2022 Genre & Novelist Reads

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Genre & Novelist Reads for 2022:


January: Thomas Hardy

February: Historical Fiction/Romance
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Silas Marner by George Eliot

March: Jane Austen
Suggested read: Persuasion

April: Action/Adventure
Kidnapped and Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

May: W. Somerset Maugham or Charles Dickens
Suggested read for Dickens: Oliver Twist

June: Family Saga
Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann

July: Daphne du Maurier
Suggested read: Frenchman's Creek

August: Mystery: Thriller/Spy:
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene
The Magus by John Fowles

September: Agatha Christie

October: Nautical/Sea
Moby-Dick or, the Whale by Herman Melville
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

November: Wilkie Collins
Suggested read: Armadale

December: Comedy
Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh

FWC: Quarterly Reads
Jan-Mar The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark
Apr-Jun Shane by Jack Schaefer
Jul-Sep Llano River by Elmer Kelton
Oct-Dec Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey

[John]

My genre was Family Saga, and my suggestions are Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann

Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth by Hermann Hesse (not sure that this really meets the genre)

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

(If I'm limited to one, then in has to be Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family

[Astrid]

Though I selected Historical Romance, in all reality, I prefer Historical Fiction, be it Romance or otherwise. But in all honesty, I'm all over the place. I like to switch up my reading genres.

Regarding Historical Fiction, usually something between the 18th to mid 20th centuries. Rarely anything earlier, though I also like current works.

I also like some Sci-Fi, though I'm very picky about that. Don't care at all for the Fantasy types but do like those that tend to involve dystopias and various social conditions.

[Blueberry]

I selected Family Sagas because it was the best place to put Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey.

[Liane]

I am all over the place too, dedicated to sci-fi, but I loved Austen (but don’t often reread) and also Dickens, who I have much more to read. Any suggestions on what genre Dickens is? Not really multi-generational, nor romance. He is all about (then current) social commentary, which I find fascinating.

[Zuly]

John wrote: "My genre was Family Saga, and my suggestions are Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann

Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth by [auth..."

This is my choice of genre, and would like to read Buddebrooks.

[Nidhi]

I missed this system ( could not understand it) of selecting books for a whole year( in 2020) When finally I got the list, my whole slot of 75 books was full by other groups’ challenges . And from this year’s list I have at least 20 books which I wanted to read, now they are In TBR for next year ( plus whole of the Steinbeck read by the group and Russian authors).

So this year I am keeping a sharp eye on the proceedings lol. I voted for my most favourite genre Historical Fiction. If seconds are allowed I will second Family Sagas.

[[deleted user]]

I chose Historical romance as the genre and I particularly recommend any of Jane Austen's books for that genre.

[Nidhi]

For historical fiction my suggestion is Sir Nigel by Arthur Conan Doyle

For family saga: The Good Earth by Pearl S.
Buck

Mystery: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Romance: The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Biography: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Action/Adventure:Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I voted for action/adventure having in mind Kidnapped and its sequel Catriona (sorry I couldn't find a link) by Robert Louis Stevenson. But I'm not sure whether the latter book is freely available.

[Kathy]

I voted for mystery and would like to read Armadale by Wilkie Collins. (1866)

2nd choice is Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James (1971)

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Lesle wrote: "Piyangie hope this is the right one
Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson"

It is the one, Lesle. Thank you.

[Supeng]

I voted for Romance and I would like to recommend Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert as I recently got a copy of that but I have not read it.

I’m not sure if it has an “optimistic ending” though. Is it okay to suggest something we’ve not read before?

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Supeng wrote: "Apologies, part of my comment got cut off.
I meant to ask if it is okay to suggest something we’ve not read before?"

Most definitely Supeng!

[Supeng]

Thank you Lesle for your answer, though I see that Romance wouldn’t probably win haha..

I’ll keep a close eye on the final books chosen and hopefully join in when the announcements are out! :)

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I too thought about voting for Romance and suggesting Madam Bovary since a reread of it is due. :) But the "optimistic ending" checked me. :) The only romances that come to my mind with an optimistic ending are Jane Austen's.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

If a second is needed for Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family, please count me in. It's a book in my TBR for 2022.

[Karin]

Lesle wrote: "Nidhi at first I was thinking one to match your choice in the poll, but I think it is ok to post one for each genre you would like to support is fine."

