Monthly Read Suggestions

[Whitney]

Benjamin wrote: "For reals? I have read way worse descriptions than that. Lol."

Post 'em when you see 'em. I'll start a collection.

[Benjamin]

It’s just a nomination…didn’t appear controversial. Seems like time and energy would be better spent on reading and discussing an actual book rather than a book description.

[Whitney]

Benjamin wrote: "It’s just a nomination…didn’t appear controversial. Seems like time and energy would be better spent on reading and discussing an actual book rather than a book description."

You are correct. Frivolous or humorous banter has absolutely no place on a social media site! I shall recommence reading pretentious tomes of great import immediately! Thank you for setting me back on the path of righteous literary endeavors.

[Benjamin]

I was tempted to respond with snark, Whitney, but it’s late and utterly pointless in doing that. Have yourself a nice evening and hope you find a book that you can enjoy with the group. 😁👍🏼

[Bill]

Ok, I'm traveling on an incredibly stressful family visit, and am thinking it would be best for me not to manage December's monthly read. If one of you would like to do the legwork, that'll be great. Otherwise we can take a holiday break.

[Whitney]

Bill wrote: "Ok, I'm traveling on an incredibly stressful family visit, and am thinking it would be best for me not to manage December's monthly read. If one of you would like to do the legwork, that'll be grea..."

I'm good with a holiday break. Here's hoping your family visit stress is minimal.

[Bill]

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday break!

January poll is up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Bill]

Please join us for our first monthly read of 2024: My Death by Lisa Tuttle:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Bill]

Nominations for February's monthly read? An idea:
Jeanette Winterson, Night Side of the River

We can also roll over the January nominees that didn't win.

[Canavan]

Bill said: An idea:
Jeanette Winterson, Night Side of the River

Not an author I am familiar with, but looks interesting.

[Bill]

Last call for February monthly read nominations...

[Bill]

February's poll is up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Vanessa]

I saw Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror while looking on Kindle Unlimited. It looks promising, but I know I won't remember that I wanted to nominate it by the end of the month.

[Bill]

Nominations for March? I have Vanessa's on the list, thanks.

[Bill]

Last call for March nominations. I'll recycle some old nominees if necessary.

[Bill]

Poll is up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Bill]

Vanessa and I are starting a buddy read of J.A.W. McCarthy's recent short novel Sleep Alone this weekend.

Please join us!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Whitney]

Bill wrote: "Vanessa and I are starting a buddy read of J.A.W. McCarthy's recent short novel Sleep Alone this weekend.."

A succubi rock band in the PNW? I'm in!

[Bill]

We skipped the cruelest month. How about a book for May?

I see this on the Stoker Awards nominations, for instance:
Jonathan Duckworth, Have You Seen the Moon Tonight? and Other Rumors

[Bill]

Last call for nominations for May's monthly read!

[Vanessa]

Bill wrote: "We skipped the cruelest month. How about a book for May?

I see this on the Stoker Awards nominations, for instance:
Jonathan Duckworth, [book:Have You Seen the Moon Tonight? and Other Rumors|19263..."

I'm okay with reading this.

[Bill]

Poll is up! Please vote by Monday:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Bill]

Nominations for our June monthly read?

My proposal: Sarah Coolidge's collection Through the Night Like a Snake: Latin American Horror Stories

[Vanessa]

I'll probably be voting for your pick, but I'd like to suggest adding Butcher by Joyce Carol Oates to the nomination rotation.

[Bill]

Vanessa wrote: "I'll probably be voting for your pick, but I'd like to suggest adding Butcher by Joyce Carol Oates to the nomination rotation."

Will do.

Last call for June nominations. (I may sneak in an extra one.)

[Bill]

Poll is up!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Dan]

For July may I nominate Devils' Spawn by Charles Birkin? Birkin wrote contes cruels (Wikipedia article: conte cruel) an old-fashioned word for what was at least in part basically literary horror. Birkin is a not-well-known 20th century horror short story writer. I've read that his writing was of high quality, but I don't know that firsthand, never having read him.

