Josh's comments (member since Nov 12, 2008)

Josh's comments from the Books on the Nightstand group.

Great name! Congrats, Michael!

Hi to everyone in the group! I'm Josh, and I'm a bookseller at an independent store on the coast of Maine. My favorite genres are probably political/legal nonfiction and travelogues, although I've rekindled a love affair with fiction over the last few months. I'm an avid reader of graphic novels, and will continue to spread the gospel of the form to anyone who will listen.

I came across the blog in its infancy when it was mentioned in the Bookstream Current newsletter, and have been devouring the posts and podcasts since. I'm trying to become more active on goodreads, and love getting and giving recommendations with other book-lovers.

I'm also co-moderating the 500 Essential Graphic Novels group with Michael, which everyone should check out *hint hint*!

I agree with Ann; graphic novels are really just another way of telling a story, not a "genre" like many people assume. While there are plenty of superhero and sci-fi stories, there are examples from every genre in fiction and non-fiction - from heartbreaking memoirs to romantic fiction. Like many types of books, I'm confident there aren't many people that wouldn't like graphic novels as a whole - just a lot who haven't found the right one yet. Sandi and Dottie, hopefully you'll swing by the 500 Essential Graphic Novels group and check out the discussions we're having about the books. You never know, you might find a new favorite somewhere among those 500 titles!

Stephen wrote: "Are there actual industry definitions for these genres? I've complained about the way books get shelved before (I envision some alchemical formula involving the title, the cover art, and the author's previous works)."

At my store (Sherman's Books in Freeport, Maine), and I'm assuming many others, the defining factor is the genre printed by the publisher on the back. Beyond that, it really is alchemy based on the factors you listed. Title and cover art merit some consideration, but the author's previous work and acclaim among literary critics can really push something to being shelved in General Fic rather than stuck into sci-fi - for example, Cormac McCarthy and Vonnegut will always go into the fiction section at our store, and Orwell and Huxley will go in classics. Series that are written by multiple authors in the same universe (Star Wars, the old and new Dune books, etc) tend to go into sci-fi and fantasy. Not an ideal system, but it does tend to mesh with where customers go to look for a book.

I tend to lump "speculative" fiction (like postapocalyptica) in along with science fiction, especially since writers like Heinlein used that name for their genre. But I can totally see where you're coming from!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" as a favorite sci-fi yet, or as one that transcends the genre. Other than that, I tend to think of classics in the genre as open to folks that don't read sci-fi generally - 1984, Brave New World, etc.

On a related note, I would like to sing the praises of Junot Diaz and Michael Chabon, authors who both (in the linked articles) applaud science fiction, graphic novels and fantasy as genres worthy of serious literary discussion and acclaim.

The holidays are the only time I can justify wishing for some nice oversized coffee table books, so my wish list includes The Clash, Raising the Bar, Ski the 14ers, and a couple of DC Comics' Absolute editions. All pie-in-the-sky wishes, but it is nice to dream! Other than those, I'm in the same boat as Dottie - way too many regular prose and nonfiction books to list off the top of my head.

Since Dottie has posted her list and called me out, here is some of my full wishlist.

- Y: The Last Man Book One Deluxe Edition - Brian K Vaughan
- Complete Maus - Art Spiegelman
- Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! - Richard P. Feynman
- God Delusion - Richard Dawkins
- Walking Dead, HC Vols 1-4 - Robert Kirkman
- Knockemstiff - Donald Pollack
- The Woman Who Can't Forget - Jill Price
- Sex for America - Stephen Elliott
- He Said Beer, She Said Wine - Sam Calagione and Marnie Old
- Chic Ironic Bitterness - R. Magill
- God on Trial - Peter Irons
- Constitution and National Security - Edmund Muskie
- The Brewmaster's Table - Garrett Oliver
- The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House - John Harris
- The Oxford Project - Peter Feldstien

Whew! That is a start, at least...

I just finished Fraction of the Whole (one of my new all-time favorites) and a re-read of Jonathan Hickman's Nightly News - probably my third or fourth time reading that one in the last year. Right now, I'm juggling The Ridiculous Race, Bonk by Sarah Roach, and Zot! by Scott McCloud.