Introduction to the genre challenge 2013 -15

[Laura]

Wouldn't The End of the Affair by Graham Greene or Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh count as Modern British Classics too?

[Susan]

If you google ' Penguin British 20th Century classics'....they have a list of 171 books in this category, which is interesting.

[Liz, Moderator]

Ian wrote: "I went for Anais Nin erotica last time.....garbage. May go for ."

I have to say I may skip Anais Nin as both you and Angela had such bad experiences. (It can't be any worse than Tropic of Cancer?) Perhaps I would do better to read a book ABOUT Anais Nin & Henry Miller instead!!

[Angela]

Liz wrote: "Ian wrote: "I went for Anais Nin erotica last time.....garbage. May go for ."

I have to say I may skip Anais Nin as both you and Angela had such bad experiences. (..."

Do you know, I think you may be right, Liz!!

[Danielle]

I have a few ideas for romance, if this is going to be the next theme.

The House Of Special Purpose
The Light Between Oceans
The Outcast; I'm not sure if this is romance. I have an abridged audio version of this book
The Lovers of Algeria: A Novel I enjoyed this book a lot in the past and I suppose I could do a re-read.

The Reader could also be an option, I suppose

[Liz, Moderator]

Laura wrote: "Wouldn't The End of the Affair by Graham Greene or Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh count as Modern British Classics too?"

Yup, they'd do :)

[Liz, Moderator]

With just two days to go, Romance/erotica and Crime/detective/truecrime are tied at the top of the poll. We can't have a tie! If you haven't cast your vote yet, please go ahead and tip the balance whichever way you fancy....

[Ian, Moderator]

Or change your vote...sort of GR PR.

[Danielle]

Got a few ideas for crime as well. Curious what it will be: crime or romance

[Bill]

Seems like crime has a bit of a lead at the mo'. Might end up reading Case Histories if that stays the same..

[Em]

I was thinking of Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes if Crime wins. Although, I do have Case Histories as well. Both maybe?

[Ellie]

Em wrote: "I was thinking of Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes if Crime wins. Although, I do have Case Histories as well. Both maybe?"

Into the Darkest Corner is good Em. I read it last year and it was quite gripping. If Crime wins through then I'm on a Scandi-crime fest. Watching The Killing at the mo and go The Bridge also lined up DVD wise but book wise might read some of the Asa Larson series set in Arctic which I visited a couple of years back.

[Bill]

Em wrote: "I was thinking of Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes if Crime wins. Although, I do have Case Histories as well. Both maybe?"

Go for it, Em. Try both.

[Mandy]

Can say I enjoyed case histories, am thinking of the The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time...along with Cry Wolf and Daddy's Girl: The Campbell Murder Casewith a dash of The Black Dahlia... don't know what I am going to do if there is a surge on romance!

[Angela]

I'd convinced myself it would be romance, but crime would be fine! Reading the last few posts has given me a few ideas - Started Early, Took My Dog is sitting waiting for me and I also recently bought The Killing, which is based on the TV series.

[Andrew]

I voted for romance even though it's a genre I wouldn't automatically read. A few years ago in my reading group we read Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre in quick succession and I surprised myself by really enjoying them do I had planned to break my great taboo and read Pride and Predjudice ! Ah well!! Anyway I've got a couple of untried Scottish noir ready to go Cold Granite by Stuart Macbride and End of the wasp season by Denise Mina if it's crime plus anything else I can squeeze in.

[Susan]

If it's crime, I have an Agatha Christie which I've never read Cards on the Table.
As I'm reading her biography at the moment, Agatha Christie: An English Mystery by Laura Thompson, this would tie in nicely.

[Angela]

Andrew wrote: "I voted for romance even though it's a genre I wouldn't automatically read. A few years ago in my reading group we read Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre in quick succession and I surprised myself by..."

I didn't read Pride and Prejudice until about 3 years ago and amazed myself by really enjoying it! You may be pleasantly surprised too when you do get round to it!

[Kate, Moderator]

If it's crime I also have an Agatha Christie lined up Dead Man's Folly and I can always fall back on a trusty Cadfael as I'm working my way through the series. If it's Romance I'm stuck!!!

[Danielle]

Got quite a lot of crime audio books, as it is a genre I easily download.

Standing in Another Man's Grave
Dark Secrets
A Man's Head
Faceless Killers, which I could also keep for award winning
The Woodcutter

And I have a few adaptions of crimestories by Agatha Christie (BBC audio). Apart from Agatha Christie and Georges Simenon the other writers are new to me.

[Gemma]

Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got side-tracked with The Pickwick Papers and a ton of overtime at work!!

[Jayne]

I picked romance as it's not my usual fare but I'm also happy with crime as I've discovered a few Agatha Christies I've never read. Perfect winter reading.

[Mandy]

Andrew wrote: "I voted for romance even though it's a genre I wouldn't automatically read. A few years ago in my reading group we read Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre in quick succession and I surprised myself by..."

Andrew you are so right! I revisited some of the classics I read at school but as an adult it was like this was a different book!

[Ellie]

Angela wrote: "I'd convinced myself it would be romance, but crime would be fine! Reading the last few posts has given me a few ideas - Started Early, Took My Dog is sitting waiting for me and I also recently bou..."

I got The Killing on Kindle recently and have tried to read it and finding it hard going. Not sure whether it's because we are watching it on DVD at the moment and so therefore there isn't the same suspense, or if it's just not working for me.

[Andrew]

Gemma wrote: "Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got side-tracked with The Pickwick Papers and a ton..."

I've read 1976 and 1977 and they are brilliant aren't they. I've needed a break between each one though as they are exhausting, maybe its time to try 1980. Have you tried The Damned United which is a really good read.

