30.9 - Catherine T's task: Should We Stay Or Should We Go?

[Kristina Simon]

30.9 - Catherine T's task: Should We Stay Or Should We Go?
The UK is in the grip of referendum fever: to Brexit or not? Pick a side to vote with and meet the reading requirements. Read two books from one of the options and complete one book A and one book B.

Option 1: Stay -- Stay campaigners claim* that the EU brings loads of benefits to the UK, and that leaving will cause all sorts of bad things to happen.

Book A: Vote Stay by reading a book set at least 70% in the UK** with a main page genre of "Horror" or "Dystopia" or "Post-apocalyptic";
AND
Book B: Read a book set at least 70% in a EU country** (excluding the UK). Your EU book should NOT have any of the genres "Horror" or "Dystopia" or "Post-apocalyptic" in its main book page.

Option 2: Go -- Leave campaigners claim* that the EU is holding the UK back from achieving its full potential, and that staying in the EU will cause all sorts of bad things to happen.

Book A: Vote Leave by reading a book set at least 70% in an EU country** (excluding the UK) with main page genre of "Horror" or "Dystopia" or "Post-apocalyptic";
AND
Book B: Read a book set at least 70% in the UK**. Your UK book should NOT have any of the genres "Horror" or "Dystopia" or "Post-apocalyptic" in its main book page.

As this is serious business, no childrens books. And of course, your reading vote won't be considered a reflection of your actual beliefs!

Required: Identify the option you used when you post.

* both campaigns (ignoring Nigel Farage's pronouncements), are more nuanced than I've represented.

**UK countries are: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
**EU countries are found here: Member state of the European Union
Genres may be stand alone or embedded.

[Cat]

Books work:

Option 1A (UK & horror / dystopia / post-apocalyptic)
Horror:
Dystopia:
(I've only noted one of the qualifying genres, for those with two or more)

Option 1B (EU & not genres)
Montalbano series - Italy (not checked all of them mind!)
- Poland / - France


========
Option 2A (EU & horror / dystopia / post-apocalyptic)
Horror: - Sweden / - Denmark

Option 2B (UK & not genres)

[Cat]

Not OK

Option 1A (UK & horror / dystopia / post-apocalyptic)

Option 1B (EU & not genres)


Option 2A (EU & horror / dystopia / post-apocalyptic)
The Vampire Lestat - unclear if it is 70% in France. Happy to move to approved on confirmation from someone who's read it :)

Option 2B (UK & not genres)
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade unclear if it is 70% in UK.

[Kristina Simon]

This thread is now open!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I need suggestions for Option 1 A, I need suggestions leaning more towards dystopian or post apocalyptic

[Cait S]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I need suggestions for Option 1 A, I need suggestions leaning more towards dystopian or post apocalyptic"

I don't know how you feel about YA or zombies but if you like those things-- is one of my faaaaaavorites. Set in London.

[Meg]

Cool task!
For book 1A I highly recommend The Girl with All the Gifts - the sequel has just come out too!

[Kim]

Will this work for 2A? The Vampire Lestat

Thanks.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Cait wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I need suggestions for Option 1 A, I need suggestions leaning more towards dystopian or post apocalyptic"

I don't know how you feel about YA or zombies but if you l..."

I don't mind YA. I haven't read much about zombies. I will check it out thanks.

[Emily]

Meg wrote: "Cool task!
For book 1A I highly recommend The Girl with All the Gifts - the sequel has just come out too!"

I loved The Girl with All the Gifts! I was actually planning on using the new one - Fellside - for 1A. A setting of "the Yorkshire Moors" means England, right? :)

[Donna]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I need suggestions for Option 1 A, I need suggestions leaning more towards dystopian or post apocalyptic"

Jayme, Jack the Ripper books work for that option.

[Donna]

Can I get The Name of the Star
verified for option 1A?

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Boston Kate wrote: "Meg wrote: "Cool task!
For book 1A I highly recommend The Girl with All the Gifts - the sequel has just come out too!"

I loved The Girl with All the Gifts! I was actually planning ..."

for what it's worth, Fellside has nothing to do with The Girl with All the Gifts or zombies or dystopia. I just finished reading it - I thought it was pretty good, but it's really a prison/crime book, with some ghost stuff thrown in.

[Emily]

Sandy wrote: "Boston Kate wrote: "Meg wrote: "Cool task!
For book 1A I highly recommend The Girl with All the Gifts - the sequel has just come out too!"

I loved The Girl with All the Gifts! I wa..."

Oh yeah, I knew it was unrelated. I just liked the author, so I figured I'd read the next book. Good to know your thoughts, though. :)

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Boston Kate wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Boston Kate wrote: "Meg wrote: "Cool task!
For book 1A I highly recommend The Girl with All the Gifts - the sequel has just come out too!"

I loved The Girl with All t..."

I liked him, too, so put a hold on Fellside at the library as soon as I knew about it. It's good, don't get me wrong - just very different.

[Lisa M]

Can I lock in Smoke: A Novel by Dan Vyleta for 1A? As of 19/05/16 it has Science Fiction > Dystopia as a main page genre.

[Deborah]

Okay, for approval

1A) The Name of the Star London, horror
1B) Swans Are Fat Too Poland

[Meg]

Oops - you're right - I think I just assumed that Fellside was a sequel. I am still going to use it for this task anyway!

[Trish]

Nice one.

