Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Collecting Dust February 2014 Challenge

This is a monthly challenge for those readers who have had books forever on their TBR list.

This challenge will help you get those books finally read.

If you wish to participate for February: List the 5 books that have been on your TBR list the longest. The next member who comments will pick two choices from your list. You are only obligated to read 1 of those books, but you may choose to read both. Once you read it, let us know and you may add your review or link to your review!

RULES:
1) If you would like to participate, please sign up by January 20th, 2014. (I know this is early than last month's, but I will be headed out of town and internet use will be spotty)

2) Choose 2 books from the person's list that commented before you. I will choose books for the last person that posts on January 20th.

3) Each participant will have the entire month to read their book(s), post their rating and review. And tell us what you think of your book in this thread.

Let's have fun reducing our TBR piles.

1) Tigana
2) The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science
3) The Lacuna
4) Lincoln
5) Finnikin of the Rock

Kathy, I choose for you:

The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science
and
Finnikin of the Rock


1. All Creatures Great and Small
2. The Odd Women
3. Paul Clifford
4. Seven Brothers
5. The Citadel

Hi Daisy,
I choose for you:
The Odd Women and The Citadel

1. Spoon
2. The Secret Scripture
3. Grimm's Fairy Tales
4. Kings of the Earth
5. The Blind Contessa's New Machine

Daisy wrote: "
1. [book:All Creatures Great and Small ..."

oooo, I just picked that one (and its mates) up n a kindle daily deal, last month :-)

MK wrote: "I just picked that one (and its mates) up n a kindle daily deal."

I'd love to hear what you think of it . . . once you've had a chance to read it!

Looks February, at the earliest,.at this point (heh).

I am particularly interested in them, though, bc I gave my daughter them in a box set for her birthday 1.5 yrs ago, and she was very excited to get them. (She's currently in her 2nd yr of veterinary school over in Ireland, too :-).)

MK wrote: "She's currently in her 2nd yr of veterinary school."

What a great gift! Vet. school can be tough to get into. How is she enjoying it? I hope it's going well for her.

P.S. To the rest of the group: I'm almost 1/2 though with Anne of Green Gables and just started The Remains of the Day -- from January's "Collecting Dust!"

She loves it :-). All of it, her classes, Ireland, working with animals, and especially, traveling! Really inexpensive puddle jumpers in Europe. She's taken weekend trips to England, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy/the Vatican, and hmmm, I think I'm skipping one.

MK wrote: "She loves it :-)."

It sounds like she's making the most of it! That's fantastic.

Hi, Tullia

I choose for you:
To Kill a Mockingbird and
Under the Dome. Probably my favourite Stephen King book.

My list is:

1) Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway

2) The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

3) Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

4) Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell

5) Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener

I am not sure I will get the January challenge done but I will do my best and I think the Feb. one will be easier for me.

Connie,

I choose Islands in the Stream and Tales of the South Pacific

My list:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
3. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
4. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
5. Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder

Hi Shawn, my choices are Teophilus North and Siddhartha

and my list:

1. The Handmaid's Tale
2. The Gambler
3. The New York Trilogy
4. A Clockwork Orange
5. Submarine

OK Antonio, I'll choose The Handmaid's Tale and A Clockwork Orange

My List:
1. The House of Mirth
2. The Lincoln Lawyer
3. Inca Gold
4. True Blue
5. Flashback

Anyone else want to challenge for February? Tomorrow is the last day to post if you want someone to choose a book for you.

Kathy wrote: "Anyone else want to challenge for February? Tomorrow is the last day to post if you want someone to choose a book for you."


Too early for me to know if I will have finished January's tbr or not, so I have to take a pass for Feb.

Kathy wrote: "1) If you would like to participate, please sign up by January 20th, 2014. (I know this is early than last month's, but I will be headed out of town and internet use will be spotty)..."

Kathy, I have a suggestion. Since you'll be out of town for the end of the month, why don't you let the first person who posted after you (in this case, Daisy), close.the challenge on the last day of the month.

That will mean Daisy chooses twice, and you don't get to choose, but then the challenge could stay open for the whole month.

These "collecting dust" tbr books, so we don't have to leave time to acquire the book. So, leaving this open until the last day of the month, to complete the previous month, and join the next month, would be good :-).

MK wrote: ". . . let the first person who posted after you (in this case, Daisy), close the challenge on the last day of the month."

@Kathy and MK . . . and everyone in the challenge, I'm perfectly okay and more than happy to assist!

At the end of the month I can close the book selection period to open up (or rather continue) the thread for comments.

What is best, most simple, for you Kathy? I don't mind any way chosen. However it might be convenient.

Thanks, Daisy that would be awesome!
I appreciate all the great help from you and MK thanks for the idea!


