Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

A Bakers Dozen Menu for the 2022 Buffet:

📌 Indicates Completed Challenge

📌Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR
📌Challenge #2 - Second Place or Worse
📌Challenge #3 - Decade Challenge
📌Challenge #4 - Members Choice Challenge
📌Challenge #5 - Short Story Challenge
📌Challenge #6 - 2022 Group Reads Challenge
📌Challenge #7 - Expand Your Horizon With New Authors
Challenge #9 – Fiction/Non-Fiction
📌Challenge #11 - Old and New Linked Categories

Challenge #1 - New & Old TBR

Only six of the 12 books selected are required to be Classics based on the Groups definitions, they do not have to come from the group's bookshelf. At least 3 books from the Old School category (published before 1900) and 3 books from the New School category (published between 1900 & 1999). The other six and your three alternates can be any genre or age you wish to read, yes even post 2000.

Books selected are all books I own.

1899 and earlier/Old School
✅1. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Read 7th July ⭐⭐⭐
✅2. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins Read 22nd Dec ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅3. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne Read 13th Feb ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1900-1999/New School
✅4. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Read 26th July ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅5. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith Read 3rd Dec ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅6. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett Read 11th Aug ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Wild Card Six
✅7. The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré Read 29th Sept ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅8. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Read 3rd Mar ⭐⭐⭐
✅9. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Read 24th Oct ⭐⭐⭐
✅10. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo Read 13th May ⭐⭐⭐⭐
11. The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Sōji Shimada
12. The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall

Alternates
✅A-1. Double Indemnity by James M. Cain Read 21st Mar ⭐⭐⭐
A-2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
✅A-3. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein Read 14th Apr ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📌Challenge #2 - Second Place or Worse

Go back through the groups past polls and select seven (7) total books that are of interest to you but lost the poll and to date has never made it to our group bookshelf. Pick two books from New School, two from Old School, two from Short Story/Novella, and one from the Quarterly Long Read.


New School
✅1. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
✅2. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Old School
✅1. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
✅2. Sandition

Short Story/Novella
✅1. The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence
✅2. A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce

Quarterly Long Read
✅ The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

Challenge #3 - Decade Challenge

The Decade Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive years (1 book per year). The authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

Golden Age Mysteries

✅1920 - Arsène Lupin in the Teeth of the Tiger by Maurice Leblanc ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1921 - The Paradise Mystery by J.S. Fletcher ⭐⭐⭐
✅1922 - The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne ⭐⭐⭐
✅1923 - The Cat's Eye by R. Austin Freeman ⭐⭐⭐
✅1924 - Inspector French's Greatest Case by Freeman Wills Crofts ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1925 - The Red Lamp by Mary Roberts Rinehart ⭐⭐
✅1926 - The Benson Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine ⭐⭐⭐
✅1927 - The Three Taps by Ronald Knox ⭐⭐
✅1928 - Grey Mask by Patricia Wentworth ⭐⭐⭐
✅1929 - The Studio Crime by Ianthe Jerrold ⭐⭐⭐

Another Decade if I can manage it

✅1930 - The Secret of High Eldersham by Miles Burton ⭐⭐⭐
✅1931 - The Incredible Crime: A Cambridge Mystery by Lois Austen-Leigh ⭐⭐⭐
✅1931 - Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles ⭐⭐⭐
✅1932 - Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1933 - Death in Fancy Dress by Anthony Gilbert ⭐⭐
✅1934 - Scarweather by Anthony Rolls ⭐⭐⭐
✅1935 - The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1936 - Murder in Piccadilly by Charles Kingston ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1937 - Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1938 - Dictator's Way by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1939 - Mr Campion Others by Margery Allingham ⭐⭐⭐


Other Mysteries:
✅1892 The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill ⭐⭐⭐
✅1907 The Red Thumb Mark by R. Austin Freeman ⭐⭐⭐
✅1912 The Crystal Stopper by Maurice Leblanc ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1914 The Wisdom of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton ⭐⭐

