PAUL C'S SECOND HOME - PART 1

Scenes from my Reading:



I intend to start the year with Tom Brown's Schooldays and this is a still - I think - from the 1951 movie.

Poems and Poets

SIMON ARMITAGE

Reading Record

JANUARY

1. Plague 99 by Jean Ure (1989) 218 pp
2. Tom Brown's Schooldays by Thomas Hughes (1857) 309 pp
3. A Lear of the Steppes by Ivan Turgenev (1870) 117 pp
4. A Fall from the Sky by Ian Serraillier (1966) 78 pp

Currently Reading

Reading Plan

1 British Author Challenge - set this year by Amanda in the 75er Group

2 1001 Book First Edition - Ongoing

3 Booker Challenge - Read all the Booker winners; I may get close to completing that in 2021

4 Nobel Winners - Read all the Nobel Winners

5 Pulitzer Winners - Read all the Pulitzer fiction winners

6 Around the World Challenge - Read a book from an author born in or with parents from all countries - I reset this challenge in October 2020.

7 Queen Victoria Challenge - Read a book from every year of Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901) with no repeat authors. Started December 2020

8 Queen Betty Challenge - Read a book from every year of Queen Elizabeth II reign (1952-2021) - British authors only and no repeats.

9 Dance to the Music of Time - One a month all year.

10. The 52 Book Club Challenge - A book a week from these selected categories https://www.the52book.club/challenges/2021-reading-challenge/

11. A Dent in the TBR - I have approaching 5,000 books in my TBR so I must read some of the 250 books I have bought in 2020 that end the current year unread.

12. Poetry - My first love in many ways and I am still something of a scribbler of lines to this day.

13. American Author Challenge - Linda came up trumps.

BAC



January: Children's Classics https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7317610

February: LGBT+ History Month https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7317871

March: Vaseem Khan & Eleanor Hibbert https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7318561

April: Love is in the Air https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7319432

May: V. S. Naipaul & Na'ima B. Robert https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7320231

June: The Victorian Era (1837-1901) https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7320541

July: Don't judge a book by its movie https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7321220

August: Bernard Cornwell & Helen Oyeyemi https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7321374

September: She Blinded Me with Science https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7321899

October: Narrative Poetry https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7322840

November: Tade Thompson & Elizabeth Taylor https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7323772

December: Awards & Honors https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7325017

Wildcard: Books off your shelves https://www.librarything.com/topic/326122#7325595

BOOKERS
Personal Reading Challenge: Every winner of the Booker Prize since its inception in 1969

1969: P. H. Newby, Something to Answer For - READ
1970: Bernice Rubens, The Elected Member
1970: J. G. Farrell, Troubles (awarded in 2010 as the Lost Man Booker Prize) - READ
1971: V. S. Naipaul, In a Free State
1972: John Berger, G.
1973: J. G. Farrell, The Siege of Krishnapur - READ
1974: Nadine Gordimer, The Conservationist ... and Stanley Middleton, Holiday - READ
1975: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust - READ
1976: David Storey, Saville - READ
1977: Paul Scott, Staying On - READ
1978: Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea
1979: Penelope Fitzgerald, Offshore - READ
1980: William Golding, Rites of Passage - READ
1981: Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children - READ
1982: Thomas Keneally, Schindler's Ark - READ
1983: J. M. Coetzee, Life & Times of Michael K
1984: Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac - READ
1985: Keri Hulme, The Bone People
1986: Kingsley Amis, The Old Devils - READ
1987: Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger - READ
1988: Peter Carey, Oscar and Lucinda
1989: Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
1990: A. S. Byatt, Possession: A Romance - READ
1991: Ben Okri, The Famished Road
1992: Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient ... and Barry Unsworth, Sacred Hunger - READ
1993: Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
1994: James Kelman, How late it was, how late
1995: Pat Barker, The Ghost Road
1996: Graham Swift, Last Orders - READ
1997: Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things READ
1998: Ian McEwan, Amsterdam - READ
1999: J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace - READ
2000: Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin
2001: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang - READ
2002: Yann Martel, Life of Pi
2003: DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
2004: Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
2005: John Banville, The Sea - READ
2006: Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss
2007: Anne Enright, The Gathering - READ
2008: Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger - READ
2009: Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall - READ
2010: Howard Jacobson, The Finkler Question
2011: Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending - READ
2012: Hilary Mantel, Bring Up the Bodies - READ
2013: Eleanor Catton, The Luminaries
2014: Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North - READ
2015: Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings - READ
2016: Paul Beatty, The Sellout - READ
2017: George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo
2018: Anna Burns, Milkman
2019: Margaret Atwood, The Testaments, and Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other
2020: Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain

READ 31 of 56 WINNERS

Pulitzer Winners

As with the Bookers, I want to eventually read all the Pulitzer winners (for fiction at least) and have most of the recent ones on the shelves at least. Current status.

Fiction

1918 HIS FAMILY - Ernest Poole
1919 THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS - Booth Tarkington
1921 THE AGE OF INNOCENCE - Edith Wharton
1922 ALICE ADAMS - Booth Tarkington
1923 ONE OF OURS - Willa Cather
1924 THE ABLE MCLAUGHLINS - Margaret Wilson
1925 SO BIG - Edna Ferber
1926 ARROWSMITH - Sinclair Lewis (Declined)
1927 EARLY AUTUMN - Louis Bromfield
1928 THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY - Thornton Wilder
1929 SCARLET SISTER MARY - Julia Peterkin
1930 LAUGHING BOY - Oliver Lafarge ON SHELVES
1931 YEARS OF GRACE - Margaret Ayer Barnes
1932 THE GOOD EARTH - Pearl Buck
1933 THE STORE - Thomas Sigismund Stribling
1934 LAMB IN HIS BOSOM - Caroline Miller
1935 NOW IN NOVEMBER - Josephine Winslow Johnson
1936 HONEY IN THE HORN - Harold L Davis
1937 GONE WITH THE WIND - Margaret Mitchell ON SHELVES
1938 THE LATE GEORGE APLEY - John Phillips Marquand
1939 THE YEARLING - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
1940 THE GRAPES OF WRATH - John Steinbeck
1942 IN THIS OUR LIFE - Ellen Glasgow
1943 DRAGON'S TEETH - Upton Sinclair
1944 JOURNEY IN THE DARK - Martin Flavin
1945 A BELL FOR ADANO - John Hersey ON SHELVES
1947 ALL THE KING'S MEN - Robert Penn Warren ON SHELVES
1948 TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC - James Michener
1949 GUARD OF HONOR - James Gould Cozzens
1950 THE WAY WEST - A.B. Guthrie
1951 THE TOWN - Conrad Richter
1952 THE CAINE MUTINY - Herman Wouk
1953 THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA - Ernest Hemingway
1955 A FABLE - William Faulkner
1956 ANDERSONVILLE - McKinlay Kantor
1958 A DEATH IN THE FAMILY - James Agee ON SHELVES
1959 THE TRAVELS OF JAIMIE McPHEETERS - Robert Lewis Taylor
1960 ADVISE AND CONSENT - Allen Drury
1961 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - Harper Lee
1962 THE EDGE OF SADNESS - Edwin O'Connor
1963 THE REIVERS - William Faulkner
1965 THE KEEPERS OF THE HOUSE - Shirley Ann Grau
1966 THE COLLECTED STORIES OF KATHERINE ANNE PORTER - Katherine Anne Porter
1967 THE FIXER - Bernard Malamud
1968 THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER - William Styron
1969 HOUSE MADE OF DAWN - N Scott Momaday ON SHELVES
1970 THE COLLECTED STORIES OF JEAN STAFFORD - Jean Stafford
1972 ANGLE OF REPOSE - Wallace Stegner ON SHELVES
1973 THE OPTIMIST'S DAUGHTER - Eudora Welty ON SHELVES
1975 THE KILLER ANGELS - Jeff Shaara ON SHELVES
1976 HUMBOLDT'S GIFT - Saul Bellow
1978 ELBOW ROOM - James Alan McPherson
1979 THE STORIES OF JOHN CHEEVER - John Cheever ON SHELVES
1980 THE EXECUTIONER'S SONG - Norman Mailer ON SHELVES
1981 A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES - John Kennedy Toole ON SHELVES
1982 RABBIT IS RICH - John Updike
1983 THE COLOR PURPLE - Alice Walker ON SHELVES
1984 IRONWEED - William Kennedy ON SHELVES
1985 FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Alison Lurie ON SHELVES
1986 LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry ON SHELVES
1987 A SUMMONS TO MEMPHIS - Peter Taylor
1988 BELOVED - Toni Morrison - ON SHELVES
1989 BREATHING LESSONS - Anne Tyler
1990 THE MAMBO KINGS PLAY SONGS OF LOVE - Oscar Hijuelos
1991 RABBIT AT REST - John Updike
1992 A THOUSAND ACRES - Jane Smiley
1993 A GOOD SCENT FROM A STRANGE MOUNTAIN - Robert Olen Butler
1994 THE SHIPPING NEWS - E Annie Proulx
1995 THE STONE DIARIES - Carol Shields ON SHELVES
1996 INDEPENDENCE DAY - Richard Ford ON SHELVES
1997 MARTIN DRESSLER - Steven Millhauser ON SHELVES
1998 AMERICAN PASTORAL - Philip Roth ON SHELVES
1999 THE HOURS - Michael Cunningham ON SHELVES
2000 INTERPRETER OF MALADIES - Jumpha Lahiri
2001 THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY - Michael Chabon ON SHELVES
2002 EMPIRE FALLS - Richard Russo ON SHELVES
2003 MIDDLESEX - Jeffrey Eugenides ON SHELVES
2004 THE KNOWN WORLD - Edward P. Jones ON SHELVES
2005 GILEAD - Marilynne Robinson ON SHELVES
2006 MARCH - Geraldine Brooks
2007 THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
2008 THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO - Junot Diaz ON SHELVES
2009 OLIVE KITTERIDGE - Elizabeth Strout ON SHELVES
2010 TINKERS - Paul Harding
2011 A VISIT FROM THE GOOD SQUAD - Jennifer Egan ON SHELVES
2013 ORPHAN MASTER'S SON - Adam Johnson ON SHELVES
2014 THE GOLDFINCH - Donna Tartt ON SHELVES
2015 ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE - Anthony Doerr ON SHELVES
2016 THE SYMPATHIZER - Viet Thanh Nguyen ON SHELVES
2017 THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD - Colson Whitehead ON SHELVES
2018 LESS - Andrew Sean Greer ON SHELVES
2019 THE OVERSTORY - Richard Powers ON SHELVES
2020 THE NICKEL BOYS - Colson Whitehead ON SHELVES


