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Time to Vote for the December Tag
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I feel the way about epics that everyone feels about westerns. I love a good western.
Booknblues wrote: "I feel the way about epics that everyone feels about westerns. I love a good western."Thank you BnB! I too often feel like the lone fan of westerns....
Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I feel the way about epics that everyone feels about westerns. I love a good western."Thank you BnB! I too often feel like the lone fan of westerns...."
I grew up watching them and often played cowgirl games.
I've read enough epic sort of books and not one sounds even appealing to me now. I would be hard pressed to find one I want to read right now as I have been getting bogged down just reading short books.
NancyJ wrote: "No one is talking about epic, but that doesn't mean it's not getting votes. I could use a few suggestions for planning purposes, especially if there are popular books with long wait lists. I don't ..."Many of the James Michener books are multi-generation epics, and if you're also looking for a B1978 book for Bingo, Chesapeake was published that year.
Some other favorite epics come to mind:
The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough
The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
River God by Wilbur Smith
Dune by Frank Herbert
Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I feel the way about epics that everyone feels about westerns. I love a good western."Thank you BnB! I too often feel like the lone fan of westerns...."
I grew..."
I liked nearly all the ones I read for poll ballot, especially the books about female pioneers and horse trainers. And News of the World of course.
I'm having a hard time adjusting to longer books since pb ended. I listened to a 15 hour audiobook this weekend, and it was rough going.
Sue wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "No one is talking about epic, but that doesn't mean it's not getting votes. I could use a few suggestions for planning purposes, especially if there are popular books with long wait ..."Thanks Sue. Wow this list brings back memories (and makes me feel tired at the same time). Of the ones I read, I would be most likely to read Clan of the Cave Bear again. I loved Thornbirds at the time, but I worry it wouldn't hold up well to a re-read.
I like westerns too! I do not read a ton of them, but I have How Much Of These Hills Is Gold on my TBR. I also love me a good epic! And with 42 hours of driving time coming up, I could fit in a good audiobook.
International was originally the one I was least excited for. But, as always, when I poked around I realized I have plenty of books that I would be interest in. I think I would define this pretty narrowly for myself and go with an international author writing about international life.
NancyJ wrote: "Thanks Sue. Wow this list brings back memories (and makes me feel tired at the same time). Of the ones I read, I would be most likely to read Clan of the Cave Bear again. I loved Thornbirds at the time, but I worry it wouldn't hold up well to a re-read."I re-read Chesapeake a couple years ago, and I still loved it. I agree that the idea of a re-read of such long books is exhausting.
I've been thinking of re-reading The Stand, but just can't bring myself to start. Not sure if it's considered an epic or not. It sure felt epic when I read it the first time.
I was reminded that I used to be really drawn to looooooong books. As a kid my Mom used to take me to the bookstore and I was allowed to buy 1 book at a time. So from my perspective, the longer the better.
Later in life when I started traveling for work (and long before e-readers) shorter paperbacks were my go-to's.
And now I read almost exclusively on my Kindle and Audio, and I don't often consider the length.
Booknblues wrote: "I feel the way about epics that everyone feels about westerns. I love a good western."My dad is the one who likes westerns in my family, but that is on TV or in films (cowboy movies). When he reads it is other stuff. However, he has never once been interested in a cowboy romance.
I would have said I don’t like Westerns but I loved Lonesome Dove, That Old Ace in the Hole, Brokeback Mountain, News of the World and In the Distance (great find by Book Concierge). I liked that they were great stories of interesting characters in extreme situations.
There are lots of writers writing anti-westerns these days, which still fall in the western category. (Robin mentions In the Distance, which I also loved and is an anti-western.)
I've emerged from the baby haze and remembered that it's voting time for the first time since... August?I'm probably throwing my points away, but I'm really excited for one of the options!
