Suggestions for Future Group Reads

[Adelaide]

OOOO, that looks good. March!

[Cheryl]

Another nomination:

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (historical mystery)

Elizabeth Peters is the same author as Barbara Michaels, just using a different pen name for her mystery series. I've never read her mystery novels, but they do come highly recommened.

[Adelaide]

Added to the list!

[Cheryl]

Adelaide,
I just watched an interesting movie on TCM called Home Before Dark, starring Jean Simmons. On IMDB, I saw it was adapted from a book. The title is the same, Home Before Dark by Eileen Bassing. Perhaps this could be a nomination? I'd put it in the same category as The Group, which I see you've put on the list. (Yay!) It might be difficult to find, though. Luckily my library system has it, and I will be reading it in the future, regardless. Just a thought.

[Adelaide]

Thanks! I will add it to the list. (If I can find a copy!)

[Adelaide]

Sooooo, neither of the libraries I have access to have it, and the cheapest copy I can find on Amazon of Home before Dark is $30. We may have to pass on this one.

[Cheryl]

Adelaide wrote: "Sooooo, neither of the libraries I have access to have it, and the cheapest copy I can find on Amazon of Home before Dark is $30. We may have to pass on this one."

That's ok. I thought that might be the case. The movie was good, though.

[Galaxy Press]

How about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Final Blackout.


♥,
Cat at Galaxy Press

[Adelaide]

So, I kind of want to read Witch World with the group, but it's not in print. It's usually fairly easy to find used, but I thought I'd check and see if anybody else was interested before I added it.

[Sarah]

I could go for some electric sheep. Do you mean the Andre Norton Witch World?

[Cheryl]

Witch World by Andre Norton is available through my library system's inter-library loan. I'd read it if you schedule it.

[Adelaide]

Sarah wrote: "I could go for some electric sheep. Do you mean the Andre Norton Witch World?" YES. Andre Norton.

[Sarah]

Let's do it!

[Adelaide]

All right then. I will add it!

[Cheryl]

I see The Lost World is on the schedule for June. That's great! I did want to read it, because I watched the TV movie of it in 2001 and was impressed by the story. The book should be good, too.

[Adelaide]

I hope it's fun!

[Jenna]

I think it would be super cool to read Metamorphoses

Since this is a classically aiimed group I think it would be awesome to read some Greek literature. I have heard rave reviews.

[Adelaide]

Jenna wrote: "I think it would be super cool to read Metamorphoses Since this is a classically aiimed group I think it would be awesome to read some Greek literature. I have heard rave reviews."

While we are technically a classics group, we are genre classics as opposed to Classic classics, if you get what I mean. And you can't get more Classic than the Greeks. However, if someone else wants to read this as well, I will add it to the list. There is a case for this being in the fantasy category.

[Cheryl]

I never could get into those Greek Classics, so I would not be joining in reading Metamorphoses. Maybe another Goodreads group is reading it, or will be soon?

[Sarah]

Perhaps we could read I, Claudius by Robert Graves which is historical fiction and kinda a Greek classic. I used to sneak-watch the bbc version on masterpiece theater with my 5 inch UHF radio TV....

[Cheryl]

If Adelaide thinks it would fit with the group, I'd be open to reading I, Claudius.

[Adelaide]

I haven't really thought of historical fiction as being part of genre fiction, but yeah it fits. It's considered a classic, but it's kinda trashy, so on the list it goes!

[Sarah]

Tell me about it! If my parents only knew what their eleven year old was watching on Master Piece Theater. That's some raunchy TV. And it has Captain Picard.

[Cheryl]

What is the cut off date designation for a "classic"? Is 1985 too recent? If it fits the date requirements, I want to nominate Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. It was written in 1985 and is a Western. I've wanted to read it since I read his book The Road, but want to read it in a group to help me through the violence that I just know will be in it. Goodreads gives it a high rating, but I myself haven't read it and cannot vouch for it.

[Adelaide]

I've been using anything up to 1990 or so to designate a "classic." We can fit this in.

[Jenna]

If Far from the Madding Crowd hasnt been read I would highly recommend it. It was definitely written before 1990 so it would technically qualify.

[Cheryl]

Jenna wrote: "If Far from the Madding Crowd hasnt been read I would highly recommend it. It was definitely written before 1990 so it would technically qualify."

