RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off) discussion
RMFAO 2020 Genre Challenge
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February'20 - Women's Fiction OR Westerns
I AM GOING TO READ SO MANY REGENCY ROMANCES. And maybe a few other lady-centered books.
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Hey, Adelaide, I'm not acquainted with the term Regency Romance, is it different from the normal romance genre?
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That's great, Cheryl. To be honest, I don't remember the last time I read one before starting the Twilight series. If you come across some good romance novel then do let me know too. I could really do with some romance recommendations.
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Heena wrote: "Adelaide wrote: "I AM GOING TO READ SO MANY REGENCY ROMANCES. And maybe a few other lady-centered books."Hey, Adelaide, I'm not acquainted with the term Regency Romance, is it different from the ..."
Hi Heena! Per wikipedia: "Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. "
I have very specific romance tastes that tend cluster around this time period. I am trying to read more contemporary romances, so we'll see if any of those come in from the library in time.
I have 3 women’s fiction picks for February, but one of them is Little Women, so we’ll see if I get to the other two!
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4 stars. Historical romance novel that's light and alot of fun. Great witty dialogue that had me laughing out loud a few times. ( i.e. "the mallet of death") I'd seen that Adelaide had given it a high rating and decided to try it. She was right!
(I started this book late last night and finished it this morning, so I'm counting it for the challenge.)
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Anyway it would have already been February in Australia for sure. I started listening to an audio book last night - a western which I'll be counting for February.
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4 stars. Historical romance novel that's light and alot of fun. Great witty dialogue that had me laughing out loud a ..."
Cool. I just checked Overdrive and they have the audio. It's checked out, but no one is waiting, so just put it on hold and should get it in plenty of time.
I received Seven Shadows in a giveaway and I think it fits for women's fiction. The main character is a female judge who live is going through changes at a difficult time in her career. Her children have left the house and her relationship with her husband is changing. She has two very hard cases that are she is presiding over and someone is after her and her family. Experiences help her with in all aspects. It was very good.
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It sounds good, Ashley, and it definitely fits as Women’s Fiction.
Cheryl wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I received Seven Shadows in a giveaway and I think it fits for women's fiction. The main character is a female judge who live is going through changes at a difficult ..."It was very good Cheryl. I will have to read the other books at some point.
Cheryl wrote: "1.) Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Women's Fiction)4 stars. Historical romance novel that's light and alot of fun. Great witty dialogue that had me laughing out loud a ..."
Most of the Julia Quinn’s
books are pretty fun. I’m glad you liked it!
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I had no idea that romance is further categorised this way. I'll have to check this out. Thanks much, Adelaide. And Happy Reading!
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I am planning mostly romance and chic lit. Not a Western fan but Acid Western sounds interesting. Need to investigate that sub genre.Anyone read Acid Westerns?
Cheryl wrote: "1.) Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Women's Fiction)4 stars. Historical romance novel that's light and alot of fun. Great witty dialogue that had me laughing out loud a ..."
I just love Julia Quinn’s Regency world.
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Anyone read Acid Westerns?"
I did not know this subgenre, so had to look on Wikipedia. They only listed films there. Evidently, there is a Goodreads group for Acid Westerns. Here is their reading list: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
I have read Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy. I rated it 4 stars for the writing, but it was one of the bloodiest and most violent books I've ever read. Pretty depressing, too, but very well written. (You have been warned :) )
Cheryl wrote: "You have been warned:).."Thank you Cheryl. I will investigate. Maybe just stick to light romance and funny chic lit.
Edit...Just checked out the group. Haints Stay was actually a book I was considering purchasing from Two Dollar Radio, lol. I ultimately decided I didn’t think it would be for me.
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2 and a half stars. A quick read, but nothing special.
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Even I did not know about this! I'll also have to look it up.
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A pretty good yarn. Enjoyed it enough to keep the sequel in mind for a future read.