16 READ
38 ON SHELVES
39 NOT OWNED OR READ

93 TOTAL

Around the world in books challenge. I want to see how many countries I can cover without limiting myself to a specific deadline.

From 1 October 2020

1. United Kingdom - The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard EUROPE
2. Ireland - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde EUROPE
3. Lithuania - Selected and Last Poems by Czeslaw Milosz EUROPE
4. Netherlands - The Ditch by Herman Koch EUROPE
5. Armenia - The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian ASIA PACIFIC
6. Zimbabwe - This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga AFRICA
7. United States - Averno by Louise Gluck AMERICA
8. Australia - Taller When Prone by Les Murray ASIA PACIFIC
9. France - Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere EUROPE
10. Russia - The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov EUROPE
11. Denmark - Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard EUROPE
12. Democratic Republic of Congo - Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanze Mujila AFRICA
13. Canada - I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven AMERICA


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

QUEEN VIC CHALLENGE
Regarding my Victorian Era Challenge which I started this month with the aim of completing it by the end of 2021. 64 years. 64 books. 64 authors.

From Dec 2020

1843 FEAR AND TREMBLING by Kierkegaard
1850 PENDENNIS by Thackeray
1857 TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS by Hughes
1870 A LEAR OF THE STEPPES by Turgenev
1881 PRINCE AND THE PAUPER by Twain
1900 THREE SISTERS by Chekhov

6/64

QUEEN BETTY CHALLENGE

From December 2020 70 Years 70 Books 70 Different British Authors

1966 A Fall from the Sky by Ian Serraillier
1989 Plague 99 by Jean Ure
2013 A Delicate Truth by John Le Carre

3/70

52 BOOK CLUB CHALLENGE

Based on this challenge suggested by Katie & Chelle

https://www.the52book.club/challenges/2021-reading-challenge/

January
Week 1 : Set in a school : Tom Brown's Schooldays by Hughes Read 2 Jan 2021
Week 2 : Legal profession :
Week 3 : Dual timeline :
Week 4 : Deceased author :

READ MORE THAN ACQUIRED

Last year I added 300 books but read 50 of them. In addition I have another 4,500 plus on the TBR.
The challenge is not to make the situation of my TBR worse.
So I must read or remove from my wider TBR more than I acquire this year and I will gauge this against last years "new" TBR and any future incomings. Therefore the older TBRs don't count against this challenge.

The figure at the start of the year is 250 books and this number must be smaller by December 31. These are the 250 books:

1 Stay with Me Adebayo
2 American War Akkad
3 The Catholic School Albinati
4 The Unwomanly Face of War Alexievich
5 Saltwater Andrews
6 Big Sky Atkinson
7 At the Jerusalem Bailey
8 The Body Lies Baker
9 The Lost Memory of Skin Banks
10 Remembered Battle-Felton
11 Springtime in a Broken Mirror Benedetti
12 A Crime in the Neighborhood Berne
13 Stand By Me Berry
14 Love Story, With Murders Bingham
15 This Thing of Darkness Bingham
16 The Sandcastle Girls Bohjalian
17 The Ascent of Rum Doodle Bowman
18 Clade Bradley
19 The Snow Ball Brophy
20 Paladin of Souls Bujold
21 Parable of the Sower Butler
22 The Adventures of China Iron Camara
23 The Overnight Kidnapper Camilleri
24 The Other End of the Line Camilleri
25 Lord of all the Dead Cercas
26 Uncle Vanya Checkov
27 The Cherry Orchard Checkov
28 Blue Moon Child
29 Trust Exercise Choi
30 The Night Tiger Choo
31 The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side Christie
32 At Bertram's Hotel Christie
33 The Water Dancer Coates
34 The New Wilderness Cook
35 Hopscotch Cortazar
36 The Illumination of Ursula Flight Crowhurst
37 Deviation D'Eramo
38 Boy Swallows Universe Dalton
39 The Girl with the Louding Voice Dare
40 The Rose of Tibet Davidson
41 Dhalgren Delany
42 The Butterfly Girl Denfeld
43 Vernon Subutex 1 Despentes
44 Postcolonial Love Poem Diaz
45 Childhood Ditlevsen
46 Youth Ditlevsen
47 Dependency Ditlevsen
48 Burnt Sugar Doshi
49 Frenchman's Creek Du Maurier D
50 Trilby Du Maurier G
51 Sincerity Duffy
52 Sumarine Dunthorne
53 The Narrow Land Dwyer-Hickey
54 Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race Eddo-Lodge
55 Axiom's End Ellis
56 Figures in a Landscape England
57 kaddish.com Englander
58 Shadow Tag Erdrich
59 The Carpet Makers Eschbach
60 The Emperor's Babe Evaristo
61 Small Country Faye
62 To Rise Again at a Decent Hour Ferris
63 At Freddie's Fitzgerald
64 The Guest List Foley
65 Man's Search for Meaning Frankel
66 Love in No Man's Land Ga
67 Norse Mythology Gaiman
68 The Spare Room Garner
69 The Kites Gary
70 Gun Island Ghosh
71 Vita Nova Gluck
72 Trafalgar Gorodischer
73 Potiki Grace
74 Killers of the Flower Moon Grann
75 The Last Banquet Grimwood
76 Guapa Haddad
77 The Porpoise Haddon
78 Late in the Day Hadley
79 The Final Bet Hamdouchi
80 The Parisian Hammad
81 Nightingale Hannah
82 Coastliners Harris J
83 The Truths We Hold Harris K
84 Conclave Harris R
85 The Second Sleep Harris R
86 Tales of the Tikongs Hau'ofa
87 A Thousand Ships Haynes
88 The River Heller
89 Dead Lions Herron
90 Real Tigers Herron
91 War and Turpentine Hertmans
92 A Political History of the World Holslag
93 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Honeyman
94 The Light Years Howard
95 Promise Me You'll Shoot Yourself Huber
96 A High Wind in Jamaica Hughes
97 Ape and Essence Huxley
98 Me John
99 Nightblind Jonasson
100 Black Out Jonasson
101 How to be an Anti-Rascist Kendi
102 Death is Hard Work Khalifa
103 Darius the Great is Not Okay Khorram
104 Himself Kidd
105 Diary of a Murderer Kim
106 Dance of the Jacakranda Kimani
107 The Bridge Konigsberg
108 Who They Was Krauze
109 The Mars Room Kushner
110 The Princesse de Cleves La Fayette
111 The Other Americans Lalami
112 The Curious Case of Dassoukine's Trousers Laroui
113 Fish Can Sing Laxness
114 Agent Running in the Field Le Carre
115 Pachinko Lee
116 The Turncoat Lenz
117 The Topeka School Lerner
118 Caging Skies Leunens
119 The Fifth Risk Lewis
120 The Three-Body Problem Liu
121 Lost Children Archive Luiselli
122 Black Moses Mabanckou
123 Blue Ticket Mackintosh
124 A Burning Majumdar
125 The Mirror and the Light Mantel
126 Original Spin Marks
127 Deep River Marlantes
128 The Return Matar
129 The Island Matute
130 Hame McAfee
131 Apeirogon McCann
132 Underland McFarlane
133 Hurricane Season Melchor
134 The Shadow King Mengiste
135 The Human Swarm Moffett
136 She Would Be King Moore
137 The Starless Sea Morgenstern
138 Poetry by Heart Motion
139 A Fairly Honourable Defeat Murdoch
140 The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov Nabokov
141 The Warlow Experiment Nathan
142 The Left-Handed Booksellers of London Nix
143 Born a Crime Noah
144 The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney Nzelu
145 Girl O'Brien
146 After You'd Gone O'Farrell
147 Henry, Himself O'Nan
148 Inland Obreht
149 Weather Offill
150 Dept. of Speculation Offill
151 Stag's Leap Olds
152 Blue Horses Oliver
153 Felicity Oliver
154 Will Olyslaegers
155 Woods, etc Oswald
156 Night Theatre Paralkar
157 The Damascus Road Parini
158 Empress of the East Peirce
159 The Street Petry
160 Disappearing Earth Phillips
161 Arid Dreams Pimwana
162 Peterloo : Witness to a Massacre Polyp
163 Lanny Porter
164 The Women at Hitler's Table Postorino
165 A Question of Upbringing Powell A
166 A Buyer's Market Powell A
167 The Acceptance World Powell A
168 The Interrogative Mood Powell P
169 Rough Magic Prior-Palmer
170 The Alice Network Quinn
171 Where the Red Fern Grows Rawls
172 Such a Fun Age Reid
173 Selected Poems 1950-2012 Rich
174 The Discomfort of Evening Rijneveld
175 Jack Robinson
176 The Years of Rice and Salt Robinson K
177 A Portable Paradise Robinson R
178 The Fall of the Ottomans Rogan
179 Normal People Rooney
180 Conversations with Friends Rooney
181 Alone Time Rosenbloom
182 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Rowling
183 The Watch Roy-Bhattacharya
184 The Five Rubenhold
185 Contact Sagan
186 The Hunters Salter
187 The Seventh Cross Seghers
188 Will Self
189 Moses Ascending Selvon
190 The Dove on the Water Shadbolt
191 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World Shafak
192 In Arabian Nights Shah
193 The Caliph's House Shah
194 Mrs Warren's Profession Shaw
195 Arms and the Man Shaw
196 Candida Shaw
197 Man and Superman Shaw
198 Dimension of Miracles Sheckley
199 The Last Man Shelley
200 Temple of a Thousand Faces Shors
201 Year of the Monkey Smith P
202 Eternity Smith T
203 Crossing Statovci
204 Lucy Church, Amiably Stein
205 Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead Stoppard
206 Blood Cruise Strandberg
207 Shuggie Bain Stuart
208 Three Poems Sullivan
209 Rules for Perfect Murders Swanson
210 Cane River Tademy
211 Real Life Taylor
212 The Queen's Gambit Tevis
213 Far North Therous
214 Walden Thoreau
215 Civil Disobedience Thoreau
216 Survivor Song Tremblay
217 The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee Treuer
218 The Small House at Allingham Trollope
219 A Nest of Gentlefolk Turgenev
220 A Quiet Backwater Turgenev
221 A Lear of the Steppes Turgenev READ JAN 20
222 The Queen of Attolia Turner
223 The King of Attolia Turner
224 Redhead by the Side of the Road Tyler
225 Outlaw Ocean Urbina
226 Plague 99 Ure READ JAN 2020
227 The Age of Miracles Walker
228 The Uninhabitable Earth Wallace-Wells
229 Judith Paris Walpole
230 Love and Other Thought Experiments Ward
231 The Death of Mrs. Westaway Ware
232 Lolly Willows Warner
233 Second Life Watson
234 Final Cut Watson
235 Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen Weldon
236 Before the War Weldon
237 Lazarus West
238 Educated Westover
239 The Nickel Boys Whitehead
240 The Death of Murat Idrissi Wieringa
241 Salome Wilde
242 An Ideal Husband Wilde
243 Lady Windemere's Fan Wilde
244 A Woman of No Importance Wilde
245 The Salt Path Winn
246 The Natural Way of Things Wood C
247 East Lynne Wood E
248 A Room of One's Own Woolf
249 Interior Chinatown Yu
250 How Much of These Hills is Gold Zhang

BEGIN : 250
READ : 2
ADDED : 0
CULLED : 0 (AGED TBR)

PRESENT TOTAL : 248

THIS YEAR'S BUYS

MISCELLANEOUS STATS

RESOLUTIONS

NEXT IS YOURS

I will fill out the thread over the next few days. Hoping for a better year for all of us.

Happy first thread!

>1 PaulCranswick: I only know Tom Brown's Schooldays as the origin of Harry Flashman, so it at least has that going for it.

>18 amanda4242: I think it most appropriate that my first visitor is you, Amanda. xx

A gracious good morning to you, sir. Is this the party to whom I am speaking?
--channelling my inner Lily Tomlin

>20 richardderus: RD, back in those now seeming halcyon days of 2012/2013/2014 when we'd have a 1000 posts before January was very old, I got to appreciate your wit, your wisdom and your scarcely hidden warmth. It is not the same here without you dear fellow.

Well Hello *

Welcome back!

>22 BBGirl55: Lovely to see you, Bryony, and I do hope you manage to stay the course with me this next year!

>23 drneutron: Thank you, Jim. Was there ever any doubt?

Hi Paul! I hope to do a better at keeping up this year.

Do you know about Thomas Hughes' connection to East Tennessee? He founded the town of Rugby. It's an interesting place to visit! https://www.historicrugby.org/

>25 cbl_tn: I hope so too, Carrie, as I have missed you for long spells during this tough year.

I didn't know that about Hughes - fascinating and thank you so much for sharing.

Happy New Year to you and your family. May it be a great one for all of you!

>27 SqueakyChu: Thank you, Madeline. Friends help the world be a better place and I am lucky in having so many good friends here and in RL.

>28 PaulCranswick: I think it is so cool that may of our virtual friends here at LT have turned out to be real life friends through the years. I have learned through this year to be grateful for the smallest things when the largest things seem too overwhelming. I look forward to a brighter future for all of us.

>29 SqueakyChu: That is so true, Madeline. I also have to say that I have neither been disappointed nor surprised by any single LT meet up over the years - all without exception have been the people I hoped and expected them to be.

Reading poetry normally sets my own creative juices flowing in apeish enthusiasm.

I am reading Louise Gluck's The First Four Books of Poems - First Born and this has prompted:

Coupling

An innocence taken;
Abnegation of self -
You want it
But he wants it more
Much more.
He will honour but you
Shall obey.
He wants it more
And will thrust
Through your discomfort
Until ownership is certain.

Over priced wine
On his breath still;
Smile spoilt by drool.
You are awake
Kept in that state
By the smear of blood
On your inner thigh,
By the treacly wetness
He has bequeathed you,
By the baritone reminders
Of his satisfied slumbers.

Welcome back! Like everyone else, I've gotten quieter on threads as the year progressed. Hoping I can get back in the swing of posting more.

>32 thornton37814: I hope so too, Lori, because when you get moving it is mightily impressive.

Happy new thread, and good riddance to 2020!

>1 PaulCranswick: Oh, my. I'm a tad concerned for the boy in the middle.

>2 PaulCranswick: When my grandfather first met my grandmother as children, he threw rocks at her. They married, had children, and lived unequally together. Many years later, when she was dying of cancer, as she watched, he sold and gave away the household items he considered hers and openly dated her sudden and less-than-credible "best friend".

Their relationship came to mind when I read that poem.

And so I thought more of my grandmother in reading your very good poem.

>34 aspirit: Lovely to see you here and I agree that we will better off looking forward to 2021 than thinking too deeply about 2020.

Isn't it funny what springs to mind reading something? That is an awful tale of your Grandparents but, I suspect not a hugely uncommon one. Times have changed somewhat for the better but I still rule the roost at home and have my wive's permission to say so! If men placed themselves in the position of the lady more often (as I tried clumsily to do above), I suspect relationships may be more tender, more loving and more lasting. I have to sign off now as my chattel is insisting I massage her feet.

Poor Tom Brown in >1 PaulCranswick: needs to be worried for as the bully, Flashman and his stooges see him as a helpless target.

