UK Book Club discussion
Genre Challenge 2011-12
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Introducing the genre challenge
message 201:
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Helen
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May 31, 2011 10:32AM
Ian, stop victimizing me!
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Thinking about reading something in a genre nobody seems to read nowadays: the western!!! Never read one even though my dad was big fan of Zane Grey. I feel some research coming on!
Geoff wrote: "Thinking about reading something in a genre nobody seems to read nowadays: the western!!! Never read one even though my dad was big fan of Zane Grey. I feel some research coming on!"My dad loved westerns! He used to read loads of them and always had one sticking out his back pocket of his work trousers and in his snap bag for work! Happy memories!
Mod
Geoff - there's a GR group called American Westerns which may give you some ideas
Started my first - The Ill-Made Mute, it's been sitting on my shelf since 2002, and it's a D for A-Z.
Maybe reading Westerns is a Dad thing, remember mine would sit up until two in the morning reading westerns. He took both myself and my younger sister to the library when I was 6, and started my love of books. Couldn't for the life of me remember which books he read as he died almost twenty years ago.
Deanne wrote: "Maybe reading Westerns is a Dad thing, remember mine would sit up until two in the morning reading westerns. He took both myself and my younger sister to the library when I was 6, and started my lo..."I can't remember all the books my dad read either, he died in 1989 a week after we got back from our posting in Germany. But I can thank my dad for teaching me to read by the age of 3 and my love of books and reading every since.
Mod
Well, it's in the list of choices for the genre challenge - we'll get to it eventually! ;)
Was thinking I hadn't read a Western but I did read Centenial when I was 17ish, based on a really long series of the same name.
Helen wrote: "Was thinking I hadn't read a Western but I did read Centenial when I was 17ish, based on a really long series of the same name."Yes, Helen, I think I remember seeing it.
The book was immense, had my hair in plaits for weeks after reading it!
Read a trilogy Bitterbynde, can't believe the author had to add a note explaining the end as she hadn't written it within the confines of the 1800 odd pages!
To bookend my fantasy genre read this month I thought I read something old, something new.So as my 'something old' & as a clinical introduction to the early world of fantasy writing I am reading 'Tales before Tolkein'.
I have been reading it for ages. It's hard going & I am surprised to learn that I find it largely immensely self-indulgent, badly written twaddle. I used to enjoy fantasy, Tolkein, Eddings and even Terry Pratchett in my youth...so am a little concerned it leaves me thinking this way!!
Mod
I'm on my 5th of the month and my 4th Fantasy - Magicians, enjoying it too. Not like that trilogy which still makes me cross.
What exactly is magical realism anyway, if I can ask..
Mod
"Magical realism is fiction genre in which magical elements blend to create a realistic atmosphere that accesses a deeper understanding of reality. The story explains these magical elements as normal occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of thought."
Or you can use my own shorter definition - "pretentious nonsense" - lol
You can find all the genre definitions if you go into the top right of page "explore" link, then genre link then type the one you want and voila
Ian wrote: "Hi Bill - the GR definition is "Magical realism is fiction genre in which magical elements blend to create a realistic atmosphere that accesses a deeper understanding of reality. The story expl..."
Come on Young Adult, you can do it!! Unless there's some incomprehensible definition for that too...
Mod
Have yet to Review my 'Fantasy books' but I got the end of 'Tales before Tolkein'. Finally.I found it a real let down for supposed 'classic fantasy' writing... not helped that the cover blurb misrepresented how much Tolkein was actually even aware of the authors therein...though claiming he was infuenced by same!! There were a couple of stories that engaged me, but in the main...see previous post...
So for 'modern' recent fiction, I read "Temeraire" by Naomi Novik. I fully expected to be disappointed, despite the Naval element... In the event I was charmed, engaged & mightily impressed by the authenticity & integrity of the story.
So, a game of 2 halves then, with the winning goal to Novik...with the help of a dragon or two!!
...and I was pleased to find this is the first in a series - could I stretch the next one into Young Adult for July d'ya think? Or Magical Realism (whatever that is)?