Can I genre lock the Toxic City series by Tim Lebbon for Dystopia set in the UK (Option 1 book A)?
London Eye
Reaper's Legacy
Contagion

For anyone who's interested, and likes weird, I'd also recommend Dream London, if you can genre lock that for Dystopia, as well.

And for book two, I was thinking one of the Andrea Camilleri Inspector Montalbano books.

[Cat]

Kim wrote: "Will this work for 2A? The Vampire Lestat

Thanks."

The GR info says Paris and Eygpt. I've not read it, so I don't know how much is set in Eygpt - sorry.

It needs to be 70% in Paris to be eligible

[Cat]

All except one (see above) approved, and noted in message 2.

I think I've caught everyone so far, shout if I missed you!

[Sandi]

Either of these work?


Option 1 - Stay
UK Dystopia: Never Let Me Go -- France w/out any of the stated genres: Plum Blossoms in Paris

Option 2 - Go
Denmark (Fanoe Island) Horror: Itsy Bitsy Spider -- UK w/out any of the stated genres: The Hanover Square Affair

Thanks!!

[Cat]

Sandi wrote: "Either of these work?


Option 1 - Stay
UK Dystopia: Never Let Me Go -- France w/out any of the stated genres: Plum Blossoms in Paris

Option 2 - Go
Denmark (Fanoe Isla..."

Those will work :)

[Trish]

Catherine wrote: "All except one (see above) approved, and noted in message 2.

I think I've caught everyone so far, shout if I missed you!"

Thanks Catherine.

[Kim]

Will this work for 2A?

Thanks

[Cat]

Kim wrote: "Will this work for 2A?

Thanks"

It will :)

glad to see some EU horror coming out now!

[Paula]

I'm assuming this will work for option 2A ?

John Ajvide Lindqvist has a number of horror novels taking place in Sweden and most are translated to a number of languages.

[Cat]

Paula wrote: "I'm assuming this will work for option 2A ?

John Ajvide Lindqvist has a number of horror novels taking place in Sweden and most are translated to a number of langu..."

Not speaking Swedish, Dutch or German, I take it on trust that this is set in Sweden! yes, it'll work.

So far, the EU horror et al tales have only come from Scandanavia. Surely there must be some more from other countries out there?!

[Fandury]

I can give you some more Euro horror:

set in Paris
set in Austria
set in France
set in Rome
set in Venice

[Bea]

I love how many task introductions either educate us about the real world or tell us about the task creator's life. This is one that educates...and I am grateful for that. However, the question that is the task title here in the US is the question used for a commercial for a hotel/motel chain...so, of course, I immediately thought of travel. Hmmm. Much different focus.

[Nicola]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I need suggestions for Option 1 A, I need suggestions leaning more towards dystopian or post apocalyptic"

What are your reading tastes?

Here are three examples of straight dystopian, science fiction and black humour:

1984, The Day of the Triffids and Blind Faith

[Nicola]

Please confirm dystopia genre for The Midwich Cuckoos

[Cindy]

Would these 2 books work for 2A: The Historian

2B: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade

[Cat]

Nicola wrote: "Please confirm dystopia genre for The Midwich Cuckoos"

noted: horror & dystopia

[Cat]

Cindy wrote: "Would these 2 books work for 2A: The Historian

2B: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade"

The Historian noted for option 2A: Europe & horror

but Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade indicated England and Prussia, and the blurb hints that Prussia might be a major setting: you'll have to read it to confirm how much is set in Prussia

[Nicole]

I wanted to suggest Elena Ferrante's novels for Italy (Option 1, book B). I will probably use one of hers as my mom just brought me the rest of her books. :)

[Dee]

can i get On the Edge of Gone - approved for dystopia in Europe? (from the description: temporary shelter near their hometown of Amsterdam to wait out the blast) - of course, i won't use it if the second half of the description is more than 70% ;)

[Cat]

Dee wrote: "can i get On the Edge of Gone - approved for dystopia in Europe? (from the description: temporary shelter near their hometown of Amsterdam to wait out the blast) - of course, i won'..."

assuming Amsterdam environs is 70% of the book: approved

[Book Concierge]

For 1B - EU (NOT Horror, dystopia, post-apocalyptic)

Set in Greece - The Island

[Cat]

Book Concierge wrote: "For 1B - EU (NOT Horror, dystopia, post-apocalyptic)

Set in Greece - The Island"

yup, enjoy :)

[Kim]

I'm looking at for Option 1B. It takes place in both Germany AND Poland. Is that OK or does it need to be in just one EU country?

[Kim]

Also, can I get verified for 1A? (Horror)

[Cat]

Kim wrote: "I'm looking at for Option 1B. It takes place in both Germany AND Poland. Is that OK or does it need to be in just one EU country?"

It can be in multiple countries, just not the UK

[Cat]

Kim wrote: "Also, can I get verified for 1A? (Horror)"

Horror noted

[Pamela]

Can you approve Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters for Option 1A?

Thanks!

[Cat]

Pamela wrote: "Can you approve Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters for Option 1A?

Thanks!"

Horror noted

[Jenifer]

Would V for Vendetta work for option 1A?

[Cat]

Jenifer wrote: "Would V for Vendetta work for option 1A?"

Sorry, no. I didn't allow for sequential art etc MPG.

[Melanie]

Carmilla works for 2A, correct? Horror / Austria

Thanks!

[Cat]

Melanie wrote: "Carmilla works for 2A, correct? Horror / Austria

Thanks!"

Correct! Enjoy :)