[Angela]

Ellie wrote: "Angela wrote: "I'd convinced myself it would be romance, but crime would be fine! Reading the last few posts has given me a few ideas - Started Early, Took My Dog is sitting waiting for me and I al..."

It's a huge book, but I got it in the Book People sale, so thought I'd give it a try. We enjoyed the TV series so much - may have the same problem as you!

[Angela]

Andrew wrote: "Gemma wrote: "Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got side-tracked with The Pickwick Pa..."

Sorry to but in! Just had to say that I thought The Damned Utd was an excellent book.

[Andrew]

Angela wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Gemma wrote: "Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got side-tracked with ..."
My wife bought me a really interesting book a few years ago Angela
which was recently reviewed on radio 4 A good read as well which makes an interesting companion read and both books are great even if the reader doesn't like sport as he's such a fascinating character! I,ve also got David Peace's Japanese book waiting to be read. Think I put 1976 instead of 1974 oops!

[Andrew]

Mandy wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I voted for romance even though it's a genre I wouldn't automatically read. A few years ago in my reading group we read Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre in quick succession and I surp..."
I read lots of Hardy and Lawrence when I was younger and loved them but haven't gone back to them as now I view them as a box ticked. Maybe it is time to revisit them as I'm sure they will still be as good. Sometimes though you don't want to be disappointed.I remember rereading Catcher in the rye a couple of years ago and wondering why I was so excited by it as a teenager!

[Ellie]

Am I right is assuming this month's read (ie Feb) is Crime / Detectives / Real Crime??? Getting started early to give me a chance of finishing at least one book this month :)

[Bill]

That's what the poll indicates. I think you're right, Ellie. I've started a mystery at any rate. :0) Good luck.

[Gemma]

Andrew wrote: "Gemma wrote: "Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got side-tracked with The Pickwick Pa..."

They are excellent... Very hard hitting and he really gets inside your head. As a kid growing up in West Yorkshire, I remember being terrified even just of the Ripper's memory in the 90s and there was still an awareness of the shroud of fear he placed women of my Mum's generation under. Peace really gets this across. I've just got 1983 to go but I'm looking forward to it :) The Damned United has been on my TBR shelf for ages so hoping I can fit it into a genre somewhere this year :)

[Angela]

Andrew wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I voted for romance even though it's a genre I wouldn't automatically read. A few years ago in my reading group we read Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre in quick success..."

Re-reading Hardy recently, I found it quite depressing. I read a lot of his work in my teens and twenties and loved it - age alters one's perception I think!!

[Angela]

Andrew wrote: "Angela wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Gemma wrote: "Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got sid..."

I'll have to look out for that book, Andrew, and also read some more David Peace.

[Danielle]

Angela wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Mandy wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I voted for romance even though it's a genre I wouldn't automatically read. A few years ago in my reading group we read Wuthering heights and Jane Eyre i..."

So true. My taste and perception has also changed throughout the years. That's why I easily re-read books. It's not because I enjoyed a book many years ago that I will enjoy it a second time around. In this way I make place for new books. I only keep the ones I have read at least twice.

Since I listen to audio books my choice of books has become more diverse.

[Ian, Moderator]

Just about to open up the crime thread.

[Andrew]

Ian, I've id'd read for crime fiction which also gets me an X on A-Z and China on around the world . Any rules on crossover of challenges or does it cover one only ? Ruling appreciated .

[Ian, Moderator]

As many as you can hit in one book Andrew....triples all round.

[Ellie]

Gemma wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Gemma wrote: "Think it's high time I wrapped up David Peace's Red Riding series so Crime suits me just fine... Need to finish Pure first though for Historical. Got side-tracked with ..."

Did you watch the TV versions? They were very hard hitting as well.

[Liz, Moderator]

Thanks Ian for setting up the thread for Feb. (After the week I've just had I couldn't face going on the computer when I got back from work. instead s large glass of wine, the whole sofa to myself and a few cspters of Winter in Madrid before off to bed at 10pm - the rock 'n roll life I live...) Anyway, yes, it's crime/detective/true crime for Feb.

[Liz, Moderator]

Why do phones only use auto-correction when it suits them? And yet they're quite happy to jump in when you'd rather they didn't? The other day, my phone decided to replace my name with Lizard...... (ok, so it's off-topic, but there are a load of typo's in my previous post! )

[Helen]

That is so funny, kindle fire 'corrects' too.

[A.L.]

I switched off autocorrect and autotype. No way is a machine telling me what it thinks is right. Some of the autocorrect things are hilarious.

[A.L.]

Oh if it's crime hmm maybe I will bump a cadfael up my TBR list.

[Ian, Moderator]

Liz wrote: "Thanks Ian for setting up the thread for Feb. (After the week I've just had I couldn't face going on the computer when I got back from work. instead s large glass of wine, the whole sofa to myself..."

Pleasure Liz

[Jayne]

Relative newbie here. How do you decide which genres are in the poll and when does the poll start?

[Liz, Moderator]

Jayne wrote: "Relative newbie here. How do you decide which genres are in the poll and when does the poll start?"

The poll runs during the last week of each month (approx) to decide the genre for the upcoming month. We started with a master-list of 24 genres, (chosen by the group), we still have 22 to go....

When it's voting-time again, I (or one of the other mods) will announce it in this thread.

[Jayne]

Liz wrote: "Jayne wrote: "Relative newbie here. How do you decide which genres are in the poll and when does the poll start?"

The poll runs during the last week of each month (approx) to decide the genre for ..."

Thank you Liz

[Vicky]

Hi, when is the poll going up for next months challenge? Thanks

[Em]

Just got the kids to bed and have a quiet moment so will set the pole up shortly!