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[2019] Voting for 15th Mini-Poll
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Fairytales in their original formats were quite dark and intended for adults. Over the years they have been rewritten to remove much of the violence and sexual content. Some have even been modified so that they teach a moral lesson. And then there is the "Disney-fying" of fairytales to the point that they actually bear little resemblance to the original. So to sincerely be true to the wording of the prompt - a dark fairytale - one would want to read something as close to the original version as possible. And I'm not entirely sure how possible that is, since editing of fairytales began as early as the work of the Brothers Grimm in the early 1800s.
Personally I think the prompt would be better worded as "a retold fairytale or a book that borrows from a fairytale or a book written in the style of a fairytale."
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All of the suggestions that I've been seeing are basically retellings of the fairytales as we know them, so... I think if you want a variety of options, that's the way you have to go. I downvoted this one because I already plan on using a retelling for the Something Borrowed prompt and there seems to be a lot of overlap here.
Tracy wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Lost Boy about Peter Pan is dark. So is Anne Rice's retellings of fairytales. Hers tend to be bondage related. Some other more moderate ones are like Uprooted. Dark but not to da..."
oh geez, if everyone in the group starts reading The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, LOL....
How did I not know Anne Rice had written that? Promptly added to TBR.
I would say quite a few of Hans Christian Andersen´s fairy tales are dark, in their original form. The Little Mermaid and The Little Match Girl for example. The Little Mermaid hasn´t got a lot to do with the Disney film.
Ellie wrote: "Nadine wrote: "What exactly is a "dark fairy tale"? How dark is "dark"?"Fairy tales are all dark to me! Poison, kidnap, forced marriages, child abuse, being eaten by wild animals... the list is e..."
I agree, even though some fairy tales are more in the silly category.
The only one that really jumped out at me was the Author's Recommendation (which seems to have been down voted quite a bit). I really love finding out about what makes the authors I love tick and what inspired them. There must be another person who digs this kind of stuff, so for that person I'll post this list: http://www.openculture.com/2016/12/28...
I put dark fairytales, romance, mythical creatures and up lit in my bottom 4. I can make something work but I am not a real fan of those. If my luck continues, I'll probably have to make something work because just about the only thing I've voted for that has won was the 1001 books to read list.
Tammy wrote: "The only one that really jumped out at me was the Author's Recommendation (which seems to have been down voted quite a bit). I really love finding out about what makes the authors I love tick and w..."Thanks for the link. I definitely voted for author recommendations. Based on my social media following of Stephen King alone, it would be a piece of cake for me. Interesting cake!
I didn't down vote up-lit, but I didn't vote for it. Considering how nebulous the category seems to be, I'm just not comfortable with it. I'm sure I can find something to fit it, but considering all the discussion about what can or can't fit, I'm afraid my choice would get criticized. Eep!
Tammy wrote: "The only one that really jumped out at me was the Author's Recommendation (which seems to have been down voted quite a bit). I really love finding out about what makes the authors I love tick and w..."I suggested the author recommendations and I have been quite surprised by the negative reaction. I didn't realise it was done last year, but I find authors are constantly talking about other people's books. I don't just have one or two favourite authors though, so maybe others are more picky who they'd count.
Authors start out as readers and they usually take their reading very seriously as they tend to be the ultimate fans. Some of these lists have 100 books on them. I especially love the Tolstoy list broken out by when the works were important/influential to him and then how he ranked them (Enormous, Very Great, Great). That is super dorky and cool all rolled into one. I'm not worried because this will be my 52nd rejected topic for next year. Glad to hear some folks will enjoy checking out the lists. Steve...that up lit category scares the pee out of me!
Having never done one of these books polls before, I'd like to say it was kinda cool! Nice mini distraction during the day. I didn't find anything here that I had super strong feelings about one way or the other. I'm not much of a fantasy/science fiction reader so the two options on a 'dark fairytale' and a 'mythical creature' were so way out of my reading habits, that I split one as a top and one as a bottom. Stretch goals, right? Try something new. I am super excited about choosing something from NPR's book list. That looks like a reading feast -- good suggestion!
