Introduction to the genre challenge 2013 -15

[Dave]

Fantasy yay!!!!!!!

(Liz I find myself using !!! a lot reads, like I'm over excited all the time).

[Em]

I do both...

[Em]

See what I mean!!!

[Helen]

My dad always wonders at the amount of exclamation marks he uses in texts as opposed to in writing.

[Helen]

Dave wrote: "Fantasy yay!!!!!!!

Ditto...!!!

[Em]

July's poll is ready for your votes, I haven't made up my mind yet, need to have a think!

[Bill]

woo hoo..... Time to put on the thinking cap...

[Ian, Moderator]

Gone for romance.....another out of my comfort zone vote.

[Susan]

I've voted for short stories, as I've become addicted to them this year and have several good collections lined up.
I'm happy with whatever genre wins though....it's interesting to look for a good book that fits.

[Kiwi Sarah]

I've also voted for short stories - used to read them a lot when I was younger but haven't read any for ages - would love to delve around to find some interesting gems

[Bill]

I voted for Classic novels, but short stories would be ok as well; I've purchased a few recently.

[Gemma]

Went for Travel and Exploration simply because it fits nicely with my next 'round the world' country but have a couple of good 'uns lined up for Short Stories so will be more than happy if that comes out on top :-)

[Mandy]

Bill wrote: "I voted for Classic novels, but short stories would be ok as well; I've purchased a few recently."

I voted classics too!....looking for ideas in case of short story winning....any suggestions?

[Susan]

I've downloaded some short stories from The Guttenberg Project for free, which I've really liked....
There are quite a few to choose from, including authors such as,

Edith Wharton
Katherine Mansfield
Charles Dickens
James Joyce
and lots of others.....

I'm also enjoying a collection by Dashiell Hammett and hoping to find some more modern collections when I next visit the library.

[Laura]

I voted for Short Stories too, as I have several collections waiting to be read, including Lucy Wood's "Diving Belles". :)

[Susan]

Diving Belles looks unusual and interesting, Laura.....I'll look for it at the library....

[Susan]

I also enjoyed :-

Aphrodite's Hat by Salley Vickers

[Gemma]

I'm thinking Between The Assassinations by Aravind Adiga or Olive Kitteridge if Short Stories wins :-)

[Sarah]

In another group I'm in, we have two short story books for our group read for July so I will be able to read them for this challenge if it ends up that short stories are picked. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman and Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

[Susan]

Some great suggestions Gemma and Sarah....I'll be checking them all out.

[Bill]

Mandy wrote: "Bill wrote: "I voted for Classic novels, but short stories would be ok as well; I've purchased a few recently."

I voted classics too!....looking for ideas in case of short story winning....any sug..."

Well, let's see, these books are in my bookshelf..

The Allingham Minibus by Margery Allingham (Mys)
Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy L. Sayers
The Tomb and Other Tales by H.P. Lovecraft (Hor)
Four Short Stories by Elizabeth Gaskell
Passport To Eternity by J.G. Ballard (SciFi)

[Sarah]

I voted for horror and ghost stories. I rarely watch horror films and thought I may give reading them a try. I have added a few books of Stephen King, as I hear he is a master of the horror genre. However I do have some books lined up for classics as well as short stories, so I look forward to see what the results bring.

[Ian, Moderator]

Short stories have never really appealed but I've got some on my kindle I think and have just bought a 12pp novel so think that will count nicely lol.

[Mandy]

Great suggestions ..thank you!

[Liz, Moderator]

Sorry, I've been away on holiday for the last three weeks and away from wi-fi etc. (I was in Devon - after Singapore it feels distinctly exotic!) Just checked the poll for next month's genre challenge: Short stories is still just in the lead with Classics, just behind... Two more days to vote!

[Laura]

It seems that Short Stories won the poll.

[Helen]

Ooh, and I just bought two!

[Liz, Moderator]

I've just set up the poll to choose the next genre. Happy voting :)

[Laura]

Mel wrote: "Liz wrote: "I've just set up the poll to choose the next genre. Happy voting :)"

Hi,
I'm new to this, so not sure how it works... We vote for a genre and then select a book too?
Where do I go to ..."