[Bill]

I'll be out of town most of July, and won't be coordinating a monthly read. Let's take a break and resume for August. Any nominations for July will be carried over to August. Have a good summer everyone.

[Bill]

Time to organize for August! Nominations? I'll carry over two items from June:

Joyce Carol Oates, Butcher
Justin Steele (ed.), Looming Low: Volume II

[Dan]

Bill wrote: "Time to organize for August! Nominations? I'll carry over two items from June:

Joyce Carol Oates, Butcher
Justin Steele (ed.), Looming Low: Volume II"

Written in 2024 and 2022.

Is my 1936 nomination still included? If this group changed its name from "literary horror" to "contemporary horror" in all but name, is there any point to me nominating it?

[Ruri]

I would like to read The Secret Skin by Wendy N. Wagner. I've only read her short-stories but I like her style.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I've also heard wonders of Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Bill]

Ruri wrote: "I would like to read The Secret Skin by Wendy N. Wagner. I've only read her short-stories but I like her style.

Thanks Ruri. Hmm, the Wagner link goes to a Harry Potter book, by the way.

Last call for nominees.

[Ruri]

Bill wrote: "Ruri wrote: "I would like to read The Secret Skin by Wendy N. Wagner. I've only read her short-stories but I like her style.>/i>

Thanks Ruri. Hmm, the Wagner link goes to a Harry Potter book, by t..."
you are right! It seems the link was incomplete. I've already edited it. Thank you.

[Bill]

Poll is up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Bill]

What shall we consider for our monthly book to start off the fall? A couple ideas:

Paola Ferrante, Her Body Among Animals
Tobi Ogundiran, Jackal, Jackal: Tales of the Dark and Fantastic

[Vavita]

Oh! Both are great options!
I will be offline as of Friday as I am going in vacations but, once I am back on September 10, I will join whatever you pick.

[Vanessa]

I already own one of those, so I know who I'm rooting for.

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚]

I’m not really good at nominating books for this genre but the options selected are good.

[Bill]

Last call for September nominations. I'd like to get the poll up tomorrow.

[Ruri]

both books look very interesting!

[Bill]

September's poll is up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

I don't want to give anyone a hard time. But if you do vote for a book and it wins, you are expected to participate in the conversation.

[Bill]

It's time to organize our group book for the most important month of October.

Fortunately (or not), I was at one of my favorite local bookstores, and these two were side by side on the same shelf:

Brian Evenson, Good Night, Sleep Tight
Mariana Enriquez, A Sunny Place for Shady People

Other nominations?

[Whitney]

I've been meaning to read Jagannath forever. So I'm hoping nominating it here will give me a needed push.

[inciminci]

I like all three books you mentioned!

[Bill]

Poll is up! I have to say I'm really excited about all of the items, no idea which one I'll vote for.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

As usual, if you vote for a book and it wins, you're committing to participate in the discussion, by posting at least one message to the forum. I hate to sound like a broken record, but please keep in mind the commitment before you vote.

[inciminci]

I voted for the one book I actually own, but I can't wait to read especially the new Evenson book. I've seen some reviews and they sound good.

[Vanessa]

I also like everything that got nominated. Can whatever doesn't win get held over for a month that doesn't have nominations?

[Bill]

We're having a fine Halloween group read, but it's time to think about November's book. I'll carry over the Mariana Enriquez from October's poll. An additional idea perhaps (nominated for the Shirley Jackson awards):

Rebecca Rowland, White Trash and Recycled Nightmares

Other nominations?

[Whitney]

Bill wrote: "We're having a fine Halloween group read, but it's time to think about November's book. I'll carry over the Mariana Enriquez from October's poll. An additional idea perhaps (nominated for the Shirl..."

Both sound good, I will endeavor to join either if they win.

[Bill]

Poll is up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

If you vote for a book and it wins, you are committing to participate in the discussion, by posting at least one message to the forum thread.