Introducing the genre challenge

[Helen]

me three.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Me four!

[Dave]

Me (errr... Counts on fingers) five!!

[Helen]

lol. When I checked we were drawing with travel!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Helen wrote: "lol. When I checked we were drawing with travel!"

Botherations!

[Em]

Vote love, not war!

[Angela]

Changed my vote:) As you say, Em...."Vote love, not war!"

[Nancyspain]

Can anyone tell me where to vote for the February genre and I will help to bump up the numbers for love?!!!

[Helen]

Top of this page there is a list on the right, click poll.

[Liz, Moderator]

It's still neck-and-neck between Romance/Erotica and Travel/Exploration for February's genre challenge! Just 24hrs of voting time left - which way's it going to go?

The poll should be featured at the bottom of the home page, if not, true clicking on 'polls' on the list, top right....

[Nancyspain]

Thank you Helen and Liz. That brings the votes to 21 each for the two categories!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Well we will have to do both genres then - get everyone reading! And I am sure we can then cover the UK Tour and/or Around the World each! SIMPLES!

[Ian, Moderator]

Travel now one ahead - wonder if I can find a book with sex on a camel - 1 hump or two??

[Liz, Moderator]

Travel is now one vote ahead. Now, while I'm happy to read travel/exploration, it IS Valentine's day this month; surely this is THE time for romance/erotica? (So if you haven't voted yet....)

[Liz, Moderator]

Well, the group has spoken and Travel/Exploration has won out as this month's genre.

I have several books gathering dust on my shelves that might fit the bill, so I'll go and take a look.....
Happy reading :)

[Nell]

I've been searching for the poll - no joy - but at last I've found the answer to my question! Glad that Travel/Exploration won - off now to find Bruce Chatwin - it's a choice between The Songlines and In Patagonia.

[Helen]

Well, I've read my train ticket!

[Nancyspain]

Helen wrote: "Well, I've read my train ticket!"

With the price of a rail ticket being what it is these days that must come under the heading of a horror story!

[Em]

Nell wrote: "I've been searching for the poll - no joy - but at last I've found the answer to my question! Glad that Travel/Exploration won - off now to find Bruce Chatwin - it's a choice between The Song..."</i>

I liked [book:The Songlines haven't read the other although would like to, I don't imagine you could go far wrong with either!

[Nell]

Hi Em, I've just finished In Patagonia. Is there a special thread for this month, or do we post reviews and comments on this one?

[Liz, Moderator]

Nell wrote: "Hi Em, I've just finished In Patagonia. Is there a special thread for this month, or do we post reviews and comments on this one?"

Hi Nell, you can set up your own topic, here in the genre challenge folder (' Nell's genre challenge' and put it there if you like - although here's fine too :)

[Nell]

Hi Liz, I should have read the first post in this thread...! I think I'll just post a review here rather than set up a separate topic.

In Patagonia

A difficult book to analyze. The writing style seems simple - composed mainly of short statements - yet the author's eye picks out the oddest details. These details, together with a wide literary knowledge, well-researched history, myth and legend and encounters with strange and sometimes wonderful characters along the way, add up to an unusual read that gives one a peculiar and almost mystical feel for the country.

The story begins with a glass-fronted cabinet in his grandmother's dining room and a scrap of leathery skin sprouting ginger hairs. This was said to be the remains of a brontosaurus discovered in a cave in Patagonia by Charley Milward, his grandmother's cousin. The book is like the journal of a long-desired quest - with many deviations and adventures along the way - to discover the truth hiding amongst the muddle of family history.

Some sections - especially the revealing human ones - seemed almost fragmentary and I found myself re-reading and wanting more information. Others, mostly those dealing with historical figures, were (for me) too involved and difficult to absorb. But these are small things in what is an unusual and rather special book.

[Em]

I think it sounds unusual and interesting Nell (but I am a bit of a fan of Chatwin!) I've been meaning to get my hands on a copy for ages - I'll have to have a look next time I go to library, see if they have it in.

[Nell]

It has made me want to re-read The Songlines, which Chatwin apparently considered fiction, but there are others I haven't read - perhaps I should find those first.

This genre challenge is an inspiration - I wish I'd come across it when you all started - it's good to step outside one's comfy zone from time to time.

[Em]

Ah yes, it's definately a good one for trying new genres and writers.

The Songlines is a bit unusual - part travel log, part aboriginal dream time! My English teacher at school who I think was quite thoughtful in her selections chose On the Black Hill for our set fiction book at GCSE - it's about a small community, quite opposite to the travel and exploration that these other books are about.

[Nell]

I'm now reading Utz - not a travel book, although there's some involved. Chatwin apparently considered it a work of fiction, but it's written almost like a biography. Utz himself seems very real, and there's no disclaimer (this is a work of fiction and the characters... etc. etc.) as far as I can see.

[Em]

The poll for March is set up and on the home page for you to vote.