1930's
✅1931 The Late Monsieur Gallet by Georges Simenon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1931 The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien by Georges Simenon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1931 A Man's Head by Georges Simenon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1931 The Night at the Crossroads by Georges Simenon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1931 A Crime in Holland by Georges Simenon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1932 Murder in the Basement by Anthony Berkeley ⭐⭐⭐
✅1933 The Hog's Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts ⭐⭐⭐
✅1934 Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐
✅1934 The 12:30 from Croydon by Freeman Wills Crofts
✅1934 Death of an Airman by Christopher St. John Sprigg ⭐⭐⭐
✅1934 The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett ⭐⭐⭐
✅1934 Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville ⭐⭐⭐
✅1934 The Murder of My Aunt by Richard Hull ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1935 Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1936 Post After Post-Mortem by E.C.R. Lorac ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1936 Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐
✅1936 Double Indemnity by James M. Cain ⭐⭐⭐
✅1936 Death at the President's Lodging by Michael Innes ⭐⭐⭐
✅1937 Hamlet, Revenge! by Michael Innes ⭐⭐
✅1937 Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐
✅1938 Comes a Stranger by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1938 Lament for a Maker by Michael Innes ⭐⭐⭐
✅1938 Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐
✅1938 Antidote to Venom by Freeman Wills Crofts ⭐⭐
✅1939 Suspects Nine by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1939 Murder Abroad by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1939 Murder Is Easy by Agatha Christie⭐⭐⭐
✅1939 And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1940's
✅1940 The Secret Vanguard by Michael Innes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1940 Four Strange Women by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1940 Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1941 The Seat of the Scornful by John Dickson Carr ⭐⭐⭐
✅1941 Ten Star Clues by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1941 The Dark Garden by E.R. Punshon ⭐⭐⭐
✅1942 Tragedy at Law by Cyril Hare ⭐⭐⭐
✅1942 The Daffodil Affair by Michael Innes ⭐⭐
✅1942 Blue Murder by Harriet Rutland ⭐⭐⭐
✅1943 Murder's a Swine: A Second World War Mystery by Nap Lombard ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1944Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1946 The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1946 The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin ⭐⭐
✅1946 With a Bare Bodkin by Cyril Hare ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1949 When the Wind Blows by Cyril Hare ⭐⭐⭐

1950's
✅1952 Crossed Skis: An Alpine Mystery by Carol Carnac ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1953 Crook o' Lune: A Lancashire Mystery: 104 by E.C.R. Lorac
✅1956 Murder in Vienna by E.C.R. Lorac ⭐⭐⭐
✅1956 Death of a Bookseller: The 100th British Library Crime Classic by Bernard J. Farmer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1960's
✅1960 Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North ⭐⭐⭐
✅1961 The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅1961 The Methods of Sergeant Cluff by Gil North ⭐⭐⭐
✅1965 The Belting Inheritance by Julian Symons ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1980's
✅1983 The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters ⭐⭐⭐
✅1983 The Devil's Novice by Ellis Peters ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📌Challenge #4 - Members Choice Challenge

Choose one book per category for a total of 12 books.

✅1. 19th Century - The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅2. 20th Century - Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner ⭐⭐⭐
✅3. 21st Century Potential Future Classic - The Book Thief ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅4. Current or Past Group Read - The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅5. An Author not read before - Stanisław Lem - Solaris ⭐⭐⭐
✅6. Diversity Classic, read a book from a religion, culture, country, or race different than yours - A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes ⭐⭐⭐
✅7. Science Fiction - Future Crimes: Mysteries and Detection Through Time and Space ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅8. A book originally written in a language other than your own - The Late Monsieur Gallet by Georges Simenon ⭐⭐⭐
✅9. A Banned Book - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley ⭐⭐⭐
✅10. Nonfiction - Men Explain Things to Me: And Other Essays ⭐⭐⭐
✅11. Mystery/Crime - The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅12. Horror or Humour - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams ⭐⭐⭐

📌Challenge #5 - Short Story Challenge

Read 24 short stories

From 50 Greatest Short Stories
✅1. The Fly by Katherine Mansfield ⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅2. How the Leopard Got His Spots by Rudyard Kipling ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅3. The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅4.. A Pair of Silk Stockings by Kate Chopin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅5. The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde ⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅6. An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅7. The Last Leaf by O. Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅8. The Blind Man by D.H. Lawrence ⭐⭐⭐
✅9. The Valley of Spiders by H.G. Wells ⭐⭐
✅10. The Music On The Hill by Saki ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅11. The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅12. The Lady with the Little Dog by Anton Chekhov ⭐⭐
✅13. The Cop and the Anthem by O. Henry ⭐⭐⭐
✅14. The Chameleon by Anton Chekhov ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅15. The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank R. Stockton ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅16. The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (reread)
✅17. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅18. The Cactus by O. Henry ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅19. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅20. Mrs. Packletide's Tiger by Saki ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅21. Hunter Quatermain's Story by H. Rider Haggard ⭐⭐⭐
✅22. The Fiddler by Herman Melville ⭐⭐
✅23. The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅24. My Financial Career by Stephen Leacock ⭐⭐


