Announcing the April Tag

[Anita]

Archeology gave it the ol' college try, but at the end of the day, we are going to be reaching:

gothic

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "Gothic" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:

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

We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.

Happy Reading!!!

[Booknblues]

Hmm... the one I least wanted. But there are plenty of good Gothic books out there. I'm just a bit tired of the genre having read my share, but I think I will take this opportunity to read The Haunting of Hill House, which I have long wanted to read.

I am sure everyone will offer great recommendations.

[[deleted user]]

Yay! So glad this one won! My MA dissertation (thesis) was on the Gothic novels of Ann Radcliffe, and I've subsequently read a lot more!

My recommendations

Classic Gothic novels
The Castle of Otranto
Vathek
A Sicilian Romance
The Romance of the Forest
The Mysteries of the Udolpho
The Italian
Zofloya
The Monk
The Yellow Wallpaper
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights (basically any Bronte would do)
Northanger Abbey (technically a parody of the genre, and there's also Val McDermid's updated version)
Frankenstein
Dracula
Rebecca
Jamaica Inn (again, any Daphne Du Maurier should work)
The Signalman - Dickens (in To Be Read at Dusk with other spooky stories)

Modern Gothic
The Historian
An Inspector Calls
The Stranger Diaries

I'm going to read The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic as it takes me to the Philippines for Fly the PBT skies! My other options took me to the USA (and I've already been there once this year for the challenge) or England, and I need to save England just in case that's the closest I can get to home in December!

[Amy]

Can I admit I did not see that one coming? I may have to do more research, but I think I might be going with bitter orange. It’s on my TBR, But it’s also in my garage. My other option is the name of the rose. But I don’t think I’m as enthused this month. Again, I might go back and research and see if there’s an option I missed.

[[deleted user]]

Amy wrote: "Can I admit I did not see that one coming? I may have to do more research, but I think I might be going with bitter orange. It’s on my TBR, But it’s also in my garage. My other option is the name o..."

The Name of the Rose is good!

[Book Concierge]

I may go with the Robert Louis Stevenson classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories ...

Or possibly Jamaica Inn by Daphne duMaurier

The hold list at the library is way too long for Mexican Gothic for me to get it and read it this month. Too bad, as that would have been my first choice.

[Amy]

I just also ordered the Name of the Rose, and the Witch of Willow Hall, which I was saving for October. But no matter, I have a good choice no matter what.

[DianeMP]

Even though we had three good choices, I'm very glad that gothic came out on top. I plan to start with the Haunting of Hill House, read a little William Falkner with As I Lay Dying, and some Cormac McCarthy with Child of God. I'm going to check out Mexican Gothic, too.

Recommendations:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Anything by Flannery O'Connor

[forsanolim]

Hmm. I have my book for Fly the Skies picked out, but I'm not sure what else I'll get to. (I've been intending to read Rebecca for so long at this point, but we'll see if that actually happens.)

Amy, I really enjoyed The Name of the Rose fairly recently. Can anyone recommend other historical fiction books set before ~1750 that would fit the tag?

[[deleted user]]

forsanolim wrote: "Hmm. I have my book for Fly the Skies picked out, but I'm not sure what else I'll get to. (I've been intending to read Rebecca for so long at this point, but we'll see if that actually happens.)

A..."

Hi,
Any of these should be before 1750!
The Castle of Otranto
Vathek
A Sicilian Romance
The Romance of the Forest
The Mysteries of Udolpho

[Jgrace]

I wish it was October. I'd be more in the mood for Gothic in the fall.

Recommendations:
Melmoth - I'd love it if someone would read this. I'd like to discuss it.
The Broken Girls
An Inquiry Into Love and Death
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Just don't plan on reading anything else all month.
The Thirteenth Tale

I'm a fan of 19th century gothic; the Brontes, Dickens, Collins, but I know they are not for everyone.

[Amy]

OOOH - the Thirteenth Tale! I loved that one!

[Jen K]

Gothic is a genre that I'm drawn to, get excited enough to buy the book and then never read it. This was the case for The Thirteenth Tale which I finally read last year for Trim. I have quite a few from the list already on my Kindle to dust off for next month though none of the more classical ones. Perhaps I will take on one of those as well.

Speaking of Trim, let me go spin for our next Trim number.

[~*Kim*~]

Yay! I'm probably going to read The Visitant: A Venetian Ghost Story. I might try The Madman’s Daughter.