I really really really do not want an Epic. I love them, truly, but let's not forget, I read PROUST earlier this year and there is nothing more epic. NOTHING! And let's not forget how crazy it is in December....how little time one tends to have. Even with pandemic eliminating so many traditional events and celebrations, it is still going to be a busy time. I am already feeling anxious about juggling year end work demands with Christmas.
Theresa wrote: "I really really really do not want an Epic. I love them, truly, but let's not forget, I read PROUST earlier this year and there is nothing more epic. NOTHING! And let's not forget how crazy it is..."
Good point. I love epic novels and series (hello Outlander!), but December is a bad timing for them. January and February in the middle of a pandemic winter might be just right though!
Please not Epic ... too much going on to have time for a B*I*G book in December....
Sue wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I've been thinking of re-reading The Stand, but just can't bring myself to start. Not sure if it's considered an epic or not. It sure felt epic when I read it the first time."
It doesn't get much more epic than The Stand IMO (well, maybe Proust LOL). A virus that wipes out 98% of the population, re-building civilization, the ultimate battle between good (God) and evil (the devil). Oh yeah … Epic.
Joy D wrote: "There are lots of writers writing anti-westerns these days, which still fall in the western category. (Robin mentions In the Distance, which I also loved and is an anti-western.)"While doing poll tally, we discovered an enormous % of books tagged "western" were books that are from Western Hemisphere or fall under Occident as opposed to Orient - many American and European classics and general literature. Once upon a time there were college courses on Western Civilization and Western Literature that covered non- asian, non-african history and literature. European and North American generally covered.
Proust is tagged 'western' for heaven's sake!
That tag in GR is far far more broadly used than just for cowboy fiction.
I'm really hoping for it NOT to be epic! I want to not be reading something super-long so as to catch up with other reads before the year ends!
Hebah wrote: "I've emerged from the baby haze and remembered that it's voting time for the first time since... August?I'm probably throwing my points away, but I'm really excited for one of the options!"
I Hebah--it's lovely to see you again.
I have a long-term personal reading goal to read a book set in each country of the world, so the international tag appeals to me, but I have books that fit and would be truly happy with any of the three tags.
I don’t always think of something extremely long when I think of EPIC. I mean LOTR, Harry Potter, Dune, Outlander, etc. are all epic. Each book in those series aren’t particularly long. So, I’m still hoping and fighting for EPIC but I’ll make whatever work if I can force my mood to fit.
Kimber wrote: "I have a long-term personal reading goal to read a book set in each country of the world, so the international tag appeals to me, but I have books that fit and would be truly happy with any of the ..."Me too! For 2021 I want to make sure that I at least hit every major region/continent. I also want to eventually read at least one book from every century. It might be possible to find a good international book for almost any tag. Some creative interpretations might be needed - e.g. a book with "Western" in the title, or a book set in Western Africa or Western Australia.
I just found this list of the best international books of 2020:
https://shereads.com/best-internation...
Jenni Elyse wrote: "I don’t always think of something extremely long when I think of EPIC. I mean LOTR, Harry Potter, Dune, Outlander, etc. are all epic. Each book in those series aren’t particularly long. So, I’m sti..."I'd love some shorter epics or a new series too.
The Vanished Birds has a very epic scope and feel. It spanned centuries and multiple planets, and it was under 400 pages.
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World felt epic to me and it's also under 400 pages. It fits the international tag.
Nicole R wrote: "I haven't looked at the list yet. It is like Schrodinger's cat....until I actually look, there is a possibility that contemporary romance is on the list...."LOL - see also "irish thriller"
NancyJ wrote: "Kimber wrote: "I have a long-term personal reading goal to read a book set in each country of the world, so the international tag appeals to me, but I have books that fit and would be truly happy w..."Nancy, that's such a great list of international reads. Thanks for sharing - I've bookmarked it. It includes books set in and written by residents of some countries I haven't read yet.
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Books mentioned in this topic
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World (other topics)The Vanished Birds (other topics)
True Grit (other topics)
In the Distance (other topics)
That Old Ace in the Hole (other topics)
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Another one in our non-western group :)