Yes, we vote for the genre and then you select which book from that genre you will read that month.

The voting is done in the "Polls" section of the group's page. The link can be found from the right-hand top corner of the this page (for example, it's accessible from any page of the 'UK Book Club' group pages).

[Liz, Moderator]

Hi Mel, There's a folder for each genre, as we cover it, and we share suggestions and progress throughout the month.

[Susan]

I like checking the poll to see what is in the lead at the moment, and seeing that it's Sci Fi, I've picked out a couple of books I would like to read....

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline looks interesting......and

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is something I've thought about reading several times....

[Sarah]

I voted for Sci/Fi - Dystopia as I have a few books on my list waiting to be read =]

[Bill]

If SciFi wins this month, I'll be reading at least Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks.

[Liz, Moderator]

Susan wrote: "I like checking the poll to see what is in the lead at the moment, and seeing that it's Sci Fi, I've picked out a couple of books I would like to read....

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline looks interesting......and

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is something I've thought about reading several times......."

I have a copy of The Martian Chronicles on my kindle. I remember there was a TV series made in the early 80's. From the little I can remember, it was wonderfully weird. Perhaps I will give the book a go too.

[Liz, Moderator]

I voted for classics as I've been putting off reading Anna Karenina for years. I feel it's about time to take the bull by the horns.....

[Ian, Moderator]

Sci fi.......will finally get round to reading some Philip K Dick and if classics, then some Mark Twain I think.

[Susan]

I have several Mark Twain books on my shelves, but for some reason haven't read them....although I've started a couple of them a few times....
Maybe I'll get to them if Classics win.

[Guy]

Classics sounds like a great idea to me.

[Gemma]

I've got Cloud Atlas for Sci-Fi and The Handmaid's Tale for Dystopia lined up - may have to have a rethink if Classics makes a last minute sprint for the finish :)

[Mandy]

Mel wrote: "Liz wrote: "I voted for classics as I've been putting off reading Anna Karenina for years. I feel it's about time to take the bull by the horns....."

I've been putting off reading Anna Karenina fo..."

I read Anna Karenina and loved it - reading AK is the reason I read Crime and Punishment, then War and Peace, now Notes from the Undergroud so it sparked an interest in russian authors. I did space them out though but it is a great book.

[Angela]

Mandy wrote: "Mel wrote: "Liz wrote: "I voted for classics as I've been putting off reading Anna Karenina for years. I feel it's about time to take the bull by the horns....."

I've been putting off reading Anna..."

I read Anna Karenina many years ago and was completely absorbed by it. I think the thing to bear in mind with these hefty classics is that they're not a quick read and if you're prepared to invest the time and patience that they often need, you usually reap many benefits. Bleak House took me months to read, but I loved it in the end.

[Liz, Moderator]

With just one day remaining before the poll closes, Sci-fi/dystopian is way out in front and looks very likely to be next month's genre. But with 20hrs still to go, anything could happen...

[Liz, Moderator]

Well, classics will come up in the genre challenge, eventually, even if it's not August. So I will keep Anna Karenina for when it does ;)

[Laura]

It looks like more of Thomas Hardy will have to wait for me. I think for the first time in this challenge I will actually find the book to read from the library. Finally got my card sorted! :D

[Natalie]

I am new to the group & also not a huge of fan of sci-fi/dystopia so this will be good to broaden my horizons a little.

When will there be a poll for Sept? :)

[Ian, Moderator]

Liz or Em usually put the poll up with about a week to go in the month, and mail all group members. Good to have you on board Natalie.

[Liz, Moderator]

Well, as Natalie asked and I had a free moment, I've just posted the poll for next month. It should go live in the next hour....

[Kate, Moderator]

Is it just me or is Graphic Novels missing from the poll list this time?

[Liz, Moderator]

I'll have look, it should be there. I had to post the poll twice as something crashed the first time...

[Liz, Moderator]

Trojanhorse wrote: "Is it just me or is Graphic Novels missing from the poll list this time?"

Just checked, you're right. Thanks for spotting the omission, I've put it in :)