Introduction to the Genre Challenge 2022-2025

[Liz, Moderator]

Hi all,
It's time to start the genre challenge once again!

Please join us as we travel beyond our usual comfort zones. You can join us for the long haul, or dip in occasionally; whichever you prefer.

Last time around the list included:

Historical
Magical-realism
Crime/detective (includes true crime)
Classic novels (pre 20thC)
Modern British classics (20thC/kitchen sink)
American 20thC classics
Travel/exploration
Non-fiction/self-help
Sci-Fi/dystopian
Horror/gothic/ghost-story
Fantasy/folklore
Biography/memoir
LBGTQ
Psychiatry/madness
Young Adult/New adult/Children's
Romance/Erotica
Short stories
Espionage/spy
Cult/Chemical fiction
War/revolution
Poetry
Comedy/humour
Award-winning (Booker, Orange, Pulitzer)
Western
Graphic novels
Literary adaptations (books that have been adapted for the screen)

That's 26 genres in total and yes, we've combined a few to simplify things and keep the challenge to just over two years (it's amazing how quickly two years flies by).

So, we'll tackle a different genre every month. It's up to you what books you choose and how many for each genre - one is enough, but don't let me stop you if you want to read more of your favourites. At the start of the month, I'll ask for your recommendations and share a few of my own.

As to which genre and when...? First time around we voted, but the problem was that all the unpopular choices were left until the later stages of the challenge, which made it far harder. So for the last few times we have used a random generator, which I think works much better, but what do you think?

I admit I have rigged the choice this month ...

As it's October, and Halloween is at the end of the month, it seems fitting that we tackle horror/ghost stories/gothic fiction first....

[Laura]

I am so excited to take part in this challenge, it’s my first time joining the challenge right at the beginning and I really want to tackle a book each month for the genre. Can’t wait and thank you Liz for setting this up again

[Abigail]

Thank you for doing this, Liz!

[Helen]

Thanks Liz. Excited to embark k on this journey with everyone again

[Liz, Moderator]

Have fun and good luck everyone!

[Liz, Moderator]

October will soon be drawing to a close, so looking ahead, the genre for November will be.... (drum roll please)..... Short Stories! I will go ahead and set up the thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

With December on the way, it's time to put your feet up by the fireside and reach for a Winter/Christmas read. I will go ahead and post the new thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

So I have just checked the random generator to see what we will be reading for January 2023. It will be biography/memoir.

[Kate, Moderator]

Fingers crossed for romance for February!!!

[Liz, Moderator]

Sorry, been distracted! It certainly is romance for February! I will go ahead and set up the new thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

February is quickly disappointing, so it's time to announce the genre for March. It will be: classic novels (pre 20th century). So put your thinking caps on while I set up the new thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

I think I meant 'disappearing', damn auto-correct!

[Abigail]

Ooh, good genre! My Jane Austen group is doing Persuasion in March so I’ll probably read that, but I’ll also shoot for reading a classic I haven’t read before.

[Liz, Moderator]

Wow, what happened to April? For May we will be reading Non fiction and/or Self Help. I will go ahead and set up the thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

July is just around the corner and we will be tackling comedy/humour. I will set up the thread...

[Abigail]

Thanks for the heads-up, Liz! I could use some humour after the spy/espionage genre.

[Liz, Moderator]

So I have just spun the virtual wheel to select the next genre and it's travel and/or exploration for September....

[Liz, Moderator]

Oh my goodness! It's November tomorrow! So what's the next genre? Award-winning Books :)

[Liz, Moderator]

With December imminently upon us, it's time to announce the next genre.

We usually do a Christmas/Winter read. Shall we do that again this year?

[Abigail]

Fine by me so long as winter is included!

[Kate, Moderator]

Sounds good to me Liz.

[Kay]

hi!
just found this challenge!
will there be a genre fir January?

[Kate, Moderator]

Welcome Kay. There will indeed. I'm sure Liz will let us know in the next couple of days.

[Liz, Moderator]

Hi Kay, Yes, there certainly will be! Still tangled up with Christmas events, visits etc, but I'll be setting up the new thread tomorrow. Watch this space....

[Liz, Moderator]

With just a few days of December remaining, it's time to set up the next genre for the Genre Challenge. I've spun the virtual wheel and the genre is: Graphic Novels. I will go ahead and set up the new thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

Oops! It's February alread!! So sorry.

The genre for February is LGBTQ+ novels, writers. I will set up the new thread tomorrow.

[Liz, Moderator]

February always goes so quickly (even when it is a Leap Year...)
For March we will be tackling War/Revolution - just the thing to help us escape from these turbulent times..... or not.