Hooray!

@Piyangie--there are other optimistic classic romances, but of course it's easy to think of Jane Austen first and also of the Bronte sisters whose romances are not all so optimistic when they are romances (Jane Eyre certainly is, but not what one would call optimistic!)

[Kathy]

Piyangie wrote: "If a second is needed for Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family, please count me in. It's a book in my TBR for 2022."

I too would like to read Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family.

[Peter]

Key classics that I want to read in 2022 are Max Havelaar, or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company by the Dutch author Multatuli and Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenyev and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I struggle to find the right genre for this selection.

[Brian E]

This is the March 2020 Archive discussion on Max Havelaar: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

This is the June 2019 Archive discussion on Fathers and Sons: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

This is the April 2018 Archive Discussion on German Authors with suggested reads Buddenbrooks and Effi Briest, although most of the discussion concerns Effi Briest: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Peter]

Thank you, Brian

[Brian E]

This is an oldie but goodie from Oct/Nov of 2016 on Heart of Darkness: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I posted these 4 old discussions for institutional memory purposes only.
However I was very pleased to see that 3 of the more experienced and reliable readers here, Kathy, Peter and Piyangie, want to read one of my all-time favorite novels, Buddenbrooks. Those 3, unlike the too many voters I've run into on Goodreads, can at least be counted on to read a book they asked or voted for.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Peter wrote: "Key classics that I want to read in 2022 are Max Havelaar, or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company by the Dutch author Multatuli and Fathers and Sons by Ivan ..."

Peter we can keep this in mind. We are considering re-reads as well.
Not everyone has time to fit it in their schedule when we originally read the classic.

[Karin]

I have been bad about getting here, so will suggest books as I think of them.

This one could work for Comedy or Romance In fact there are two books (one is sort of a sequel) so I am going to put two down that could be either of those categories. I just love these.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
Dear Enemy

(it also comes as a 2 book volume). If we go with these, I strongly recommend getting Daddy Long Legs with the original drawings because it's even better than without, but still funny without.

If it were up to me, I'd plan it to read Daddy Long Legs for comedy and then in a later month read the sequel for Romance.

[Shay]

I voted for Family Saga, and I would love to read:
Gone with the Wind
East of Eden or The Forsyte Saga

[Annette]

I also voted for Family Saga. While it’s a bit of a stretch to put it in that genre, I nominate Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave’, the first book in her Arthurian Saga.

[Brian E]

Shrouk, if you end up reading either of these family sagas this year, be aware that this Group has open threads from Group Reads earlier this year of both East of Eden: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (February 2021) and The Forsyte Saga: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (April-June 2021)

Both threads are still open for discussion. I've been posting in The Forsyte Saga discussion thread during this month.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Shrouk, as Brian said, both threads are still open for discussion, and will remain so.
All of our book discussion threads remain open, no matter how long ago we read the book.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Thank you Shrouk!

It just reminds me even though we have read a Classic as a group at the time we may not have had time to read it. A re-read or get to finally off my TBR pile never hurts to revisit some of our past reads.

I myself know, I always have high hopes of reading every one of our Monthly Group Read up for the month that I am interested in but the month passes me up before I get to the next read!

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Looking for suggestions for next year under each category. It can be a re-read for the group or a new read.
You can suggest a book for each genre or just a few. Please copy and past if you like. Taking suggestions for FWC (Frontier Western Classics for the Western Category like O Pioneers!, Smoky the Cowhorse or even Little Big Man.

You can support a suggestion as well.

Historical Fiction/Romance: 35 votes
Family Saga: 34 votes
Mystery: 30 votes
Romance: 22 votes
Action/Adventure: 15 votes
Thriller: 13 votes
Spy/Detective: 8 votes
Comedy: 8 votes
Biography: 7 votes
Nautical/Sea: 7 votes
Western: 0 votes

Just a reminder: Most Classics need to be 50 years or older written 1972 or older. YA is 40 years 1981 or older. FWC and Plays are written 1991 or older.

[Brian E]

Piyangie wrote: " Kidnapped and its sequel Catriona (sorry I couldn't find a link) by Robert Louis Stevenson. But I'm not sure whether the latter book is freely available."