1) Frederica by Georgette Heyer. 2 stars. Disappointing dull regency romance from the sixties. It’s trying to be Jane Austen but without any subtext.
Adelaide wrote: "1) Frederica by Georgette Heyer. 2 stars. Disappointing dull regency romance from the sixties. It’s trying to be Jane Austen but without any subtext."I love regency but have never liked Heyer. Hope your next. Book is better
2) The Winter Wife by Anna Campbell. 2.5 stars. Adequate regency novella.3) Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell. 4 stars. Fun woman-centered folk horror/fantasy novella.
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A horrible read. Bella was simply intolerable in this book.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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A charming read about a young Amish woman who has the gift of a beautiful voice and needs to decide which way to go with her life. Knew how it would end, but a fun read getting there with several unexpected twists.
#2 Flirting With Danger by Suzanne Enoch her first attempt at chick lit instead of historical romance. 3/5
4) Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Kelly Thompson. 4 stars. I really like a lot of the new things Archie Comics have been trying out. And while I generally like their horror lines, I thought this was much better than Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible.
Feeling renewed after a wonderful vacation (to see my granddaughter). I'm aiming for level 4 for this challenge. I found some wonderful authors and books with this challenge last year.1.) The Wailing Wind (AB) - Tony Hillerman Western
1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (HB)
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I'm glad I read this about the looser definition of "Women's Fiction" for this challenge. I'd always thought of Women's Fiction as books written for women that don't fit into any other category, so if they were romance or mystery or fantasy, they couldn't be "Women's Fiction." However, while I don't read much traditional women's fic, I do read a lot of stories about women, including several that focus on their emotional journey. So, I think I'm going to try for the "Bookiopath" level, using the broader definition of "Women's Fiction."
Deanie wrote: "I'm glad I read this about the looser definition of "Women's Fiction" for this challenge. I'd always thought of Women's Fiction as books written for women that don't fit into any other category, so..."I just count anything that is woman-centered. Which is most of what I read anyway, but it’s fun to take a month and run with it.
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Deanie,
In this group, our main goal is that you have fun with the reading challenges. That’s why we are pretty flexible with some of the genre definitions. Women’s Fiction can include books that are Chick Lit, Cozy Mysteries, Mysteries with a female detective lead, Science Fiction or Historical Fiction with a female lead, or anything at all with a female main character throughout the story.
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3 and a half stars. Good fictional memoir of the real African-American cowboy, Nat Love (aka Deadwood Dick). Great dialogue with plenty of humor sprinkled in . I thought it was a bit too long, but it's still worth reading. This would make a good audiobook, too.
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3 stars.
A short story collection about a ex-covert government agent who was given a new identity as a high school principal. She uses some of the training from her past life to fix certain situations that occur at her high school, and to keep her identity a secret.
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4 stars. So romantic!
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A horrible read. Will never try to read anything by Meyer again.
#2 The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman - 2/5
An okayish read. I was expecting a lot more than it had to offer, but maybe it was better as an illustrated book than the audiobook. But the narration was really good. The story not so much.
#3 Wilder Girls by Rory Power - 2/5
Again, an okayish read. It had 2 themes I did not care for - body horror and queer romance. Had the story been good I wouldn't have cared for either, but I think the book was all about these two things only and the body horror part really creeped me out so didn't like it.
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Again, an okayish read. It had 2 themes I did not care for - body horror and queer romance. Had the story been good I wouldn't have cared for either, but I think the book was all about these two things only and the body horror part really creeped me out so didn't like it."
Too bad about Wilder Girls. I was thinking of reading it.
I read Little Town on the Prairie and I think it fits for both topics. The book focus on Laura growing up, focuses on school and trying to help her family. She is also starting to get acquainted with a boy in town. She seems to grow up a lot in this book.It also takes place in the West, before it became populated. People during this time were still moving west and the trains were fairly new.
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Women's, actually focuses on two young women surviving being orphaned right after the American Civil War. (Not Western though, set in the deep South.) Part of a series which must be read in order.