Open until February!

My hearty pleasure. :)

Anyone else want to challenge for February?

Choose 2 books from the person's list that commented before you.

I will choose books for the last person that posts on January 31.

Post if you want someone to choose a book for you. List the 5 books that have been on your TBR list the longest.

Kathy wrote: "... Open until February!"

Daisy wrote: "Anyone else want to challenge for February? ..."


Woot! I'll get back k to you in a week or so ... once I figure out if I'll be able to finish my January tbr (or at least be close)

Hi everyone. This challenge is open until January 31. Pick two for Bob and list 5 of your own from your TBR list.

Daisy wrote: "Hi everyone. This challenge is open until January 31. Pick two for Bob and list 5 of your own from your TBR list."

I did finish my January tbr, so looking forward to joining challenge he. I'll be back tomorrow, or later, to sign up :-). Need coffee now .... ;-)

Bob wrote: "...
My List:

1. The House of Mirth
2. The Lincoln Lawyer
3. Inca Gold
4. True Blue
5. Flashback"

I had a hard time choosing, Bob! All of yours pique my interest :). In the end, Anna Pigeon and the fast car, demanded o be chosen {:-D. I choose for you ~

· Flashback, by Nevada Barr, and/or
· The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly

Happy reading!



And for my books, here are my remainders from January, plus an addition:

1. Oh, Waiter! One Order of Crow!: Inside the Strangest Presidential Election Finish in American History, by Jeff Greenfield
2. The Time in Between, by Maria Duenas
3. Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
4. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
5. The House At Riverton, by Kate Morton

MK,
For you I choose Sarah's Key and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, both of which are on my TBR list too. Looking forward to your reviews!

Here is my list:
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Thanks!

Kristen wrote: "MK,
For you I choose Sarah's Key and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, both of which are on my TBR list too...."

Neat! :) I'll have reading them ... but probably not til nearer the end of the month ;-)'

Finished one of my challenge books - Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener. I'm trying to finish some other books and then I will try to get to my second challenge book Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway.

Kristen, I choose for you:

The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins

and

The Name of the Rose, Umberto Ecco

These two are both books I have read and found them a delight.

(Connie wrote: "one of my challenge books"
I've never read Michener. What did you think of him?)

The book selection period is now closed. I look forward to reading your reviews.

Happy Reading!

Thank you Daisy -- great choices! :)

Daisy wrote: "Kristen, I choose for you:

The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins

and

The Name of the Rose, Umberto Ecco

These two are both books I have read and found them a delight.

(..."

I have read a lot of Michener in the past. those novels were all historical fiction focussing on one area from its settlement through several generations. They wer long sagas and I found them very interesting. Tales of the South Pacific is more of a series of short stories about the Americans and British fighting against the Japanese in WWII. While the history is interesting, I found the stories to all be similar to each other. It certainly wasn't my favourite of his books.

Connie wrote: "long sagas and I found them very interesting."

I enjoy historical fiction so The Covenant is now on my list. Thank you.

I have already read my February book , in fact I read the entire series. Was a fun read for me.

by Melina Marchetta

I finished my first book as selected by MK

The Lincoln Lawyer 4 Stars

This was one fast moving Lincoln. Michael Connelly writes a great crime mystery that is a real page turner. The main character is a lawyer that works most of the Los Angeles court houses. In order to save time he does a lot of his work in the back of a chauffeured Lincoln Town car. Finding clients is not his problem. Finding clients who can pay and then collecting is fees are his biggest problem. Then he comes across a client who has no problem paying for a lawyer but the State has a good case. A case so good an innocent man may end up going to jail. This is the biggest money case he has ever worked. Now his only problem is, can he stay alive long enough to finish it. Excellent Story!

WTG, Kathy, and Well Done, Bob!

Bob, all your books sounded interesting to me this month. I had a hard time not putting them all on my tbr list ^_^. Really love your reviews, too, I have to say.

I have finished my second book selected by MK, glad she picked it.

13. Flashback by Nevada Barr 4 Stars

This is another in the Anna Pigeon series of books. Similar in that Anna Pigeon is still working US Park Service. She is a Law Enforcement Officer and her adventures take to various parks across the US. This time she is working temporary duty at Fort Jefferson in the Florida Keys. Nevada Barr must have been feeling generous because in Flashback she gives us a two-fer, that’s right two stories for the price of one. Just after the Civil War Anna’s great great aunt lived at Fort Jefferson with her husband being the commanding officer. This story is told in alternating chapters along with Anna’s current problems of dead boaters, boat sinking’s, injured and missing park personnel. It’s a wild time but nothing Anna can’t handle. Recommended!

