Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Message 16 updatedhttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You know that moment when you have to read a book but your author alphabet slot is already filled - yeah, that! I feel slightly cheated having to read a book that can't count :-(

6/26 update message 7

Odwyer wrote: "You know that moment when you have to read a book but your author alphabet slot is already filled - yeah, that! I feel slightly cheated having to read a book that can't count :-("

I know what you mean. I think I may actually hate the A-Z Challenges. I just finished The Stranger by Albert Camus. I already have an author for the letter “C”, Willa Cather. Not my only duplicate. Now let’s rub some salt into the wound. Last night I finished The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. I’m currently reading Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally, and I plan to read A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Four consecutive book titles starting with “S” and three with authors whose name start with “K”. At this rate if I read 150 books I may still have trouble coming up with 26 different letters. I feel more defeated than cheated. I want to appeal to the judges and ask to use the second and third letters, now that’s the ticket, finish this challenge is just a few months.

I know I've complained about this before. Perhaps the only way out is to run down the street screaming madly till I'm picked up and taken to a nice quiet room, where I'm medicated to a peaceful tranquil state, and then my only problem would be wondering why am I tied to the bed.

Reading could be dangerous, use caution.

I know how you feel Bob. I read 150 books last year, yet didn't finish my old and new classic challenge, and that was only 12 books.

The struggle will come at the end of the year when I realize that I have gaps that have to be filled and none of the books I have scheduled will fill them.

How inconsiderate of all these authors to have names that begin with the same letters and to name their books without any thought to how we might NEED them to be named. :)

Hee hee glad to know i'm not alone in the challenge madness.

I know just how you feel Bob and it looks like you're not alone. What i always find surprising with the A-Z challenges is what letters are left at the end. I expect Q, X and Z to be tricky, but last year I was left with R, which I wouldn't have thought difficult to complete out of 150 odd books!

You can search goodreads and wikipeadia by last name of author - here is u "Authors with last names starting with U (79 books)" - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Here are "Goodreads Books by first letter of title U, V, W" - https://www.google.com/search?q=goodr...

The entire alphabet of titles is grouped by 3 letters on that second link page.

Bob wrote: "Odwyer wrote: "You know that moment when you have to read a book but your author alphabet slot is already filled - yeah, that! I feel slightly cheated having to read a book that can't count :-("

I..."

I decided to do the A-Z title challenge (with the exception of X where any title with X in it will count), so I took my tbr list, started filling in titles...it seemed like 98% of what I planned to read start with B, C, or D. Surprisingly I could find a Z and Q title in my kindle books, but J and K were more challenging. I did find a J book in the kindle collection and had a K book on my bookshelf.

Although if I wanted an 'easy' challenge, I'd just re-read Sue Grafton's series (X released in 2015 ;) )

The author A-Z is one I don't want to do as X and Z would pretty much stump me.

I can completely relate to frustration with authors with the same letter. I have read 7 books so far this year and 3 were authors beginning with S. Geez, I need to work on author diversity. I have my X and my Z authors picked out, but I don't about my Q yet.

I've finished my 9th book in the author A to. Z challenge. It is The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. My challenge is under message 6 with a link to my review.

So far I've just read books on my TBR list without worrying to much about the letters. That will come later in the year when I start trying to fill in the holes. Like many of you, I have some duplications already.

My January Update
9/26 Completed (about 1/3 of the way finished& two tricky letters completed Y & Z)

B: Kai Bird: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
E: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: The Little Prince
H: Amanda Hocking, Frostfire
J: N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season
S: Anna Sewell, Black Beauty: Original and Unabridged
T: Adrian Tchaikovsky: Empire in Black and Gold
W: Nancy Werlin: Impossible
Y: Jane Yolen, Xanadu 2
Z: Charlotte Zolotow: The Storm Book

Update message 6.

Just added author Colm Tóibín to my A to Z author challenge with his beautifully written novel Brooklyn. 10 down and 16 to go

www.goodreads.com/review/show/1442924231

Looks like another good book to read.

I'm reading Nora Webster right now. My first Toibin and liking it so far. Loved your review and added Brooklyn to my TBR.

Nora Webster's character is mentioned in Brooklyn, although she doesn't make an appearance. I'm assuming it's the same one.

Sara wrote: "I'm reading Nora Webster right now. My first Toibin and liking it so far. Loved your review and added Brooklyn to my TBR."

That's on my to be read sooner than later list.

Duane wrote: "Nora Webster's character is mentioned in Brooklyn, although she doesn't make an appearance. I'm assuming it's the same one."

I noticed that both books are set in the same town, so I would imagine it is the same one.

Update for message 6.

I added Anita Loos to my A to Z author challenge for her 1925 novel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Updated Message 13
Just finished the second of two short books by new-to-me author Anna Quindlen: How Reading Changed My Life and Good Dog. Stay.. I didn't feel right counting just one since both were so short. Plus they were perfect for this dog and book lover! Very enjoyable.

Kathleen wrote: "Updated Message 13
Just finished the second of two short books by new-to-me author Anna Quindlen: How Reading Changed My Life and Good Dog. Stay.. I didn'..."