I think it might be a good idea to add Peace...

[Liz, Moderator]

So where to head in April? The random generator has selected: Mental Health/Psychiatry/Madness - could be fiction or non-fiction. I will go ahead and set up the new thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

I meant psychology! although psychiatry is also possible!

[Liz, Moderator]

It's 20th Century Modern British Classics for May. The new thread is up and running :)

[Liz, Moderator]

So what will we be reading for June? The random generator has picked Young Adult/Children's Literature. I will just set up the new thread...

[Kate, Moderator]

Thanks for setting up July for westerns Liz.
Am I right in thinking there are only 6 genres left?
By my reckoning we have the following to tackle:

Magical Realism
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Cult/Chemical Fiction
Poetry
Literary Adaptations

I think I'll try and fish out some to fit these ahead of time!

[Liz, Moderator]

Yes, we have the following genres (not in any particular order) to read to complete the challenge:

- Western
- Literary adaptations (film / TV tie-ins)
- Poetry
- Fantasy/folklore
- Magical-realism
- Sci-Fi/dystopian
- Cult/Chemical fiction

Plus there'll probably be another Christmas/Winter read in December...

[Liz, Moderator]

So for August, we'll be looking at poetry. I will go ahead and set up the new thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

It's Fantasy/Folklore for September. So put your thinking caps on and I will go ahead and set up the thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

The genre for October will be Cult/Chemical Fiction. I will go ahead and set up the thread.

[Liz, Moderator]

It's Literary Adaptations (TV or Film) for November. Setting up the thread...

[Liz, Moderator]

As it's December, it's time for our annual Christmas or Winter Read. It's very easy to join the group read this month, as we've chosen Hercule Poirot's Christmas! I will set up the new thread.

[Liz, Moderator]

February will be the final month for this run of the Genre Challenge and we'll be reading Sci-Fi/Dystopian novels. I will set up the new thread soon, but you can put on your thinking caps to decide what to read...

As it's the final month, I just want to check if any of you want to continue the challenge and start again? There are generally about 24 different genres we cover in the challenge, so with one book/genre a month, the whole thing takes about two years to complete.

Let me know if you're up for it :)

[Linda Ferguson]

New to this forum/group. What book are you reading now. What book are you reading now? My app says currently reading Normal people? Is that it or is it a mystical challenge

[Kate, Moderator]

Welcome Linda!
We have a number of different challenges running at once. Normal People is the booked voted for our January group read.
This section is a different challenge for our monthly genre. January is Magical realism.
Hope that helps. Feel free to dive in to any challenge at any time.

[Liz, Moderator]

Liz wrote: "February will be the final month for this run of the Genre Challenge and we'll be reading Sci-Fi/Dystopian novels. I will set up the new thread soon, but you can put on your thinking caps to decide..."

I've just set up the new thread for February's genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian:

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

[Helen]

I am up to go again if others want to. I have still been completing each month. I have not been posting what I read because I am full time carer for my elderly Dad with fairly advanced Alzheimer’s, but still managing to get the reading done - thank you Audible!!! Hope everyone is well and happy x

[Liz, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "I am up to go again if others want to. I have still been completing each month. I have not been posting what I read because I am full time carer for my elderly Dad with fairly advanced Alzheimer’s,..."

Helen, I'm so glad to hear you're still reading along. I myself have found books both a comfort and welcome distraction through difficult times. I hope you and your dad are doing ok.

[Liz, Moderator]

I have yet to start my sci-fi for this month, but I'm already thinking about March and a fresh new run of the Genre Challenge!

Last time around the list included:

Historical
Magical-realism
Crime/detective (includes true crime)
Classic novels (pre 20thC)
Modern British classics (20thC/kitchen sink)
American 20thC classics
Travel/exploration
Non-fiction/self-help
Sci-Fi/dystopian
Horror/gothic/ghost-story
Fantasy/folklore
Biography/memoir
LBGTQ
Psychiatry/madness
Young Adult/New adult/Children's
Romance/Erotica
Short stories
Espionage/spy
Cult/Chemical fiction
War/revolution
Poetry
Comedy/humour
Award-winning (Booker, Orange, Pulitzer)
Western
Graphic novels
Literary adaptations (books that have been adapted for the screen)

That's 26 genres in total and yes, I combined a few to simplify things and keep the challenge to just over two years - I still can't quite believe this challenge takes two years to complete! I try to do them all, but of course, you can dip in and out as you like.

I will go ahead and set up a new thread for the 2025-27 challenge...