Introducing the genre challenge

[Michele]

Although there isn't much of July left - I thought somebody might like to squeeze this little poetry ebook in at the end as it is very short - only 16 pages. It was released this month and is the number one hot new release for parodies on US amazon.

Fifty Shades of Blue - the trilogy

Can be downloaded or read online for free on Smashwords.

[Liz, Moderator]

Ok, the poll's closed. It was close, Gay/lesbian fiction has come out as the winner by 1 vote. Time for some Sarah Waters.

[Ian, Moderator]

I agree.....prob Ms Waters for me as well.

[Deanne]

Fingersmith was very good, bit of lesbian gothic Ian and Liz!!
Have to look in the library for something, see what else she's done recently.

[Bill]

will probably be my choice..

[Em]

I am going to read by the wonderful Jeanette Winterson.

Sure you'll enjoy Sarah Waters and Armistead Maupin, both these writers are also among my favourites.

[Liz, Moderator]

Deanne wrote: "Fingersmith was very good, bit of lesbian gothic Ian and Liz!!
Have to look in the library for something, see what else she's done recently."

Fingersmith was a rollicking good read! I've also read The Little Stranger - although that doesn't have a lesbian sub-plot, so wouldn't count for this challenge ;)

I'm going for Affinity, which has been sitting on my shelves for a while....

If anyone's stuck for ideas, The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst is excellent.

[Louise]

I THINK I have read everything Armistead Maupin has written, and the Night Listener is my favourite (though am still excited at thought of ever seeing the scissor sisters musical of tales of city!!)

The line of beauty is available on the 99p daily kindle deal today I believe

[Susan]

Liz, I agree The Line of Beauty is excellent...And what great timing that it's one of today's daily deals!

[Nell]

I'm going to reread either Pink Champagne And Apple Juice by Anne Brooke or The Passion by Jeanette Winterson - maybe both!

[Deanne]

Don't remember The Passion having a gay/lesbian plot.
The Swimming Pool Library by Hollinghurst was good, Affinity by Sarah Waters also very good.

[Nell]

Deanne wrote: "Don't remember The Passion having a gay/lesbian plot.
"

Maybe not an actual plot as such, but unless I'm remembering it all wrong the end has hints - isn't that enough...?

I don't remember Affinity being very gay/lesbian either, but anyway... :)

[Ian, Moderator]

Nightwatch by Sarah Waters is very good, but I'm really enjoying .

[Danielle]

Ian wrote: "Nightwatch by Sarah Waters is very good, but I'm really enjoying ."

I read 'the absolutist' earlier this year and really liked it a lot.

[Em]

Hmmm The Absolutist sounds good, think I'll add it to my to be read.

I've read The Passion twice at least (love it) and I think that although there's love affairs of all forms, I interpreted some aspects that qualify for the genre this month (not wanting to give anything away!) When you've read it you'll have to decide for yourself and let us know what you think...

[Ian, Moderator]

The GR synopsis doesn't really do it justice Em.

[Angela]

I think I'm either going for The Night Watch or Maurice.

[Angela]

Have decided to go for The Night Watch - love Sarah Waters' writing!

[Liz, Moderator]

Wow! Nearly the end of the month again, time to set up the poll for September's genre...
....It's almost getting silly, there's so little left!

[Dalia]

Well maybe instead of the genre challenge we can do a country challenge? Zoe mentioned the site www.bookssetin.com that can be very helpful. That being said, I have only met maybe 3 months of challenges this year as I had 6 months where I barely read so you can repeat a lot and I'll be ok! (I did meet the challenge this month, read the Price of Salt by Highsmith).

[Liz, Moderator]

The final poll's up and running for those of you still hanging in there with the genre challenge. This month, it's between Self-help and Chemical fiction (ie drug-related). Chemical is currently in the lead.....

[Em]

Been scanning my Kindle and bookshelves for inspiration and possible Chemical Fiction reads. I like the sound of The House on the Strand but I don't own it so jury is out on whether I should really make another purchase!

I've got The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn - that's a possible.

[Bill]

Em wrote: "Been scanning my Kindle and bookshelves for inspiration and possible Chemical Fiction reads. I like the sound of The House on the Strand buy I don't own it so jury is out on whether I should reall..."

The House on the Strand is in interesting story. I was thinking of rereading, but I'm now leaning towards A Scanner Darkly, which I think qualifies as both dystopian fiction and chemical fiction.

