Group Challenge 2017

[Kara]

I think these are the books I'll be reading in the Challenge

Sci-fi: 11/22/63
Horror: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Historical Fiction: Letters from Skye
Thriller: The Taxidermist's Daughter
Travel: The Birthday Boys
Fantasy: Dragonfly in Amber
Autobiography/ Biography: Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family
Classic: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

[Maria Hill]

Paul wrote: "I havent read Ann Leckie yet Maria. Sara our moderator has and really enjoyed it. Its one for me to get to."

Brill:)

[Maria Hill]

Kara wrote: "I think these are the books I'll be reading in the Challenge

Sci-fi: 11/22/63
Horror: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Historical Fiction: [book:Letters from Skye|1..."

I take it you have read the outlander as Dragonfly in Amber is the second novel. Do you recommend the Outlander then?

[Kara]

Maria, yes I have read The Outlander it is a great novel. I couldn't put it down, so I'm hoping the second will be just the same :).

[Maria Hill]

Fingers crossed

[Margo]

Kara wrote: "I think these are the books I'll be reading in the Challenge

Sci-fi: 11/22/63
Horror: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Historical Fiction: Letters from Skye


A Tree Grows in Brooklynis my live book club xmas read. I am limited to digital formats due to reading problems and have been amazed at the lack of availability of this book. Many classics are free to download on kindle, this one doesn't seem to have converted to digital format at all. The only thing I could find has been a radio drama based on the book which is on YouTube.

[Colleen]

Margo that's awful because it's such a good book . I wonder why it's not available. It's such an American Classic

[Margo]

Even amazon.com don't have it. I was really pleased when I heard it was picked as it's one I've always meant to read. Ah well, such is life ;-)

[Bookworm with Kids]

I have been struggling with the Travel category over the last few days. Tonight I went into the attic to get the tin for the Christmas cake (which is now in the oven) and found a bag with eight Dervla Murphy books which I totally forgot I had! I loved her first couple of books so I am going to read the next in the series, On A Shoestring To Coorg, for the challenge. Fortuitous, eh?

[Margo]

It was meant to be ;-)

[Maria Hill]

Bookworm with Kids wrote: "I have been struggling with the Travel category over the last few days. Tonight I went into the attic to get the tin for the Christmas cake (which is now in the oven) and found a bag with eight Der..."

excellent timing

[Donna]

Kara wrote: "Maria, yes I have read The Outlander it is a great novel. I couldn't put it down, so I'm hoping the second will be just the same :)."

Kara, there are several Outlander fans in this group, myself amongst them. The books only get better!

[Kara]

Donna yay! i'm really excited to read it!

[Isabella]

Colleen I am also very fond of Marian Keyes and a bit of Maeve warms my heart! Not so sure about Ahern though - maybe it's the name!



Both the name and the genes? :)

[Paul]

We'll announce the upcoming choice as we move along so the first six weeks will be Travel books. In January I'll announce the next 6 weeks genre .

[Margo]

Yikes, looks like I'm starting The Odyssey in January then! Seemed like such a good idea in theory.....

[Paul]

The Odyssey is great :-)

[Trelawn]

The Odyssey is a lot of fun. I'd say it's even better to listen to as it was an oral epic.

[Margo]

Yes, I'm looking to the narration ;-D

[Seraphina]

Gonna read Short Walks from Bogota: Journeys in the New Colombia For my travel choice

[SherryRose]

Ian McKellens audiobook of Odyssey is on YouTube

[Margo]

Thanks Sherry, I hadn't seen that. I might listen to that version, the one I have is very "breathy". Nice to have a choice anyway ;-)

[SherryRose]

I bet either one is good Margo. I like Ian McKellen's voice. I check you tube for audiobooks sometimes. Odd habit lol.

[Margo]

There's some good stuff on there. I found The Mists of Avalon last week ;-)

[Maria Hill]

I loved that series

[Marcia]

I have finalised my list of books for the challange at last.

1. Historical Fiction
Seek the Fair Land by Walter Macken

2. Crime/ thriller
Cairo by Chris Womersley

3. Fantasy
The Princess Bride by William Goldman

4. Sci-fi
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick


5. Autobiography/biography
Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barnes

6. Classic
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

7. Horror/Gothic
Villette by Charlotte Brontë

8. Travel book
Literary London by Eloise Millar and Sam Jordison

[SherryRose]

Margo wrote: "There's some good stuff on there. I found The Mists of Avalon last week ;-)"

Oh nice! I'll look for that!

[Paul]

Nice list Marcia. A couple if my favourites in there.

[SherryRose]

I've never read a travel book. I'll try a Bill Bryson book.

[Colleen]

I've never read a Bryson book but I found The Road to Little Dribbling so I bought it and see if I can squeeze it in for the challenge. Has anyone read it ?

[Trelawn]

I have Colleen, it is great. Technically it's a follow on from Notes on a Small Island but it works as a standalone. I have read most of his books and I love his humour and intelligence.

[Colleen]

Thanks Trelawn I'll have to read it soon . I could use a little humor:)

[Trelawn]

He wrote another book called Notes From A Big Country which he wrote in a series of columns about settling back into life in America after living in England for around 20 years. It was hilarious.

[Colleen]

Thanks I'll have to look for it :)

[Margo]

Sherry wrote: "I've never read a travel book. I'll try a Bill Bryson book."

I read Down Under this year and I laughed my way through it.

[Trelawn]

I enjoyed that one too Margo

[SherryRose]

Sounds good. Laughing is fun! :-D

[Paul]

That sounds quite quirky and fun. Good choice

[Trelawn]

Interesting choice indeed. Cool opening line.

[Trelawn]

Well my two choices for travel arrived in the post today. Both by Jan Morris, a new author for me. Following in Seraphina's footsteps I picked Manhattan '45 and I also chose Oxford because it is a place I love and want to learn more about.

[Donna]

I've decided to do this challenge and my travel book came today so I'm all set. It's The Beach.

[SherryRose]

Donna, that looks very good. I added it.

[Margo]

Donna wrote: "I've decided to do this challenge and my travel book came today so I'm all set. It's The Beach."

Oh Donna I loved that book - happy reading ;-)

[Paul]

I have opened the travel Genre discussion to get things going-
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I will try announce the next genre two to three weeks in advance of the start dates for people to get a chance to prepare .

[Andy]

Late on parade as ever but will try & pick out a travel book in the next few days.....?

I can recommend Guy Gavriel Kay highly Cphe having tried one of his books last year & will be back for more from him.

[Colleen]

Paul I decided to keep The Fireman in for horror because it won Best Horror on Goodreads but
I took your advise about readingThe Name of the Wind instead of A Game of Thrones.
For a classic I'm reading Rebecca and also The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille

[Colleen]

I did get Born a Crime for Christmas so I'll be reading this for Auto/bio choice ,

[Paul]

Good choices all round Colleen. Fireman is one of those books that can drop into a couple of genres

[Colleen]

Thanks Paul really looking forward to this challenge .

[Margo]

I've decided that I will also attempt 2 books for each genre.
This is my updated challenge list (I've also made some changes based on xmas gifts!):

1. Historical Fiction - The Diary of Adam and Eve and Vlad: The Last Confession
2. Crime/ thriller - Odds Against and Killing Floor
3. The Probable Futureand Tales from the Perilous Realm
4. Sci-fi - The Man in the High Castle and Brave New World
5. Autobiography/biography - Boy: Tales of Childhood and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
6. Classic - Tess of the D'Urbervilles and The Problem of Pain
7. Horror/Gothic - The Passage and Hex
8. Travel book - The Odyssey and The Penguin Lessons