As for recommendations, at the top of my list would be A Great and Terrible Beauty. Beautiful Creatures is another good one.

[Joanne]

This one shocked me-wow, didn't see that coming either Amy-not sure yet what I will read...will wait to see all the suggestions

[Robin P]

Hmm, I mostly don't care for Gothic. I don't like horror, werewolves, vampires, witches (not for any religious reasons, just find them overused.)

But I loved The Name of the Rose though I wouldn't have labeled it Gothic. And I see there are fantasy books like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and The Night Circus. I know I read something recently that struck me as Gothic even though that wasn't the main genre, so I'll have to be flexible.

[Jgrace]

Robin P wrote: "Hmm, I mostly don't care for Gothic. I don't like horror, werewolves, vampires, witches (not for any religious reasons, just find them overused.)

But I loved The Name of the Rose tho..."

How do you feel about ghosts?

[Jen K]

Jgrace wrote: "I wish it was October. I'd be more in the mood for Gothic in the fall.

Recommendations:
Melmoth - I'd love it if someone would read this. I'd like to discuss it.
The Broken..."</i>

I have Perry's [book:The Essex Serpent on my list to consider. Years ago I read about 30 pages and decided it wasn't working for me. Feel I should give it another try.

[Robin P]

Jgrace wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Hmm, I mostly don't care for Gothic. I don't like horror, werewolves, vampires, witches (not for any religious reasons, just find them overused.)

But I loved The Name of the ..."</i>

It depends on the book. I noticed there were several [author:Sarah Waters on there and I like her. I also liked Her Fearful Symmetry, which is a ghost story. I found The Essex Serpent rather blah but not because of the genre.

I think there are different ways to look at Gothic. It can be written in a certain era of the 19th century, with emphasis on storms and old houses, like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. It can be a creepy story of any kind from any era.

[Karin]

Well, Gothic was my second choice :). - c'est la vie

Now I'm off to see what I might read. It probably won't work for one of the two places I am thinking about going next for Fly the Skies (migraine brain, so if that's wrong, so be it).

[Joy D]

I recommend a book I read recently and loved (though it's probably a "love it or hate it" type book). It's on the "Gothic" list:
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke


I've read Melmoth, Jgrace.

[John]

I plan to read The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

[John]

Jgrace wrote: "I wish it was October. I'd be more in the mood for Gothic in the fall.



If you want a good example of contemporary Gothic, I will concur with your recommendation of The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

[Charlotte]

Yay!!! The one I wanted won!! I have a couple on this list that I'm planning on reading!

Rebecca - since I never got to it this month
Mexican Gothic - which I'll also use for PBT Skies!

[forsanolim]

Jenny wrote: "forsanolim wrote: "Hmm. I have my book for Fly the Skies picked out, but I'm not sure what else I'll get to. (I've been intending to read Rebecca for so long at this point, but we'll see if that ac..."

Thanks, Jenny!

Though it doesn't fit the criteria I mentioned, I just realized that Carlos Ruiz Zafon's series could definitely be described as gothic, so continuing with The Angel's Game is also a possibility for me next month!

[Theresa]

A few more to consider:

Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White
Louisa May Alcott wrote gothic shorts before Little Women. A collection of them has been published.

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart which is really good and pretty much any Victoria Holt or Phyllis Whitney.

I would also count Possession and Angels and Insects by A.S. Byatt as gothic and set historically.

[Theresa]

All - there is an active Buddy Read in Footnotes for Rebecca. Happy to have anyone join.

[Anita]

Joy D wrote: "I recommend a book I read recently and loved (though it's probably a "love it or hate it" type book). It's on the "Gothic" list:
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke


I've read..."

Thanks so much for pointing this book fits the tag. I want something modern. This one strikes me as something I could hate, but on the flip side, the critical acclaim was spectacular. I got it easily from the library, so I will at least try it out.

My backup plan is either We Have Always Lived in the Castle or Things We Lost in the Fire or The Silent Companions.

For recommendations, after Rebecca, I liked Coraline and The Lake of Dead Languages.

[Anita]

John wrote: "I plan to read The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde."

I thought this was very good . . .hope you enjoy it John!

[Lyn]

If you are looking for a good mystery, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle fits the tag. I read it recently and thought it was really good.

[LibraryCin]

Amy wrote: "Can I admit I did not see that one coming? I may have to do more research, but I think I might be going with bitter orange. It’s on my TBR, But it’s also in my garage. My other option is the name o..."