Further Reading from 50 Greatest Short Stories:
✅25. The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅26. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅27. To Build a Fire by Jack London (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅28. A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce ⭐⭐
✅29. The Begging-Letter Writer by Charles Dickens ⭐⭐⭐
✅30. The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅31. The Crystal Egg by H.G. Wells ⭐⭐
✅32. The Boarded Window by Ambrose Bierce ⭐⭐⭐
✅33. The Bet by Anton Chekhov (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅34. A Coward by Guy de Maupassant ⭐⭐⭐
✅35. A Child's Dream of a Star by Charles Dickens ⭐⭐
✅36. Trust by Jack London ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅37. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅38. A Resumed Identity by Ambrose Bierce (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅39. A Little Cloud by James Joyce ⭐⭐⭐
✅40. Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅41. Amy Foster by Joseph Conrad (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅42. The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G. Wells ⭐⭐⭐
✅43. A Terribly Strange Bed by Wilkie Collins ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅44. A School Story by M.R. James (reread) ⭐⭐⭐
✅45. The Dancing Partner by Jerome K. Jerome ⭐⭐⭐
✅46. Rain by W. Somerset Maugham ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅47. A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf (reread) ⭐⭐
✅48. My Own True Ghost Story by Rudyard Kipling ⭐⭐
✅49. The Horla by Guy de Maupassant ⭐⭐⭐
✅50. The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐


From Selected Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson
✅51. Story of the Young Man with the Cream Tarts ⭐
✅52. Story of the Physician and the Saratoga Trunk ⭐⭐
✅53. The Adventure of the Hansom Cab ⭐
✅54. Story of the Bandbox ⭐⭐
✅55. Story of the Young Man in Holy Orders ⭐⭐
✅56. Story of the House with the Green Blinds ⭐⭐
✅57. The Adventure of Prince Florizel and a Detective ⭐

✅58. Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville ⭐⭐
✅59. The Hand by Guy de Maupassant ⭐⭐
✅60. My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather ⭐⭐⭐
✅61. My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood ⭐⭐⭐
✅62. Bliss by Katherine Mansfield ⭐⭐⭐

From Out of Line: Women on the Verge of a Breakthrough
✅63. Graceful Burdens by Roxane Gay ⭐⭐⭐
✅64. Sweet Virginia by Caroline Kepnes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅65. Halfway to Free by Emma Donoghue ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅66. Bear Witness by Mary Gaitskill ⭐⭐⭐
✅67. The Contractors by Lisa Ko ⭐⭐⭐
✅68. This Telling by Cheryl Strayed ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅69. Shine, Pamela! Shine! by Kate Atkinson ⭐⭐

From Forward: Stories of Tomorrow
✅70. You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅71. Ark by Veronica Roth ⭐⭐⭐
✅72. Summer Frost by Blake Crouch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅73. Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅74. The Last Conversation by Paul Tremblay ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅75. Randomize by Andy Weir ⭐⭐

✅76. Signal Moon by Kate Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅77. Themes and Variations by David Sedaris ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅78. Treasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite ⭐⭐⭐
✅79. Slow Burner by Laura Lippman ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅80. Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅81. The Gift by Alison Gaylin ⭐⭐
✅82. Snowflakes by Ruth Ware ⭐⭐⭐
✅83. Simplexity by Kiley Reid ⭐⭐⭐
✅84. Giraffe & Flamingo by Curtis Sittenfeld ⭐⭐⭐

From Black Stars: A Galaxy of New Worlds
✅85. The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅86. The Black Pages by Nnedi Okorafor ⭐⭐
✅87. 2043... a Merman I Should Turn to Be by Nisi Shawl ⭐⭐
✅88. These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅89. Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅90. We Travel the Spaceways by Victor LaValle ⭐⭐

✅91. The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📌Challenge #6 - 2022 Group Reads Challenge

The challenge is to read 12 of this year's group selections.

