August'20 - Contemporary Fiction

[Heena]

August is here and finally, we have a genre that makes it easy for everyone to participate - Contemporary Fiction. As always, you can join anytime during the entire month and read as many (or as less) books as you can manage, no restrictions whatsoever!

If you are a contemporary fiction reader then we request you to please recommend some awesome books to other members. Others, please feel free to ask for suggestions and recs. Reviews of books are greatly appreciated and we are okay with anyone posting relevant links too.

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 DEFINITION for this month's genre:

Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Fiction is literature with its setting generally after World War II. We're doing Contemporary Fiction, so everything post-WWII is counted except for non-fiction.
So yes, almost everything you read is Contemporary Fiction unless it is Historical Fiction or Non-Fiction.

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!

[Cheryl]

Thanks for posting this challenge, Heena! Returning to our normal Genre Challenge schedule makes me feel like things are slowly returning to normal. This is a great challenge, since so many types of books have contemporary settings - mysteries, horror, YA, etc. . I will start looking on my library’s online catalog to line up some books to read.

[Dagny]

Cheryl wrote: "I will start looking on my library’s online catalog to line up some books to read."

It's so great that our libraries now have their catalogues online. Not just now with Covid-19, but even before. Makes planning so much easier.

[Heena]

Cheryl wrote: "Thanks for posting this challenge, Heena! Returning to our normal Genre Challenge schedule makes me feel like things are slowly returning to normal. This is a great challenge, since so many types o..."

You're welcome, Cheryl. Seeing as the genre is easy, both for finding books as well as for the mind, I thought why not stick to the routine a bit after having a month off :)
I meant to post it earlier but got caught up. It's great that your library has an online catalogue! I'm not a part fo any library as such as I am planning to read the books I already have and a couple of online subscription services I use. Though I do miss being a member of my library!
Happy reading!

[Dagny]

Heena wrote: "Seeing as the genre is easy, both for finding books as well as for the mind, I thought why not stick to the routine a bit after having a month off :)"

Ah, more mysteries!

[Dagny]

#1
Interesting, although Lance's brother could be a bit of a bore at times with his 'lessons.'

[Cheryl]

Wow, that was fast, Dagny! One book read already. I’m hoping this will be an easy challenge for most people.

[Fran]

shooting for level 5 in this month's challenge.
1.) The Book of Dust (AB) - Philip Pullman

[Dagny]

Cheryl wrote: "Wow, that was fast, Dagny! One book read already. I’m hoping this will be an easy challenge for most people."

It was an audio, Cheryl. They do go fast for me as I listen while doing other things.

[Cheryl]

1.) Final Girls by Riley Sager
3 stars. Entertaining thriller that’s kind of based on slasher horror films.

[Heena]

Dagny wrote: "Heena wrote: "Seeing as the genre is easy, both for finding books as well as for the mind, I thought why not stick to the routine a bit after having a month off :)"

Ah, more mysteries!"

Yes!!

[Dagny]

Another mystery!
#2 Baltimore Blues

This is first book in a new series for me. Liked the characters, so will go on to book 2 at some point. Didn't care for the crime in this one though, serial rapist/murderer. At least Lippman didn't follow the perp around for a good portion of the book as so many mystery authors seem to be doing these days.

[Cheryl]

2.) The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
4 stars. A fun supernatural thriller that's a modern take on the John Silence occult detective stories by Algernon Blackwood. Fans of the Pendergast series by Preston & Child might like this book. My review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cheryl]

3.) The Wicked Sister by Karen Dionne
2 stars. A predictable thriller that was a quick read.

[Heena]

Finished my first, a mystery-thriller with a pinch of supernatural thrown in, The Other People by C.J. Tudor
It was a good read, the concept was great and the mystery was good, although I didn't much care about the supernatural element or the entire sea motif. Still, it was a good mystery read.

[Dagny]

Cheryl wrote: "2.) The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
4 stars. A fun supernatural thriller that's a modern take on the John Silence occult detective stories by Algernon Blackwoo..."

Thanks, Cheryl, sounds interesting. I'll have to watch for it.

[Dagny]

Two to add.

#3 Library book I've been reading over the last several days:
Gone in a Flash
An engrossing read with no murder but on a MIA soldier.

#4 latest audio book:
Bullseye
More adventure, less family - this series has been tending this way recently - I prefer the family stuff, although one of the teenage sons played a part in this one.

[Cheryl]

4.) The Stranger Game by Peter Gadol
3 stars. An interesting paranoid thriller.

Somehow I've been drawn to reading thrillers this month.

[Fran]

2.) Black Brother, Black Brother (AB) - Jewell Parker Rhodes
3.) Cat's Eye (AB) - Margaret Atwood

[〰️Beth〰️]

Wow, normally I am a big contemporary fiction reader but this month has been hard (my dad passed on the first.) Might get one book in. Hopefully something lighthearted.

[Cheryl]

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "Wow, normally I am a big contemporary fiction reader but this month has been hard (my dad passed on the first.) Might get one book in. Hopefully something lighthearted."

Beth,

I’m so sorry about your father’s passing. I know from experience how hard that can be. Don’t worry about the reading challenge and take care of yourself right now.