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I was really looking forward to reading it but it turned out to be very disappointing. Though if you decide to read it lookout for the creepy body horror bits and bad characterisation.
RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off)
Books mentioned in this topic
The Enchanted April (other topics)Little Town on the Prairie (other topics)
Rose in Bloom (other topics)
Flirting With Danger (other topics)
A Speedy Death (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Louisa May Alcott (other topics)Dorothy L. Sayers (other topics)
Rob Thomas (other topics)
Georgette Heyer (other topics)
Carol Goodman (other topics)
More...
Feb is here and so is our first alternate genre months. For this month we have two genre options to choose from as there are few readers for each of these genres as compared to the other more popular ones (hence the choice.) You can pick any one genre or, if you really want, feel free to pick both and read 2 genres for this month. It's your choice.
There are absolutely no limits so you can interpret this genre in its broader sense and include other similar genres and/or subgenres that you feel might have a wee bit of similarity with the main genre. You can also include books that are not particularly centred around the main genre but has its components or elements somewhere in the story.
The main intent of this challenge is to incorporate different kinds of books and genres in our normal reading routine to make the experience more fun and entertaining. Please do not lose yourself in the technicalities as we all know how literary genres can be confusing.
If you have any doubts or questions, then post them below and we'll be happy to answer/discuss them.
Here are the DEFINITIONS for this month's genres:
Women's Fiction: Women's fiction is an umbrella term for women-centered books that focus on women's life experience that are marketed to female readers, and includes many mainstream novels. It is distinct from Women's writing, which refers to literature written by (rather than promoted to) women. There exists no comparable label in English for works of fiction that are marketed to males.
The Romance Writers of America organization defines women's fiction as, "a commercial novel about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others, and includes a hopeful/upbeat ending with regard to her romantic relationship."
The Women's Fiction Writers Association guiding statement is broad and comprehensive: An inclusive organization of writers creating layered stories that are driven by the main character’s emotional journey. These stories may have romance. Or they may not. They could be contemporary. Or historical. But what binds them together is the focus on the main character's emotional journey.
Western Fiction: Western fiction is a genre of literature set in the American Old West frontier and typically set from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth century. Well-known writers of Western fiction include Zane Grey from the early 20th century and Louis L'Amour from the mid 20th century. The genre peaked around the early 1960s, largely due to the popularity of televised Westerns such as Bonanza.
Classification:
- Classical Western
- Acid Western
- Charro, Cabrito or Chili Westerns
- Contemporary Western
- Electric Western
- Epic Western
- Euro-Western
- Fantasy Western
- Florida Western
- Horror Western
- Curry Westerns and Indo Westerns
- Martial arts Western (Wuxia Western)
- Meat pie Western
- Northwestern
- Ostern
- Pornographic Western
- Revisionist Western
- Science fiction Western
- Space Western
- Spaghetti Western
- Weird Western
- Western satire
Here's a quick summary of the levels:
Level 1: Casual Reader: 1 book (easy)
Level 2: Frequent Reader: 2 books (moderate)
Level 3: Bookworm: 3 books (mildly strenuous)
Level 4: Bibliophile: 4 books (strenuous)
Level 5: Bookiopath: 5 books or more (challenging)
Please mention what type of books you'd be reading:
PB: Paperbacks
HB: Hardbacks
EB: E-Books
AB: Audio Books
Please feel free to announce your to-read books along with the level you are targeting for below. Though it is not necessary as you can announce your reads as and when you decide or read them.
PLEASE READ (especially new members):
1. You can read any number of books for the respective genre every month.
2. You can join the challenge at any stage (in any month.)
3. You can drop out of the challenge any time you like.
4. You can select different levels every month.
5. Use this discussion board to share your reads with other members of the group.
6. Please be active and don't hesitate to ask questions or recommend books.
7. You can couple this challenge with any other challenge here (or anywhere else.) We all do it and it makes it all the more fun!
Happy reading!