I'm Moving for the last time...

 

I hope you will consider joining me here...

I am taking down any of my old blogs here.  Too many old memories that I wish to move on from.

See you around the blogging world!
Monica

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Good morning!  I am joining up with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this fun weekly meme.

1.What do you love about your life right now?  I love that the Lord is drawing me close to Him.  Life may not be what I had always dreamed it would be but He is seeing me through.  Almost every day He uses someone to give me a scripture of encouragement.  The one I recently used to "rebrand" my blog keeps coming up in so many places!  I love how He works.

2. March 26th is National Spinach Day...are you a fan? If so, how do you like yours prepared/served?  As a kid my grandmother served canned spinach with vinegar... YUCK!  Sour and slimy are the words that come to mind.  But I do like fresh spinach in my salads or on a sandwich.

3. In this current season would you say you need to spend more time looking inward or that you need to get out of your head? Tell us why.  In this season of the restoration of my marriage I am leaning heavily on my Lord, I have to get out of my head.  My mind takes me down rabbit trails that I don't need to be on.  I am looking to Him and not myself.

4. Are you following the 'March Madness' madness? (That's US college basketball in case you're out of the loop) What's something that feels like actual madness to you right now?  No I do not follow sports. Nothing against anyone who does but I feel like it is a waste of my time.  Actual madness right now is how this world is coming against Israel.   They have a right to defend themselves.

5. How will you celebrate the Easter/Passover holiday this year? Easter this year will be a quiet day at the condo.  I will spend time reflecting on the awesomeness of this Holyday and relaxing in His presence.  Then we will tidy up the condo and head home.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I have stated blogging over at Wordpress again.  Thought I would see if it has gotten any better.  Seems a bit easier to figure out than when I was there last.

I hope your Holy week is going great and that you find time to link up with Joyce!

Monica

Journaling my thoughts...

Today is Monday March 25, 2024

Looking out my window - It's raining... We really need it but makes for a dreary Monday morning.

I am thinking - on Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever!

I am thankful - for the Spring weather!  Although the temps have been a roller coaster I am thankful for those warm days in between.  We worked out in the yard Saturday afternoon.  This picture is the cabin that we rent out on ABNB and VRBO.  We cut out the green undergrowth around these trees.  It looks much nicer.

One of my favorite things - seeing my beautiful granddaughter!  Which I did again Saturday.  I sat with her while my daughter went to an appointment.

I am creating - some dish clothes at the moment but I plan on a cardigan for next winter.  It will probably take me that long to complete.  I also have a hat pattern in the wings if the cardigan gets to be too much.  Some times I just need to see results quick and a hat is perfect for that.

I am wearing -  Blue jeans and long-sleeved shirt.  It's always cold in my office so I have to dress like it's winter!

I am reading (read) /watching (watched) / listening to - I just finished reading What I Hate, That do I by Jimmy Swaggart.  Of course we all know how I struggle with nonfiction but with my mind being on so many other things going on in my life this was difficult to get through.  This book covered scripture from Paul's letter to the Romans.  It is something that all Christians struggle with... sin nature.  When we became Christians our sin nature was not removed but left to refine/test our faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.  This book did not promote sinless perfection.  It did encourage that sin does not have dominion over the believer!  

Watching - Dan and I have been watching a new series on Paramount + called Tracker.  It's about a guy who collects rewards for finding missing people or things. 

I am hoping (praying) - for family, restoration of marriage, co-workers with cancer in their families, Israel, President Trump, blogger friends, finding a church to attend, my children and grandchildren, and peace that only Jesus can give!

I am learning - To wait on the Lord.  In the process of restoration of my marriage I have so many times gotten ahead of the Lord. MY plan is much better and I need to get it set in motion. Geez, really?!  The Lord quiets my heart when I start to get ahead of him and I stop and wait...  I am waiting and will continue to wait.

In my kitchen - Wow, my "kitchen" is so tiny!  We don't eat very much so our cooking is very limited.  Cooking is something that I should get back into though.  

Post Script - Since knitting has been reborn in my life I have been viewing a site called Very Pink Knits.  She has some great "S L O O O W  M O T I O N" videos that help you learn a new stitch or technique.  She will be the one to teach me how to knit socks! LOL!