I think Catriona is sufficiently available. When I read it 3 years ago, I bought a Kindle version on Amazon. There is also a paperback edition: https://www.amazon.com/Catriona-Rober...

Presumably Amazon UK will have some version of Catriona available.

[Georgina]

I voted for action and adventure and would like to suggest Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

[John]

My suggestions are -

Historical Fiction/Romance - Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
Family Saga - Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann
Mystery - The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Action/Adventure - Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Thriller - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Spy/Detective - Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene
Comedy - Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Biography - The Life of Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Gaskell
Nautical/Sea - Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
Western - Shane by Jack Schaefer

(Irrespective of the results - aren't these lists a great way of enthusing yourself to read/re-read some great books?)

[Helen]

I find it very hard to nominate particular books, because there are so many I want to read, but I also like being surprised by books I haven't come across before. That said, I would happily second 'Kidnapped' and 'Robinson Crusoe' as they have been waiting patiently on my 'to read' pile for quite a long time. Also very high on my pile are Notre-Dame de Paris (historical / romance perhaps???), Silas Marner (family, maybe), Moby-Dick or, the Whale (Nautical), Watership Down (Adventure / a hero's journey, I suppose), among a lot of others.

[Shay]

Thank you Brian, Rosemarie, and Lesle for your comments. I didn't know that threads remain open. Hopefully I will be able to read these books soon.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Lejla wrote: "Mystery, ''The name of rose'', Umberto Eco"

Glad to see you were able to post this Lejla! Thank you :)

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

John wrote: "(Irrespective of the results - aren't these lists a great way of enthusing yourself to read/re-read some great books?)..."

Just never know what is going on in my head John! But I totally agree.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Helen wrote: "I find it very hard to nominate particular books, because there are so many I want to read, but I also like being surprised by books I haven't come across before. That said, I would happily second ..."

Thank you Helen!

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Shrouk wrote: "Thank you Brian, Rosemarie, and Lesle for your comments. I didn't know that threads remain open. Hopefully I will be able to read these books soon."

Your more than welcome Shrouk!

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Brian wrote: "Piyangie wrote: " Kidnapped and its sequel Catriona (sorry I couldn't find a link) by Robert Louis Stevenson. But I'm not sure whether the latter book is freely available."

I think [book:Catriona|..."

Ah, thats good news, Brian. Thank you.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Lesle - my original suggestion for Kidnapped and Catriona stands under action/adventure category. And I will support the Buddenbrooks under family saga.

[Kathy]

Historical Fiction/Romance: Vanity Fair

Family Saga: I support Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family

Mystery: Armadale by Wilkie Collins

Romance: Sense and Sensibility (re-read for me)

Action/Adventure:

Thriller:

Spy/Detective: I support Our Man in Havana

Comedy: I support Thank You, Jeeves

Biography: I support The Life of Charlotte Brontë

Nautical/Sea:

Western:

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Armadale is on my to-read list. I would enjoy reading it with the group.

[Annette]

Historical Fiction/Romance:

I have already named a Family Saga above (Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave).

Mystery: A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie

Romance:

Action/Adventure:

Thriller:

Spy/Detective:

Comedy:

Biography:

It has been a long time since I read this Western but I suggest No Life for a Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland.

And for Nautical/Sea: I suggest Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

I will return to name a book for the blank categories.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Looks like I've completely misunderstood this process. So, let me get myself cleared. Can I recommend/support one book in more than one category?

[Paula]

For historical fiction I’d love to read Dead Souls by Gogol, for family saga The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Piyangie wrote: "Looks like I've completely misunderstood this process. So, let me get myself cleared. Can I recommend/support one book in more than one category? "

Yes you can. You are right at first I was just taking one, but I have changed my mind wanting more diversity in choices.


All prior suggestions will remain and be part of this whole process. Thank you for the reminder and wanting clarification :)

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Annette wrote: "It has been a long time since I read this Western but I suggest No Life for a Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland...."

Annette what a great suggestion, I did not know about this. Seems to be very interesting about the female role!

[Nidhi]

Lesle wrote: "Looking for suggestions for next year under each category. It can be a re-read for the group or a new read.
You can suggest a book for each genre or just a few. Please copy and past if you like. Ta..."

Hi Lesle. What is FWC?