Leap Year book challenge 2016

From The Content Reader, who in turn got it from Brona’sBooks – the following is a one day, every fourth year challenge. (I don’t really think it’s a challenge; it’s more of a meme, but it isn’t mine, so I’m sticking with the original wording.)

To celebrate a once in 4 year event - go to page 29 of the book you're reading right now and copy the first sentence onto your blog or into my comments section.

From page 29 of The History of Tom Jones – a Foundling by Henry Fielding

Here Allworthy concluded his sermon, to which Blifil had listened with the profoundest attention, though it cost him some pains to prevent now and then a small discomfiture of his muscles. He now praised every period of what he had heard with the warmth of a young divine, who hath the honour to dine with a bishop the same day in which his lordship hath mounted the pulpit.

But I don’t know – I didn’t find that very exciting.

So, I’m going to do another one. This is from page 29 of the second book (2-29, get it?), on my bookshelf. It’s alphabetized, so page 29 from Little Women by Jane Austen: 

Jo saw a big red-headed youth approaching her corner, and fearing he meant to engage her, she slipped into a curtained recess, intending to peep and enjoy herself in peace.

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February Reading - A Classics Club Meme reboot

The Classics Club – February Meme: Question #38

A meme rewind from May 2013: Tell us about the classic book(s) you’re reading this month. You can post about what you’re looking forward to reading in February, or post thoughts-in-progress on your current read(s).

I am currently working my way through Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

My first thoughts? It’s long, so very, very long. I’m not going to finish it in February, which according to strict Classics Club rules, prevents me from talking about what I’m looking forward to next, because it won’t be in February – but stick around. I may break the rules.

Tom Jones, fully titled The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling. It’s very good, but it’s long, so very, very long. It has a definite Dickensian feel, which is really unfair to Henry Fielding; he predates Charles Dickens. In fact, I remember David Copperfield reading Tom Jones at one point in that novel. 

My scheduled reading is full of big fat thick novels this year: Pride and Prejudice, War and Peace, The Count of Monte Cristo, Les Misérables, The Fountainhead, Crime and Punishment. I’m looking forward to all of them, but they’re long, so very, very, long.

And Les Mis – ya know, I think it’s a misnomer. Goofy French spelling aside, I don’t know how Hugo could call it Less Miserable. I can’t imagine it being any MORE miserable. But ya know, artists – they're quirky.

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124 WAS SPITEFUL... (Who said it Wednesday, February 24, 2016)

Last week’s answer: Holden Caulfield of course, from The Catcher in the Rye said:  It isn’t important, I know, but I hate it when somebody has cheap suitcases. It sounds terrible to say it, but I can even get to hate somebody, just looking at them, if they have cheap suitcases with them.

This week’s Quotation:  124 WAS SPITEFUL. Full of a baby’s venom.

Name the novel or the character (possibly the narrator), or extra credit for both. First to get it right wins the privilege of being known as the first to get it right.