✅1. The Razor's Edge - 6th Jan ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅2. Cyrano de Bergerac: An Heroic Comedy in Five Acts - 24th Feb ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅3. The Waste Land and Other Poems - 6th Mar ⭐⭐
✅4. The Name of the Rose - 16th Mar ⭐⭐⭐
✅5. Persuasion - 24th Mar ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅6. Bartleby the Scrivener - 26th Mar ⭐⭐
✅7. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory - 29th Apr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅8. The Hand 10th May ⭐⭐
✅9. The Second Sex 23rd Nov ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅10. The Complete Fables ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅11. Blindness ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅12. The Kreutzer Sonata 12th May ⭐⭐⭐
✅13. Uncle Vanya 20th July ⭐⭐⭐
✅14. Oedipus Rex 15th Aug ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅15. Villette 18th Oct⭐⭐
✅16. King Solomon's Mines 13th Oct ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅17. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King 8th Dec ⭐⭐

📌Challenge #7 - Expand Your Horizon With New Authors

Seek out at least six authors that you have never previously read, male or female, from any genre or era you want.

✅1. Stanisław Lem - Solaris ⭐⭐⭐
✅2. W. Somerset Maugham - The Razor's Edge ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅3. Nap Lombard - Murder's a Swine: A Second World War Mystery ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅4. Lois Austen-Leigh - The Incredible Crime ⭐⭐⭐
✅5. Ethel Lina White - Some Must Watch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅6. Miles Burton - The Secret of High Eldersham ⭐⭐⭐