Shared Quote - 

A moment from my day - She loves it when Pa Pa talks to her!

Closing Notes - Dan and I have a totally different relationship than we had the entire 30 years we were married.  He enjoys doing things on his own and I am learning to do things on my own. Before we always did things together, never on our own. The best thing that has come from this is that I am learning to walk, talk, and be with Jesus.  He is my one true friend who will never leave me nor forsake me.

I hope you all have a blessed week!

Monica

Friday's Fave Five

 

Joining Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to share some favorite things from this week!  I know posts are more exciting when you have pictures but I have been unprepared for that this week.  I will do better in the future.

1.   Dan went out of town last weekend to visit his City Cousins so I went to a restaurant that he doesn't seem very fond of.  It was delicious.  I had enough leftovers to have for dinner.

2.  Not a very good picture of either of us but I had coffee with my daughter Sunday morning and got some snuggle time with my beautiful little granddaughter.  She is 9 months old now and growing so fast.

3. This week my knitting hobby has been reborn.  I started knitting some dish clothes until my supplies arrive to begin a bigger project.  These are somewhat boring but I will survive until my things arrive this weekend.

4.  My sweet little dog is old.  He is almost 17 and has some back issues and has not been doing very well.  Saturday morning I took him to the vet and got him a new shot for osteoarthritis.  They also gave him some medication for inflammation.  This picture was before he went... poor old man.  He is feeling much better now.  But I was told not to let him act like a puppy as he could injure himself... Geez, that's the same thing I tell Dan! LOL!

5.  Prayer was on Barbara's list and I am going to add it to mine as well.  Many people I work with this week have come to me asking for prayer for a certain situation.  Once word gets around that someone prays it seems to spread like wild fire!  I love that people will come to me knowing that I will immediately pull out my prayer journal and put there need there to later spend time at the feet of the Lord with their needs.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  

Monica

Wednesday Hodgepodge

I am joining Joyce this week for Wednesday Hodgepodge.  It's my first time... 

 1. Spring is officially upon us, no matter what the weather may be in your neck of the woods. Is there any 'spring cleaning' on your to-do list? What's your most dreaded task? 

    We live in a very tiny space by choice.  It takes me about an hour to thoroughly clean this space so I don't have anything on my "to-do list" for spring.  We still have some cold days/nights so I will leave the extra blanket on the bed for a bit longer.

2. What's something many people seem to love, but to you feels like 'watching the grass grow'? 

    Watching NASCAR.  I don't really understand how you can sit and watch cars go around a track 500 times.  We used to really be into racing hold hotrods but it was on a short strip.

3. Mint grows in abundance during the spring season. Are you a fan? What's your favorite food with a 'minty' flavor?

    I like mint... Girl Scout Mint chocolate cookies are my fave! 

4. It's been said, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' Agree or disagree? Explain. 

    Absence makes the heart grow fonder... well, I agree and disagree.  This depends on the person.  It is true for me but not for my significant other.  He enjoys his time away and doesn't seem to actually show much feeling like "missing" anyone.  Me, I get heart sick when I'm away from the ones I love!

5. Are there any festive spring events in your city or town? If so, will you take advantage of them? 

    There is nothing going on in our small Missouri town.  I check the calendar just the other day.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

    Quite a few people around us are already cutting grass.  We did our preventative maintenance on our mower and sharpened the blades getting ready to start.  Our grass isn't quite ready to be cut yet.

   Monica

Knitting reborn!

 In the past couple of months I have struggled with what to do with my time.  Dan and I live in a tiny space living so when I came back into this relationship I only brough the necessities.  I donated all my knitting/crocheting supplies and a huge stash of yarns.  I donated all my books and only kept my Kindle.

Lately, as I shared in my last post, it is difficult to focus on a book for very long.  My mind wonders down bunny trails.  So I ordered me a new set of interchangeable knitting needles and some yarn to get started back to knitting.  I will have to be careful not to get carried away and grow my supplies and stash to an unreasonable amount of space.  It's very addictive! LOL!

I cannot wait for my supplies to arrive!