It was the one topic that didn't get any discussion! Isn't that what always used to win!?

[LibraryCin]

I have a recommendation:

This House Is Haunted by John Boyne

That's my favourite that I have tagged "gothic".

A few others I quite liked:
The Turn of the Key / Ruth Ware
The Little Stranger / Sarah Waters
The Distant Hours / Kate Morton

And for those who like classics:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle / Shirley Jackson

[LibraryCin]

Oh, and I was already planning on reading
Mexican Gothic

For something else next month. If something happens and I can't get it from the library, I'll have to pick something else.

[Nicole R]

Anita, I’ll read Piranesi with you!! I need a break before the third Cromwell books for sure.

[Nicole R]

And thanks for pointing it out, Joy!

[NancyJ]

I need some help from the gothic experts!

I don't have as much time to read now, so I want to check a couple of boxes with each book. (Notice that I didn't mention killing anything with a stone!)

Can you recommend gothic books from China (or nearby)? I'm not finding books with a lot of tags. I think there must be some gothic books that are set in China, Maybe a Victorian traveling to the exotic orient?

[Doughgirl5562]

I have dozens of unread series on my TBR, so I'm using the monthly tags to help me choose which to read. With gothic, I am going to go with the Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters, the first of which is Borrower of the Night.

I adored the Amelia Peabody series by the same author. If this is even half as good I'll be happy!

[Booknblues]

LibraryCin wrote: "I have a recommendation:

This House Is Haunted by John Boyne

That's my favourite that I have tagged "gothic".

A few others I quite liked:
The Turn of the Key /..."
This House is Haunted is the other one on my to read list.

[Robin P]

Lyn wrote: "If you are looking for a good mystery, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle fits the tag. I read it recently and thought it was really good."

I liked that one and I have his next book The Devil and the Dark Water, which should also count.

[Robin P]

NancyJ wrote: "I need some help from the gothic experts!

I don't have as much time to read now, so I want to check a couple of boxes with each book. (Notice that I didn't mention killing anything with a stone!)..."

Some of Amy Tan would count, for instance The Hundred Secret Senses.

[Joy D]

Nicole R wrote: "And thanks for pointing it out, Joy!"

No problem! I loved it. Hope you and Anita enjoy it too. It's one of those books where the experience of reading it is a huge part of the pleasure.

[Robin P]

More suggestions, even if not yet tagged as Gothic
- anything by Haruki Murakami
Some books in my TBR
The King's General
A Conspiracy of Paper
The Clockmaker's Daughter
The River Knows
The Paid Companion
Gideon the Ninth
A Curious Beginning

[Jgrace]

I noticed something on the Gothic shelf page. Half way down on the right side of the page there's this note:

The following shelves are listed as duplicates of this shelf:
dark-romanticism, gothic-fiction, gothic-literature, gothic-suspense, and modern-gothic

Has there always been a list of duplicate shelves? I'm in the middle of three different books, but now I'm spending my time comparing these 'duplicate' shelves.

[Theresa]

Oh, and the Brontes, any Bronte, absolutely fits gothic. I mean Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and even Villette just scream GOTHIC.

[Kelly]

I am definitely looking at the recommendations everyone posted for this month. I will try The Thirteenth Tale.

[Amy]

Kelly, my book twin! You will love it!!!!! Can't wait to hear what you think.

I am looking forward to reading something with you this year. So far its been a wingding of a year, and I have clocked a lot for 2021 with HayJay, Joy, and Sally..... Charlotte too!

[Holly R W]

I read a gothic book last year that I can recommend. It was very original and creative - The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock

[Robin P]

Holly R W wrote: "I read a gothic book last year that I can recommend. It was very original and creative - The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock"

I have that one on audio, got only a chapter or two in and had something else to read for a book club, so stopped and never got back to it. One more for my list.

[Nicole R]

Holly R W wrote: "I read a gothic book last year that I can recommend. It was very original and creative - The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock"

This is another one that has been on my radar...

[Meli]

@Robin -

Gideon The Ninth is gothic!?
I have this on my tbr and am itching to read it!
I just need to peruse the list, see what my other options are and see what I can fit in for April.
I was gonna skip this month's tag, but I am tempted to squeeze something in for it.

I also have a collection of Daphne Du Maurier short stories, The Doll and Other Stories.
However, I am not sure the collection would be tagged as gothic... or how many I can read.
I'll have to do some research.