Other New to Me Authors:
✅7. Anthony Rolls - Scarweather ⭐⭐⭐
✅8. Clara Benson - A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia ⭐⭐⭐
✅9. Rudyard Kipling - How the leopard got his spots? ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅10. Charles Kingston - Murder in Piccadilly ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅11. Chester Himes - A Rage in Harlem ⭐⭐⭐
✅12. Roald Dahl - Matilda ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅13. Edmond Rostand - Cyrano de Bergerac: An Heroic Comedy in Five Acts ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅14. Walter Tevis - The Queen's Gambit ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅15. Aldous Huxley - Brave New World ⭐⭐⭐
✅16. Ronald Knox - The Three Taps ⭐⭐
✅17. Saki - The Music On The Hill ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅18. Elizabeth von Arnim- Father ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & The Enchanted April ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅19. Mollie Panter-Downes - My Husband Simon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅20. Matt Haig - The Midnight Library ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅21. Umberto Eco - The Name of the Rose ⭐⭐⭐
✅22. A.A. Milne - The Red House Mystery ⭐⭐⭐ & Winnie-the-Pooh ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅23. Albert Camus - The Outsider ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅24. Catherine Aird - Chapter and Hearse: Collected Mysteries ⭐⭐⭐
✅25. Winifred Peck - Bewildering Cares ⭐⭐⭐
✅26. Zane Grey - The Mysterious Rider ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅27. Robert A. Heinlein - Stranger in a Strange Land ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅28. Bernard J. Farmer - Death of a Bookseller: The 100th British Library Crime Classic ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅29. Miss Read - Village School ⭐⭐
✅30. H. Rider Haggard - Hunter Quatermain's Story ⭐⭐⭐ & King Solomon's Mines ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅31. Muriel Jaeger - The Man with Six Senses ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅32. Christopher St. John Sprigg - Death of an Airman ⭐⭐⭐
✅33. Seishi Yokomizo - The Honjin Murders ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅34. Alan Melville - Weekend at Thrackley ⭐⭐⭐
✅35. Dashiell Hammett - The Thin Man ⭐⭐⭐
✅36. José Saramago - Blindness ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅37. Israel Zangwill - The Big Bow Mystery ⭐⭐⭐
✅38. Willa Cather - My Mortal Enemy ⭐⭐⭐
✅39. William Golding - Lord of the Flies ⭐⭐⭐
✅40. Douglas Adams - The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ⭐⭐⭐
✅41. Susanna Clarke - Piranesi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅42. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅43. Marcus Aurelius - Meditations ⭐⭐⭐
✅44. Simone de Beauvoir - The Second Sex ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅45. J.S. Fletcher - The Paradise Mystery ⭐⭐⭐
✅46. Jerome K. Jerome - The Dancing Partner ⭐⭐⭐
✅47. Rudyard Kipling - My Own True Ghost Story ⭐⭐
✅48. Rebecca Solnit - Men Explain Things to Me ⭐⭐⭐
✅49. E.B. White - Charlotte's Web ⭐⭐⭐
✅50. Sophocles - Antigone; Oedipus the King; Electra ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅51. Julian Symons - The Belting Inheritance ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅52. Ianthe Jerrold - The Studio Crime ⭐⭐⭐
✅53. Ira Levin - Rosemary's Baby ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅54. Molière - The Misanthrope ⭐⭐
✅55. Amor Towles - A Gentleman in Moscow ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅56. Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅57. N.K. Jemisin - Emergency Skin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅58. Blake Crouch - Summer Frost ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅59. Kate Atkinson - Shine, Pamela! Shine! ⭐⭐
✅60. Paul Tremblay - The Last Conversation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅61. Cheryl Strayed - This Telling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅62. Lisa Ko - The Contractors ⭐⭐⭐
✅63. Mary Gaitskill - Bear Witness ⭐⭐⭐
✅64. Emma Donoghue - Halfway to Free
✅65. Caroline Kepnes - Sweet Virginia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅66. Roxane Gay - Graceful Burdens ⭐⭐⭐
✅67. E.R. Braithwaite - To Sir, With Love ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅68. Madeleine L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time ⭐⭐
✅69. Anthony Horowitz - Magpie Murders ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅70. Karma Brown - Recipe for a Perfect Wife ⭐⭐⭐
✅71. S.S. Van Dine - The Benson Murder Case ⭐⭐⭐
✅72. Martha Wells - All Systems Red ⭐⭐
✅73. Kate Quinn - Signal Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅74. Laura Lippman - Slow Burner ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅75. Oyinkan Braithwaite - Treasure ⭐⭐⭐
✅76. Taylor Jenkins Reid - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅77. Adrian Tchaikovsky - Children of Time ⭐⭐⭐
✅78. E.T.A. Hoffmann - The Nutcracker and the Mouse King ⭐⭐
✅79. Alison Gaylin - The Gift ⭐⭐
✅80. Alexander McCall Smith - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅81. Kiley Reid - Simplexity ⭐⭐⭐
✅82. Nnedi Okorafor - The Black Pages ⭐⭐
✅83. Nisi Shawl - 2043... a Merman I Should Turn to Be ⭐⭐
✅84. C.T. Rwizi - These Alien Skies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅85. Nalo Hopkinson - Clap Back ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅86. Victor LaValle - We Travel the Spaceways ⭐⭐
✅87. V.E. Schwab - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅88. Deanna Raybourn - Killers of a Certain Age ⭐⭐
✅89. Harriet Rutland - Blue Murder ⭐⭐⭐

Challenge #9 – Fiction/Non-Fiction

Select five different subjects of interest to you and read a fiction book and a non-fiction book about that subject. Total number of books for this challenge is ten.

1. Books Where Men Think They Know Better
✅Fiction: The Man with Six Senses by Muriel Jaeger
✅Non-Fiction: Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

2. Coloured Women and Sexual Crimes
Fiction: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Non-Fiction: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

3. Legal & Social Injustice towards Coloured People
Fiction: The Hate You Give
Non-Fiction: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

4. The Universe
✅Fiction: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Non-Fiction: A Brief History of Time (currently reading)

5. Where Women Have No Rights
✅Fiction: Cecilia
✅Non-Fiction: The Second Sex

Challenge #11 - Old and New Linked Categories

Select five categories of your choice or use some of these sample categories. Once you make your category selections, link the categories by finding and reading an Old School (1899 or older) and a New School book (1900-1999) that contains some part or is all about your selected categories.

1. Marooned:
✅Old School: The Mysterious Island
✅New School: Lord of the Flies

2. The Church and Politics within:
✅Old School: Barchester Towers
✅New School: The Name of the Rose

3. Locked Room Mystery:
✅Old School: The Big Bow Mystery
✅New School: The Honjin Murders

4. Martians on Earth:
✅Old School: The War of the Worlds
✅New School: Stranger in a Strange Land

5. Story takes place in India and England:
✅Old School: The Moonstone
✅New School: A Little Princess

Nice to see you diving in again. Hope the water is warm!

