Monthly Genre Challenge 2014

[Amber]

I had to do this for a class and would love to do it again!

[Sarah. B]

This is a really good challenge although I have to admit I`m not looking forward to Febuary. I hate chic lit and romance novels but will try to give it a go.

[Roseanne]

Sarah wrote: "This is a really good challenge although I have to admit I`m not looking forward to Febuary. I hate chic lit and romance novels but will try to give it a go."

you are probably not alone in feeling that way. Even people who like chic lit wont admit it. Just because it is chic lit doesn't mean it has to be a romance novel.

[Francine]

Sarah wrote: "This is a really good challenge although I have to admit I`m not looking forward to Febuary. I hate chic lit and romance novels but will try to give it a go."

I agree, Sarah. February was the toughest month for me to come up with something to read for the chick-lit category.

[Roseanne]

I am sure that we can come up with some suggestions for people who don't like chic lit. How about Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

[Inkeri]

Or maybe we should give those who really can't bear to read chick-lit a chance to choose a lad-lit book instead?

[Roseanne]

Inkeri wrote: "Or maybe we should give those who really can't bear to read chick-lit a chance to choose a lad-lit book instead?"

Interesting, I have never heard of this before

[Inkeri]

Roseanne wrote: "Interesting, I have never heard of this before"
I hadn't heard of it either! I just googled "chick-lit books for men" and I was introduced to lad-lit! :D

[Inkeri]

Narin wrote: "Chick-lit is awesome. And I am not afraid to say I love it. Well, maybe a bit ashamed, but not afraid! Hahah :D"

I love chick-lit and it's totally awesome! I'm not afraid to say it either! :D And I'm not even ashamed to say it. :D

[Roseanne]

I love chic lit too. I know that come August when it is crime/mystery I am going to need help finding a book.

[Inkeri]

Roseanne wrote: "I love chic lit too. I know that come August when it is crime/mystery I am going to need help finding a book."

If you like chick-lit, you might want to try cozy mysteries for august. They're perhaps easier for someone who usually doesn't read mysteries.

[Roseanne]

thanks I am going to have to check that out.

[Rob]

With all due respect, I usually consider Chick lit to be on the same level as being nibbled to death by a duck on steroids.

However, in the sense of fair play, I will accept any suggestions with an open mind for this challenge.

[Inkeri]

Rob wrote: "However, in the sense of fair play, I will accept any suggestions with..."

How about The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I might be wrong, but there's a chance that one might not make you barf too much. :)

[Inkeri]

@Rob - Or, how about this non-fiction book Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. It's not chick-lit, nor is it exactly romance, but it's sort of romantic and it has the word 'love' in the title, so it might fit the genre all right.

[Roseanne]

Rob wrote: "With all due respect, I usually consider Chick lit to be on the same level as being nibbled to death by a duck on steroids.

However, in the sense of fair play, I will accept any suggestions with..."

Kind of my thoughts about science fiction. Would The Silver Linings Playbook count as chic lit?

[Inkeri]

Roseanne wrote: "Would The Silver Linings Playbook count as chic lit?"

I think it definitely counts as romance if not chick-lit.

[Roseanne]

Inkeri wrote: "Roseanne wrote: "Would The Silver Linings Playbook count as chic lit?"

I think it definitely counts as romance if not chick-lit."

Might be a good way to go for someone who isnt into chic lit. Lots of football references

[Inkeri]

Roseanne wrote: "Might be a good way to go for someone who isnt int..."

I agree. I actually have this book on my shelve somewhere. Haven't read it yet, but I sure loved the movie. I could imagine that guys might not feel too uncomfortable reading it. :)

[Roseanne]

Inkeri wrote: "Roseanne wrote: "Might be a good way to go for someone who isnt int..."

I agree. I actually have this book on my shelve somewhere. Haven't read it yet, but I sure loved the movie. I could imagine ..."

I really liked it. I would definitely recommend it.

[Rob]

Perhaps a bit too harsh. However, one can imagine the reaction would be the same from the females if they were asked to read a book on sports or hunting.