Monica

Restoration

 Think about what that word means...returning something to its former owner, place, or condition.  I have been praying for the restoration of our marriage.  But is that what I truly want?  Restoration?  I want our marriage back but not in the same state it was when it ended!  I want our marriage to be filled with all the blessings that the Lord would pour out on us!

This has been a difficult few months.  We are learning to communicate more than I think we ever did in the 30 years that we were married.  That in itself is hard for me as I am not much of a talker.  I'm an introvert.  Some days  I don't think that this is going to work.  But I think that is because I am trying to get out of communicating.

Another thing that I've struggled with during these months has been not having anything to fill my time outside of work.  I "cling" to Dan, something I know he hates, because I don't have anything to do nor do I know what I want to do.  I feel antsy.  If that makes sense.  I donated all my knitting supplies.  I have a hard time focusing on a book. It's taking me forever to get through the one I have going.  I'm working on finding something for ME.

This was not meant to be a pity party.  I am just putting my feeling down somewhere.  I hope to come back in a few months and see that we have made some tremendous progress! 

Thanks for listening.

Monica

Front Proch Chat #3 ...Another break

Sorry to have missed blogging so much lately.  I have a closing date on the place and I am busy trying to get things packed up.  There is much being donated and much that I am just getting rid of.  I have only been on my own for three years, but it seems like I have accumulated so much stuff already!

Dan and I are eager to make a fresh start.  That is the blessing in all of this.  If I could have only communicated my feelings a few years ago and diverted all this terrible mess.  

Anyway, know that while I am packing, I am thinking of my blogger friends! There isn't much time to knit or read so that is all on the back burner until I am moved... Except my Bible reading.  After January I should be able to get back into some sort of routine again.

Outside...It's a beautiful 50 degrees and sunny.  Nice change after the dreary few days we have had.

Listening to... Christmas radio on Pandora.

Drinking... water.  I need lots of that with this cold I am battling.

Around the house... stated above.  Lots of packing and giving away of items that I don't need right now.

Linda is growing so fast!  I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving due to the cold that I have.  I don't want her to get this.

Hope you all have a wonderful December.  I will try and stop back in now and then but can't be certain!

Your Friend,

Monica

The Joyful Bookcase

The Joyful Bookcase is a post on the last Wednesday of each month to recap what I have been reading.  For the month of November, I have JOYFULLY completed the following...

NKJV, ESV, NASB, MSG

James

1, 2, 3 John

Jude

2 Samuel

Sons of Encouragement: Biblical stories of Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas by Francine Rivers... I have not completed this one, but I am over halfway done with it.

Hope you had a great November in your reading!

Monica

 

Front Porch Chat #2

 Today is Monday, November 20, 2023

I didn't have time to get my post up yesterday but didn't think one day would matter much.

Time - 6:10 a.m.

Scene - It's much colder this morning with some light rain.  It's still dark as I am up getting ready for work.  

Today's plan - I have to work this morning and still have much cleaning up from our Thanksgiving celebration yesterday.  I spent most of the time visiting and holding my precious little lady.  Time well spent if I do say so myself.

Drinking - Coffee with Southern Butter Pecan creamer

Listening to - News 

Reading - Sons of Encouragement... still.  I've been too busy to do much reading on this book.  But have been doing my November Bible reading.  I am in the Message version right now.

Watching - Not much.  I did relax one evening and watched an episode of Monarch of the Glen.

Randomness - Spent Friday with our middle daughter and the grandbaby! She loves her Pa Pa!

She was so sleepy and fought it for so long! LOL!

I hope you all have a blessed week and Happy Thanksgiving!

Monica

Front Porch Chat #1

On my old blog, I used to do a Front Porch chat post each week.  I thought I would do it here in place of the Simple Woman's Daybook since our friend Peggy doesn't seem to currently blogging much.  

Today is Sunday, November 12, 2023

Time - 7:40 a.m.

Scene - It looks like a beautiful morning.  Cold but the sun is shining.  The yard is clear of leaves but there is a breeze so I'm sure there will be more leaves down soon.

Today's plan - We have to get the cabin cleaned and ready for the next guest coming in at 3:00 today.  After that, I need to do a couple loads of laundry and get ready for the work week.

Drinking - Coffee with Pumpkin Spice creamer

Listening to - Bill Gaither's Holiday station on Pandora.  It's a mixture of hymns and Christmas music.

