Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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2009 Challenge Archive
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June Monthly Challenge: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
Thank you Yz for including Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Naturally I have lots of suggestions if anyone needs them or take a look at the "M/M Anyone?" thread for a list of books http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1.... I also have an extensive M/M bookshelf if you'd like to take a look at it http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...
Here's the list of June Birthdays:Courtney
Lori R.
Anna
Liz
Aileen
Karen
Mary Ellen
Moss
Hilda
Mel
Cheryl
Meme
Florida Authors:Linnea Sinclair (SciFi Romance)
Kresley Cole
James Patterson
You can also add Jeanine Frost.
3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Florida. (Suggestions for this category is welcome on this thread.) Some books with a Florida connection:
The Turtle Mound Murder (A Daffodils Mystery) by Mary Clay
Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann
Gale Force: A Weather Warden Novel by Rachel Caine
In The Tycoon's Bed (Harlequin Presents Extra) by Kathryn Ross
A Firefighter In The Family (Harlequin American Romance Series) by Trish Milburn
Clubbed to Death: A Dead-End Job Mystery by Elaine Viets
Strangers In Paradise by Stephanie Bond
Wedding Bell Blues by Heather Graham
Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson
Dead On The Dance Floor by Heather Graham
Force of Nature: A Novel by Suzanne Brockmann
La Vida Vampire Paranormal Romance by Nancy Haddock
Suzanne Brockmann and Heather Graham each have several books with a Florida setting.
According to Wikipedia, Heather Graham was born in Florida and lives in Florida so I guess any of her books would work for the challenge. She has written under three names: Heather Graham, Shannon Drake, Heather Graham Pozzessere.
Wow..great research colleen. Thanks.
6. Gay and Lesbian Pride Month: Read an m/m romance book or a book that has at least one prominent gay or lesbian character. Not a single book in my own personal library would fit this description. I think it's a bit much asking us to read for this very specific category as it is definetly not mainstream. Just my opinion. I think there should be another option.
The only books I have that might qualify on a severely long stretch is that J.K. Rowling said after she wrote the entire Harry Potter series was that the character of Professor Dumbledore was gay. However, you can't tell that from reading the books. It is though, the absolutely only thing I have in my personal library that might qualify that I know of.
I have to admit, one of the reason, it took me a while to post the categories, is that I wasn't so sure how that specific category will be received. I haven't read an m/m romance myself, except for Jules and Robin story in Suzanne Brockmann's TS series. However, I'm sure we can find other books, which has at least one character that is of a "different" sexual orientation.
One author that always have side characters that are either "gay" or "lesbian" leanings, would be Jayne Ann Krentz. She also writes as Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle, and she writes straight romance. She should be easy to find in the library.
I'm probably just gonna skip it. I do have one Amanda Quick book here at the house and even then would have absolutely no idea if the one I have would fit the category as it's not something that's going to be on the blurb on the back cover if it's a side character. I have Wait Until Midnight by Amanda Quick.I dug through some basement boxes of books and came up with Lost and Found by Jayne Ann Krentz.
Either work? Anyone know?
6. Gay and Lesbian Pride Month: Read an m/m romance book or a book that has at least one prominent gay or lesbian character. The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris has a recurring lesbian character. The Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmannn has a recurring gay character.
J.R. Ward has one gay and a couple of bi-sexual characters. If you like YA, there are gay characters in both Cassanda Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy and P.C. & Kristen Cast's House of Night series. These are all paranormal though, so they may not interest you.I think it's an awesome category though Yz, and I'll be browsing Lori's shelves for ideas.
There's also lots of great children and YA books with gay themes. Why not take the opportunity to teach our kids about tolerance and read the books together. The focus doesn't have to be sex, just acceptance.Thanks again Yz. I'm sure you debated on this one so as not to offend anyone. Warms by heart it does :)
You're asking some people to read things they aren't comfortable with. That's why I have a problem with this category. I just think an alternate choice should be made available on such a controversial topic. It's just not something I want to read about.