[Roseanne]

I like this challenge because you have to read books that would be out of your comfort zone. There are a few months that are genres that I don't normally read. I was looking at the suggested reads thread thinking I hope as time goes by there are more books added there because for some of them I am not sure how I am going to pick a book. Thankfully the genres that are like nails on a chalkboard for me we wont get to for a while so I have time to figure it out.

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

Just to clarify - any book that can be considered a "romance" in any way can qualify for February's challenge. It doesn't need to be strictly "chick lit" or the Harlequin-esque type of romance. Goodness knows, I'm not a fan of chick-lit or smoochy romances myself, haha! But most books have a romance angle somewhere. Just so long as the romance is a main part of the plot, we'll allow some wiggle room here.

[Rob]

Faye,

So would you count Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew?

[Roseanne]

Rob wrote: "Faye,

So would you count Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew?"

lol

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

Rob wrote: "Faye,

So would you count Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew?"

If you can make a case for it being a romantic comedy, sure. ;)

[Brenda (aka Grandma)]

Rob wrote: "Perhaps a bit too harsh. However, one can imagine the reaction would be the same from the females if they were asked to read a book on sports or hunting."

I looked on wikipedia to see what chick-lit is and found this link I couldn't resist sharing: The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing. Unfortunately it doesn't look like it's really about either.

[Brenda (aka Grandma)]

Inkeri wrote: "Rob wrote: "However, in the sense of fair play, I will accept any suggestions with..."

How about The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I might be wrong, but there's a cha..."

Inkeri, thanks for the idea of The Time Traveler's Wife. It was nominated for a Clarke and a Campbell award, so I'd think there's something in it besides romance and fantasy. I might (gulp) go with that one.

[Cindy (BKind2Books)]

So, Rob, what about something a little bit, um, of a less traditional "romance" and more in the classic erotic fiction? I would think that something along the lines of, say, Lolita or Story of O or something like that would still count towards the Romance/Chick Lit without being quite so 'lovey-dovey'. I think the idea is to expand your reading horizons. I like some of the more traditionally men's genres that my husband reads such as military nonfiction/fiction (No Easy Day, Blackhawk Down, Band of Brothers) and some of the sports (Pat Summit's Raise the Roof, Lance Armstrong's It's not About the Bike). Maybe you can find something with a bit of a romance in it - even the classics have a lot of romance in them.

[[deleted user]]

I am an imbecile. Just realised I've been doing February's chic lit challenge this month and not the historical one. Might have to swap for these months. There I was feeling all proud for reading four chick lits I wouldn't have otherwise!

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

Rose wrote: "I am an imbecile. Just realised I've been doing February's chic lit challenge this month and not the historical one. Might have to swap for these months. There I was feeling all proud for reading f..."

Swapping is fine, don't worry about it. :)

[Brenda (aka Grandma)]

You're so tempting me with the swapping idea! I've been just kicking myself because I read The Rosie Project in January. I felt pretty good about reading one and actually ending up liking it, until I realized I'd done it in the wrong month. But I'm still going to try to read something that qualifies as chick-lit in February.

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

Brenda wrote: "You're so tempting me with the swapping idea! I've been just kicking myself because I read The Rosie Project in January. I felt pretty good about reading one and actually ending up liking it, until..."

We'd like to keep the genres to certain months as much as we can, since then it's easier for everyone to discuss books and plan buddy reads and swap recommendations and whatnot, but we're not going to be overly strict about it if our plan doesn't work for everyone. We just want everyone to be reading and having fun, so all the challenges on this group are loose and relaxed. Do whatever feels right for you. :)

[Claire]

I've only just found this and it looks so much fun - and I needed something to stop me from reading endless post-apocalypse books (I'll be fine for sci-fi and dystopia, though) - so I've read a couple in January that could count towards romance, and am currently reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King, which I'd count as a sort-of-historical. Slightly skewed historical, but close enough. I'll dig out another historical from my tbr pile to read next too, and then in March I can catch up to the list and read them when I should, I think 2 a month / per genre. A great idea!