Love her, Kathleen. You should read Blessings. I was very much affected by it.

Sara wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Updated Message 13
Just finished the second of two short books by new-to-me author Anna Quindlen: ...Love her, Kathleen. You should read Blessings"

Great! I didn't know which of her novels to start with. Thanks Sara!

Update of message 6.
Just completed 14th book for the authors challenge.
Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1536323277

Duane wrote: "Update of message 6.
Just completed 14th book for the authors challenge.
Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1536323277"

Great job, over half way!

Trying:-)

A Ann Rule Lying in Wait and Other True Cases
BBarry Siegel A Death in White Bear Lake: The True Chronicle of an All-American Town
C Amanda Coplin The Orchardist
D Daphne du MaurierMy Cousin Rachel
E
F John Fowles The Magus
G
H Hunter S. Thompson Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
I Ian McEwanSweet Tooth
J Jacqueline SusannValley of the Dolls
K
L Kate Clifford Larson Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
M Margaret Atwood The Heart Goes Last
N Nathaniel PhilbrickIn the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
O
PMicheal Punke The Revenant
Q
R Ray Bradbury The Martian Chronicles
S Susan Cain author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
T
U
V
W Władysław Szpilman, The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-45
X
Y
Z

Update to message 6.
I have completed 2 more books for the A to Z author challenge. 16 now completed.
Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1166164547


Arthur Quiller-Couch, The Ship Of Stars.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1534625415

Oooh, a Q for the list. Great!

A Voltaire aka François-Marie Arouet, Princess of Babylon
B Edgar Rice Burroughs The Mad King
C Charles Brockden Brown Wieland
D Dylan Thomas Under Milk Wood
E Eleanor Cameron Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet
F Frank Norris McTeague
G Giovanni Boccaccio The Decameron
H Tom Hood Petsetilla's Posy
I Iain Sinclair Slow Chocolate Autopsy
J Tove Jansson Moomins and the Great Flood
K Franz Kafka In the Penal Colony
L Lucian of Samosata Lucian's True History
M Mervyn Peak Titus Groan
N E. Nesbit The Enchanted Castle
O George Orwell Keep the Aspidistra Flying
P Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins One Blood
Q
R Raymond Roussel Impressions of Africa
S John Sladek The Muller-Fokker Effect
T Théophile Gautier Mademoiselle de Maupin
U Bertha Upton The Golliwogg's Polar Adventures
V Jules Verne The Begum's Fortune
W T. H. White The Ill made Knight
X
Y Yevgeny Zamyatin We
Z Heinrich Zschokke The Goldmakers Village

Update for message 6.
Finished #17/26 of the A to Z author challenge.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1071086338

Duane wrote: "Update for message 6.
Finished #17/26 of the A to Z author challenge..."

You are ahead of your title challenge with 17 authors. Nice work.

Bravo, Duane. I will have to start picking my books by the letter if I ever expect to finish this. I seem to be reading a lot of "C" and "S" people.

At first it's easy, almost every book you read is usable. Later on it becomes more difficult.

Update Message 82. 16/26.

Wreade1872 wrote: "Update Message 82. 16/26."

I see you are using either the first or the last name. I might have to resort to that eventually.

Sara, I've been doing either name this year as well. I think last year I stuck to surnames until I became stuck, then I went back through the list of books I'd read and added first names in too. Otherwise I just wouldn't finish.

At the rate I am going, that might be the only way to get all 26. Thanks, Pink.

Sara wrote: "Wreade1872 wrote: "Update Message 82. 16/26."
I see you are using either the first or the last name. I might have to resort to that eventually."

Yeah even with that i think about 22 or there abouts will be my finish. I'm not seeing any x,q or u anywhere in my foreseeable future.

Wreade1872 wrote: "Sara wrote: "Wreade1872 wrote: "Update Message 82. 16/26."
I see you are using either the first or the last name. I might have to resort to that eventually."

Yeah even with that i think about 22 o..."

You could stretch the rules (further) and use authors who have X, Q or U in their names...so like Jacqueline or Max or something. I did that for an alphabet title challenge on X.

I'm trying out for just last names this year - last year I did a mix of first and last names :-)

10th Author, Flanagan, added. Message 49 updated.

Updated message #6.
19 done and 7 to go in my A to Z author challenge.

Eugene O'Neill with his play Anna Christie.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1160145818

Updated #16
14 letters completed

Anna Quindlen has some good books for those looking for Q authors.

Update for message 6. Completed my 20th letter, U, by adding Alfred Uhry for his play Driving Miss Daisy.

www.goodreads.com/review/show/1586622777

Update on message 6.

Have added #21 and #22 authors to my challenge. The last being Henrik Ibson for The Lady From the Sea.

Duane wrote: "Update on message 6.

Have added #21 and #22 authors to my challenge. The last being Henrik Ibson for The Lady From the Sea."

I can't believe it--you are almost done with this challenge. And it is such a beautiful list of books. Well done!

Thanks Kathleen.

Wow, you are clipping along with this one, Duane. I seem to be stuck in a rut of letters I cannot break away from.

Thanks Sara. The books on my TBR list matched up well with this challenge. Not so much on the title challenge.