>31 PaulCranswick: I'm really curious as to what prompted you to post that particular poem.

>36 SqueakyChu: I scribbled it down in response to a poem in Louise Gluck's first collection which is called Bridal Piece. It is often the way with me that reading something will set me off writing something else. You would not fully recognise my poem from her words but you might see how I thought of it.

>36 SqueakyChu: That is Gluck's poem which inspired my own humble effort.

Bridal Piece

Our honeymoon
He planted us by
Water. It was March. The moon
Lurched like searchlights, like
His murmurings across my brain –
He had to have his way. As down
The beach the wet wind
Snored . . . I want
My innocence. I see
My family frozen in the doorway
Now, unchanged, unchanged. Their rice congeals
Around his car. He locked our bedroll
In the trunk for laughs, later, at the deep
End. Rockaway. He reaches for me in his sleep.

Yikes! Those poems! All very good and very disturbing for bringing the implicit violence of far too many relationships to the surface for all of us to ponder in discomfort.

And welcome to 2021 (almost!)

>38 PaulCranswick: Wow! Interesting. Back when I used to be inspired to write poetry, it never dawned on me to be inspired to do so by the poetry of others. My poems just seem to have emanated from me on my own. I’ll have to copy your poem and add it to my poetry collection. It is very powerful.

>39 justchris: Lovely to see you Chris.

I am fairly satisfied with my own effort given especially my propensity these days to type it straight into my MacBook Air and then I'll read and trim and tweak. On this occasion I posted it as I finished it and haven't changed anything other than repositioning the first three lines of the second verse which seemed ridiculous being previously tacked on the end.

>40 SqueakyChu: It is funny, Madeline, but my own married relationship is marked, I think, by considerable gentleness. There were however earlier times and loves which were much more primal and for that moment.

I get the impression however that Gluck's writing has a smear of memoir and is for that wholly more believable and delicate. I am honoured that you consider my poem worthy of adding to your collection.

Happy new thread!

If possible this thread is jumping faster than the last, and you may have to start a second before 2021 even starts!

>43 quondame: That really would be like old times, Susan!

Lovely to see you as always. I wish I could read closer to your own pace. x

Happy new one, Paul. I hope that I can visit your thread more often in 2021.

Lovely to see you, Barbara. Your presence has been sorely missed around these parts.

Happy new thread, Paul. It is hardly new any more, though, I see! I guess we are all just eager to shake off 2020 and jump into 2021.

>47 jessibud2: This time of year is interesting juggling the old thread and the new, Shelley. I guess more than usual most people want rid of 2020.

Of course, I find your brand new thread and it's already at almost 50 posts!

Hope 2021 is kind to you!

Thanks Chelle and the very same to you too. Always a pleasure to see how you and Nate and the two little darlings are getting along.

>46 PaulCranswick:

>51 Ameise1: Great graphic that, Barbara. Love and kisses right back.

Yup, it's my avatar.

Happy new thread, Paul. You blink and look away for a while, and there are 50 posts on your thread!

>53 Ameise1: It is a cute one, anyways.

>54 EllaTim: The ending and beginning of years are always hectic in LT world, Ella.

>42 PaulCranswick: I have all of my favorite poems, including those I wrote, in a book I've saved over the years. When a poem touches me, I print it out right away and add it to my collection. Of all of the poems I've saved, the ones I treasure the most are those which were written by people I know.

I found your poem jarring. it moved me on an emotional level.

I never knew you wrote poetry. That's pretty cool! All the more reason for me to stick with your thread this coming year! :D

Holy Moly, Paul! Not the new year yet, brand new thread, and I STILL can't catch up!
Happy new one anyway! May we all thrive and be kind!

>56 SqueakyChu: That's nice to hear, Madeline. I have been writing almost as long as I have been reading.

>57 LizzieD: I love this time of year, Peggy. xx

I mean to keep up with you this year, Paul. Hope springs eternal - as whoever it was said.

Hi Paul, i have starred you again mate and look forward to seeing your posts and the stats you produce. Sorry to hear your mum had to go to hospital again mate and hope she is on the men.

I hope you had a good Christmas mate as we did and i will post more tomorrow, sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

Hello Paul. Not sure I will be able to keep up with your thread but I will do my best. This past year my reading waned while being home as did my posting and interacting on here. I look forward to seeing your progress in 2021! Hope you had a great Christmas!

>59 Fourpawz2: Thank you, Charlotte and it would be great to see you more often. xx

It was Alexander Pope who coined "hope springs eternal".

>60 johnsimpson: You and your pots of tea are now fixtures and fittings here, John, and you couldn't be allowed not to put the kettle on for another year with us. Look forward to your 100 books this year. Love to Karen.

>61 crazy4reading: Lovely to see you Monica. No need to stress and strain trying to keep up - just drop in and comment as and when you feel like it - you will always be welcome here. xx

Hi Paul! As usual, your goals are looking huge. Good luck!

>62 PaulCranswick: - I knew you would know who it was.

Possible reads for January:

Tom Brown's Schooldays
The Girl with the Louding Voice
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Charlotte Sometimes
Swallows and Amazons
The Golden Compass
Plague 99
The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov
A Fall From the Sky
The Dove on the Water
The Overnight Kidnapper
The Other End of the Line
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
At Bertram's Hotel
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
A Question of Upbringing
The Conservationist
Fish Can Sing
Judge Savage
Jazz
The Tin Drum
Tender is the Night
The Nickel Boys
Postcolonial Love Poem
The Narrative of Arthur Pym
Dead Souls
Around the World in Eighty Days

I have listed 27 as that is the highest number I have read in a month on LT and I may as well shoot for the moon.

>64 The_Hibernator: And you said that before I listed my January reads!

>65 Fourpawz2: I'm not such a Smart Alec, Charlotte, I mean he was a poet of some standing. No?

Hey Paul, happy new year's thread! I have to admit, for me the New Year isn't going to start until January 20, 2021. Good riddance to bad rubbish--out with the old, in with the new, etc., etc.

Nice to think LT is your Second Home--but where does that put Yorkshire?

And I like the idea of "Scenes from my reading." Very cool. I find it interesting the way book and movie scenes sometimes do get intertwined in my mind.

>62 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, when you do the stats can you include Karen's reading as part of my thread as long as i am in the top 140 threads. A lot of my thread is about Karen and it would be nice to see how she fares in the reading list.

>68 kac522: I hadn't thought of that really, Kathy, but I guess if I'd put the tagline "third home" it wouldn't have seemed quite as important for me!
I'm hopeful that I will be able to match other books to a scene for any new threads.

>69 johnsimpson: Well that wouldn't really be kosher, John, but since it is you and I'm not of the Jewish faith, I guess I could do that!

Hi there, Paul. Happy almost 2021 to you with love!

>66 PaulCranswick: Wow. I mean, 27 reads is one thing but The Nickel Boys and Murakami and Nabokov's stories?!

I wouldn't want a peek into *your* dreams this month.

>71 AMQS: Gratefully received, Anne. I hope 2021 is a much, much better year for you.

>72 richardderus: What dreams, RD? How am I supposed to fit in time for sleep with all those to do?

It is December 28 and you already have 73 posts on your first thread of 2021. It's a wonderful trend to continue into the new year. :-)

>66 PaulCranswick: I recommend both The Nickel Boys and Jazz. I may join in the reading of Jazz that seems to be going on.

>74 EBT1002: The group read is why I'm cramming in Jazz and I can also fit it into the 52 Book Club Challenge.
I get the feeling that the start is relatively sedate but the last few years I have waited until New Year's Eve to set myself going.

>1 PaulCranswick: Found you!

>76 London_StJ: Lovely to have you drop by. xx

Hello My friend, whould you do the houner and suggest a book fir me to read.

Well according to the "what you should borrow" from me section of this site:

Circe by Madeline Miller
Among Others by Jo Walton
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

If you have access to a library etc.

>79 PaulCranswick: have you read all these?

Thank you

>66 PaulCranswick: all I have read from your possibles is Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, most memorable to me for its inclusion of three colourful, perfectly round, stickers that came with the book. Probably its a great read too though, cos, you know, Murakami etc. ;) (actually, i have also read The Conservationist).

Plague 99 huh? Do you need that in your life? ;)

Happy 2021 thread Paul!

>80 BBGirl55: I have read the last two and I read Miller's Song of Achilles which this one is considered the equal of. The book by Jo Walton especially is wonderful.

>81 BBGirl55: My pleasure, Bryony.

>82 LovingLit: Plague 99 seems to be a Children's Classic (it won some awards in the UK) that seems to have gone under the radar when pandemic books got mentioned.

>83 swynn: Thanks Steve!