I don't think that would qualify as "genre fiction", though. But Adelaide could tell you better than I.

[Cheryl]

Adelaide, could you please tell us the types of books that would best fit as nominations for this group? I want to be sure I understand what'll work for this group. Thanks!

[Adelaide]

Classic trash = genre fiction classics = mystery, horror, science fiction, fantasy, westerns, thrillers, sensation, romance etc. Thomas Hardy would not qualify, but Wilkie Collins would. Both are considered classic authors, but Collins wrote sensation novels, where Hardy wrote what we would now call "literary fiction." I like "classic" classics, but started this group because I felt the genre classics weren't getting enough love except in more specialty clubs, like sci fi or romance groups. This way we can read a little bit of everything.

[Cheryl]

Thanks, Adelaide! That helps.

[Cheryl]

I'd like to suggest Psycho by Robert Bloch as a group read nomination. I checked, and my library system has it. I recently read a review by a Goodreads friend who also has a blog, and she liked it. So hopefully it'll be a decent book to read.

[Adelaide]

Done!

[Adelaide]

I made Psycho our book for October (seemed thematic), now I need to come up with something for September.

[Sarah]

We could do a Terry Pratchett, since he just passed away. How about Going Postal?

[Cheryl]

Adelaide wrote: "I made Psycho our book for October (seemed thematic), now I need to come up with something for September."

Is a book from 1987 still within the group's definition of "classic"? If yes, then I nominate A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine. This is Ruth Rendell's pen-name for her darker fiction. Two Goodreads friends whose reviews I trust gave this book 4 and 5 stars. Also, it won the 1987 Edgar Award for best mystery novel. My library has it, and I have been wanting to read it. And it's a female author, since there's nothing but books by men on your upcoming schedule.

[Cheryl]

Sarah wrote: "We could do a Terry Pratchett, since he just passed away. How about Going Postal?"

That's from 2005. Did he write anything earlier than that? By the way, what is the cut off for "classics"?

[Cheryl]

Adelaide wrote: "I've been using anything up to 1990 or so to designate a "classic." "

Looks like Adelaide answered this before. Sorry!

[Cheryl]

The first Discworld book, The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett, was written in 1983. My library has it, and I would be willing to read it. What do you think about that one, Sarah?

[Sarah]

Ok sounds good

[Sarah]

Ok sounds good

[Adelaide]

Adding both of those to the list!

[Cheryl]

Has anyone read Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm? I hesitate to nominate it, because I haven't read it nor do I know anyone who has. It's science fiction (post-apocalypse) and I've been meaning to read it someday. Goodreads gives it 4 stars, but it alo gave 4 stars to Ammie, Come Home. (I gave it 3, with one star for nostalgia.) Do you think it's a good candidate for nominations? Or should we just wait on that one? (My library system has it.)

[Adelaide]

Why not? Sometimes we get crappy books, mostly we get awesome books. I don't worry about it too much. Even when a book sucks, I feel like I have at least read something that has been referenced in popular culture.

[Cheryl]

Adelaide,

That's a great attitude to have. This book won the 1977 Hugo Award for Best
Novel, so it can't be absolutely horrendous.

[Cheryl]

I'd like to nominate The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins. It's a crime novel from 1972. I haven't read it myself, but if you look at the Goodreads review you'll see mostly 4 and 5 star reviews. Also, a Goodreads friend whose reviews I've usually agreed with just gave it a 5 star review.

[Adelaide]

OK!

[Cheryl]

Here's a Western genre nomination:

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance by Dorothy M. Johnson

I've seen the film and thought it was pretty good.

[Cheryl]

Cheryl wrote: "Here's a Western genre nomination:

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance by Dorothy M. Johnson

I've seen the film and thought it was pretty good."

Oops! Looks like that's just a short story. Too bad. I also liked the film 3:10 to Yuma, but that's also a short story.

[Adelaide]

I am going to be perfectly honest, I HATE the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. With all my heart and soul. I like Westerns, I even like a lot of John Ford Westerns, but I cannot stand that movie.

[Cheryl]

Ok. Well, it's good it's just a short story then. I'm not offended by honesty. I'd sooner have everyone read something they like. I am open to reading something else.