[Nell]

I voted for Psychiatry/madness; not entirely sure why, unless it's because it's one step on from my love of eccentricity and obsession.

As I only joined this group challenge late in the day, I'm wondering what will happen when all the genres have been covered - will we start again or think of new ones?

[Helen]

I've been a member since last Feb but have no idea sorry.

[Em]

Ummmm I don't know either!! At the outset it was a finite challenge with the aim being to read a book from each genre until we've completed the list. There are a number of other challenges within the group but it is nice to have a poll whether it be on genre or book of the month. I guess it'll depend on where members interests lie...

[Ian, Moderator]

I think we just start again don't we? Off to vote for romance/erotica which was cruelly pipped at the post last month.

[Nell]

It would be good to start again. Can anyone remember if Magic Realism was on the original list? I'd look through this thread, but there are nearly 500 posts now...

Or perhaps if I just look at the first poll :)

Edited to add that it is :)

[Helen]

Looking at last months poll, they have the same count so how come we decided to read travel?

[Em]

I think that must have been a late vote, tipping the balance (perhaps after the decision was made.)

Magic realism was on the original list, oh you know already! I love magic realism, one of my faves.

[Liz, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "Looking at last months poll, they have the same count so how come we decided to read travel?"

That's very strange, I've just checked and you're right. I remember being disappointed at the close of the poll, as Travel won by one vote (I don't normally read Romance, but it was Valentines day and I had Dr Zhivago all lined up etc...) So how the hell did that happen? Goodreads does have strange glitches from time time, perhaps we'll never know.....

[Liz, Moderator]

Nell wrote: "As I only joined this group challenge late in the day, I'm wondering what will happen when all the genres have been covered - will we start again or think of new ones? ..."

It was originally set up to run through once. However, many have come in halfway through or more recently, so I think it will be up to the group as a whole; if enough of you want us to start it again (and nominate any genres that were forgotten first time round), then we will happily continue.

[Angela]

Liz wrote: "Nell wrote: "As I only joined this group challenge late in the day, I'm wondering what will happen when all the genres have been covered - will we start again or think of new ones? ..."

It was or..."

I'd like to see the list run through again. It's a pretty long list, so many more books will have come on the scene since the challenge first started.

[Em]

I'm game too, I really like this challenge, especially now we're getting to the more obscure ones!

(Well, not romance, that's not exactly obscure but it's got my votes as just picked up a Nicholas Sparks and really can't wait to read the next JR Ward!)

[Dave]

I'm game. I prefer this to the usual book of the month. Means I can usually find something on my shelf that fits.

[Bill]

Seems like a good idea, it's been interesting so far, it would be good to start over again when we finish the categories.

[Ian, Moderator]

GR has a list of main genres that maybe we could use as a starting point next time. Some challenging ones in this list!!!! I'd really look forward to chick lit lol and what the hell is Manga??

Art
Biography
Business
Chick Lit
Children's
Christian
Classics
Comics
Contemporary
Cookbooks
Crime
Ebooks
Fantasy
Fiction
Gay And Lesbian
Graphic Novels
Historical Fiction
History
Horror
Humor And Comedy
Manga
Memoir
Music
Mystery
Non Fiction
Paranormal
Philosophy
Poetry
Psychology
Religion
Romance
Science
Science Fiction
Self Help
Suspense
Spirituality
Sports
Thriller
Travel
Young Adult

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I think manga is like books in comic strip! Far to old for manga me and you - it's a teen thing! Well that's what the youngest member(Beth) of my sci fi group said when the eldest members (me and Barry) asked!

[Ian, Moderator]

We'll need Dave to do some recommending for that one as our resident comic expert.

[Liz, Moderator]

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I think manga is like books in comic strip! Far to old for manga me and you - it's a teen thing! Well that's what the youngest member(Beth) of my sci fi group said when the eldest members (me and..."

Yes, it's a Japanese genre of comics (sorry, graphic novels!)

[Dave]

Ian wrote: "We'll need Dave to do some recommending for that one as our resident comic expert."

I can try Ian - but I'm no expert in that area. Went to the Cardiff Comic convention this weekend.

There were a lot of managa 'cosplayers' (fancy dress to every one else!!), and I had no clue who they were dressed up as.

Did enjoy the conga led by a Dalek through :)

Ian - that list shows ebooks as a separate genre??

[Em]

It's not a bad list but I personally like some wierder genres too: steampunk, cyber fiction, politics...

[Angela]

Em wrote: "It's not a bad list but I personally like some wierder genres too: steampunk, cyber fiction, politics..."

Those could be added, couldn't they?

[Ian, Moderator]

@ Dave and Em - yeah....just thought I'd post it as a guide so we include any attractive genres we may have missed first time round.

[Helen]

Did you ever read Sandman Dave? Loved them and Hellblazer.

[Helen]

Just looked and I've read something for each genre fromFeb when I joined until Dec. Haven't done the last two unless you count my tv guide and train timetables!