Hi Paul - good set of reading goals for you to get stuck into. I might join you on the children's classics challenge for Jan. I read and enjoyed Tom Brown's Schooldays in my first year here on LT.

Best wishes for a better 2021!

I wish you a Happy New Year. May it be better than the old one.

>86 avatiakh: If Swallows and Amazons is delivered on time, Kerry, I plan to read 6 YA or children's classics this coming month:

Swallows and Amazons
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Plague 99
The Golden Compass
Charlotte Sometimes
and
A Fall from the Sky

>87 DianaNL: Thanks Diana. The hopes for a better new year is a pretty universal wish this time isn't it?

>88 Ameise1: That's cute, Barbara because you got your graphic in there too!

🤗

>91 Ameise1: It really is innovative, Barbara - I will have to go and puzzle how to do something similar.

Happy New Year, Paul! I hope to spend more time here in 2021. Hoping you have a year of great reads.

>92 PaulCranswick: It's an easy task. I have the app 'Mirror', which creats my avatar. Once done there are lots of options to use it. I can also use it in whatsapp as normal emojies (just my avatar).

>93 alphaorder: That was quick, Nancy! Lovely to see you. x

>94 Ameise1: It doesn't sound easy but I have Belle who can figure it out for me!

🙈🙃

Happy New Thread, Paul. Happy New Year! Glad we are turning the page on that one.

Nearly a #100 posts all ready? I can see you are gearing up for another stellar year.

Happy New Year, Paul.

I've put off reading the 2021 threads until the end of 2020 and you're nearly at a hundred posts already!

>96 Ameise1: Heaven knows what my Avatar will look like!

>97 msf59: Thanks Mark. Funnily enough my 2020 was better than both my 2018 and 2019s, but still it is best gone!

>98 CDVicarage: Believe it or not, Kerry, I have actually been pacing myself!

Lovely to see you here.

>99 PaulCranswick: Looking forward to it. 😃

Happy 2021! Here's to a good year and a good year of reading!

>101 Ameise1: Belle told me that she will help me tomorrow.

>102 jennyifer24: Thank you, Jennifer.

Last year 127 threads made it past 100 posts. Thanks to my pals for having already making over 100 posts here and its not even 2021 LT time.

>104 PaulCranswick: *chortle* It's not like it takes much for you to get over the 100-post hurdle! Your threads are proof that what one puts into the world, that one shall receive.

Happy New Year, Paul. Wishing the best to you and yours in 2021!

Happy New Year, Paul. May 2021 help us put 2020 far behind us.

Happy Reading in 2021!!

Happy New Year! And good riddance to 2020!

Happy New Year Paul!

>105 richardderus: Coming from you, RD, that means a lot.

>106 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda

>107 Matke: Thank you dear Gail

>108 jayde1599: Thanks Jess. It has been great to see you become increasingly active in the group over the last year.

>109 amanda4242: And welcome to a great new year for the BAC. My first completed read for the BAC will be soon.

>110 BBGirl55: Thank you, Bryony.

Happy reading in 2021, Paul!

114 posts, and 2021 just started... Looking forward to many more threads :-)

Here to wish you a very Happy New Year, Paul. I appreciate your visits to my thread.

Happy New Year Paul. And happy reading.

Happy New Year and Thread, Paul!

So yes, I finally made it! Fascinated by your reading plans, though of course also bitterly disappointed when I realised that this---

Queen Betty Challenge

---did not mean a book a year from 1558 - 1603! :D

It is not even the first yet...how can I be this far behind? LOL. Here's to a wonderful 2021.

>114 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. It is having lovely friends like you that makes the threads tick along.

>115 sibylline: You are welcome, Lucy and thanks for the wishes. xx

>116 brenzi: Thank you, Bonnie, my targets are as difficult as usual to achieve but trying is the point.

>117 lyzard: Hahaha, Liz, and only you could have thought of that, I guess.

>118 Berly: Thanks Kimmers. This group would lose so much without you in it.

>85 PaulCranswick: hm, maybe I need Plague 99 in *my* life!?

>85 PaulCranswick: perhaps I need some Plague 99 in *my* life!? I read Fever 1793 last last year (that is, 2019 at Christmastime) before giving it to my niece. It was pretty good, and is another YA one.

Eta: my library has Plague 99, and I have reserved it :)

>122 LovingLit: It will be the first one I finish to close out 2020 by showing the finger to it, if you will.

>123 LovingLit: Good-o , it is supposed to be good, Megan.

Happy new year!

>125 quondame: Thank you, Susan. I am grateful of your presence in the group.

Happy New Year Paul!

Thank you, Rhian.

Happy New Year Paul. I hope there are plenty of good things on the cards for you.

>31 PaulCranswick: That's quite a start to the New Year. Clapping.

I ordered some Gluck poems and essays, but something went wrong with the order, need to start again.

>129 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. I appreciate your applause more than most. xx

I have gobbled up five of her collections since she was given the Nobel. Very rewarding and, as you can see, she got me writing too.

Well I have made my accustomed decent start:

BOOK # 1



Plague 99 by Jean Ure

Date of Publication : 1989
Origin of Author : UK
Pages : 218 pp

Challenges:
British Author Challenge (January) 1
Queen Betty Challenge : 2/70

I have to say that I am a little surprised that this book did not receive more attention in 2020 given the subject matter.

Fran goes on a school trip experiencing life without the comforts of modernity only to come back home to find London in the grip of a pandemic (Ure calls it Megademic), her parents dead in their beds and her world changed forever.

It is a survival story both uplifting as well as thought provoking. Very prescient and well observed on the detail of a pandemic writing from 30 years ago:

She was crying again. He wished he could stretch out a hand to comfort her, but one didn't do that sort of thing anymore; not these days. Touching as a way of life was definitely out. pp 102

Recommended, especially for the school syllabus.

Happy New Reading Year, Paul!

>132 PersephonesLibrary: Thank you Kathy. That's a lovely image.

Happy New Year, Paul!

At the start of the new year these MEMES are always flying about. Here is my version based on 2020 reading:

Describe yourself: Absurd Person Singular

Describe how you feel: I'm Not Scared

Describe where you currently live: The Waste Land

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Bookshop

Your favorite form of transportation is: Tram 83

Your favorite food is: Girl, Woman Other

Your favorite time of day is: Reading in the Dark

Your best friend is: Taller When Prone

You and your friends are: The World's Two Smallest Humans

What’s the weather like: As it Was

You fear: The Dead and the Living

What is the best advice you have to give: Serve the People

Thought for the day: Oranges are not the only Fruit

What is life for you: The Great Impersonation

How you would like to die: Talking to the Dead

Your soul’s present condition: Unstoppable

What was 2020 like for you? The Worst Hard Time

What do you want from 2021? Fidelity

>134 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry.

>131 PaulCranswick: OH, yes please! I did a bit of pandemic reading during 2020 but I did not come across that one. I'll have to grab a copy!

>137 ChelleBearss: I really enjoyed it as a looking back and hopefully closing of 2020.

Happy New Year to you and yours Paul.

>139 calm: Thank you, dear Calm. Lovely to see you able to do the rounds a little. xx

>131 PaulCranswick: Well, that cheery little bagatelle won't make *my* list. No sirree bob, nope.

Glad you...enjoyed?...it, though.

>135 PaulCranswick: Always good to see how others fill the meme, Paul, you found some clever answers.

>141 richardderus: Surely more digestible than Chuckles, RD?

>142 FAMeulstee: I always enjoy trying to fit the reads in to the categories. Helped this year that I read 48 books more than the previous year.

Happy new year!

>131 PaulCranswick: Congratulations on finishing your first read of the year! And for finding one to fit two challenges!

Best wishes to you, Paul!

Happy new year Paul!

Hi Paul! Happy New Year.

Ambitious goals, as always. Best of luck in attaining them.

I have ordered my copy of Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell through Inter-Library Loan and as soon as I get back to Alabama I will start reading it. In the meantime I am reading the novella Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares - among other books. I am also trying to finish up a couple of books that I started a year or more ago.

I like your meme answers, Paul, and The Worst Hard Time is an apt description of 2020.

I missed that you read Reading in the Dark. I have had that one on my TBR pile for some time. Did you like it?

Happy New Year, Paul. I'm so happy to be in 2021 at last.

Hey there, Paul. Wishing you a happy new year, friend.

>135 PaulCranswick: And my favorites are: Describe yourself: Absurd Person Singular (LOL) and
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Bookshop (Duh!).

>70 PaulCranswick:, Cheers mate, quite a lot of folks are interested in Karen's reading so they can compare how she is doing.

>143 PaulCranswick: Preferable to ingesting cyanide, too, but that isn't any sort of recommendation: "You'll abhor this less than a painful, agonizing death!" hasn't ever been used by J Walter Thompson for a reason.

