Ashley’s Comments (group member since Jun 05, 2020)

Ashley’s comments from the #ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge group.

How interesting that this thread got revived. I wasn’t in a place where I wanted to read this last year, but I just started it with a different group yesterday! So far it’s a smooth read, so I’m waiting to get into the confusing parts. Haha!

Tons of classics are heartwarming. What hav should read that doesn’t fit? Or is there something more specific you want? Little Women and the others are great. Also children’s classics- Heidi, Pollyanna, Little Princess, Secret Garden….

Yes! Let’s do that schedule and add 2 children’s books over 4 months and then when it’s time to schedule again we can do whatever you decide.

Shannon { Library Girl Reading } wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I'm fine with monthly reads. I like having the regular reads to plan on, but I now its pressure on you to read them all too. We could have others lead the discussion on months you're..."

In reality that's probably the better choice for me! I WANT to read ALL THE BOOKS!!! Haha. But sometimes I get so caught up in reading things for groups and don't get to my own stuff. Or I get behind and something has to give. I could easily keep up with one book a month. So far I'm fine with 2 a month, but I've skipped a couple books. I'm just glad you do this and that I found you all!

I'm fine with monthly reads. I like having the regular reads to plan on, but I now its pressure on you to read them all too. We could have others lead the discussion on months you're more busy if you'd like. But if you prefer less often, then go for it! Its your group and well be here! I like the middle grade books and the adult reads. I don't usually do the mystery reads. I think you do those 3 reads. If you want to do less, I would also do a middle grade read one month and then an adult/classic book the next. I'd love if we stagger them, so that there is one book a month and not 2 books one month and none the next. I don't know if you're asking just for this classics group or for all the reads you run. So I guess I vote either keep it as is or do one group one month and the other the next. But, again, I'll do whatever is best for you!

I had to go look up where Portofino is. My parents have been there. I wasn’t sure if I had, if I have not been that far north. I kind of thought it was more near the Amalfi coast, but I was very wrong!

I had a past reading partner who was similar about reading in less than a week. She would have to consume a book in less than that or she'd get bored and probably never finish. Not one for long reads.

I am similar to you in picking up new reads while I'm still reading, but I've gotten used to reading a bunch of books at once (as long as some are nonfiction, otherwise I confuse all the stories), so I keep reading the old ones too. Its so interesting to see how everyone reads. Fun discussion! I do have to discipline myself something, though. Force myself to finish a book before I can pick up one I'm excited about. For example, Im reading all of Dickens this year, so I need to stay on schedule. I am supposed to finish The Old Curiosity Shop today, but I'm less than half way through because I started a week late because it took me a week longer to read Nicholas Nickleby. Sometimes I have to read slow because I'm enjoying being immersed in the characters' lives. But lately I've been forcing myself I read Dickens (at least some) before I can read other things. I also have another book I want to finish tomorrow, so I'm not allowing myself to pick up anything else until one of those is finished. I have a whole line up of memoirs I'm excited to get to, so I'm making it through my read quickly! When I'm not on a deadline, I just keep picking up reads until I have too many, and then keep reading until I finish some, then let myself pick up more. Reading is fun!

I am also camp DNF! Too many good books in the world. But I also agree that sometimes it’s not the book, it’s the reader. That means we’ll never jive with some books, but also that we won’t enjoy some books at a certain time that we would love at a different time. When I stop reading, I put them on my DNF shelf so they aren’t TBR or read, and put a note about why I didn’t finish. That way I remember if I want to try again later or, in the example of some biographies that are SO long and wordy, just pick up where I left off and keep reading so I’ll eventually finish some day.

I usually give a book about 50 pages, unless it’s a short book, then I may give it less. Sometimes I hate the first chapter of a book the first time I read it and then I get into it and love it. I think it’s worth giving it some time for most books. Some modern, trendy books I may give up sooner if I know I’m not going to enjoy the writing style or something like that. The only time I’ll push through a book I don’t like is if it’s a highly recommended book by many people I respect who like similar books as I do. I may push through to see if I end up liking it too or so that i can say I read it or maybe so I can have finished at least one book by an author I want to have read. Sometimes I think it’s good to have fully read a bad book so that I can have a real conversation about it. But I only do that if there is some reason I need to be informed about an author or book.

Looks like most of us want to read both A and C! I love the idea of just adding the one that doesn’t win to later in the year. I don’t mind when we read what. I only cared about Birchbark House at the beginning of the year because I was ready to read it then! And I’m so glad we did! It’s stuck with me. I need I read more of the series. Thanks for putting this all together. I usually read some middle grade books every year, but you’ve motivated me to read more because I like the ones were reading and want to read more! Plus I have a 3rd grader who is jumping into these books and I want to reread some of my favorites or preread some new titles so I can be confident he’ll enjoy them! Plus my daughter is finishing up 1st grade, so she’s not too far behind! I’m excited for them to share some of these amazing books!