Briansgirl,I do understand your concern, and do respect your opinion. I have read Lost and Found a long, long time ago, and I can't remember the whole storyline, but you can used it for that category, whether the category requirement is met or not. Consider it a pass from me. Although I have a feeling the aunt will be that character. Still JAK handles that matter very subtly in her books, so I don't think you will have a problem.
Lori and Darkheart:
Thanks for your support.
I did think several times over, even to the point of deleting the category twice before finally making up the decision and put it up. At first I was willing to take the easier route and just put a less-controversial theme, but I feel that it is something that we should not be afraid of.
I made the concession for the more "traditional" readers, which actually includes me, to simply read a book that has at least one character of such orientation.
I guess, I'm giving readers the option, on how far they want to tackle the topic...as the main storyline like a full m/m romance or simply a footnote to the book, like a minor character.
It is not my intention to offend anybody, and I thought, it is still fitting as a challenge to simply try something different, depending on your own comfortability level.
If you have problem picking a choice, feel free to discuss it here, and maybe we can find a more suitable choice for you.
Yz wrote: "Briansgirl,I do understand your concern, and do respect your opinion. I have read Lost and Found a long, long time ago, and I can't remember the whole storyline, but you can used it for that ca...
I guess, I'm giving readers the option, on how far they want to tackle the topic...as the main storyline like a full m/m romance or simply a footnote to the book, like a minor character. "
Thanks Yz. The only problem with a footnote character is knowing one's in the book ahead of time. Glad to know the one I have will work though.
And Yz, my mother would have had a problem reading for category #5 as well, for witches and wizards. I was talking to her the other day about The Wizard of Oz as I was reading the book and she mentioned never having seen the Judy Garland movie. But she won't see it now that I mentioned Glenda the good witch of the north is in it. She said no witches are good (which is why she hates Harry Potter as well).
Can't please everyone, I know.
No problem, Briansgirl. That's why we put up this thread to discuss and give suggestions for the different categories.
I found this site very helpful while browsing for Florida theme: http://floridaauthors.wetpaint.com/Briansgirl: I know what you mean. I'm not exactly m/m romace fan. It just can't hold my attention. Right now I'm trying to find book with gay as secondary character (something more or less like An Arranged Marriage by Jo Beverley or Cashelmara by Susan Howatch) and I hope I'll enjoy it. I plan on reread as a last resort, heh.
Annvelwis wrote: "I found this site very helpful while browsing for Florida theme: http://floridaauthors.wetpaint.com/Briansgirl: I know what you mean. I'm not exactly m/m romace fan. It just can't hold my attenti..."
I had a friend tell me that there is a gay assistant in the Monica Ferris Needlework mysteries so that gives me a second option as its a series I own that I was eventually planning on getting to.
For Florida, unless I find something else, I'll resort to my Janet Dailey America Series as I havn't read the Florida book yet. Southern Nights is her Florida book. She has one book set in each state and I'm about halfway through the series.
Following that link for Florida authors... here are some famous authors I recognize off the list
David Barry
Meg Cabot
Janet Evanovich
Debbie Macomber
James Patterson
Briansgirl wrote: "And Yz, my mother would have had a problem reading for category #5 as well, for witches and wizards. I was talking to her the other day about The Wizard of Oz as I was reading the book and she mentioned never having seen the Judy Garland movie. But she won't see it now that I mentioned Glenda the good witch of the north is in it. She said no witches are good (which is why she hates Harry Potter as well). Can't please everyone, I know.
."
This reminds me when I used to teach Reading in Middle School. I have this young kid who got interested into reading Harry Potter. I watched him devour the book, totally engrossed in it, everytime we have our silent reading period in class. Then a week after, he came over to me to return the book, saying his Mom told him that the book was evil and he shouldn't read it. I asked him if his Mom has read it, and he said no. However, since he is a minor, I calmly accepted the book back, and told him that someday when he is older, maybe he can revisit the book, read it, and then form his own opinion. I was actually upset about it, because I love HP, and I thought it is a wonderful series for kids, but I cannot go against parental restrictions on such matter.