Reading - I am about 400 pages into a 1000-page book... Sons of Encouragement: Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas by Francine Rivers

In November I am reading 2 Samuel, James, 1, 2, 3 John, and Jude in NKJV, ESV, NASB, MSG.  I may not make it through all the versions of every book, but I will sure try.

Watching - If I watch television at all it has been NCIS.  Since Newsmax started charging for their viewing I have not been watching any news.  I don't pay for any channels or streaming apps.  Last night I looked up a series that my friend Linda shared, Monarch of the Glen.  It's a British series.  I got through the first episode and will be watching more.

Randomness - Yesterday after we finished picking up the leaves off the yard I went and visited with our daughter and grandbaby!  I must really wear her out.  After playing with Mimi for an hour she crashes in my arms and takes her nap.  Then she is ready to go again!   She is such a happy little thing!  Here are a few pictures to put smiles on your face! LOL!

After spending about four hours with them I went and did my grocery shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.  I was shocked to find that Walmart did not have everything that I needed.  Mostly the bread cubes for my stuffing!  When I asked, they said they didn't have it out yet.  What?!  They directed me to box stuffing! As if!  My family would revolt if I made that stuff!  Lol!

Next week I'll have some Thanksgiving to share!

I hope you all have a blessed week!

Monica

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook #2

Peggy hasn't posted on her SWDB blog for a few months but I will continue the tradition of linking back to her page at The Simple Woman to share a little about my week! 

Today is Sunday, November 5, 2023

Outside - Much different from last week!  It's windy but sunny and warm!

Thankful - For the time change.  I got an extra hour of sleep; more or less.  And this little bundle of joy!

Linda Lorene 4 months

Thinking - of when the homestead sells.  Trying not to be full of anxiety over where we will live and what we will do.  The Lord knows best and will have a plan for us that I am sure of.  And this little bundle of joy!

Linda and Papa

Wearing - black leggings and a sweatshirt

Creating - Reading plan for 2024

Wondering - About many of my old blogging friends and if they are still around.  I have touched base with two dear ladies, Dianne and Barbara.  Still waiting to hear from a couple others.

Reading this week -   NKJV The Book of John chapters 6 - 21; James; 1, 2, 3 John; Jude

ESV 1 Samuel 6 - 31; 2 Samuel 1 - 8

The Sons of Encouragement: Biblical Stories of Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas by Francine Rivers. 

Praying - Dan's cousin who had a heart attack this week.

Looking forward to - Thanksgiving with my girls!

Learning - to lean on Jesus!  A Never-ending lesson.

Around the house - Was going to pick up the leaves this weekend.  The weather was beautiful and dry. BUT, ended up doing other odd things that needed to be done to prepare for the sale of the house.  Like where we will be sleeping! LOL!  We have another home, but it is rented on VRBO and ABNB most of the time.  There is a shop that has tiny living quarters that we are working on. That is the extent of what I can do until I know when I have to move for sure.  When I get a date there will be a yard sale and lots of quick packing up.

Scripture of the week - James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Have a blessed week! 

Monica

The Simple Woman's Daybook #1

It would be awesome if you would join me in linking up with Peggy at The Simple Woman to share a little about your week!  It's been a long time but I am looking forward to this weekly post!

Today is Sunday October 29th, 2023

Outside - Cold and cloudy morning.

Thankful - for my job.  I had a season of discontentment.  The Lord has helped me to see that I have it pretty good and I'm not in need of anything.

Thinking - I'm not ready for this cold weather that is coming.

Wearing - blue jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt with IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL on the back.

Creating - a new blogging season.  I'm not a creative person so I hope this comes together with some sort of regularity.

Wondering - How long I will stick with it this time! LOL!

Reading this week -   NKJV The Book of John chapters 1 - 5

 ESV 1 Samuel 1 - 5

 The Sons of Encouragement: Biblical Stories of Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas by Francine Rivers.  I just started this book yesterday; a cold and dreary day.

Praying - Daughters and their families, Dan, niece and her future, nephew and his marriage, sale of the homestead, and plans for our future.

Looking forward to - The sale of the homestead being over with.  This sort of thing really makes me fret and I know I shouldn't.