On a random note, Walk Two Moons was my absolute favorite book around 5th grade. I’m trying to decide whether to give it to my 9 yo or wait until he’s a bit older. He probably will enjoy it more with a little more maturity, but so many of Sharon Creechs books are recommended for that age (and older) that I keep getting excited to give it to him! Does anyone remember when they or their kids/nieces/nephews/neighbors/friends read that book or any of hers? I feel like this is a hard age. He’s still a “little kid” but he’s on the border of being a “big kid”. Lots more responsibility and freedom and more fun books to read! Any advice?

Also I’m glad I checked on this. I picked up Enchanted April yesterday and am excited to get to it, but I have a lot I should finish first. So I’m glad we’re discussing at the end of the month. It gives me an excuse to wait until close to discussion and allows me to pace myself!

Oh A! Please pick A. Haha. I never get here in time to vote! It’s been on my short list for years and I never get to it. I would read C with you though, so I’ll be happy with either pick.

I love books like Daddy Long Legs, but did not enjoy that one at all. But some people I know love it, so I guess it’s a love it or (not quite) hate it type book.

How fun Iza! I also have considered going back to school for a masters of some sort and library science is in my list of things I’d love to do! I am so grateful for librarians!

When I was in college my dad planned a trip for us to Italy but it had to be in January because he wanted to be there in the rain, for the full experience 😂

Thanks for the details. I need to pick up my copy today. It’s on hold at the library, just waiting for me!

I would love to join! I’ve only ever read Mrs Dalloway!

What a beautiful memory! Thanks for sharing! I don’t remember if I ever read this as a child, but I read it to my daughter last year. I’m excited to read it again. Maybe I’ll get my son to listen (or read it on his own and discuss). I’m having a hard time motivating him to read instead of listen. He’s 9 and can read anything and everything. He reads the Bible out loud to the family often and doesn’t struggle with any words, even strange ones! So it’s not that he can’t read. It’s that he’s listened to so many amazing narrators that it’s more fun to listen! And he hasn’t found many books that dragged him in. Interestingly enough, Dr Doolittle was the last book he read on his own, so I’ll have to keep trying to find things he likes I guess. He did just get reading glasses, so they may have added to his not enjoying the act!

I do think people will continue to do grocery pick up or delivery! I doubt that will go away. I don’t remember if retail stores had curbside pick up before COVID. Pick up in store was becoming popular. I feel like Target may have had it and probably some other places, but I don’t remember for sure or if it was a common thing. I never used it because I enjoyed getting out of the house to shop. But I’d use it for things now that my kids are older and more busy. And I think it’ll have to stay if places want to be competitive. I think we were forced into a new way of shopping and things will have to continue to chance to meet demand now. It’ll be interesting to see if places like public libraries continue to offer those types of services. They usually operate on a limited budget and staff so we’ll see. It would probably get more people reading. So they may keep some new things to promote use of the library 🤷‍♀️

I should add that I felt bad making them being things to my car this winter, so a couple times I showed up and called to let them know I was there. But instead of asking them to come out, I asked to come in and just grab a hold. They let me because the had extra slots that hour (the kids ready wasn’t at Covid capacity). Then one time I called to come in and was told they would rather bring it to me. They were tying to limit the amount of people that came inside and felt safer coming to me and just putting the books in my trunk. So now that’s what I do!

I just put this on hold. My library has a copy I could just go grab, but we can only visit by appointment, so putting it on hold is easier. I can do curbside pick up and not even leave my car! I love librarians!

I would throw Heidi in to any list of good children’s books. I also love EB Whites other book Stuart Little and want to read the Trumpet and the Swan (is that what it’s called?). Babe is similar to Charlottes Web.

The authors or Twig is Elizabeth Orton Jones and I’m excited you’re going to look it up. If you read it, let me know what you think!

I have to agree that Shirley Jackson doesn’t excite me. I finally looked up the books I don’t recognize on this list and now I’m excited. I wouldn’t have picked Dandelion Wine because I don’t remember liking Bradbury in middle school (Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451) and then I re read Fahrenheit 451 last year and didn’t love it BUT I am curious if his other books are different, so I do want to try more....I just wouldn’t do it on my own. So I’m glad you all picked it and I’ll try to keep up! I have only read Mrs Dalloway, but that was about 15 years ago in college (during a summer class in London) so I’m excited to revisit it. I don’t remember too much. But I did LOVE it then!