I love Anna Pigeon :). Haven't read any stories of her in over a decade. Need to fix that - soon! The for the great reviews, Bob. I really enjoy reading them

Thanks, Bob. You are tempting me to add more to my shelf to read again. :)

Hi Duane. The Challenge for March is just getting set up: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Bob wrote: "This is another in the Anna Pigeon series of books."

Nevada Barr is one of my all-time favorites!

Of the two books selected for me (thank you Diana) I chose The Odd Women by George Gissing. I just finished this novel and gave it four stars!

This book contained surprising elements throughout most of the novel. Women’s rights, liberation (in the very literal sense of the word) and independence in the late 1800s is what I would describe to be the subject, portrayed directly and honestly. Radically interpreted through several women who take a straightforward approach to life in a world where a glass ceiling is inches above the floor.

Although this book depicts some misery it doesn’t only concern itself with women but also highlights how women’s deplorable situations will adversely and unsympathetically affect men in their lives.

One of the aspects that I most liked was the hope portrayed by way of the many struggles and the promise of positive strides for others and the future. This book is also surprising in what I believe is its relevancy to issues that exist even today.

Just a forewarning that there were some racist statements in the book with which I was uncomfortable.

Sounds like a great read, Daisy!

Nice review Daisy, I enjoyed it. I am currently reading The House of Mirth. It is set in early 1900's around New York’s upper class society and deals with how they treat each other. Particularly in the way a young unmarried woman proves to be an easy target for slander. Especially when targeting her shields or protects someone more powerful. It’s interesting and I hope to finish it in the next couple of days.

Duane I have not finished reading it but so far she strikes me as the ultimate enigma and a psychiatrist’s gold mine. She thinks she knows what she wants. She has the connections and good looks to achieve it, but when she reaches the goal line she self-destructs.

Bob wrote: "society and deals with how they treat each other. Particularly in the way a young unmarried woman proves to be an easy target for slander."

The House of Mirth sounds like it might have many similarities to The Odd Women. I think it would be worth it to read more Edith Wharton. I agree with Duane, it will be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Bob wrote: "but when she reaches the goal line she self-destructs." Ugh. For better or worse, this reminds me of me sometimes. Not always, fortunately.

Kristen wrote: "MK,
For you I choose Sarah's Key and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, both of which are on my TBR list too. Looking forward to your reviews!

Here is my list:
..."

Kristen, I wanted to try to read both, but I only got to one this month. Just finished. Ooof! The book will grab you. You mentioned it's on your tbr, too. It reads fast, I don't know if it's possible to not tear thru it!!! (Okay, I guess maybe for some, maybe ... heh).

Anyway, the book I read is Sarah's Key. This as also one of the two Kat chose for me last month. I really wanted to read it in Jan, but ran out of time.

Here's my (short) review:

Vel' d'Hiv ... veldeef .... No I didn't know about this before reading Sarah's Secret.

Hit the wrong spot, on my kindle, and lost what I typed first go. I'll settle for - This is quite a book! Tore right thru it. The horror .. is horrible and gut-wrenching. What remains when done is the courage and beauty and love, exhibited by some brave enough to risk all. Including Julia and a few others, in the present time.

Better late then never! At least thats what I've been told.

So I finished Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder just in the nick of time.

I should share a little back story about how I stumbled upon this book. In October, I spent a weekend in Newport Rhode Island for the wedding of an old high school friend. During that weekend, I spent some time seeing the sights, to include the ocean drive and a number of old mansions. At the conclusion of a tour of one of those mansions, the book was in the gift shop, Being a book addict, I had to purchase it, knowing nothing about it.

The book is basically about a man in his 20's who is unhappy with his current situation in life. He decides to quit his job and ends up in Newport Rhode Island for the summer. He finds a number of jobs to pay the bills. The book is basically about his time and Newport and his experiences with the rich and snobby inhabitants. I fully anticipated this book would be a little slow and stuffy. I was pleasantly surprised. I found it to be light and I found myself laughing out loud at times. The narrator comes up with a number of fun and interesting schemes to achieve different ends with a number of the locals. I'm not sure if you have to have some back story of the inhabitants of Newport to enjoy the book, but I truly enjoyed it. It was certainly one of the unexpected, but fun finds during my stay in Newport.

Nice! Yes, better late than never :D (but, you're not late, it's still Feb *grin*).

I love Christopher Buckley. He must have written an intro for the book? You sold me, I put it on my tbr ... I know, we all have insanely huge tbrs :p. I like the backstory! Did you want to chuck it all and spend a summer on the coast too, now, when you finished reading? lol ~

Yes, I certainly did. It made me nostalgic for the time in my life when I would have given it some serious thought. However, life just has a way of getting in the way! When you read it, let me know your thoughts.

So true, on life! And, I will. It'll be a few months until I get to it, sadly. But I will.