Learning - to lean on Jesus!

In the kitchen -   There hasn't been much going on in the kitchen for quite some time.  I hope with the holiday season coming I will be motivated to make something happen in there.

Around the homestead - There isn't much on this homestead anymore.  I have the place for sale and I have a contract being put together as we speak.  It may take some time to close as it is a Federal USDA Loan.  I still have chickens to care for but they will be sold with the homestead.

Scripture of the week - John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

The first verse of my reading for this week.

Have a blessed week! 

Monica

Back to blogging

 I have been away from the blogging community for quite some time.  I've been working out life and trying to figure out what my future looks like.  After a divorce and reconciliation, I am ready to pick up the books again and write some blog posts.  

My reading was all over the place.  I have decided to only read books I wouldn't be ashamed to share with my wonderful Christian grandmother.  I am reading Francine Rivers Sons of Encouragement: Biblical stories of Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas.  It's just over a thousand pages so it may take a bit for me to get through.

I'm back. I'm looking forward to sharing my reading and blessings here with you once again.

Seeds of Yesterday

The Seeds of Yesterday.  V. C. Andrews.  #4 Dollanganger series. Published by Pocket.  Originally 1984.  408 pages.  Source: Purchased from betterworldbooks.com.

First sentence: And so it came to pass the summer when I was fifty-two and Chris was fifty-four that our mother's promise of riches, made long ago when I was twelve and Chris was fourteen, was at last realized.

Plot:  Cathy and Chris, entwined with the evil that haunts their children, living with the fearful spectre of Foxworth Hall, are awaiting the final, shuddering climax... prisoners of a past they cannot escape.

My thoughts: This family needs more therapy than can be provided by one professional. Just saying. Cathy's youngest boy terrorized the family his entire life and she fed his crazy behavior instead of actually addressing it. Now in his manhood he is very wealthy thanks to his grandmother leaving him the vast majority of the Foxworth estate. And he continues to terrorize them all.  This story will make you believe that insanity is hereditary.  

Cathy lives in an alternate reality.  Thinking that life can be normal when your spouse is your brother!  This really is a sick and twisted story but I have to see it to the end.  One more book left in the series.

The Good Earth

The Good Earth. Pearl S. Buck. Howard Publishing Co. 1931.418 pages. Audio library.

First line: It was Wang Lung's marriage day.

Plot: This tells the poignant tale of a Chinese farmer and his family in old agrarian China. The humble Wang Lung glories in the soil he works, nurturing the land as it nurtures him and his family. Nearby, the nobles of the House of Hwang consider themselves above the land and its workers; but they will soon meet their own downfall.

Hard times come upon Wang Lung and his family when flood and drought force them to seek work in the city. The working people riot, breaking into the homes of the rich and forcing them to flee. When Wang Lung shows mercy to one noble and is rewarded, he begins to rise in the world, even as the House of Hwang falls.

My Thoughts: Sometimes it's hard for me to wrap my mind around a culture that is so completely different from my own.  When Wang goes to marry his wife whom he has never met or courted he seems alright with his choice considering his status in life is but a farmer.  She works next to (behind really) him at all times on the farm.  She prepared meals and kept the home.  A better wife you would be hard pressed to find.  Until Wang's social status changes after coming into a lot of money.  He starts visiting a brothel.  After a while becomes discontent with his wife and moves in a mistress taken from the brothel.  

After some pour life choices Wang's life begins to fall apart.  His sons don't live up to his expectations.  I can't say that I felt sorry for him by the end of this story.  I don't know if I want to continue with the series yet or not.  Some of the content is for mature audiences so I would not recommend this for anyone under upper teens.

The Remains of the Day

The Remains of the Day.  Kazuo Ishiguro. Faber and Faber Publishing. May 1989.  258 pages.  Source: Audio Library

Plot: In the summer of 1956, Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall, decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. The six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in fascism, two world wars, and an unrealised love between the butler and his housekeeper.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this laid back story of the life of a butler as the end of an era was coming to a close.  I like to read books set in England and about the history of England even if it is fiction. 

Me After You

Me After You. Jojo Moyes. Penguin Books. September 2015. 352 Pages. Audio Library

First line: The big man at the end of the bar is sweating.

