Introduction to the genre challenge 2013 -15

[Liz, Moderator]

Western is currently in the lead...

[Ian, Moderator]

Zane Grey here I come.

[Bill]

If Western ends up winning, I've had a couple of books on my shelves, don't know how I came about to get them. I think the missus and I acquired them as an auction lot box of books, just to fill some shelves when we first moved into our home. Anyway, checking them out, both seem to qualify as Western; Heart of the West by O. Henry and Colorado by Louis Bromfield. I may give one or both a try.

[Liz, Moderator]

If Western wins out, I might try Blood Meridian, or The Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy...

[Ian, Moderator]

Great idea Liz.

[Kevin]

Howdy Partners!. I sense some members might feel slightly uneasy about the 'Western' choice of genre.(in truth, my opening greeting probably hasn't helped). Well don't be put off, there are some great Western writers out there.
McCarthy would be a good choice. As the title suggests 'Blood Meridian' is quite bloodthirsty in places (somewhat in keeping with the genre), if that's a concern try 'All the Pretty Horses' instead. 'True Grit' is rightly a classic and more humorous than you'd expect. I'm informed Pete Dexters' 'Deadwood' is another classic, and although I haven't read it yet, I have really enjoyed a couple of his other books. If you fancy something more contemporary then the booker shortlisted 'Sisters Brothers' is a real hoot, with many very humorous scenes amid some brief moments of violence. For a more worthy, literary take, try 'Butchers Crossing' by John Edward Williams of 'Stoner' fame. Elmore Leonard's short western stories are more traditional in style, but very well written, and easy to dip in and out of. Finally, if you're after a really ripping character-led yarn to suck you in, I totally loved 'The Thicket' by Joe Lansdale, which I finished recently.

[Liz, Moderator]

Yes Kevin, I'm not normally drawn to the Western genre, but I really enjoyed 'The Sisters Brothers' and liked 'All the Pretty Horses'. (Good suggestions! )

[Liz, Moderator]

A bit short-notice, but the poll to choose next month's genre is now open...

[Liz, Moderator]

Graphic Novels are in the lead, still a few hours left to vote....

Not sure what to read if they win, possibly Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi. I'll have to see what I can find at the library...

[Sarah]

What about Banned Books? It never ceases to amaze me what titles have been or still are banned!

[Bill]

I bought 3 graphic novels on a recent trip to Victoria, BC and have been holding off reading them until graphic novels was chosen.

[Kevin]

My wife has a copy of 'The Arrival' by Shaun Tan, that I'm itching to read, but have sworn not to touch it until she has read it first. It's got some rave reviews, and the artwork looks amazing. Might have to queue jump over the OH, if Graphic Novels wins the poll.

[Helen]

Sarah wrote: "What about Banned Books? It never ceases to amaze me what titles have been or still are banned!"

I didn't think there were banned books in the UK. What are they?

[Deanne]

I think there have been books which at one time were banned, Lady Chatterley's lover was banned until 1960. The Well of Loneliness was also banned for years. I don't think there is anything that is currently censored, but someone may know something different.

[Liz, Moderator]

With November just around the corner (Brrr!) I've just posted the poll for next month's genre (it should become active once the UK gets to Sunday...)

We've only got three options left!

(Whatever wins, I've got Dorothy Parker lined up for poetry, American Psycho for cult and a whole load for non fiction...)

[Liz, Moderator]

Poetry's taken the lead.....

[Liz, Moderator]

Poetry has extend its lead, yet there's still time to cast your vote....

[Liz, Moderator]

Two years have almost gone by since we started this round of the Genre Challenge and we're so near the end. We still have 'Cult/Chemical Fiction' or 'Non-Fiction/Self-Help' to go...

As it's December, I've also added the festive option: 'Books with a Christmas or Winter Setting', as this seems to be a popular choice, this time of year. (I can hear Ian's 'Bah! Humbug!' even from here, in Singapore... ;)

I will set up the poll on the UK Book Club home page as usual.

In the last two years we have covered:
Jan 2013 - Historical Fiction
Feb 2013 - Crime/Detective/True-crime
March 2013 - Modern British Classics (20thC)
April 2013 - War & Revolution
May 2013 - Award Winning (Booker, Pulitzer, Orange Prize etc)
June 2013 - Fantasy/Folklore
July 2013 - Short Stories
Aug 2013 - Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Sept 2013 - Classic Novels (Pre 20thC)
Oct 2013 - Horror/Gothic/Ghoststories
Nov 2013 - Espionage/Spy
Dec 2013 - Christmas/Winter
Jan 2014 - Magical Realism
Feb 2014 - Romance/Erotica
March 2014 - Young Adult/New Adult
April 2014 - Biography/Memoir
May 2014 - Psychiatry/Madness
June 2014 - Comedy/Humour
July 2014 - Gay/Lesbian
Aug 2014 - Travel/Exploration
Sept 2014 - The Western
Oct 2014 - Graphic Novels
Nov 2014 - Poetry

Also - all year - World War One 100th Anniversary.

Phew!

[Ian, Moderator]

Bah humbug.

[Liz, Moderator]

Sorry Ian, but books with a Christmas/Winter Setting are ahead in the poll.(Still a couple of days left to vote)....

Hmm, if Christmas/winter wins out (looking likely), I might read The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney. Nothing to do with Christmas, it's a Winter book, plus it would give me Canada for the Round the World Challenge too.

[Em]

Remember enjoying the although most aspects of the actual story have left my conscious mind...

[Ian, Moderator]

So that's a vote for chestnuts roasting on an open fire from the Liverpool jury, now where's my Santa outfit onesie?

