Introducing the genre challenge

[Helen]

Not decided what mine will be yet although one of Em's Ward books might suit.

[Liz, Moderator]

Deanne wrote: "Read both Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, part of the 1001 list. Hated both books but was determined to finish them, both supposed to be erotic but found Miller's writing as erotic as being hit with a wet fish.
Thought Fanny Hill a much better book."

Totally agree, Tropic of Cancer is proving a slog - not my idea of erotic either - in fact, I'd call it repetitious, cold and misogynistic.

I read Fanny Hill, or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure a couple of years back - wordy, but highly amusing - much more fun!

Deanne, I'm sure that for a certain minority, being hit with a wet fish might just be their idea of a good time - LOL ;)

[Liz, Moderator]

Em wrote: "I've finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and The Pursuit of Love my Nancy Mitford so was browsing the library for another romantic read and have picked up Venetia by Georgette Heyer, I've not read anything of hers before but the cover is a classic.
"

LOL! That is exactly the sort of cover that causes me to put a book down and walk away!!!!! But she is a very popular author...

[Deanne]

Reading Obsidian Butterfly by Hamilton. The sort of book that doesn't require deep intellectual thinking.

[Em]

Liz wrote: "Em wrote: "I've finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and The Pursuit of Love my Nancy Mitford so was browsing the library for another romantic read and have picked up Venetia by Georgette Heyer, ..."

You and me both Liz but I thought, in for a penny... if I'm doing romance this month I may as well do it properly!

Clearly, I'm not reading this outside of the privacy of my own home - that would be a step too far for me.

[Angela]

Em wrote: "Liz wrote: "Em wrote: "I've finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and The Pursuit of Love my Nancy Mitford so was browsing the library for another romantic read and have picked up Venetia by Georg..."

Hahaha!!

[Nell]

I have A Model and Other Stories by Anais Nin sitting on the shelf next to me. It's only short - one of those little Penguin 60s books - but I think I have a headache :)

[Ian, Moderator]

Still stuck at 20% in to . Can blokes have headaches?

[Bill]

Ian wrote: "Still stuck at 20% in to . Can blokes have headaches?"

Persevere, Ian. You can do it!

[Angela]

Ian wrote: "Still stuck at 20% in to . Can blokes have headaches?"

I've abandoned it! Headache's too bad:)

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I read Charlotte: Bronte Revelations: The Final Journeys of Jane Eyre by D.M. Thomas for this months erotica.

[Nell]

I love Jane Eyre too much to dare to read that one, Lynne - are you glad you did?

Ian, Angela, keep going and think of England...!

[Ian, Moderator]

Nell wrote: "I love Jane Eyre too much to dare to read that one, Lynne - are you glad you did?

Ian, Angela, keep going and think of England...!"

OK, I promise I will lie back sometime before the end of the month.

[Nell]

:) I'll read my Penguin 60s Nin if you finish Delta of Venus. You don't have to lie back though - just think of England...:)

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

@Nell I am glad I read it. Jane Eyre is my all time fave book too.

[Nell]

Lynne, I'm glad it didn't spoil the original for you - reading the blurb I felt sure that would be a real possibility, although it does sound like a good read.

[Nell]

Has everything on this thread turned upside down or am I losing the plot?

Funny - it's OK now. The comment box was at the top and all the newest posts were on page 1...

[Nell]

I just read my Penguin 60s Anais Nin - A Model and Other Stories - it was OK, although mostly the stories seemed very much secondary to the eroticism. So, both genres ticked off - my work is done for this month. :)

[Liz, Moderator]

Ok, it looks like Psychiatry/Madness for April's genre. Great, that means I finally get to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. First, I've just got to finish Dr Zhivago.....

Anyone looking for suggestions? - I loved The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry.

[Nell]

I picked up Hystera (Kindle) a week ago just in case, but started it early and have nearly finished. It may still be free in case anyone is interested.

[Susan]

Liz wrote: "Ok, it looks like Psychiatry/Madness for April's genre. Great, that means I finally get to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. First, I've just got to finish Dr Zhivago..."

I really liked The Secret Scripture too.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell was also enjoyable, and would fit into this months genre.
One Flew over the cuckoo's nest is definatly a possibility, but I also quite fancy I Know This Much is True by Wally
Lamb.
There is much more choice in this genre than I at first thought.

