Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Here's where I include lots of my ideas!
I'll update my progress with a check mark as I go along.

B1: Classic of Asia: The Old Capital or Spring Snow or A Division of the Spoils
B2: Classic Tragedy: Medea or An American Tragedy
B3: A Book Published at Least 200 Years Ago: Evelina or Dangerous Liaisons or Persuasion
✓B4: Memoir, Autobiography, or Biography: West with the Night: Read 1/13/20
✓B5: Classic of Europe: Mary Barton; Read 2/17/20

I1: Classic Mystery or Crime: The Murder of my Aunt or A Covenant with Death: A Novel or Strangers on a Train
I2: Group Bingo Participant Pick: TBD
I3: Classic Drama or Play: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Our Town
✓I4: Book From Group’s 2020 Bookshelf: Stoner; Read 1/6/20
✓I5: Classic Gothic or Horror: The Lottery and Other Stories; Read 4/20/20

✓N1: Book From Group’s Old School Classic Shelf prior to 2020: David Copperfield; Read 8/1/20
✓N2: Winner of a Foreign Literary Prize: The Hours (Premio Grinzane Cavour for Narrativa Straniera - 2000); Read 4/27/20
✓N3: Reader’s Choice: The Little Drummer Girl; Read 1/26/20
✓N4: Classic Short Story: Chess Story; Read 5/18/20
✓N5: Book From Group’s New School Classic Shelf prior to 2020: To the Lighthouse; Read 6/4/20

✓G1: Classic Science Fiction or Fantasy: Time and Again; Read 9/26/20
G2: The Bigger Read List by English Pen: Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings or Hunger or Embers
✓G3: Poetry or Essay Collection: Ultramarine: Poems; Read 2/20/20
✓G4: Banned Book: Rabbit, Run; Read 5/16/20
G5: Classic Science or Philosophy: Under the Sea Wind or The Log from the Sea of Cortez

O1: Classic of Africa, Antarctica, Australia, or Oceania: The Grass Is Singing or Cry, the Beloved Country or A Town Like Alice
✓O2: Classic Western: Angle of Repose; Read 9/21/20
✓O3: Book Published the Year (or Decade) You Were Born: Abigail; Read 6/14/20
O4: Classic Adventure: The Birthday Boys or The Long Ships
✓O5: Classic of the Americas: Revolutionary Road; Read 5/24/20

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.

B1: I1: N1: G1: O1:
B2: I2: N2: G2: O2:
B3: I3: N3: G3: O3:
B4: I4: N4: G4: O4:
B5: I5: N5: G5: O5:

Reserve

I can't wait to see your picks Candi!

Sue wrote: "I can't wait to see your picks Candi!"

I've just added my ideas to message 1, Sue! I need to have choices or I'll never get this thing done ;)

Candi, I’m going to help you narrow it down. Cannery Row or A Covenant With Death for I2. They were both great books. The rest of these are great choices as well.

Brina wrote: "Candi, I’m going to help you narrow it down. Cannery Row or A Covenant With Death for I2. They were both great books. The rest of these are great choices as well."

Thanks for the recommendations, Brina! I love Steinbeck and A Covenant with Death has been praised by my friends here.

So glad that you have joined us in the Bingo Challenge, Candi. You have some great ideas so far.

Katy wrote: "So glad that you have joined us in the Bingo Challenge, Candi. You have some great ideas so far."

Thanks, Katy! Looking forward to it :)

Good luck on your Bingo!

So many great books to choose from, Candi! I read The Dispossessed this year and loved it, and will be reading Tales of the City in 2020. Whatever you choose, enjoy!

Rosemarie wrote: "Good luck on your Bingo!"

Thank you, Rosemarie!

Kathleen wrote: "So many great books to choose from, Candi! I read The Dispossessed this year and loved it, and will be reading Tales of the City in 2020. Whatever you choose, enjoy!"

Thanks, Kathleen! If I get to even half of these, I will be happy. I definitely want to read something by Le Guin in 2020 :)

I kind of over did my planning too. The sad thing is some of it will be wasted, I'll read another nonplanned book that fits the square it'll seem like a better idea when it comes along. Good luck, have fun!

Bob wrote: "I kind of over did my planning too. The sad thing is some of it will be wasted, I'll read another nonplanned book that fits the square it'll seem like a better idea when it comes along. Good luck, ..."

I'll end up doing something similar in many cases, Bob! I just use it as a guideline for ideas. Sometime that pan out and sometimes they don't :) Good luck to you!

My first review for a book that fits into my bingo challenge!

I4: Book From Group’s 2020 Bookshelf:

Stoner by John Williams

My Review

Another 5-star, favorite!

B4: Memoir, Autobiography, or Biography:

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

My Review

A favorite author and another book to add to my favorites shelf!

N3: Reader’s Choice:

The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré

My Review

Happy it makes the favorites shelf, and another square covered in the bingo!

Yes, I'm happy to have le Carre on the board, Sara!

Not my favorite by this author, but I really enjoyed it!

