Introduction to the genre challenge 2013 -15

[Vicky]

Thanks Em, this time of the month is exciting (I'm sad like that) I like the anticipation of what's coming next!

[Em]

Poll!!! Ian, no comment please!

I'm sad too fyi - also, chosing book at end of my real life Bookgroup, my favourite part of evening.

[Susan]

Lots of votes this month!
I honestly don't mind which genre wins....I've got some interesting books for all the top choices....

[Liz, Moderator]

Just checked and Modern British Classics (20thC) is in the lead....

[Vicky]

I'm still stuck on what to read for a modern British classic.....

[Susan]

If it wins I'm planning on The End of the Affair by Graham Greene and probably something by Rose Tremain.

[Andrew]

I've got billy liar waiting to be read but beyond that I'm not sure, I've also got brideshead and A handful of dust by Waugh in my pile of books if that's the choice!

[Dave]

Will probably go with Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War its just 20th Cenury as written in 1993

[Liz, Moderator]

I was just mentioning this on the poll comments:

For the Modern British Classics; Penguin does a range of books called 'Penguin Modern Classics' - take a peak, you can download the catalogue from the Penguin website, it's full of ideas. I spotted 1984 and Brideshead Revisited, though of course, not all are British.

I need to take a look at my shelves and see if I have anything waiting...

[Bill]

I've earmarked a couple that I hope falls into the category of Modern British Classics; Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling (1906) and Stamboul Train: an Entertainment by Graham Greene (1932). Would they work?

[Jayne]

If Modern British Classics win then I'm thinking of starting with but I'm not sure what else would be in this genre.

[Kate, Moderator]

Given that the first film's just come out and I clearly didn't remember half of it, I'm planning to read (1937) as I'm pretty sure that fits with Modern British Classics.

[Susan]

Jayne wrote: "If Modern British Classics win then I'm thinking of starting with but I'm not sure what else would be in this genre."

Great choice!

[Mandy]

Can I do DH Lawrence?....got a chance to knobble 2 birds with one book - can do the genre and Boxall list

[Ian, Moderator]

Em wrote: "Poll!!! Ian, no comment please!

I liked the idea of setting up the pole Em. Visions of you in a new dancing career lol.......

[Ian, Moderator]

Mandy wrote: "Can I do DH Lawrence?....got a chance to knobble 2 birds with one book - can do the genre and Boxall list"

DHL deffo ok Mandy.

[Jennifer]

Just a little further clarification on the definition of a Modern British classic? ... are we only talking notable, 20th century, more "literary" fiction, e.g. Lawrence, Orwell, Greene, Forster, Waugh, etc or does it also include more "genre" based stuff that has left a lasting legacy like, for example Ian Flemming, Agatha Christie, etc. Just noticed there were some Flemmings in the Penguin modern classics list that Liz shared, which set me to thinking....Sorry about the inverted commas - personally I feel a good book is a good book whatever pigeonhole people put it in but just seeking clarification on which authors/shelves/categories to peruse assuming there isn't a last minute dramatic change in the voting.

[Charlotte]

Susan wrote: "Jayne wrote: "If Modern British Classics win then I'm thinking of starting with but I'm not sure what else would be in this genre."

Great choice!"

Yes really great choice, I loved this book!

[Charlotte]

If it is Modern Classics, then my shortlist so far is something by either: John Wyndham, Franz Kafka or George Orwell...

[Susan]

I liked George Orwell a lot years ago, but haven't read much lately....the last one I read a couple of years ago, was A Clergyman's Daughter which I did enjoy.

[Susan]

John Wyndham is a great idea....I've always meant to read The Chrysalids......

[Ian, Moderator]

@ Jennifer.......Liz/Em may disagree, but I agree that a good book is a good book and with beauty being in the eye of the beholder, selections could come from any genre. nmcot but say Terry Pratchett as an eg.

One thing I would say though is that this challenge is supposed to stretch our reading tastes, so we really should not be picking something out of our comfy fave genre and calling it a modern British classic.......be brave out there lol.

[Angela]

Have been having a look at my stashes and may go for The End of the Affair and something by George Orwell. But there again, I may change my mind completely!

[Em]

Ian wrote: "@ Jennifer.......Liz/Em may disagree, but I agree that a good book is a good book and with beauty being in the eye of the beholder, selections could come from any genre. nmcot but say Terry Pratche..."

I think Flemming and Christie are definite modern classics - I'm definitely for including genre fiction among possible classics, no elitism here!

I'm divided on my book choice for March - possibly Brighton Rock by Graham Greene or The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham but not sure yet...

[Jayne]

John Wyndham is a great idea. I re-read The Day of the Triffids and The Chrysalids last year when I was sorting out my study but I will have to find more.

[Ian, Moderator]

Graham Greene sounds good Angela and Em.....may also go for for starters.

[Susan]

Ian wrote: "Graham Greene sounds good Angela and Em.....may also go for for starters."