[Em]

I really liked The Secret Scripture as well but I want to re-read by Sylvia Plath this month, also by Laurie Halse Anderson has caught my eye.

Other suggestions could be... by Sebastian Faulks or by Sylvia Nasar, perhaps by Susanna Kaysen or would also fit the bill.(not that I've read any of them yet!)

[Susan]

Some great suggestions, Em....there are definatly a couple here that seem really interesting.

[Deanne]

How about Falconer by Cheever .

[Nell]

I finished Hystera and posted a review.

Plenty of time for more madness...

[Ian, Moderator]

Thanks Liz - that's me sorted with , but word of warning on Em's unread suggestion of . I generally really enjoy Sebastian Faulks's work, but found this particular one really tough going......but then again my brother loved it. is definitely worth reading.

[Nell]

This one comes highly recommended and I love the cover.


Scar

[Nancyspain]

Nell wrote: "I picked up Hystera (Kindle) a week ago just in case, but started it early and have nearly finished. It may still be free in case anyone is interested."

It is currently £3.29 on Amazon for the Kindle.

[Liz, Moderator]

Just thought of a couple of other titles that would fit this genre: Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat & Other Clinical Tales, both by Oliver Sacks.

[Nancyspain]

Liz wrote: "Just thought of a couple of other titles that would fit this genre: Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat & Other Clinical Tales, both by Oliver Sacks.

[b..."

I adored The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat although it is now many years since I read it. It is a fascinating book and well worth the read.

[Liz, Moderator]

BTW, I've just posted the poll to choose May's genre - so get voting ;)

For some reason it's only sent invites to the first 100 group members, so apologies if you haven't got your invite.

We've only got six choices remaining on this run-through. The list of genres was so long when we started, I can't believe we're almost at the end!

[Stuart]

I've written a novel very much about psychiatry if that helps! Tollesbury Time Forever

[Angela]

Stuart wrote: "I've written a novel very much about psychiatry if that helps! Tollesbury Time Forever"

Thanks, Stuart! I've just bought it:)

[Stuart]

Thank you Angela! You're great!

[Bill]

Liz wrote: "BTW, I've just posted the poll to choose May's genre - so get voting ;)

For some reason it's only sent invites to the first 100 group members, so apologies if you haven't got your invite.

We'..."

On my poll page for some reason, it showed up as Poll 14 about half way down the page. If you don't see it right away, search for it a bit..

[Liz, Moderator]

Bill wrote: "On my poll page for some reason, it showed up as Poll 14 about half way down the page. If you don't see it right away, search for it a bit.. ..."

Let me check on that..... (they usually put the most recent at the top, but we've had this problem before!)
I've now posted it on the group home page - so it should be much easier to find :)

[Nell]

My vote for Chemical Fiction is the only one...!

[Liz, Moderator]

Nell wrote: "My vote for Chemical Fiction is the only one...!"

It will have it's turn - eventually! ;)

[Liz, Moderator]

Please remember to vote for next month's genre.....

[Ian, Moderator]

Don't give peace a chance........vote war and then read or or . All great moving books set within conflicts in Africa.

[Liz, Moderator]

A few more great suggestions for war: Atonement, The Book Thief, Empire of the Sun, Catch-22, All Quiet on the Western Front, Regeneration, Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War

[Liz, Moderator]

Liz wrote: "A few more great suggestions for war: Atonement, The Book Thief, Empire of the Sun, Catch-22, All Quiet on the Western Front, Regeneration, Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War

[..."

What's happened to the formatting? it used to lay the covers out in a nice neat row....!

[Deanne]

Reading The Ship by C.S.Forester, HMS Artemis goes into battle against the Italian navy.

[Nell]

It's war then. Hopefully I'll find something...

[Liz, Moderator]

Nell wrote: "It's war then. Hopefully I'll find something..."

Just finishing off the current book, then let battle commence!

[Nell]

:)

[Angela]

I may have a go with Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes.

[Em]

I have chosen by Sebastian Barry but I've got to finish at least one (or two) or the books I'm already reading before I start.

Then, if there's time I've been meaning to read by Sebastian Faulks for ages.

[Nell]

I'm reading The Aeneid - I always meant to, but without War I might never have taken the plunge. :)

[Nell]

About half way through The Aeneid - concentration needed in some (well, many) places, but worth reading for Virgil's in-depth version of the Trojan Horse story alone.