So yees, you are right. We can't please everybody, but we should not always allow the possibility of displeasing someone control what we do. I'm a strong believer in respecting people's opinions and choices, and I believe it is our differences that makes us interesting as individuals.
Okay..I'm going to stop ranting now..LOL...didn't mean to pontificate there..LOL
Annvelwis wrote: "I found this site very helpful while browsing for Florida theme: http://floridaauthors.wetpaint.com/Briansgirl: I know what you mean. I'm not exactly m/m romace fan. It just can't hold my attenti..."
I saw you have the first book of Brockmann's Troubleshooter series in your TBR shelf. Jules Cassidy, a gay FBI agent and one of my fave characters, is a recurring presence in that series.
Yz wrote: "I saw you have the first book of Brockmann's Troubleshooter series in your TBR shelf. Jules Cassidy, a gay FBI agent and one of my fave characters, is a recurring presence in that series."That would be convenient! Do you know if Jules appears in Unsung Hero?
Annvelwis wrote: That would be convenient! Do you know if Jules appears in Unsung Hero?."
Just in passing if I remember correctly. He gets more and more page time in the latter books, and he gets his own book, too.
Still, I wouldn't mind if you used The Unsung Hero for category 6. It might get you hook into this wonderful series....LOL..and yes I'm eager to find more people who would read this series, so I can discuss the books with them..LOL
Heh, Unsung Hero it is ;D Thank you!
Thanks for the Suggestions Yz and DarkHeart, just by luck my friend is bringing the 3rd Jeaniene Frost book into work for me this week and I read the first House of Night book yesterday and I'm eager to follow it up with the next one.I have a lot of Gay friends including my Sister-in-law, haven't ever read a M/M book though. I can see it from both sides, I'll take the YA option this time around... :)
Good discussion thread gals! I am in cahoots I think with Briansgirl, I would be really uncomfortable reading a m/m or f/f romance. HOWEVER, I have read all Suzanne Brockmann's books (with & without Jules) - I read Jules' story too, all of Amanda Quick's (they often have a -very subtle- lesbian 'aunt' or 2), so (for me) I am ok with this theme as long as the gay character is not the main one. Nothing against anyone, I don't read erotica either - just my personal preference.
Luckily I have [Book: Betrayed] by [Author: P. C. Cast] on my TBR pile ;)
Would Knight of Darkness (Lords of Avalon, Book 2) count for no. 7, Yz??and can you make the b'day ppl hotlinks? Cos I am having difficulty finding them and getting at their shelves to have a look. Eg. we have 2 Anna's who are members of this group so which is the one who is having a b'day in June??
LibraryLass wrote: "Good discussion thread gals! I am in cahoots I think with Briansgirl, I would be really uncomfortable reading a m/m or f/f romance. Nothing against anyone, I don't read erotica either - just my personal preference."
Thanks LibraryLass. I agree with you too.
Since Kasia (our lovely linking gal;-)) seems to be out today, and I had to look up all the B-Day shelves anyway, I thought I would help everyone else out by posting the links. So here you go:Aileen
Cheryl
Courtney
Hilda
Karen
Liz
Lori R.
Mary Ellen
Mel
Meme
Moss
Anna - This is the only one I couldn't figure out. We have 2 Annas in the group, but one posted a comment that her b-day was in Feb. and the other has never commented. If someone can tell me which one it is, I'll link her too.
Thanks, Julie (Mom2lnb)! Makes life so much easier for the rest of us. Can't help with the Anna's but hopefully she'll give us a headsup.
Here's a link to the Romance Writers of America local chapters. I found it to be very helpful, and it should come in handy for all the state challenges. Just go the state that is part of the month's challenge and click on any/all of the individual chapters. Look for a link on each homepage for "authors" or "members" to get a list of authors in that area. I saw lots of familiar names from FL. A couple of pretty famous ones that haven't been mentioned yet are Roxanne St. Claire and Karen Rose.
In "Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel" by Ronda Thompson heroine's friend is a lesbian. I've just stared it, so:-I dont have opinion on book so far,
-can't use it in challenge.