B5: Classic of Europe:

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

My Review

I'm trying to read more poetry this year, with some great success so far!

G3: Poetry or Essay Collection:

Ultramarine: Poems by Raymond Carver

My Review

Glad you’ve been enjoying your reads so far, Candi! =D Several books on your list I’ve very much enjoyed or plan to read this year! I’ve enjoyed Le Guin’s work and keep reading that The Dispossessed is one of her best — I may have to read that one this year too!

Do you already have books in mind for I2 or will you be looking for recommendations?

Thanks, Erin! The year is off to a great start :) I'm definitely looking forward to reading more Le Guin!

I have a couple of recommendations for I2 from Brina above, but I haven't made a decision yet and so welcome any ideas!

Candi wrote: "Thanks, Erin! The year is off to a great start :) I'm definitely looking forward to reading more Le Guin!

I have a couple of recommendations for I2 from Brina above, but I haven't made a decision..."

It looks like you’ve read most of my pre-1970 favorites and then some (I have a lot of catching up to do!) but one it looks like you haven’t read and is one of my favorites is The Story of the Stone by Xueqin Cao (the English translation is divided into five volumes, the first of which is The Golden Days). For me it was a bit slow getting into it as the narrative at first moves between different characters but once it comes to focus on the Jia family, I found it very enjoyable with interesting well-developed characters and a vivid picture of aristocratic life in 18th century China.

That looks really fascinating, Erin! I love classics and historical fiction. I've added it to my list. I'm not sure whether I'll use it specifically for the bingo square or not yet, but would definitely like to read it at some point. It's a chunky book! :)

Candi wrote: "That looks really fascinating, Erin! I love classics and historical fiction. I've added it to my list. I'm not sure whether I'll use it specifically for the bingo square or not yet, but would defin..."

I’m happy to hear that and I hope that you do enjoy reading it when you get to it! :)

This collection of short stories I would classify as more "disturbing or eerie" than the usual definition of horror.

I5: Classic Gothic or Horror:

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

My Review

Completed N2: Winner of a Foreign Literary Prize (Premio Grinzane Cavour for Narrativa Straniera - 2000):

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

My Review

Completed G4: Banned Book:

Rabbit, Run by John Updike

My Review

Congratulations on another one done Candi. It looks like you're taking the same circuitous route I did last year where you're reading around the BINGO's! Soon they'll start popping up like crazy.

Sue wrote: "Congratulations on another one done Candi. It looks like you're taking the same circuitous route I did last year where you're reading around the BINGO's! Soon they'll start popping up like crazy."

Thanks, Sue! Yes, I am! I never actually have a plan to specifically get a bingo, just kind of hope it eventually happens :)

Candi wrote: "Completed G4: Banned Book:

Rabbit, Run by John Updike

My Review"

I read this many years ago and have never really left it behind. I remember disliking Harry. But when I see the title I always think about it and wonder if I missed something. Your review indicates maybe I should revisit it.

Bob, I think it's one that would be hard to forget many years down the line. Updike really did write Harry/Rabbit as quite a memorable character. I obviously know the guy is a real jerk, but somehow Updike makes you 'side' with him, even though you don't like his choices. You just want him to make one right choice for once! It reminds me of how Patricia Highsmith wrote Tom Ripley. He was an awful human being, and I could hardly believe that I was often... well, rooting for him isn't the right word, but somehow aligning myself with him.

Good progress on the Bingo card. I was the last one to Bingo the first year I played because I kept reading all around the necessary slots. It will happen soon and then again and again.

Maybe we should have a new bingo category - maximum squares without a bingo (I believe that would be 20).

I would have won last year, Aprilleigh.

I like that idea, Aprilleigh!

Completed N4: Classic Short Story:

Chess Story by Stefan Zweig

My Review

Completed O5: Classic of the Americas:

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

My Review

I’m sold on another one, great review! I actually picked up a used copy of this last January, but since a fair portion of my year was already planned. And this seems like a book that might be complex and slow. I set it on the shelf for reading some time in the future, perhaps next year.

Bob wrote: "I’m sold on another one, great review! I actually picked up a used copy of this last January, but since a fair portion of my year was already planned. And this seems like a book that might be compl..."

Thanks, Bob! You're right about the complexity. It's not one you're going to want to gobble down in one bite!

I always wondered about this one--great review! I'm still considering … :-)

Doing great on your challenge!

Kathleen wrote: "I always wondered about this one--great review! I'm still considering … :-)

Doing great on your challenge!"

Thanks, Kathleen! You have to be okay with pretty much detesting every character when you read it! I'm not sure I even smiled once throughout ;)

You are indeed rolling along. It is tough to read a book in which you cannot like anyone--but it can be done.

I think it's the mark of a great writer when that happens, Sara :)

I totally agree. I am moving this one up the list.

Completed N5: Book From Group’s New School Classic Shelf prior to 2020:

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

My Review

Completed O3: Book Published the Year (or Decade) You Were Born:

Abigail by Magda Szabó

My Review