you!

Katy, first thank you for all your hard work as a mod!

Then, Cynda snd I are going to read Slouching Towards Bethlehem and are thinking about a Buddy Read for it. When I saw it on your list, I wondered if you might like to join too?

I'm in awe of your century challenge, Katy. What a variety of great choices. Have fun!

Terry wrote: "Katy, first thank you for all your hard work as a mod!

Then, Cynda snd I are going to read Slouching Towards Bethlehem and are thinking about a Buddy Read for it. When I saw it on your list, I won..."

You are welcome, and yes I'd love to Buddy Read with you.

Kathleen wrote: "I'm in awe of your century challenge, Katy. What a variety of great choices. Have fun!"

Thanks, I do love the planning. Although, I am realistic enough to realize that I won't be able to read all of my plans.

Slouching Towards Bethlehem is now on the Buddy Read Schedule for July. So glad you will be joining us!

Terry wrote: "Slouching Towards Bethlehem is now on the Buddy Read Schedule for July. So glad you will be joining us!"

It's on my list.

Hey Katy! Overplanning, eh? I think I am too, although I didn't do the decade plan completely yet. Seeing yours, I might try to plan that too. (one of the harder challenges)
Anyway, have a great year and enjoy planning!

I've got books chosen for Challenge #1 finally. I imagine I will tweak that list before the new year.

Your list looks good, Katy. I'm looking forward to No Name in the new year. :)

I have updated my Challenge #1 Plan.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I love Wind in the Willows -- I hope it's a winner for you. :)

Wobbley wrote: "I love Wind in the Willows -- I hope it's a winner for you. :)"

Thanks

First book of the year read:

Winter of the World by Ken Follett

Woohoo, fast out of the gate!

Anything by Follett is a good way to start the year!

Goodness, I feel like I need to get a move on.

Bob wrote: "Anything by Follett is a good way to start the year!"

I agree - not a classic by date of being published - but always a worthwhile read IMHO.

Finished The Century Trilogy with the last of the series: Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

What a long book to start the year with!

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick filled in a few spaces for me.

Terrific! I hope you enjoyed it. :)