I'd like to try reading...what would you recommend?

[Tracey]

It looks great and has been on my tbr list for ages. Looking forward to it. :)

[[deleted user]]

Enjoy Tracy. I also loved it

[Tom]

So I was at the pub yesterday and we were talking books, and the conversation came to Jose Luis Borges. He has long been on my Want To Read list, but I haven't made a move toward it til now. I was thinking of starting here - Collected Fictions. Thoughts? Especially if you own this edition, it'd be helpful. Thanks.

As a side note, it's a sin that a lot of his work hasn't made it to the Kindle in English.

[Dhanaraj]

@ Tom: That is an excellent collection. Read the short story titled "Book of Sand" first and "Borges meets Borges". You will automatically end up reading everything.

[Tom]

Dhanaraj wrote: "@ Tom: That is an excellent collection. Read the short story titled "Book of Sand" first and "Borges meets Borges". You will automatically end up reading everything."

Thanks for the help/suggestions!

[[deleted user]]

Have you ever read a review so horrible that it actually made you want to read the book?

I'm kind of in that situation. I need a book whose title starts with "and" for a challenge (I've already read And then there were none, which I loved, so I need a new one). I found out this And Then You Die. On goodreads it has 6,705 ratings and an average of 4.02 stars. Sounds promising, right?
Then I went on amazon and these are a bunch of the best titles for readers' reviews:
- Preposterous and Awful. ( Preposterous is one of my favourite words in the English language. You guys should find a way to use it every day XD )
- This rates a minus star.
- I just wished I were dead.
- Painful to finish.
- A mind-numbing unbelievable head-ache!
- Read And Die of Boredom.
- DID WE ALL READ THE SAME BOOK? (this person gave the book 5 stars)

I feel like I need to read this now. Is it crazy?
What do you think?

[Bionic Jean]

I'm often attracted to books which get such diverse ratings. It means there's something about them that is different, at least! I call them "Marmite" books (you love 'em or you hate 'em, like marmite - yeast extract.)

[[deleted user]]

Jean wrote: "I'm often attracted to books which get such diverse ratings. It means there's something about them that is different, at least! I call them "Marmite" books (you love 'em or you hate 'em, like marmi..."

That's a very valid point I had not considered, Jean!

[LauraT]

Jean wrote: "I'm often attracted to books which get such diverse ratings. It means there's something about them that is different, at least! I call them "Marmite" books (you love 'em or you hate 'em, like marmi..."

LOL

[Gill]

I hope this is a good place to ask this.

Anyway for my Austro Hungarian Empire challenge I'm looking for a book with links to the part of current Italy that used to be in the AH Empire.

So my first question is, does that include Trieste?

My second question is, am I correct Italo Svevo is from Trieste?

Is he the best person to read, or is there anyone else who also fits the bill?

[Jenny]

Gill, yes, he is from Trieste which was part of the AH Empire at the time. I've read and really enjoyed As a Man Grows Older and I have Zeno's Conscience quite high up my reading list! Not sure who else would fit the bill, but I think he's definitely an interesting writer.

[LauraT]

He WAS fron Trieste! His actual name was Aron Hector Schmitz.
I think that Zeno's Conscience it's his best book

[Gill]

Thanks, Laura and Jenny. The other book I've come across is Trieste. Its author is from Croatia. I might have a look into that one also.

[GeneralTHC]

Could anyone please recommend a good book about the Night of the Long Knives that they've read and enjoyed? Historical fiction is fine.

[Leslie]

I had to look up what that was -- so obviously I can't recommend any from personal experience. I did come across this nonfiction book:

Maracin, Paul (2004). The Night of the Long Knives: 48 Hours that Changed the History of the World. New York: The Lyons Press. ISBN 978-1-59921-070-4.

[Nancy]

Read Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman. It is a bad romance with a good message. Good book for all women.

[Pink]

I need suggestions for Chick lit please. Not my usual type of book, in fact something I steer clear of, but it's the last category to complete my genre challenge. Any ideas?

[Pink]

Ramla Zareen, as you can probably tell by my post above, I have no suggestions for you I'm afraid. All those authors are unknown to me, but I hope you find something you enjoy :)

[Shirley]

Pink wrote: "I need suggestions for Chick lit please. Not my usual type of book, in fact something I steer clear of, but it's the last category to complete my genre challenge. Any ideas?"

Try Me Before You - I don't read lots of chick lit either, but this one is special.

[Patricia]

Pink wrote: "I need suggestions for Chick lit please. Not my usual type of book, in fact something I steer clear of, but it's the last category to complete my genre challenge. Any ideas?"

Have you read Bridget Jones's Diary?