Tammy wrote: "Steve...that up lit category scares the pee out of me! "Because it'll make you feel things you don't want to feel? Or because it'll prove you can't feel things you're supposed to feel? Or something else? :-P
I think it's the second for me! When I read Ove this year, my reaction was "just die already" because all the interrupted suicides were getting annoying!
I voted for the author recommendations, too. You could probably stretch it to include older books that influenced an author. I also voted for the book you never read in school, which I interpreted as one of the books that everyone else seems to have read in school, but that for whatever reason you didn't. At my high school, the English classes read a lot of different things, and I tried to read some of the ones my friends had to read.
This was the first time (well, I haven't been here very long) that I didn't downvote anything. There wasn't anything I'd be disappointed about if it got in.
I don't necessarily downvote author prompts but, at best, I'm neutral about them. I just don't really care where they live or what their birthday is or what their nationality/orientation/marital status etc. is or if they've collaborated with another author on a book or what books they like or if they have a pet turtle. Do. Not. Care. (No offense to those who love to know this kind of stuff.)
Steve wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Steve...that up lit category scares the pee out of me! "Because it'll make you feel things you don't want to feel? Or because it'll prove you can't feel things you're supposed to fe..."
I probably lean to option 2, as well, Steve. Those books actually make me feel angry. Women are shoveled all this crap that everything is supposed to be happy (if you get the perfect haircut and man) and I just think it is a load of hooey. I think these books reinforce wack ideals and create unattainable expectations. They also feel really formulaic...main character has problems...makes a quirky friend...goes through some cathartic journey...ends up okay. Blech! I'd rather soak in a Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian bath for two weeks until I prune before picking up another happy happy joy joy book.
Tammy wrote: "Steve wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Steve...that up lit category scares the pee out of me! "Because it'll make you feel things you don't want to feel? Or because it'll prove you can't feel things you're ..."
I am not a fan of books that wrap up in neat little bows but those are not the ones I would classify as Up Lit. From my (admittedly limited since I'm just hearing of it with the recent conversations here) understanding of it, I would say the quintessential book in the category is Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and I would certainly not put that in the "happy happy joy joy" box.
Tammy wrote: "Those books actually make me feel angry. Women are shoveled all this crap that everything is supposed to be happy (if you get the perfect haircut and man) and I just think it is a load of hooey. I think these books reinforce wack ideals and create unattainable expectations. They also feel really formulaic...main character has problems...makes a quirky friend...goes through some cathartic journey...ends up okay."Um, that actually sounds more like chick lit.
Up Lit is "hope despite hardship" - not as dark as literary fiction, not as fluffy as chick lit.
Ellie wrote: "Tammy wrote: "The only one that really jumped out at me was the Author's Recommendation (which seems to have been down voted quite a bit). I really love finding out about what makes the authors I l..."I like the idea and voted for it.
Rachelnyc wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Steve wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Steve...that up lit category scares the pee out of me! "Because it'll make you feel things you don't want to feel? Or because it'll prove you can't feel ..."
Eleanor Oliphant is fine is exactly the book I was thinking of when I was describing my feelings about up-lit. (she's goofed up, meets a friend, goes through a journey, comes out okay).
Oh that's it, now I have to read Eleanor Oliphant, just to see where I fall on this issue.
Nadine wrote: "Oh that's it, now I have to read Eleanor Oliphant, just to see where I fall on this issue."I´ve not really felt like reading this, I don´t know why, I think maybe I don´t like the title for some reason. But I am also thinking I guess I should read it...
Nadine wrote: "Oh that's it, now I have to read Eleanor Oliphant, just to see where I fall on this issue."I am hoping to read this... this year. I am 201 of 202 on my library wait list!
Johanne wrote: "How did I not know Anne Rice had written that"Johanne, she wrote the series under the pen name A.N. Roquelaure!! I read these in my early 20s??...*my eyes, my virgin eyes*
Lets just say they were opened lol 😏
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For instance, just a quick glance at the first 10 on my TBR, both The Smell of Other People's Houses and The Secrets She Keeps have quotes by authors on the cover.