I got this from my library last week....it will be my first March challenge book.

[Angela]

I actually picked out The End of the Affair for the February genre choice, thinking it might be Romance, so I'm definitely going for that. Want to find a few books for March that are not too long - most of my recent reads have been 400+ pages, so 250 would make a pleasant change!

[Ian, Moderator]

My ebook copy says 160pages.

[Laura]

My physical copy is also 160 pages.

[Louise]

Thinking I might go for I Capture the Castle.

[Angela]

Louise wrote: "Thinking I might go for I Capture the Castle."

Oh, I enjoyed this one:)

[Sue]

Louise wrote: "Thinking I might go for I Capture the Castle."

Think this one will suit me more than Graham Greene - overdosed on him at A level (more years ago than a few!).

[Jennifer]

@Ian and Em - thanks for the thoughts & don't worry Ian I'm enjoying using all the challenges to try new things so will not be sticking in old ruts. Just trying to get my brain in gear with where to start looking! Our shelves are full of books I haven't read yet as my husband has a chronic book-buying condition that goes way beyond my own.

@Louise - we read I Capture the Castle in my bookclub last year - lovely book, enjoy.

[Andrew]

Louise wrote: "Thinking I might go for I Capture the Castle."
We also read it in my physical book club a year or so ago and one of our ladies came with a box of letters and cards she had exchanged over the years with Dodie Smith after she had initially only sent a letter praising her book. There were also photos of her beautiful mansion in the heart of old Stretford ( I think Longford Park) where she had lived before she moved to Canada (?) . There is an interesting book about her life which I'll see if I can find link to as from recollection there were interesting stories around the 101 dalmatoin books. Anyway she sounded v interesting and the letters etc were lovely!

[Andrew]

FYI Ithink her memoirs areLook Back With Love

[Danielle]

I'm going to have a look at Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh and Roald Dahl.

Could Paul Scott's work be counted among British modern classics?

[Joan]

I am thinking of going for To the Lighthouse and maybe The Daughter of Time, if they count as Modern British Classics.

[Nicola]

I just found this website with some very helpful lists for 20th Century Classic Fiction..
www.modernlibrary.com

[Louise]

Andrew wrote: "Louise wrote: "Thinking I might go for I Capture the Castle."
We also read it in my physical book club a year or so ago and one of our ladies came with a box of letters and cards she had exchanged ..."

Awe, that's lovely. The only letter I have from an author is a generic photocopied one from J.K. Rowling. Was really nonplussed when I got it as well (even though I was an obsessed fan) because I'd never actually written to her! I think my primary school must have sent on a piece of homework or a book review I'd done or something, it's the sort of thing my favourite teacher would have done. Was so confused though!

Anyways, looking forward to Dodie Smith. 101 Dalmations is one of my favourte children's classics and one of my 'save from a fire' books. I have a beautiful old illustrated hardcover that was apparently the first book my dad ever bought with his own money, and I love it to pieces. Been meaning to read I Capture the Castle for years.

[Em]

What about D H Lawrence? I confess, I've not read a single book of his - is it the right century to qualify?

[Kiwi Sarah]

Would a play count as a modern British classic ?

I am thinking of reading Look Back in Anger by John Osborne and re-reading The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks which I remember very little about other than being shocked by it, from when I read it at my catholic girls school a very long time ago.

Also thought I would delve into a children's classic Fireweed by Jill Paton Walsh if I can find myself a copy.

[Andrew]

Louise, I really enjoyed I captured the castle even though I didn't think it would be my kind of thing, sure you'll enjoy it.

[Sue]

Sarah wrote: "Would a play count as a modern British classic ?

I am thinking of reading Look Back in Anger by John Osborne and re-reading The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks which I remember very littl..."

I had forgotton all those wonderful ground-breaking writers. There is also Margaret Drabble. Really enjoyed The Millstone.

[Kiwi Sarah]

Cheers Sue,

Oh that one looks good too - quite like the idea of taking a theme within a genre and exploring books around it (coming of age etc...) Thanks for the suggestion!

[Liz, Moderator]

Em wrote: "I'm divided on my book choice for March - possibly Brighton Rock by Graham Greene or The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham but not sure yet...
..."

Neither's very long, I'm sure you'll manage both!

[Bill]

My first book in this challenge will be Stamboul Train: an Entertainment (1932) written by Graham Greene.

[✿Claire✿]

Would To Kill A Mockingbird and/or An Inspector Calls count?

[Angela]

Have a little pile of books by my bed now - whether I read them all is another matter! I think I'll start with , then , , and finally .

[Vicky]

Feeling a little out of my depth on this one. I haven't heard of many of the authors or the books so how do they constitute classics? I read a lot and studied English literature to A level so don't know why I am so ill informed. I think I might start with some George Orwell and then move on. Also, someone mentioned that the hobbit would suit, but Tolkien was born in South Africa so I don't really understand the parameters of it being British.