Sara’s Comments (group member since Jul 20, 2015)

Sara’s comments from the Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) group.

Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "Kate Hardy by D.E. Stevenson gives me one more on my decade challenge. Written in 1947, it has all the sweetness of that era in both describing relation..."

Isn't she fun (and very sweet in an unsaccharine fashion).

Terris wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Well there has to be something to compare the good ones too, right?

Sara, the last few times I've looked at your Old and New, I've seen Under the Greenwood Tree and ..."

I have been so harried lately that I read in snippets. I want to give the Hardy my full attention. I will definitely get to it soon. Time is running out!

Only 4 more days to go:

Nominations Update:

The Duel: by Joseph Conrad, 1908, 112 pp
J_Blueflower, Wobbley

The Story of Gösta Berling by Selma Lagerlöf, 1891, 318 pp
Ascanio, Nike

The Nun by Denis Diderot,1796, 240 pp
Kimberly, Ascanio, Austin

Lord Of The World: by Robert Hugh Benson, 1907, 296 pp
Austin

The Republic of Plato by Plato, -380, 487pp
Sam, Klowey

The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat, 1847, 304 pp
Darren, Greg, Franky

If I have made any error or omitted anyone, please let me know.

I'm pretty taken with her at the moment, Teri. There are a lot of them, so I'm sure to either tire of her or hit a bad one eventually, I suppose, but for right now, she's a lovely find.

We have lost so much of what was wholesome and inspiring in children's literature. I don't think children should have to deal with adult problems. Like you, I think the boy and his dog stories, that often taught us how to deal with people, how to love animals, and how to take an unselfish view of the world, are a loss. Of course, I am nostalgic for a simpler life, but I do not find that children in general are as happy as we were, and I say this having come from a rather poor family in which the father often worked two jobs to make ends meet and hand-me-downs were worn by us all.

I'm sure you are right about the Sci-Fi, Lynn. You have to wade through so much poorly written stuff to find the worthwhile, sometimes, if you don't have any guidance. It's wonderful that you took the course and that it foster a life-long love of that genre for you.

Kate Hardy by D.E. Stevenson gives me one more on my decade challenge. Written in 1947, it has all the sweetness of that era in both describing relationships and villages. I really like Stevenson's style and her mixture of humor. She seems to write a lot of female characters who are writers who don't take themselves too seriously--writing what she knows.

Sorry the 1920's mysteries aren't winners, Teri. I'm not a big fan of mysteries at all and the one Ellery Queen I tried I dnf'd in a hurry.

Duh, yes. Thank you Darren.

Sorry guys. Teri-K you can nominate something else here and nominate this in New School. Same with your second, Terry.
I have been working on my decades list and reading in the 1930s, I think that date just seemed normal to me.😖

Nominations Update:

The Duel: by Joseph Conrad, 1908, 112 pp
J_Blueflower, Wobbley

The Story of Gösta Berling by Selma Lagerlöf, 1891, 318 pp
Ascanio, Nike

The Nun by Denis Diderot,1796, 240 pp
Kimberly, Ascanio, Austin

Lord Of The World: by Robert Hugh Benson, 1907, 296 pp
Austin

The Republic of Plato by Plato, -380, 487pp
Sam

The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat, 1847, 304 pp
Darren

If I have made any error or omitted anyone, please let me know.

Teri-K wrote: "I took the time to look over all your challenges again. You've found some really good new authors - which should mean great reading ahead. (I can recommend Tozer's The Pursuit of God and Knowledge ..."

It has been a great year for discovering new writers. I have both of those books in my hands, Teri, and plan to read them soon. I have a couple of on-going inspirational reads to finish and then Tozer gets front and center.

Kathleen wrote: "Well there has to be something to compare the good ones too, right?

Sara, the last few times I've looked at your Old and New, I've seen Under the Greenwood Tree and thought "that wil..."

Lovely way to look at it, Kathleen! I am planning the Hardy for later this month. I'm usually a fan, so I'm glad to have your assurance that it won't disappoint.

Oh yes, Connie. In the running for my favorite Austen.

Always nice to hear from you, Greg. I also hope work gives you a break soon!

Welcome Alvina and Marulina.

Lori wrote: "Darn it! I’ll have to remember this in the future. I hope you liked An Old Captivity as I have this one coming up before the end of the year. 🤞🏻"

It was another that just didn't live up to what I expect and it had a rather strange twist to it. It will be interesting to see what you think. I have exhausted his more famous novels and there might be a reason some of these lesser-knowns are lesser known.

Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "Another marked off my Old and New Challenge. This one was quite a disappointment. I suppose I may have read all the good books by Nevil Shute. This one was terribly dated, a little ove..."

It was okay, which is what I rated it, but I would say to all the Shute lovers out there--you can miss this one.

Teri-K wrote: "Sara wrote: "Another marked off my Old and New Challenge. This one was quite a disappointment. I suppose I may have read all the good books by Nevil Shute. This one was terribly dated, a little ove..."

So true, Teri. I always have great expectations of him and usually I am justified. I think this one was written for reasons that had nothing to do with literature or storytelling.

Wobbley wrote: "Oh no! Nevil Shute was one of the authors who had never let you down, right? So Sorry this one was a dud."

I have read of couple of his that I could have done without, but his good stuff is beyond stellar, so worth taking the chance.

Another marked off my Old and New Challenge. This one was quite a disappointment. I suppose I may have read all the good books by Nevil Shute. This one was terribly dated, a little overloaded with naval/sailing details, and felt slightly unrealistic in light of now knowing what happened during World War II. It would have been speculative when written, so no blame goes into that.

I have three more books to read for the challenge, which I hope are winners. I try to be so careful with those chosen for this particular challenge. Of course, that is what the alternates are for!

Can't read too many Austen's nor too often. My last re-read was Persuasion. I do hope to get through all of them again, soon.