[Pink]

Ramla Zareen and Shirley, thank you for the suggestions, I've had a quick look at both of those books and I'll bear them in mind. Even though I don't feel particularly enthusiastic about them! It's hard to consider books out of my comfort zone!

Patricia, I haven't read Bridget Jones's Diary, though I have seen the films and enjoyed them. It's kind of my back up option right now.

[Pink]

Another take on P&P! Thanks for the suggestion, I'll take a look.

[Shirley]

Pink wrote: "Ramla Zareen and Shirley, thank you for the suggestions, I've had a quick look at both of those books and I'll bear them in mind. Even though I don't feel particularly enthusiastic about them! It's..."

I know exactly what you mean! It's hard to work up much enthusiasm for a genre you don't generally like.

[Leslie]

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hello everyone, these days I am very much into cute and witty Contemporary Romances. Some of my favourite authors of this genre are: Judith McNaught, Julie James, Robin Bielman, Kristan Higgins, De..."

Have you tried Literature Map? You put in the name of an author and it shows graphically other authors that are similar -- the closer to the original name, the more similar.

http://www.literature-map.com/

[Petra]

Pink, maybe something by Joshilyn Jackson may work for you? Gods in Alabama was quite good and I don't usually like Chick Lit a lot either.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is very good, I found.

[GeneralTHC]

Pink wrote: "I need suggestions for Chick lit please. Not my usual type of book, in fact something I steer clear of, but it's the last category to complete my genre challenge. Any ideas?"

You might try something by Emily Giffin like: Something Borrowed.

[Robin P]

Leslie wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hello everyone, these days I am very much into cute and witty Contemporary Romances. Some of my favourite authors of this genre are: Judith McNaught, Julie James, Robin Bielman..."

The author that started me in this genre (after incorrectly thinking for years that all romances were humorless and anti-feminist) was Jayne Ann Krentz. Her later books are more romantic suspense which I don't care for as much, but there are still plenty to choose from. Another delightful contemporary author is Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

[Gill]

Leslie wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hello everyone, these days I am very much into cute and witty Contemporary Romances. Some of my favourite authors of this genre are: Judith McNaught, Julie James, Robin Bielman..."

This looks interesting, Leslie. Thanks

[Pink]

Thanks for all the chick lit suggestions. For now I've reserved Me before You, but I'm hesitant about it.

Petra, did you mean Snow Flower and the Secret Fan for a chick lit option? I'd love to read it, but didn't think it fit this category.

I'll take a look at the other authors mentioned, as I haven't heard of them before.

[[deleted user]]

Tom wrote: "So I was at the pub yesterday and we were talking books, and the conversation came to Jose Luis Borges. He has long been on my Want To Read list, but I haven't made a move toward i..."

I started this book but I grew tired of it. The fault is obviously mine, for Borges writes well.

[Petra]

Pink wrote: "Petra, did you mean Snow Flower and the Secret Fan for a chick lit option? I'd love to read it, but didn't think it fit this category...."

Pink, yes, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is shelved as "chick lit" and thinking back on it, it is about women and written for women, I think.
I'm not that familiar with the boundaries of a genre or, even, in the definition of one. To me "chick lit" is fairly light, breezy, with women characters, love, etc. Snow Flower has all that and at the same time has history and culture as well. Depending upon your definition, it could work.

[Petra]

Oh. Then, Snow Flower wouldn't fit. That's lighter and breezier than I thought :(

Sorry, Pink.

[Leslie]

Chick lit, as with chick flicks, are something I find easier to identify than define. Here is the GoodReads definition:

"Chick lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. Although it sometimes includes romantic elements, chick lit is generally not considered a direct subcategory of the romance novel genre, because the heroine's relationship with her family or friends is often just as important as her romantic relationships."

[B the BookAddict]

Pink wrote: "Thanks for all the chick lit suggestions. For now I've reserved Me before You, but I'm hesitant about it.

Petra, did you mean Snow Flower and the Secret Fan for a chick lit option? I'd love to re..."

Pink, Lisa See isn't really known as a author light and gabby chicklit. She writes usually about traditional Asian ways in which women were/are expected to live.

The fact that said book is shelved as 'chicklit' is just one of the many examples which has me tearing my hair out in frustration. But books get incorrectly shelved by readers in all genres. I firmly believe publishers/editors/Goodreads should have a genre data 'line' which is supplied from book info; you know, like how we enter the publishers name.

Bear in mind that the shelves that are the product of lots of different people's definition of what constitutes a certain genre. I've seen Me Before You shelved as Literary Fiction; I had to hold myself back from sending that person a 'you idiot' note, lol.

Please remember the above is my opinion; I realise not everyone might agree with my views.

[Angela M]

Just looking at the posts about Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and wanted to add my two cents . I read it a while ago and definitely wouldn't consider it chick lit . It's as Bette has described it from what I remember.