[Fran]

My thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks Beth.

[Dagny]

Sorry to hear about your father, Beth. A hard thing to get through.

[Dagny]

#5 Loitering with Intent

[〰️Beth〰️]

Thank you Cheryl, Fran and Dagny for your kindness. Taking it day by day. Never minded being an only child till now. The last two years have been hard and that was without Covid. Just keep reminding myself I can deal with everything at my own pace without jeopardizing my health too badly. Trying to know my limits so I can get things done before another back surgery.

[Cheryl]

Another thriller:
5.) Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
3 and a half stars. I think this is the author's best book yet. My review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Adelaide]

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "Thank you Cheryl, Fran and Dagny for your kindness. Taking it day by day. Never minded being an only child till now. The last two years have been hard and that was without Covid. Just keep remindin..."

So sorry Beth. Yeah, it's important to just do what you can.

[Adelaide]

1) Inside Job by Connie Willis. 4 stars. Light supernatural-ish novella just hit the spot for me.

[Dagny]

Adelaide wrote: "1) Inside Job by Connie Willis. 4 stars. Light supernatural-ish novella just hit the spot for me."

Several of her books have caught my eye, but don't think I've ever read one.

[Dagny]

#6 another audio book
Someone Like You

Enjoyed her writing and like the characters, but it was a bit preachy for me to want to read more in the series just now.

[Cheryl]

6.) The Lost Man by Jane Harper
3 star mystery set in the Australian outback. A depressing story.

[Adelaide]

Dagny wrote: "Several of her books have caught my eye, but don't think I've ever read one."

I have to be in the right mood for her. Her humor is hit or miss for me, but her straight stuff tends to be pretty good.

[Adelaide]

2) Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey. 4 stars. More mystery-adjacent than an actual mystery, this is by one of my favorite authors.

[Dagny]

Adelaide wrote: "I have to be in the right mood for her. Her humor is hit or miss for me, but her straight stuff tends to..."

Thanks, Adelaide, re Connie Willis.

[Dagny]

Adelaide wrote: "2) Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey. 4 stars. More mystery-adjacent than an actual mystery, this is by one of my favorite authors."

The first Tey I ever read was The Daughter of Time and I loved it. Not sure I ever went back and picked up the earlier ones in the series though. Saw the mini-series Brat Farrar years ago - great.

[Cheryl]

7.) Velocity by Dean Koontz
4 star thriller. This book surprised me, because I usually think of Koontz as the cheesy version of Stephen King. The writing in this book was better than in the few others I've read by Koontz. Maybe I ought to give him another try?

Can ayone recommend some of his better books?

[Dagny]

Cheryl wrote: "7.) Velocity by Dean Koontz
4 star thriller.... Can ayone recommend some of his better books?"

Cheryl, I really liked Prodigal Son the first in his Frankenstein series. I could be prejudiced though since I love all things Frankenstein. I also liked the 2nd book but the next two didn't do it for me and don't think I even went on to the final book #5.

I also liked the first book in his Odd Thomas series (although not as much as the Frankenstein book) and thought the series had promise. 2nd one, not so much and I never went on with that series either.

[Cheryl]

Dagny,

Thanks for the info on those Koontz books! Quite a few people have mentioned the Odd Thomas books as being good, so I’ll have to check that out. The Frankenstein series sounds good, too. They’ll be for my next library trip!

[Fran]

Cheryl I really enjoyed the lightness and relaxed pacing of the Odd Thomas series by Koontz. The main character is truly likeable and I enjoyed both the writing as well as the character development in this entire series.

[Cheryl]

Fran wrote: "Cheryl I really enjoyed the lightness and relaxed pacing of the Odd Thomas series by Koontz. The main character is truly likeable and I enjoyed both the writing as well as the character development..."

Thanks, Fran! Well, it looks like Odd Thomas is my next Dean Koontz book.

[Adelaide]

3) Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon. 3 stars. Everybody seems to like the Brunetti mysteries more than me. I might try one or two more, but so far they have not grabbed me.

[Cheryl]

8.) Maigret Sets a Trap by Georges Simenon
3 stars

[Kelly]

I definitely enjoyed the Odd Thomas and the Frankenstein books. so I don't think you'd be unhappy with the first book in either series. I didn't find the rest of the series really great, but they weren't bad, either.

[Adelaide]

Dagny wrote: "The first Tey I ever read was The Daughter of Time and I loved it. Not sure I ever went back and picked up the earlier ones in the series though."

I think they are all pretty good.

[Ashley]

1. Takeoff
2. The Night Swim

[Dagny]

Two for last week, a library book I finished and an audio book.

#7 Rebecca's Rose A lovely, though predictable, story with lots of banter

#8 Charm City

[Fran]

4.) The Martian (AB) - Andy Weir
5.) Labyrinth (AB) - Catherine Coulter

[Adelaide]

4) Zeroville by Steve Erickson. 2 stars. Compulsively readable, pointedly misogynistic, with an infuriatingly pretentious ending.

[Cheryl]

9.) The Power Trip by Jackie Collins
4 stars. Trashy but fun summer reading.

[Dagny]

#9 - eBook Old Bones

Really liked this one once I got into it.