Happy new year, Paul!

Enjoyed your meme answers!

>144 witchyrichy: Thanks Karen. I love that the dogs look so sincere and attentive!

>145 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda. I think that there will be a lot of books like that this year, especially with your wildcard selection!

>146 tymfos: Thank you, Terri. Your graphic looks a unique one.

>147 The_Hibernator: Thank you Rachel. I trust that you and your lovely family will have a splendid 2021.

>148 karenmarie: I always set off sure of reaching all my goals only to fall away after the first quarter of the year. I do hope I can sustain things more this year, Karen.

>149 benitastrnad: Happy New Year my dear Benita. It will be great to join you in a group read.

>150 AMQS: Some of my book titles last year could have fitted a number of the questions, Anne! I did like Reading in the Dark though it didn't blow me away quite as I thought it may.

>151 AnneDC: Anne!!! What a lovely surprise.

>152 Esquiress: Thanks and lovely to see you, Es.

>153 Berly: Yeah Kimmers, I don't know why those answers suggested themselves!

>154 johnsimpson: Thanks John. Don't worry mate I won't forget to include her as promised in the year end lists. They normally takr mr a little while as the new year is hectic on LT.

>155 richardderus: Hahaha RD; well yes there are plenty of other books to choose from. Reading it for me was cathartic by the way.

>156 curioussquared: Thank you, Natalie

>157 thornton37814: Thanks Lori - I didn't pick my 2020 reading with the MEME in mind, honestly!

Happy New Year Paul!

I figured I’d better get here on January 1st or I’d totally miss your first thread ;-)

>17 PaulCranswick: Yes! Hoping for a better year for all of us.

I have travelled down to Johor to visit my FIL who is ill. That will slow me down, Juli, as I am on my phone.

Happy new year! I hope your FIL gets better soon.
Dropping a star.

Happy New Year, Happy New Thread and a healthy life with a lot of books!
The best wishes to you and your familiy, Paul!

>167 Dilara86: Thanks and nice to see you here. He is in better form than I had feared.

>168 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. I really hope that 2021 is kinder to us all.

Happy new year! I may run into you in The Bookshop. That's my meme destination, too!

>170 cbl_tn: Great minds and all that, Carrie. I hope that you will be able to stay busy this year.

Paul, as usual, your thread moves quickly. Happy New Year! I hope 2021 is good to you and yours.

Steadier than normal to be fair Beth because I am at the in laws without Internet and struggling to update on my phone.

Dropping off my and wishing you the best of new years in 2021!

>174 ronincats: It wouldn't be the same here without you.

Hi Paul! Happy New Year! I will try to keep up with your threads more consistently this year.
Might even join you for the BAC to read Naipaul in May as I'm trying to read more regional (Caribbean) authors. I see I have alot of the Pulitzers on my shelf as well so I might try my hand there too - who knows?!

All the best for the new year, I hope you are doing alright!

Happy 2021! I can't promise to stay caught up with your posts, but I'll be by often enough to be hit by many BB's I'm sure.

Hooray on finishing your first book! Plague 99 sounds interesting.The only copy in my library system is called Plague which I'm wondering if it is all three books of the trilogy. Oh heck, I put in a request for it - we'll see I guess.

>176 vikzen: Lovely to see you here Victoria. It would be nice if you could join in for those reads too.

>177 streamsong: Thank you Janet.
Plague is the North American title for the same book. I haven't seen the trilogy in a single volume.

I have read my second book already but will update when I get to Starbucks and can use my Mac.

Happy new year, Paul, and congrats on 2 books already in 2021!

Well it looks like you are off to a flying start in the New Year, Paul. I hope your New Years celebration was a happy one!

>180 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. I has been a decent start. I expect number three today too (Sunday).

>181 Familyhistorian: It was very quiet in Kuala Lumpur, Meg. Not even any fireworks to speak of.

>182 PaulCranswick: Not much happening in Vancouver either, Paul. The bars and restaurants had to stop serving liquor at 8:00 pm. The only people partying seem to have been the anti-maskers.

>183 Familyhistorian: Short shrift for anti-maskers here, Meg. No way no choice and I think Asian's are more obedient of authority in practice because they know well the consequences of not doing so.

BOOK # 2



Tom Brown's Schooldays by Thomas Hughes

Date of Publication : 1857
Origin of Author : UK
Pages : 309 pp

Challenges:
British Author Challenge (January) 2
Queen Vic Challenge : 5/64
Fifty-Two Book Challenge : Week 1 - Book set in a school

A period piece certainly but nevertheless an interesting look at what made the British public school system (i.e. elite private schools) what it was. All stiff-upper-lip and not snitching.

Some classic scenes especially featuring the dastardly Flashman (who I would have liked more of) and a good portrait drawn of that arch-Victorian Dr. Arnold the real Head Master of Rugby school, but overall the thought that I got was of a time long gone and how on earth did my small island ever become such an Imperial power!

HI Paul, Love all the book lists above and also your amazing reading plans for the year. Happy new year to you and family and wishing you wonderful reading in 2021. Great message from you, the 13 MORES. I agree!

>186 mdoris: Lovely to see you, Mary. It is reasonable I think to want more than 2020 gave us all!

Happy New Year Paul, and happy reading for 2021.

I will do my best to stay up to date this year but I can already see I will fail miserably and fall behind quickly.

What do you think of Shuggie Bain so far? As you know it was my favorite novel of 2020.

>188 fairywings: No failing in these part, Adrienne. Just drop in and chip in as you see fit all paces are appreciated!

>189 msf59: I really like it, Mark. I have been taking it slowly. Firstly to savour it and secondly to keep my numbers ticking along as it is a dense read and would have the appearance of slowing me down otherwise. I will finish it this week and it is definitely one of the best Bookers I have ever read.

Look, Paul, look - I'm keeping up! Will wonders never cease? (I know, I know - it's only January 3rd.)

There was a copy of Tom Brown's School Days in my grandfather's childhood book cupboard. The cupboard is in my bedroom; I just wish I had thought to grab the books as well.

>191 Fourpawz2: Well done Charlotte. I will be surprised if the top 140 make it past 7,000 posts as we did in both the last two years but the start of the new year is still hectic.

Tom Brown's Schooldays has all the feel of a classic without quite having the depth.

I hope your weekend was pleasant and that the coming week will be peaceful yet productive, Paul.

BOOK # 3



A Lear of the Steppes by Ivan Turgenev

Year of Publication : 1870
Origin of Author : Russia
Number of Pages : 117 pp

Challenges :
Queen Vic Challenge : 1870 6/64
1001 Books First Edition

This wonderfully vivid novella is an recreation in a Russian provincial setting of Shakespeare's play. Martin Petrovich the Lear figure is a tremendously drawn character as his two daughters take full and despicable advantage of his largesse.

A quickish read and a good one.

n.b. The cover is from the actual book as I bought an edition of Turgenev with several of his works inside it.

>193 Matke: It was tiring, Gail, as I drove the 220 miles down to Johor Bahru and back to visit my father in law. Just arrived back in Kuala Lumpur ready for sleep and work tomorrow.

Dropping a star, Paul, though I do not know if I can keep up with you in two places. I guess we'll find out. *grin*

>196 Crazymamie: I don't know whether I can keep up in two places either, Mamie, but as you say we shall see. xx

BOOK #4



A Fall from the Sky by Ian Serraillier

Date of Publication : 1966
Origin of Author : UK
Pages : 78 pp

Challenges
BAC Challenge January (3)
Queen Betty Challenge : 1966 3/70

Ian Serraillier was possibly my favourite writer before I found Hammond Innes and Alistair MacLean as a boy. I must have read his books There's No Escape and The Silver Sword umpteen times each.

This is another quick read from a productive weekend and is from my birth year of 1966 and re-tells the Greek myths of Daedalus and his son Icarus. Those familiar with the classics or even Auden's poem Musee des Beaux Arts will know well how it ends and I won't repeat that here.

Some of those Greeks were thoroughly unsavoury characters and Daedalus were certainly no plaster saint.

Galloping off into the New Year I see Paul....

>199 Caroline_McElwee: I am buzzing a little Caroline but also helped that two of my four are short books.

I'm impressed you've already read 4. I've got lots underway, which is a good thing. Some of the ones I'm reading are multi-month or year-long reads. They'll be done when they are done. The Bible and a daily devotional based on hymns are year-long. I've got a large short-story collection and another devotional (with 100 thoughts) that are multi-month reads. I also keep a Christian book on hand that I read a chapter at a time, but I usually fit two to three of those in a month. Then I have non-fiction and fiction. I will often keep two non-fiction reads in process. With the fiction, it depends. Right now I'm reading a mystery, and my next two are also mystery. (One of those came in ahead of schedule from a library hold.) I will begin an audiobook tomorrow on my commute. Obviously these all finish at different times, and sometimes a book is too gripping to put it down and finish up something else.

