10 Comments

Wow, Matthew! You have got through some really impressive reading this month! 👏 I love your idea of a reading schedule and the way you think ahead to the next year of reading.

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Thanks Kate! Having a plan has helped me quite a bit. It has also helped me get outside my comfort zone and read different things.

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The only Dickens novel I don't really like is 'The Old Curiosity Shop'. For once, he failed to create characters I could take an interest in (though there are some good scenes in the book). It's hard for me to pick a favourite, but 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood', despite being unfinished, is up there, along with with 'Bleak House' (Mrs Bagnet is one of my favourite of all his characters).

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I haven't read the Old Curiosity Shop but have heard similar comments from others. My favorite is A Christmas Carol but I imagine that my love for that one is mostly nostalgic as it was a mainstay of our holiday traditions growing up.

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Oh no! A Tale of Two Cities might be my favourite Dickens! But then David Copperfield is one of my least favorite, so what do I know!

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Most people love this one but I just couldn't get into it for some reason. This was my second attempt at reading it as I didn't make it through the first time.

Haven't read David Copperfield yet but planning to next year as I am also going to read Demon Copperhead.

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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Does Janie--or ZNH--like God?

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Sorry for the delayed response! Been on a work trip so just getting caught up here.

I think that Janie likes God. It seems to me that her perspective is she keeps her eyes on God and isn't worried about what others might think she should do with her life, especially Tea Cake. Her ability to not be moved by people's ideas of her makes her a strong character.

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I completely agree on Enders game, one of my all time favorite books! I’m really curious on Paradise Lost

You’ve had a really great reading month

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Paradise Lost was very good. I was surprised by it actually. It followed the advice of a friend and listened to an exceptional audio recording while I read it. It is more than just a religious poem. It has so many interesting themes and strands. Even some early sci-fi stuff in there if you look close enough.

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