Nadine wrote: "Oh that's it, now I have to read Eleanor Oliphant, just to see where I fall on this issue."Reading it now, loving it :-)
This conversation between Tammy and Steve has me dying right now ( in a good way....I've been feeling like Im literally physically dying all day, so ...)
@ Steve "Just die already"!! OMG poor Ove lol
@Tammy "I'd rather soak in a Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian bath for two weeks until I prune before picking up another happy happy joy joy book. " I still haven't gotten over Blood Meridian. I don't know whether to laugh or cry about it.
I'm curious where everyone is finding recommendations from their favourite authors. I had this prompt once before and didn't like it because I found it really hard to fin, but that was also when I would only have classified one or two authors as true favourites. I know some authors have shelves on Goodreads where they have books they gave 5 stars or even a "recommendations" shelf, but I haven't managed to find something like that for all the authors I had in mind. I tried Good Minds Suggest also, but I wasn't a fan of that prompt when it came up since I didn't really like the books that were picked, so I'm not really sure where I'd go with that prompt if it's chosen. I didn't vote for it for that exact reason.
Tammy wrote: "Eleanor Oliphant is fine is exactly the book I was thinking of when I was describing my feelings about up-lit. (she's goofed up, meets a friend, goes through a journey, comes out okay)."Huh, I don't want to give anything away to those who haven't read it but I certainly wouldn't describe Eleanor in that way at all. (view spoiler)
To each their own though because I recently put Blood Meridian on the back burner since while I like dark and depressing, I am not big on excessive violence, particularly towards animals.
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Same. Good to know. Violence to animals = NOPE. I won't read Salvage the Bones for the same reason.
Laura wrote: "Well Blood Meridian is now on my permanent "Nope" list, Rachelnyc. That's about all I need to not ever read a book."Thank Tracy! It was her description of it that made me remove it from my TBR.
Hahaha. Now I am even more excited to read Blood Meridian 😂
I should clarify it’s not because of the violence to animals. I realized how bad my first message must come across after I sent it. I enjoy well written dark books, and McCormic’s books have been great so far, from what I’ve read.
I don’t think I voted for the Author recommendation prompt, but I really like scary books and Stephen King frequently recommends books that he finds scary... so if it wins, it’s easy for me to fill.
Rachel wrote: "I'm curious where everyone is finding recommendations from their favourite authors. I had this prompt once before and didn't like it because I found it really hard to fin, but that was also when I ..."I find them in several locations. I have an account at BookBub, and the authors I follow often post recommendations. I get an e-mail telling me about a new book reviewed by Stephen King or Neil Gaiman or whoever.
Also, Tammy posted this great list that compiles a lot of author recs: 29 lists of author recommendations
Also, if your faves have a blog or Twitter account, that's a good place to mine for recommendations, too.
Fantastic Fiction always have author's recommendations as the bottom of the page when you search for an author
Rachelnyc wrote: "Laura wrote: "Well Blood Meridian is now on my permanent "Nope" list, Rachelnyc. That's about all I need to not ever read a book."Thank Tracy! It was her description of it that made me remove it ..."
Glad I spared a few of you the cringe worthy moments.
I read it for my book club and only 2 of us actually finished the whole thing, everyone else jumped ship.
Sorry Tammy 😬
Manda, enjoy! Its certainly a book that many people love, just wasn't my thing. Still going to try The Road at some point though, maybe next year for the black cover because although I felt kinda tortured reading Blood Meridian, I'm curious about his other work. Apparently I have read All the Pretty Horses and liked it ( don't remember a thing about it now), but I know The Road is very popular and its been sitting on my shelf forever.
Erica wrote: "I don’t think I voted for the Author recommendation prompt, but I really like scary books and Stephen King frequently recommends books that he finds scary... so if it wins, it’s easy for me to fill."Haha Erica, I went by a Stephen King 5 star recommendation last year and it was my final book for the challenge. Heres my review LOL
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My comments as I was reading are interesting ....
Jill wrote: "Fantastic Fiction always have author's recommendations as the bottom of the page when you search for an author"Thank you! That was the site I was thinking of. I used it last time this prompt came around but couldn't remember what it was called.
