Book Vipers Magic Square Challenge

[Paul]

This is the thread for all post about the 2014 Magic Square Challenge

[Paul]

For all those wondering who Richard and Judy are, they are a talk show couple who also have a book club slot. Their website is here: http://richardandjudy.whsmith.co.uk

And a more extensive list of books is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

[Donna]

Some R&J books have been very good actually. I may try all 25 featured in the magic square, as it builds in free reads - but for now I have selected 12.

Will there be a group widget for this challenge on our own profile page?

[Paul]

I think that it has to stay on the group page. You could post the link on your profile

[Donna]

Fantastic. I have spread the word about the group, as I really think this is a fab challenge :) Merry Christmas!

[Paul]

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too!

[Jo]

I've shelved 18 so far and I am really looking forward to them. I won't list them just yet in case I make any changes.

For my Genre I avoid, this really needs to be a full on Fantasy/YA type read. I am thinking Game of Thrones or the Hunger Games, both of which are so far off my radar, but I really don't know which.

I also could choose from so many for non-fiction and the book which has been on my shelf for ten years.

[Nicola]

yey I love this challenge, great idea :D I've signed up for 10 books but I might change it later, hopefully I'll read more :D

[Donna]

Romance is my avoided genre! So I'll have to procure a Mills & Boon from the waiting room at work :/ lol

[Jo]

Romance is my other one, but I didn't even realise until you mentioned it!

[Donna]

I wasn't even aware that I avoided any genre until I liked on the Waterstones site, yesterday! I thought it was mystery, but I do actually like some mystery!

[Charlotte]

Jo, having read nearly all the Game of Thrones series, and now reading the hunger Games, I would recommend The Hunger Games....more instantly enjoyable. If fantasy is a genre you tend to avoid, I would definitely opt for The Hunger Games. :D

[Jo]

Charlotte, this is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for ! Thank you. I kind of had a feeling that Hunger Games might be a tad "easier" if you like, for a newbie to the genre but really had nothing to go on than gut instinct so I do appreciate the feedback.

[Elizabeth]

I'm not a fan of fantasy genre either, but found The Hunger Games an enjoyable read. But wish I had left it at that one and not read the other two - not so enjoyable.

[Lisa]

The Hunger Games is definitely the easier read. Game of Thrones is huge with a massive number of characters and quite an investment of time required.

[Lisa]

Meant to say, my avoided genre is definitely chicklit, so I'll be reading the new Bridget Jones!

[Paul]

Lisa wrote: "Meant to say, my avoided genre is definitely chicklit, so I'll be reading the new Bridget Jones!"

Mine too! The last chick lit I read was Bridget Jones.

[Jo]

Lisa wrote: "Meant to say, my avoided genre is definitely chicklit, so I'll be reading the new Bridget Jones!"

Shuddering at the thought!!! Great spot, though, for another avoided genre!

[Elizabeth]

I bought the latest Bridget Jones in the Amazin sale. I don't mind chick-lit as long as it is reasonably well written, with humour. Poor sloppy writing irritates me, whatever the genre.

[Elizabeth]

Amazon sale. It wasn't all that amazin' :o

[Susan]

Spent a great afternoon populating my Magic Square. Have now nominated 12 books, but hope to complete the full 25. Excellent challenge BTW, thank you.

[Juno]

YA is my nemesis. Am planning to read to get it out of the way first for genre I avoid. Will also fulfill a category (dystopian) in another challenge I'm doing elsewhere; so two birds with one stone

[Juno]

Have just remembered I bought the first Game of Thrones last year..might get around to it finally as part of this challenge..

[Juno]

ok Have just added my first book under free choice... nice world war 2 novel The Paris Architect

[Elizabeth]

Need to find time to sit down and work out my Magic Square reads. Can't decide what my avoided genre is - probably fantasy, definitely would not want to read horror.

[Gail]

Elizabeth wrote: "Need to find time to sit down and work out my Magic Square reads. Can't decide what my avoided genre is - probably fantasy, definitely would not want to read horror."
Agree Elizabeth, I don't want to read horror any more than I would watch a horror film!