[Leslie]

@Bette -- I have that reaction when I see people shelving books like Oliver Twist as historical fiction. But despite my fervent belief that those people are wrong, I still think picking genres to describe a book has a fair amount of personal choice in it. So I wouldn't like the publishers to choose...

[Jenny]

Leslie wrote: "@Bette -- I have that reaction when I see people shelving books like Oliver Twist as historical fiction. But despite my fervent belief that those people are wrong, I still think picking genres to ..."

LOL, same pet peeve here! ;)

[Dhanaraj]

I have shelved many novels under the catagories of Spirituality and Folklore. The personal choice plays an important role.

[[deleted user]]

I think that Jane Austen has been unfairly categorised as chick lit. Jane Austen was very innovative in her time.

[[deleted user]]

Petra wrote: "Oh. Then, Snow Flower wouldn't fit. That's lighter and breezier than I thought :(

Sorry, Pink."

I'm sorry, Petra, I mentioned sex.

[LauraT]

Greg wrote: "I think that Jane Austen has been unfairly categorised as chick lit. Jane Austen was very innovative in her time."

I'd never consider her chick lit!!!!!

[Pink]

Genres are helpful, but subjective. I don't consider Austen chick lit any more than I consider 50 Shades of Grey as romance.

By the way, I read Me Before You as my chick lit choice and it was a perfect recommendation for me, plus I think it represented the category very well.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions :)

[Tom]

I have the choice of book for March in an online book club I belong to. I was thinking about going with something by Irish authors that's ultimately upbeat - Frank McCourt's 'Tis comes to mind. I see that the Winter Play theme is Irish and that thread reminded me of Oscar Wilde as well.

Some other thoughts - Roddy Doyle's Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha, Sebastian Barry's The Secret Scripture (though that might be a bit darker than what I'd like), Flann O'Brien's At-Swim-Two-Birds (though that might be a bit too weird), Christina McKenna's The Misremembered Man. I've read all of the above, so I'd really like something new and good for me to read as well. Thanks in advance for replies.

[Greg]

Tom wrote: "I have the choice of book for March in an online book club I belong to. I was thinking about going with something by Irish authors that's ultimately upbeat - Frank McCourt's 'Tis comes to mind. I s..."

Have you read Irish author Frank O'Connor? I read him a long time ago, but I remember much of his work mixing humor and seriousness; for instance, I recall some of the stories in My Oedipus Complex and Other Stories being very funny in parts.

[Dhanaraj]

@ Tom: Try some of Brian Moore's books. He is originally from Ireland but later got himself a Canadian citizenship. His books (most of them) they claim are Irish in nature.

He has written novels that can be classified in all the genres possible. My recommendations would be: The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne or/and The Statement or/and The Colour Of Blood.

[B the BookAddict]

Tom, John Boyne is a current Irish author and he covers many themes in his books. He is consistently a 4★ author for me. link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...

I found McCourt's 'Tis and it's predecessor Angela's Ashes really depressing.

Or you could have a go at something by James Joyce.

[Leslie]

Tom wrote: "I have the choice of book for March in an online book club I belong to. I was thinking about going with something by Irish authors that's ultimately upbeat - Frank McCourt's 'Tis comes to mind. I s..."

A few of us read At Swim-Two-Birds last September. It was a good book for a readalong but I am not sure how good it would be for a traditional bookclub... You can look over our comments at the thread below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Perhaps his other famous book would be a better choice: The Third Policeman.

If you don't mind a classic, Oliver Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield is great (but not particularly Irish). Gulliver's Travels again is great but not particularly Irish. Or there is Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. which is pretty funny.

Or something by Samuel Beckett; though not "ultimately upbeat", Molloy has some amusing moments.

[Tom]

Thanks for all the suggestions - even if I don't end up using them for the book club, I know I'll be using them for myself.

Incidentally, I mistyped when I said that I'd read 'Tis - I remember starting it, but it wasn't as good as Angela's Ashes and I have yet to finish it.

And yes, I was/am looking for books set in Ireland or about Irish people. In my research, I found that Bram Stoker was Irish so I could have included Dracula, but that's not what I'm going for.

Also in my research, I've found that the contemporary Irish novels various websites were extolling were between 3.5 and 4 stars here on goodreads.

As of right now I'm thinking of putting forward:

Ireland by Frank Delaney
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
In the Woods by Tana French

[B the BookAddict]

Tom, I had forgotten about Frank Delaney; his series on The Celts is wonderful.

[Hales]

The next challenge in a 25 step reading challenge I am doing with some friends is 'Read a travel book about a place you probably won't see.' Has anyone got any suggestions? I am a bit stuck.