Manda wrote: "Hahaha. Now I am even more excited to read Blood Meridian 😂"And now you have me peeing my pants laughing. You are my kind of sicko.
I would probably recommend Eleanor to most people and I would only recommend Blood Meridian to a few. But I remember reading the first 20-30 pages of Eleanor and thinking, "Oh no! It's a romance wrapped in abuse wrapped in aspergers." Blood Meridian was more like Moby Dick wrapped in war with a giant white slab of satan on the side.
And now I kind of have to read The Troop because of Tracy's review!
Tammy wrote: "Manda wrote: "Hahaha. Now I am even more excited to read Blood Meridian 😂"And now you have me peeing my pants laughing. You are my kind of sicko.
And now I kind of have to read the troop because of Tracy's review.."
Read it Tammy!!
Both The Troop and Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West are on my radar, tentatively being slotted in to my challenge for next year.
I didn't vote for NPR because I don't like choosing from lists. That being said I went through the 2017 list and added about 50 books to my TBR so will be fine if it makes it to the top. I can't wait for the 2018 list. I just finished Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and was a bit underwhelmed by it so not looking forward to the up lit category.
Rachel wrote: "I'm curious where everyone is finding recommendations from their favourite authors."I found some books to add to my TBR List by googling "books recommended by authors." They might not be my favorite authors but it at least sorta counts for the prompt.
Rachel wrote: "I'm curious where everyone is finding recommendations from their favourite authors. I had this prompt once before and didn't like it because I found it really hard to fin, but that was also when I ..."Like Laura mentioned you could use a cover blurb. A lot of current authors will be sent books by their publisher so they can say something like "superb" or "brilliant" on the cover and I would count that as a rec.
The Guardian (and I'm sure other newspapers) often will have "authors recommend books for this season" type lists or they are asked about books they like in interviews.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
I usually hear about them on Twitter but I'm on there a lot and most my favourite authors are not big names, so they are chatty. However many authors would be happy to recommend you a book on social media if you ask!
I think if you like someone's work, it's likely that you'll like what they like to read too.
Haha Tracy I read The Troop last year too. Yes it was gross but I loved it😂
Rachel wrote: "I'm curious where everyone is finding recommendations from their favourite authors. I had this prompt once before and didn't like it because I found it really hard to fin, but that was also when I ..."Last time this prompt came around, I used Good Minds Suggest and I kinda hated most of the suggestions I found, AND I was unimpressed by the book I read. So I really hope this category doesn't make it. I think a lot of authors recommend books to be nice to their fellow authors, which is fine, but it's not a good way for me to find a book to read.
For Favorite Authors, Ali Smith has a book titled The Reader, in which she talks about her favorite books. It might be a good source for book recommendations. If the prompt is voted in, I’m not going to limit myself to a “favorite author” since I really don’t have one. I’ve not read anything by Smith yet.
Also, Stephen King has a list of book recommendations at the end of his On Writing book. I know there are a few King fans in this group!
My fav author likes to say in interviews that she doesn’t like to make book recommendations... Certainly I’ve seen her blurb books but that’s not really an easy thing to research. Last time this prompt came around I just ignored the word favourite and went with the first book I read that was blurbed by another author I like well enough that their blurb on a cover would make me consider the book. I guess I’ll do that again if this prompt wins.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Deep (other topics)Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West (other topics)
The Troop (other topics)
The Smell of Other People's Houses (other topics)
The Secrets She Keeps (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
A.N. Roquelaure (other topics)Ken Jennings (other topics)
Top
- Selected by its cover - That's how so many of my books get on my TBR... looking at the displays at B&N
Bottom
- Up lit - Sorry, Emily! I'm too much of a pessimist to deal with those kind of books! :)
- The ATY obscure list - nothing I'm interested in on the list
- A dark fairytale - not a genre I'm interested in
- A book you never read in school - as a former English teacher, I've essentially covered "the big ones" at some point in my education or teaching
- Romance - another genre I'm not interested in
- Mythical creature - don't love fantasy books (though I am part of the way through the Fire and Ice series now)