It sure looks nice and inviting!

I love that you choose two Japanesecrime novels! I'm into Japanese culture but haven't thougt of their crime novels, now I've put those two on mu TBR-list =)

And nice to see you chose two Swedish crime classics (since I'm Swedish).

Thank you, Nike! I really enjoyed the Maj Sjöwall Inspector Beck book I read and decided to continue the series. I don't think either of the Swedish Crime books will let me down.

I'm trying the Japanese Crime novels for the first time so let us see how that goes.

Shaina wrote: "Thank you, Nike! I really enjoyed the Maj Sjöwall Inspector Beck book I read and decided to continue the series. I don't think either of the Swedish Crime books will let me down.

I'..."

I must confess I haven't read a Sjöwall-book since I was a teenager - it's about time though. And I haven't read the Stieg Larsson-books because I become sort of "off" when something is too hyped. I've watched the movies though (the Swedish movies that is, not the american remakes.) I prefer British crimes but I'm aware that Nordic Noir has become huge and I read some Swedish crimes, I can recommend Stefan Ahnhem and Kepler if one likes the more scary ones. But Sjöwall & Wahlöö have a sort of cultstatus, so I plan to start reading through their series soon.

Thank you, Jillian! I look forward to your thoughts when you read these books.

I'm reading The left hand of darkness too this year. All the best

It looks like fun. I love your Golden Age Mysteries Challenge. I think one of the best aspects of these challenges is that when we find a genre we like, we can use them to really explore the books. There are so many books that may never be a group read, but are still worthwhile and fun.

Ila wrote: "I'm reading The left hand of darkness too this year. All the best"

Thank you, Ila.

Lynn wrote: "It looks like fun. I love your Golden Age Mysteries Challenge. I think one of the best aspects of these challenges is that when we find a genre we like, we can use them to really explore the books...."

Thank you, Lynn. I enjoyed the Golden Age mysteries last year and decided to continue it this year as well with a different decade.

Thoroughly enjoyed my first read of 2022
Future Crimes: Mysteries and Detection through Time and Space ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My two favourite genres in one! Need I say more?

Update on my reading status:

Decade challenge: I have managed to cover most of the 30's (that's what kept me going during these weeks after my relocation as I didn't have time or the bandwidth to read longer books). 2 books left to go in the 30's

Member's choice: 8 read and 4 to go. I enjoyed all the books here and will probably begin with the non fiction next.

Expand your horizons: I have completed the challenge and will keep noting other new authors I read this year.

Short Stories: 6 read and others listed. I'm finally getting to 50 Greatest Short Stories. It has been sitting on my bookshelf for a long time now.

I love your Golden Age of Mystery challenge - how fun!

Yes, it is turning out to be fun! There are so many books to choose from which adds to the fun

Shaina wrote: "Yes, it is turning out to be fun! There are so many books to choose from which adds to the fun"

Out of the 20 GA mystery books you're reading, I've only read one. I'm excited to have 19 (!) GA mystery books to check out.

Cozy_Pug, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Update on my Challenges:

Group Reads Challenge: I have read 6 of the 12 required reads. I enjoyed rereading Persuasion (Austen never disappoints)

Short Story Challenge: I have read 22 of 24 short stories and enjoyed quite a few of them. The Cactus by O. Henry , The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin and The Chameleon by Anton Chekhov were very interesting. I think I will reread them in future.

Members Choice Challenge: I need 2 books to complete this challenge. I'm currently reading The Second Sex for the non-fiction prompt and need to find a good 21st-century book for the other prompt.

Decade Challenge: 2 books to complete the 30's and 5 to complete the 20's

Second Place or Worse: I so enjoyed Barchester Towers and also used it for the BINGO prompt for Book that should be on our shelf. I see myself reading the series. I enjoyed it more than The Warden. I, Robot was good and I'm continuing with the series. 3 books left to complete the challenge. I think I will use a different book for the Long Read.

New & Old TBR: The less I say about this the better. This challenge never goes as planned.

Shaina wrote: "Update on my Challenges:

Group Reads Challenge: I have read 6 of the 12 required reads. I enjoyed rereading Persuasion (Austen never disappoints)

Short Story Challenge: I have read 22 of 24 short..."