[Helen]

Ian, I didn't recognize you in your alternative red outfit.

[Ian, Moderator]

Tis the season to be jolly....ho, ho, ho.

[Liz, Moderator]

Just a few days of December (let alone 2014) to go, so I'd better set up the poll for next month's genre. Only one choice this time: Non-Fiction or Cult Fiction?

[Liz, Moderator]

February will be the last month of the Genre Challenge. By the end of the month, we will have worked our way through 24 different genres!

There's no poll this time, as we're just left with one genre: Cult/Chemical Fiction.

(Chemical fiction includes drug-related subject matter such as 'Trainspotting', 'The Doors of Perception', 'Naked Lunch' etc)

What do you consider cult fiction?

I've got 'American Phsycho' sitting on my kindle and some JG Ballard, which I think will fit the bill...

[Bill]

Oh, I've got Crash on my bookshelf ready to be read this year. That would fit the bill as a Cult book, I think.

[Kate, Moderator]

I'm not really sure what constitutes cult/chemical fiction but in the hope that it fits the bill I have read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in the last 3 days.
I'm now starting Hopefully one of these will be deemed acceptable!

[Liz, Moderator]

Oops! haven't posted the thread. Too much work, plus I've been trying to sort out the movers as we're moving AGAIN in three weeks....

[Kate, Moderator]

Oh wow, you have been busy! Good luck with the move.

[Ian, Moderator]

Just like to thank Liz for running all the admin./polls for this marathon 24 month plus 2 Christmas specials genre challenge. I do have some daft ideas at times, especially when someone else volunteers to do all the work lol........hope your latest move goes well over in our Far East outpost.

[Liz, Moderator]

Thanks. If you run the thing, it forces you to follow through! I've enjoyed it and I might just fit one more cult volume in before the end of the month (anything to escape the boxes).

BTW just to reinforce the Singapore expat stereotype; I'm lounging on the sofa (it's after 9pm here), with my G&T!

However, bursting that bubble; I need to get to bed soon for the regular 5:30am wake-up call (I'm not kidding, school starts at 7:15am).

The main reason we're moving is to be a 10min walk from school, so we can get a bit more sleep!

Then I can finally join the happy thread!

[Bill]

The genre challenge has been lots of fun, Liz. Thank you for running with it. Totally agree with Ian's comments, except that it wasn't a daft idea at all. Do you think it might continue for another session or has the genre challenge run its course? Does Ian have any more daft ideas? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Em]

Liz wrote: "Thanks. If you run the thing, it forces you to follow through! I've enjoyed it and I might just fit one more cult volume in before the end of the month (anything to escape the boxes).

BTW just to..."

That's sooo early Liz, I have been starting work at 7am for last 10 years and that 5.30am alarm is a killer, just started a normal job where I can arrive for 9am - feeling almost human in comparison. Hope the move goes well!

[Andrew]

I will just echoe Ian and Bill's comments Liz , thanks for running it, I have read so many books that I have either been wanting to read for years e.g 'the Moon tiger' and 'The Magic Toyshop' , ones I was unsure about reading as not my genre 'American Gods' 'Snake ropes' and 'The Explorer' to mention just a few and seen plenty of other great recommendations. I am hesitant about asking if it is going to start again as it must be time consuming.Hope the move goes well!

[Ian, Moderator]

Bill wrote: "The genre challenge has been lots of fun, Liz. Thank you for running with it. Totally agree with Ian's comments, except that it wasn't a daft idea at all. Do you think it might continue for another..."

I'm always full of daft ideas Bill. Yesterday's was to take 2 buses to go and have a blood test and then realise I'd forgotten my damned request forms after I'd got there. The phrase "stupid bastard" came spewing forth from my mouth more than once.

[Bill]

Ian wrote: "Bill wrote: "The genre challenge has been lots of fun, Liz. Thank you for running with it. Totally agree with Ian's comments, except that it wasn't a daft idea at all. Do you think it might continu..."

I use a similar phrase, Ian. 'I am an idjut' is heard quite often by my co-workers...

[Em]

Andrew wrote: "I will just echoe Ian and Bill's comments Liz , thanks for running it, I have read so many books that I have either been wanting to read for years e.g 'the Moon tiger' and 'The Magic Toyshop' , one..."

This is my favourite of all our challenges... I think it'd be great to start over... Liz, if you want a break I can take over or share the work - let me know!

[Liz, Moderator]

Glad you've enjoyed it. Well, if enough people want to, we can easily go round again.

(Although I'd like to complete all the other challenges I have on the go at the moment...)

Could we have March off and start again in April?

BTW does the polling work? Or should we just work our way through the list? (Also, it might be a good time to look at/update the list, as someone always manages to spot a missing genre!)

Thanks Em, help always appreciated :)

[Danielle]

I also would appreciate a re-run of the genre challenge. Thanks for all your work, Liz.

The polling works but it might be a nice idea and change to just work our work through the list.

Or maybe you can just keep the list secret and we have to agree on a number that corresponds with a genre on the list. In this way it can be more of a surprise.

[Ian, Moderator]

Selecting the monthly genre at random might be a fun change.

[Kate, Moderator]

I've really enjoyed this challenge and found some great authors I would never have read otherwise. Happy to start again, although like Liz I've got a few other challenges on the go which could do with some attention so I wouldn't mind a break in March too.

[Bill]

A break sounds fine as well. I'm happy to have you select the genre at random, Liz. Voting isn't necessary

[[deleted user]]

I have really enjoyed finding new genres of books and new authors I would probably have never looked at before.