>185 PaulCranswick: Some classic scenes especially featuring the dastardly Flashman (who I would have liked more of)

Fortunately George MacDonald Fraser provided us with more tales of Harry Flashman.

>185 PaulCranswick: Gross. I never made it past the first 40pp.

>198 PaulCranswick: Wonderful! I'd completely forgotten that book, and a delight it was.

New-week orisons, PC.

Paul, how exactly do you manage to be so active on LT and still manage to finish one book after another. I am jealous. Can you split yourself somehow? :)

Book #4 on the 3rd day of the year? Way to start with a bang! Hope you enjoy your Sunday. :)

Dropping off a star, Paul! Hope your FIL's health is improving. I'm very impressed -- 4 books down already AND so active on LT! And while I realize some of those books were short, it's still a lot of brainpower to move from one story to the next at rapid pace. Hope you get the rest you need when you need it!

Happy Sunday, Paul. Or I suppose it's already Monday? Happy week, then.

Happy New Year, Paul!

Thanks for posting the poems. That Simon Armitage one made me cringe (very effective!); we men can be so stupid as boys, can't we. (I can hear the catcalls - why restrict it to "boys"). I'm reading Louise Gluck's big collected volume right now. You picked a good one, and I'm glad it inspired you.

>185 PaulCranswick:

how on earth did my small island ever become such an Imperial power!

Because so many people were desperate to leave it? :D

You have read 4 books!!!!!!

Dear Friend and speed reader. Four books is quite an accomplishment for most (but not for you.)

I look forward to learning what you are reading, and also reading your lovely lists.

Popping by to wish you a Happy New Year whilst your thread is still (just about) catchable. You'll be speeding off into the deep blue beyond soon no doubt. Four books already! I mean, you are unstoppable!

>201 thornton37814: I have also started The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov, Lori which I was given by one of my colleagues for Christmas and I will chug away with that until it is finished.

>202 amanda4242: I have read most of the Flashman books, Amanda, and jolly good fun they are too.

>203 richardderus: I would say that Tom Brown is an acquired taste, RD, and the first 50 or so pages are a boring trudge. When he eventually makes it to school it does improve somewhat.

Serraillier is always worth reading.

>204 PersephonesLibrary: And don't forget I also spent about 8 hours driving to and from Johor Bahru during which time I could do neither!

>205 Berly: My Sunday is long gone, Kimmers. I am typing this to you on Monday morning before coffee, toast, a shower and then work.

>206 dk_phoenix: I have just managed five hours quite solid and undisturbed sleep, Faith which was ended by my phone alarm (something which is very unusual as my body normally wakes itself of its own accord).

>207 AMQS: Thanks Anne. It is already Monday morning here.

>208 jnwelch: Thank you Joe. Armitage is very suggestive and of course we have shared origins and background both hailing from West Yorkshire. I wasn't fond of sciences at school with the labs and the bunsen burners and the pungent smells that seemed to cling to place. This was evoked by his poem.

>209 lyzard: Hahaha quite possibly, Liz. I suppose I am a latter-day case in point!

>210 BBGirl55: Don't worry I will run out of steam shortly, Bryony - I always do.

>211 Whisper1: Dear Linda. It will be the weekend before I have time to sort out the list of books read last year in the group but the posting list should be out earlier.

>212 HanGerg: I can see this year eventually being more sedate, Hannah. This is especially so as I intend to get much closer to my reading goals than I normally manage.

Sad to see a number of our pals not here yet with threads for 2021. Hope some of them are just taking their time but Charlotte is apparently concentrating on the category challenge this year and I will miss her thread here immensely. A number of other stalwarts of the group are yet to appear too - Susan, Stasia, Donna, Nathalie, Princess, Deb, Caro etc

Wow, this thread and your reading are both moving rapidly! Glad to see your new year is off to a great start

You are on pace to read 365 books this year. :-)

>220 ChelleBearss: Like a false comet I will burn out, Chelle - tis only a question of when!

>221 cbl_tn: Well Carrie, I am actually on track to read 486 books having read 4 books in 3 days. Don't see it somehow!

ON THE GO AT THE MO

Wow, Paul--I'm very impressed with the pace of your reading. I've yet to finish anything despite the fact that both of the books I'm currently reading I started last year. I'm spending much more time decding what to read than reading, I guess.

>224 AnneDC: I spent quite a bit of time figuring out what to read in January, Anne, back in bad old December so I was primed and ready to go. I expect to have 7 books finished in the first week which is slightly ahead of schedule.

I have stated that I want to average 20 books a month but I haven't broken 200 books in a year since I was in university and did little other than reading when sober enough. So I would be happy with that too at the end of the day. If I can average 17 books a month then I will do 204.

Wow, Paul! Four books already! Way to go.

>225 PaulCranswick: My goal this year is 200 also. I'd love to do more, but a lot will depend on how this year shapes up.

>226 figsfromthistle: I'm not sure whether I will finish anything on the fourth (today here) but there is an outside chance.

>227 thornton37814: It has become a bit of a barrier for me, Lori. I mean I know I can do it because I did a few times when I was younger but over a full year I just find I will eventually slip into a trough and I don't get out until it is time to go again.

I stopped by here a half-dozen times over the last couple-three days, Paul, and there was always a line around the block. Your bouncer didn't look too cordial, either. I snuck in through the kitchen, but tipped over a wall of books. First-responders were able to extricate me without destroying a single volume. Skilled and caring folks, they were.

Anyway, it did get in, did take a gander, an admiring gander.

See you on your next thread. Tip o' the hat to you, you maniac. And a big * SMILE *

>229 weird_O: Hahaha Bill - pot.kettle.black and all that buddy!

My bouncer does not look cordial - you are right. She scared me half to death when I woke up this morning.

>219 PaulCranswick: I hope they come, too, Paul. I know Donna has decided to take a year off and I will miss her.

>219 PaulCranswick: I am always sad when one of our friends doesn't continue or takes a break. The list is getting longer and includes:

Nancy (lit_chick)
Valerie (jolerie)
Julia (rosalita) although she does still post to some threads
Darryl (kidzdoc) - Club read
Donna
Charlotte (charl08) Category challenge group
Ilana (smiler69)
Nathalie (Deern)
Ursula
Kath (mckait)
Marianne (michigantrumpet)
Jennifer (inge87)
Amy (porch_reader)
Connie (connie53)
Megan (evilmoose)
Lisa (kiwiflowa)
Judy (DeltaQueen)

Then so far this year Susan, Deb, Cee, Ape, Morphy, Karen, Kathy, Genny, Harold, Carsten, Stasia are amongst the ones yet to appear.

Happy New Year, Paul.

Just popping up and hope for some more readings and postings in 2021.

Every time I create a new thread at the beginning of the year, it feels like a new fresh, and hopeful start of new readings.

You're off to a good start. I've had Tom Brown's Schooldays on my children's classics reading list for some time now.

>233 ctpress: I hope so, Carsten. You have been missed in the group for sure. As you will see you were mentioned in despatches in >232 PaulCranswick:. Glad to see your thread just starting.

I LOVE The Silver Sword - on the list the Serrallier goes.

Just dropping my star here. Happy new year.

>235 BekkaJo: He is an easy but always an engaging read, Bekka.

>236 sirfurboy: Lovely to see you, Sir F.

Hi Paul!

>198 PaulCranswick: I have only read The Silver Sword by Serraillier but know it as Escape from Warsaw. I still have the copy I bought from Scholastic books when I was 9 or 10.



>232 PaulCranswick: Connie and Julia have threads in the 2021 ROOT Challenge group.

>238 karenmarie: I really enjoyed that book when I was younger, Karen.
Connie has just made a thread here!!

>214 PaulCranswick: Show-off. Did you participate in a particular speed reading course? ;-)

>232 PaulCranswick: I remember Nathalie/Deern. Has she been gone for a while or just lately?

And here I am!

Happy New Year and happy not-quite-so-new thread Paul! I see you're off to a storming start, as usual. I hope your father in law's health has improved.

>240 PersephonesLibrary: Sometimes I am able to show I can finish a few books, Kathy!

Nathalie, posted until about May last year when she suddenly and without explanation stopped. I am a little worried about her to be honest.

>241 connie53: Nice wishes, Connie. I am thrilled you are back!

>242 humouress: Yes, Nina, he seems reasonably ok in a very wet Johor Bahru.