If you enjoyed Barchester Towers, I recommend reading the other 4 in the series. They're so so good - I have the 6th and final Barchester book in my plan for this month.

Yes, Cozy_Pug I do plan to read the series. I enjoyed all the comments in that thread too

Shaina wrote: "Update on my Challenges:

Group Reads Challenge: I have read 6 of the 12 required reads. I enjoyed rereading Persuasion (Austen never disappoints)

Short Story Challenge: I have read 22 of 24 short..."

You mentioned one of my favorite short stories. I love The Story of an Hour. It is super short but the end packs such a punch. I need to read more works by Chopin sometime.

I'm so glad to find some else who likes Chopin. I have really enjoyed everything I have read by her so far (mostly all short stories except The Awakening). She really knows how to get those emotions going.

You are doing great, Shaina. I am reading the Barchester series. I have The Small House at Allington for next month, and hope the finish by the end of the year. I have absolutely loved them all.

Also a fan of Chopin. She does tap into the soul.

Thank you, Sara. I'm happy to know many are going on with the Barchester Series. I think I will space out the books so I can savour them. I will look forward to reading your thoughts on all the books in the series.

Yay! another Chopin fan... I'm trying to find more short stories by Chopin. She is really good.

Completed the Decade Challenge "Golden Age Mysteries from the 30's"

Shaina wrote: "Update on my Challenges:

Group Reads Challenge: I have read 6 of the 12 required reads. I enjoyed rereading Persuasion (Austen never disappoints)

Short Story Challenge: I have read 22 of 24 short..."

Congratulations on your progress so far. I also love to start out with short stories at the beginning of the year. Then it seems to grow my TBR!! 22 out of 24 stories. You are almost there! Plus you finished your Member's Choice. Nice.

Thank you, Lynn! I grok you about the short stories ( I see you have read Stranger in a strange land) Yes I'm almost done with my short stories but I plan to read so many more. Like you my tbr has plenty of them and they are perfect between long reads or just when you don't want to pick a full length read. 2 left on the Member's Choice hopefully I will finish that soon as well

Shaina wrote: "Thank you, Lynn! I grok you about the short stories ( I see you have read Stranger in a strange land) Yes I'm almost done with my short stories but I plan to read so many more. Like you my tbr has ..."

Oh I want to read Stranger in a Strange Land...meant to mark it to-read not read.

Shaina wrote: "Thank you, Lynn! I grok you about the short stories ( I see you have read Stranger in a strange land) Yes I'm almost done with my short stories but I plan to read so many more. Like you my tbr has ..."


Ah 2 more on Member's Choice...very close.

Aaah ...GR always does this..one of my currently reading also shows as read right now...strange

I just downloaded your book 50 Greatest Short Stories Although I had read 17/50 of the stories, there were enough I had not that it looked really good. Thanks.

I finally finished The Second Sex. This is the longest I have ever taken to read a book. It was also the most difficult read of my life yet. It made me so angry I had to put it down very often. I kept reading other books to take my mind off my angry thoughts and feelings

Shaina wrote: "I finally finished The Second Sex. This is the longest I have ever taken to read a book. It was also the most difficult read of my life yet. It made me so angry I had to put it down very often. I k..."

I'm so sorry that it was difficult. I have not tried to read that book. I have had angry reads though, and they are exhausting.

This is where I end my Buffet for 2022. I have completed all challenges except the Fiction/Non-fiction. I don't know if I will finish the book by Stephen Hawking but I'm clearly not in the mood to read on right now.

This calls for some unplanned reading for the next 7 days. I can now also go look at everyone's 2023 buffet selections. I refrained so far as I was afraid it would lead to me ignoring my current reads and jumping onto other books :P

Wow what a great list of books! I’m going to have to come back for a longer look. Congrats on all the new authors and short stories :)

Thanks, Janelle! I'm really happy with all the new authors and short stories too. Most of the Amazon Original short stories are quite good.

Wow you really did a tremendous amount of reading! All of the challenges but one is quite an achievement. I was particularly impressed with all the books you read from the 1930s, I am glad you had such a good year.

You had an amazing year of reading! Well done!

Shaina, you read so many books this year!!! And so many good ones!! Congratulations on your 2022 year of reading :)