Plot:How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
 
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.
 
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .
 
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

My thoughts:  I loved this second book in this series!  Louisa Clark is such a good person and I felt a connection with her since the first book.  I did find her accident to be ironic.  I half expected her to be paralyzed like Will but I was wrong. When she begins to have feelings for Sam I found myself cheering her on.  Hoping she would fall in love and move on with her life.  She is torn between her love for him and doing something with her life.  Apparently she can't seem to do both at the same time.  I guess I will find out how this all ends in the next book... Still Me.  Which I can't wait for but I will because I'm on a wait list!

The Sound and The Fury

The Sound and The Fury.  William Faulkner. Published by Vintage.  First published 1954.  326 pages.  Source:  Audio library.

First Sentence: Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting.

Plot: The novel reveals the story of the disintegration of the Compson family, doomed inhabitants of Faulkner’s mythical Yoknapatawpha County, through the interior monologues of the idiot Benjy and his brothers, Quentin and Jason.

My thoughts:  This one was chosen for my classic club challenge.  I started it once but tabled it.  I pushed through it this time because I just had to.  Wow, there is enough disfunction in my life but to add this family just about made me go crazy! 

This is one messed up group of people.  It took me several chapters to even get the gist of what was going on.  Faulkner's writing style is not my idea of a good time.  Back and forth and who is narrating... Since the story is set in Mississippi the dialect was so very southern it difficult to take at times.

As you can tell I did not enjoy this book and don't really recommend it.  Especially for younger adults.  I only gave it 2 out of 5 stars on Good Reads.

Back to the Classics Challenge

Here I go again getting all excited about another year of reading challenges! Most of the books that I have stacked up to read this year could apply to this challenge.  A challenge which I have never completed!  So once again I am linking up with Books and Chocolate (isn't that the best combination ever?) to give it a go.  So HERE are the guidelines. 

THE CATEGORIES: 

1. 19th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1800 and 1899.

The House of Seven Gables by Nathanial Hawthorne

2. 20th Century Classic. Any classic book originally published between 1900 and 1969. 

All books in this category must have been published at least 50 years ago. The only 

exceptions are  books that were published posthumously but were written at least 50 

years ago.  The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner 1/22/19

3. Classic by a Woman Author. Villette by Charlotte Bronte

4. Classic in Translation. Any classic originally written in a novel other than your native language. You may read the book in your native language, or its original language (or a third language for all you polyglots!) Modern translations are acceptable, as long as the book was originally published at least 50 years ago. Books in translation are acceptable in all other categories as well.  The Red and The Black by Stendhal (Translated from French)

5. Classic Comic Novel. Any comedy, satire, or humorous work. Humor is very subjective, so if you think Crime and Punishment is hilarious, go ahead and use it, but if it's a work that's traditionally not considered humorous, please tell us why in your post. Some classic comic novels: Cold Comfort Farm; Three Men in a Boat; Lucky Jim; and the works of P. G. Wodehouse.

6. Classic Tragic Novel. Tragedies traditionally have a sad ending, but just like the comedies, this is up for the reader to interpret. Examples include The Grapes of Wrath, House of Mirth, and Madame Bovary.

7. Very Long Classic. Any classic single work 500 pages or longer, not including introductions or end notes. Omnibus editions of multiple works do not count. Since page counts can vary depending on the edition, average the page count of various editions to determine the length. Middlemarch by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

8. Classic Novella. Any work of narrative fiction shorter than 250 pages. 

9. Classic From the Americas (includes the Caribbean). Includes classic set in either North or South America or the Caribbean, or by an author originally from one of those countries. Examples include Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (United States); Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (Jamaica); or One Hundred Years of Solitude (Columbia/South America). On The Road by Jack Kerouac

10. Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes Australia). Any classic set in one of those continentss or islands, or by an author from these regions. Examples include Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt); The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki (Japan); On the Beach by Nevile Shute (Australia); Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria). 

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

11. Classic From a Place You've Lived. Read locally! Any classic set in a city, county, state or country in which you've lived, or by a local author. Choices for me include Giant by Edna Ferber (Texas); Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser (Chicago); and Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann (Germany). 

12. Classic Play. Any play written or performed at least 50 years ago. Plays are eligible for this category only.