>243 PaulCranswick: That's what we are here for. :)
I need to look up my mails... if I remember it right, Nathalie and I wrote mails... not 100% sure. It is always weird when someone suddenly dissapears.

I hope your week started smoothly.

>232 PaulCranswick: I know you saw Connie's started a thread - did you also see Harold's?

Four books already Paul? Wow.

Hopefully I'm just squeaking in in time to wish you happy new year in your first thread. Just finished my first day back at work and off for a (no symptom/ routine) COVID test tomorrow. Awaiting BJs instructions on the new tiers...

>245 PersephonesLibrary: I was close to Nathalie but she was living in Italy last year in the middle of the COVID epidemic, it would be really great if someone had some positive news of her.

>246 drneutron: Just had a wee sleep, Jim, I will go and look for the new threads, thanks mate.

>247 charl08: Lovely to see you, Charlotte. I will of course keep up with you over at the Category challenge but you will be very much missed over here.

>232 PaulCranswick: It is sad to see our friends not around, but I understand that sometimes life gets busy and priorities shift for reasons beyond one's control. I found myself struggling to keep up last year. At the moment, I have the start of the new year momentum, but I don't know how long it will hold up.

>250 thornton37814: Indeed Lori. No criticism implied or intended to any of our pals as I know as well as most how RL can grind us down - but miss so many of them I do.

>232 PaulCranswick: You forgot me Paul, but I am rather insignificant here. I’m still on the fence, and have had too much going on at the moment. I usually have a thread up on 1/1.

>252 arubabookwoman: I never forget you, Deborah!! I think you can see year on year who posts to your thread the most, I always look out for your thread but I didn't list you down because you had posted on your 2020 thread late in December. xx

I will look out for your thread as per usual and I would miss your reviews and your updates of your new doings in Florida terribly if you don't return to us.

>223 PaulCranswick: I thought the first one was called Tories!! lol. Checked the author, and then had a second look :)

>232 PaulCranswick: some missing friends there, for sure!

>254 LovingLit: I'd be throwing darts at those not reading them, Megan!

It is getting harder and harder to maintain the posting numbers as our band of brothers and sisters slowly dwindles.

I have to say, this is why I am so happy that you have a thread over on the Category Challenge.... I just cannot keep up with the speed of this thread! ;-) Wishing you a wonderful year of friends, family, reading and happiness in 2021. 4 books already read in 2021 is a good sign, I think. ;-)

>256 lkernagh: I hope I don't get avoided over here because I have a thread now over there, Lori! I thought the other thread would freshen me up, concentrate my reading and help me meet more friends. Nice to see some old friends there too!

Hi Paul, good morning! You have a very busy thread over here. You must be doing something good.

Morning! On a dark morning with icy cold rain, I was very jealous of Hanni's facebook pics of the pool at your complex!

>258 connie53: I have a couple of principles, Connie, which I think inadvertently increases numbers over time. Firstly I always answer - always - every post anyone puts on my thread. I think if someone bothers enough to post anything to me the least I can do is acknowledge and respond. Most people do the same to be fair.

Secondly I visit as many of my friends threads as I possibly can as often as possible. I sometimes become a little disheartened when some of those pals don't pay a return visit but I have come to the view that if they want to they will and if they don't well I don't post just to get a return.

>259 BekkaJo: Well I am jealous too, Bekka, because I was busy at work whilst her and daughter were in the pool and the sauna downstairs.

I sometimes become a little disheartened when some of those pals don't pay a return visit

Aw, Paul, everybody loves you, you know that. Some of us just don't post every time we visit a thread. If I don't think I have anything worthwhile to say, I...don't. But I'm here every day...lurking... (Not creepy at all, honestly.)

I agree with Paul and Amber. I really try to participate as much as possible. But sometimes I can't really add something... or I get overwhelmed to keep up to date because a thread is growing so quickly. Answering and pay a visit back is the very minimum. I'll definitely be better this year as I have cut back on all my other online activities except Twitter.

I'm a committed lurker :) I read/star a lot of threads but I rarely post.

>261 scaifea: My favourite American classicist will never be creepy.

>262 PersephonesLibrary: Kathy. don't ever worry about the number of posts on my thread, just comment on whatever you want or not as the fancy takes you. I'll always visit your thread regularly whatever. xx

>263 calm: I didn't mean to imply, Calm, that I never lurk - I do - especially when I am trying to figure out the books read stats.

Hoping that your energetic waftings from the Global South will affect the American South and give us Blue skies over Georgia.

If I could send something nice on the tradewinds, RD, I most assuredly would. Georgia, Long Island, Portlands Oregon and Maine from sea to shining sea.

>260 PaulCranswick: That are very good tips, Paul. I do almost always the same. Sometimes just to say 'Thank you'.

*enthousiastic waves from the cold Dutch country to the Cranswick tropics*

>257 PaulCranswick: I don't think you need to worry, Paul, about your thread here being avoided! You do seem to generate non-stop traffic.
I notice that you do reply to each and every post--that's pretty amazing, considering how many visitors you get, and I much appreciate your regular visits to my thread--even during periods when I've largely abandoned it

>268 connie53: You are a very popular member of the group, Connie and were sorely missed these last couple of years.

>269 DianaNL: I had some lovely spiced gouda cheese last evening and thought about my Dutch friends and two of them visit me whilst I am sleepy to make me happy when I awake. xx

>270 AnneDC: These days it is more of a steady stream than before, Anne a bit like Mark generates over at his thread and a settled rhythm which I both enjoy and can cope with. I will always seek out my pals threads in the hope and often expectation that I can will them back to posting. x

I agree with Anne and Amber, sometimes I don't have anything to say but I try to read all the posts made here, and I also appreciate your regular visits to my thread and even though I may not have read anything to add to my thread it's nice to see that you're checking in on the wayward posters.

>263 calm: I am like Calm - a frequent lurker, seldom poster. Mostly because I don’t always know what to say. I am finding myself to be a bit more chatty this year. Hopefully i can keep up past the excitement of a New Year group.

I much appreciate you visiting my thread, and others threads. You really helped me feel at home in this group! But I don't know how you manage to keep up with it, you must be a real speed-reader.
I lurk a lot more than I post, sometimes I just don't have anything to say.

Ah, between not having something to say and not letting the snark loose nearly so often as it pulls at the leash, I don't appear on threads 1/10th as often as I read them, in fact I read all the threads I've starred pretty much every day they show activity.

Paul, I echo >270 AnneDC: Anne's sentiments. Your visits to my thread and those of other LT friends are so appreciated when I can't manage to post myself. Thank you.

>273 fairywings: Adrienne, I don't think I have seen you stuck for words as yet!

>274 jayde1599: Believe it or not Jess, I do lurk too. It is not every time I visit a thread and comment. As so many of us I often don't have anything worthwhile to contribute to a particular debate or topic and will just return another time even if it is just to say "hi".
Keeping up after that initial surge is the challenge, Jess.

>275 EllaTim: I think you very quickly and smoothly established a warm and generous presence, Ella. I suppose I do read pretty quickly but nowhere near as as quickly and for prolonged periods as others in our number - Amanda, Anita, Suz, Susan and etc

>276 quondame: Your energy around the threads has been well noticed, Susan.

>280 PaulCranswick: Sometimes Anne we go through tough times and don't feel able to post. At those times I always feel that it is important that we can see and realise that someone is thinking about us and wishing us and ours well. I am blessed by my friends here.

>280 PaulCranswick: Hear, hear. I've not been present on LT in any meaningful way for many years now. And even when I do visit threads often have nothing to contribute. But I have greatly appreciated Paul and Roni visiting my slow, quiet thread with great faithfulness for quite a long while now, making me know I am not forgotten and always welcome. 'Tis a community service you folks provide to those of us who are in periods of struggle.

I don't post often enough on your thread Paul but I do read it quite frequently. I'm not on LT as regularly as some members who seem to start the day with LT. I don't do that under normal circumstances. I usually get on in the evening when I'm watching tv. But I appreciate your visits very much.

>281 justchris: Very nice of you to say so, Chris, but I'm mainly just missing my friends when I comment! Your input to the threads has always been incisive IMHO.

>282 brenzi: My Queen of Reviews will always be special to me in the group as, I think, but you are too modest to allow, that your analysis of books and the articulate nature of your dissection of what you have read has kept me entertained and suggested so many reads to me over the years.

And off to a new thread you go. I can't even think of anyone else with a second thread started after the first week of the year!

>271 PaulCranswick: Thank you for the kind words.

>284 connie53: 2012 & 2013 Connie were years when Richard and myself were "jousting for posts" at the beginning of the year and both of us were onto threads four and five in January. These days it is a bit more manageable and almost as much fun. I would guess Amber and Richard will follow in a day or two.