You could always stop reading it Annvelwis and pick it up again in June and finish it if you aren't too far into it so that it'll count.
Heh, too late. I have less than a half of it left to read by now. It's really fun read!
any chance it's part of a series so the next book would count?
No, sadly no. It's the last book of late Ronda Thompson.
Julie (Mom2lnb) wrote: "Since Kasia (our lovely linking gal;-)) seems to be out today, and I had to look up all the B-Day shelves anyway, I thought I would help everyone else out by posting the links. So here you go:Ail..."
Thanks Julie!!!
colleen wrote: "The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris has a recurring lesbian character. The Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmannn has a recurring gay character. "
Yes, go for it, I know True Blood is getting a very good rep for the gay character (from gay community) - so reading one of the books for this challenge seems only fair.
Thanks everybody for helping out in doing research and giving suggestions for the different categories.I'm currently in the process of moving with Moving Date as May 31st, so I will be busy with the hundred and one things people need to do when they change residences..LOL. So if i'm quiet for the rest of the week, you guys, know what's going on.
For the conservative reader looking for a gay/lesbian main character, I recommend The McAfee Twins series by Jennifer Colt. It stars twin PI sisters, one of which is a lesbian. They are basically mystery books with romances for both sisters woven in. They are very funny books. Definitely amongst my favorites. Book one is called The Butcher of Beverly Hills.
Does anyone have a suggestion for #7. Royalty theme that is not a historical? I prefer contemporary or suspense. Any ideas?
Mary Janice Davidson has a series based on what would have been Alaska if it had become it's own country and there was a royal family. They are quick, contempory romances. The Royal Treatment
The Royal Pain
The Royal Mess
They don't have a royal title per se, but maybe "royal" should count?
OK, so I've raided my own bookshelves and this is what I came up with:2 James Bond books:
Casino Royale
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
bunch of children's stuff:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Little Prince
Prince Caspian
A Little Princess
King Matt the First
Death and the King's Horseman - that's a play about Africa
King Rat - POW WWII story
The Queen and I - satire on current British royals
Lara wrote: "I was able to find Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann at a local used book store. Yay!"Good for you! If you enjoyed Suz's Troubleshooters series, think of this one as more of an earlier version.
I'm wondering if this book would count as having a human profile on the cover (the tiny pictures).
I wanted to read it but it won't fit into any other June category that I haven't already used. If it doesn't, that's OK, because it will fit a couple other challenges. I'll just have one less book for the month. So what does everyone think?
I'd say read what you want, wether it fits the category or not. Although it may be tiny, the bottom figure is of a woman.
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Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
The Pregnancy Test (other topics)Prince Joe (other topics)
Prince Joe (other topics)
Prince Caspian (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Suzanne Brockmann (other topics)Suzanne Brockmann (other topics)
The challenge is not officially open until the 1st of June, so no advance-reading...LOL
1. Read a book whose author's first or last name starts with "J".
2. Read a book picked from a June B-Day celebrant GR shelf. Be sure to specify whose shelf you pick it from.
3. Read a book whose author, setting or character is from Florida. (Suggestions for this category is welcome on this thread.)
4. Wedding Theme: Read a book that has one of the following words in its title (Wedding, Marriage, Proposal, Bride, Groom, Engagement) or has a Wedding theme cover.
5. Summer's Solstice: Read a book that has witch/es or wizard/s in it.
6. Gay and Lesbian Pride Month: Read an m/m romance book or a book that has at least one prominent gay or lesbian character.
7. Royalty theme: Read a book that has one of the following words in its title (King, Queen, Lord, Earl, Duke, or any other royal title)
8. Read a book that has, this time, no "human" profile at all in the cover. Please post cover for verification..LOL
9. Read a book written by an author that is "new" to you, meaning you have never read any of his/her work.
10. Reader's Choice or if you joined the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge, your recommended book.
That's it, guys. Have fun putting your list together.
Also suggestions for next month's categories are more than welcomed.