[Angela]

I'm going to try to find my copy of The House on the Strand. I read it first of all nearly 41 years ago, on my honeymoon:))

[Bill]

Angela wrote: "I'm going to try to find my copy of The House on the Strand. I read it first of all nearly 41 years ago, on my honeymoon:))"

I first read it in university, Angela. That would have been about 37 years ago. I've read a couple of other times since, still have my university copy..

[Angela]

Bill wrote: "Angela wrote: "I'm going to try to find my copy of The House on the Strand. I read it first of all nearly 41 years ago, on my honeymoon:))"

I first read it in university, Angela. That would have b..."

I think this is the book that hooked me into the "time slip" type of novel. History has always been a keen interest of mine and I love the thought of the layers of time and experience that we're living on the surface of at the moment. There are certainly some places in England where I feel the surface is very thin!
That sounds as if I'm a bit loopy/strange/??? - I'm not really:)

[Liz, Moderator]

It' s Chemical Fiction for September. So anything with a drug-related plot....
I have Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S Thompson, on my kindle, time to give that a go...

[Bill]

Angela wrote: "Bill wrote: "Angela wrote: "I'm going to try to find my copy of The House on the Strand. I read it first of all nearly 41 years ago, on my honeymoon:))"

I first read it in university, Angela. That..."

I don't think it's loopy, but it is interesting..

[Ian, Moderator]

I think I'll be reading by James Frey.

[Susan]

I've downloaded Bill's recommendation The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier....I'm looking forward to it.

[Angela]

Susan wrote: "I've downloaded Bill's recommendation The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier....I'm looking forward to it."

I really loved this when I read it years ago!

[Theweebarrell]

Hi can you tell me where i find the genre to read this month

[Liz, Moderator]

Theweebarrell wrote: "Hi can you tell me where i find the genre to read this month"

Hi weebarrell, you're in the right place, it was just a couple of posts back ;)
It's Chemical Fiction for September, (anything drug-related).

[Kim-Lost-In-A-Book]

ooh this sounds like fun - I'll have to see if I have anything that will fit that genre, otherwise I'll hit up the Library again soon.

[Theweebarrell]

ok thanks for that, will have to have a look and see what i have

[Bill]

Susan wrote: "I've downloaded Bill's recommendation The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier....I'm looking forward to it."

I hope you enjoy it, Susan.

[Nikks]

Ok, I understand now that this is an ongoing monthly challenge - doh !!! Lol I read Crank

[Liz, Moderator]

Well, time for a drumroll.........
October will see us reach the end of our list of genres. So no poll this time. The last genre is: Self-Help.

Many people have asked if we'll run the genre challenge again. Yes, if enough of you want to do it.

Near the end of October, I'll ask for genre recommendations and we'll put together a new list to choose from :)

[Susan]

I've really loved doing this challenge, Liz, and I'm looking forward to the new one.

[Bill]

It's been a fun challenge, Liz. Ditto what Susan said.

[Angela]

Although I don't keep up very well - still on August's read! - I've enjoyed this challenge immensely. Looking forward to the next:)

[Theweebarrell]

I am reading VL-45 by Max Power about drug gangs in Houston Texas

[Em]

In the end, I've chosen Junk by Melvin Burgess. It was written whilst the author was living in my home city of Bristol...

[Nell]

Somewhat late with this - it's been a hectic month. I thought I'd read Diary of a Drug Fiend published in 1922 - maybe the first in the genre...?

[Em]

So... what are people planning to read for self help?

[Bill]

I'm not sure if it exactly qualifies as self-help, but I was thinking of reading The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. There are people who classify it as self-improvement. It discusses how people (salesmen) can start and sustain social epidemics.

[Angela]

Bill wrote: "I'm not sure if it exactly qualifies as self-help, but I was thinking of reading The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. There are people who classify it..."

I've got that on my shelves too! Might have a look at it, but have also got something about exercise and arthritis that might be quite useful as am having a few problems at the moment!

[Ian, Moderator]

Struggling Em - loathe self help books, so may have to go off on a tangent.

[Angela]

Hooray! I finished my August choice this morning:) I liked The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, but it took ages to read. Very emotionally intense - needed lots of breaks from it!
Next one up will be The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier for my September read.

[Nikks]

Angela wrote: "Hooray! I finished my August choice this morning:) I liked The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, but it took ages to read. Very emotionally intense - needed lots of breaks from it!
Next one up will be T..."

Great books Angela :)