[Paul]

Perhaps Some Kind of Fairy Tale Elizabeth?

[Elizabeth]

Hmm, will have a think about that one. Philip Pullman maybe, or something else.

[Paul]

Or Neverwhere? Jo really liked it

[Nicola]

I would definitely recommend The Hunger Games :) if you're not a fan of fantasy normally, I think YA dystopia is a good place to start because it isn't normally totally "out there" like some fantasies that create entirely new worlds, creatures etc!

[Susan]

I'm liking the sound of Some Kind Of Fairy Tale. Fantasy / Science Fiction is my no-no genre - though I've loved Gaiman. The Joyce sounds as if it's out of the same box, so I think I'll add it to my square. Thanks, Paul.

[Elizabeth]

Nicola wrote: "I would definitely recommend The Hunger Games :) if you're not a fan of fantasy normally, I think YA dystopia is a good place to start because it isn't normally totally "out there" like some fantas..."

Already read that - first one was good, went down hill from there though.

Have downloaded a sample of The Passage. Not sure if it fits the bill, but seems to be quite readable. May get it, as it is only 99p atm.

[Imogen]

Is it ok to count a book to the magic square challenge that is also a monthly group read? Say for history fiction/nonfiction is it ok to count the wives of Henry vIII book?

I suppose I can do it however I want really, but interested to know how the challenge is intended to be interpreted!

[Dedarth]

Hi everyone, I am new to this group but happy to have stumbled upon the Magic Square- seems like a fun thing. Can I confess, I am probably having more fun picking out books than I will have reading them...

[Paul]

Imogen wrote: "Is it ok to count a book to the magic square challenge that is also a monthly group read? Say for history fiction/nonfiction is it ok to count the wives of Henry vIII book?

I suppose I can do it h..."

Of course. I do it too

[Pat]

Hate chick lit but Bridget Jones was an exception. I'm reading the new one. Great fun

[Ruth]

Yup...1 down, 24 to go ! So enjoyable, great fun.

[Pat]

I agree. We should get out more maybe ... but we love it.

[Ruth]

Pat wrote: "I agree. We should get out more maybe ... but we love it."
Oh Pat.... I meant the idea of the challenge was great fun... I haven't read B Jones, not a fan of chick lit either, lol... I have a Marian Keyes book to read as a genre I avoid, lol. Happy reading :)

[Pat]

I read a Marian Keyes book as part of last months books. Ok but not my thing. However, for some reason I do like the Helen Fielding books.

[Catherine]

I've been having fun adding the first 12 books to my magic square challenge list. Want to try for all of them if I can. My avoided genre will be chick-lit too....or perhaps self-help books *brrr*. May have to make whichever it is a slim book!

[Imogen]

I need to find a list of genres, as I read most I can think of. Hate crime though. Oh, and science, ugh.

[Jo]

Maybe I should also give Bridget Jones a go then. I did read the others many years ago.

And Imogen, I double up reads with monthly reads and challenges as well.

[Elizabeth]

I've just been having a look at my books, and sorting them into the Magic Square. Will list them as and when I've read them, in case I make changes.

Just pondering whether I could be cheeky and put Robert Galbraith in as a new author! May add as the crime novel choice instead!!

[Pat]

Sorry to be thick. Can we set up a magic square via Goodreads or is it done via your own means via eg Word?

[Elizabeth]

I'm just looking at the one on here and making lists into my shelf. No need to make your own square, unless you want to.

[Pat]

Thanks.

[Imogen]

I have copied out the square into a notebook - am being very Old Skool.

[Imogen]

May chose a play as the genre I avoid - don't think I have ever read a play! Except maybe a Shakespeare one yrs and yrs ago at school...

[Paul]

Pat wrote: "Sorry to be thick. Can we set up a magic square via Goodreads or is it done via your own means via eg Word?"

I am doing mine in a spreadsheet.