Strey I had to look it up on here!http://www.goodreads.com/genres/magic...
I have read some of the ones listed and didn't know it!
So something like being psychic or hearing the dead would count as Magic realism? Like the new Sookie Stackhouse? I like YA, alot have really good ideas, you just can't remember being 20.
Helen wrote: "So something like being psychic or hearing the dead would count as Magic realism? Like the new Sookie Stackhouse? I like YA, alot have really good ideas, you just can't remember being 20."I think the YA and magical realism will blend together - covering both genre.
Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Strey I had to look it up on here!http://www.goodreads.com/genres/magic...
I have read some of the ones listed and didn't know it!"
Crumbs - there are some interesting titles here...I'm sure I've even got "Chocolat" hanging around somewhere & I keep picking up & putting "Jonathan Strange..." back on second hand bookshelves for the past year or so, so my excuse to buy it at last...
YA sounds okay too, especially with some crossover. Some of the older kids authors are surprisingly good and this may extend to YA I guess. A very demanding customer base = good books?
Once again, either way a leap out of my reading comfort zone on the horizon!!
Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Strey I had to look it up on here!http://www.goodreads.com/genres/magic...
I have read some of the ones listed and didn't know it!"
Thanks all for answering my question about Magical Realism and thanks for the link to the list. It makes a bit more sense and I can see a couple of books there that I wouldn't mind reading.. if this is the choice of course. :0)
Mod
. Definitely a marmite moment not to savour.....yuk
Ian wrote: "My jaundiced view of magical realism is completely based on one book - unfair I know but that's life. I introduce the most overrated book in the whole history of read literature (well mine anyway)...."I wasn't very keen on this book when I read it, everyone was raving about it but it did nothing for me!
Mod
if magical realism wins, so hope that's better
Ian wrote: "You can have mine Matt - "the why would an adult(no longer young variety) want to read it genre""What a dilemma - strongly disagree with your definition, but have to agree about Alchemist (what a load of ...). I hope you like Pi - very good.
I found the first 50 odd pages of Pi awful, but after the ship bit, it was really good.
Wow, looks like I've started early - I'm reading The Magicians!
Ian wrote: "You can have mine Matt - "the why would an adult(no longer young variety) want to read it genre""Looking at some lists it's a bit of the Curate's Egg scenario of good & bad I guess.
I have 'Journey to the River Sea' on my shelf . I guess it fits the bill for YA/coming of age mixed with adventure. Or how about 'Gypsy Boy' by Mikey Walsh?
And i suppose Pullman's 'Dark Materials'. I am due to read the second one 'The Subtle Knife' so another good excuse if it counts!
Still not entirely sure about MR though but i'm sure i can rustle something up from the shelves & boxes if needed...
Subtle Knife should qualify, its 'real' with definite magical elements.
Thanks Helen. It's just moved to pole position (or should that be 'poll' in this case?!)
...YA seems to have sneaked ahead in the poll then...
I don't think I have many YA books on my shelves. I may have to dust off my old copy of S.E. Hinton's
in that case..
Question in case MR wins next month: would The Book Thief fit into that?
I believe that The Book Thief is a Young Adult, but i would class it as MR (it is narrated by Death).
Mod
"Young-adult fiction (often abbreviated as YA) is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 12 to 18."
In addition the main protagonist usually falls within this age group and the story is usually told from their point of view.
Helen - as the Book Thief won some prizes for childrens literature it must qualify. I'm going to try
which I think just about qualifies re target audience if not on the protagonist/voice angle
I've got other books I can use for YA so thought I might save Book Thief for MR if it qualifies which it sounds like ti does.
Before I looked more closely I was convinced Ian was goint to be reading
Go on Ian, you know that's what you REALLY meant...As it's YA I will be reading those books previously mentioned which either qualify for age group or protagonist (or both). And they're sitting on my shelves. Hurrah!!
Have to find a YA book I want to read.Still find MR confusing as some books which have been termed MR seem to be Fantasy or Steampunk. Thought MR included things like 100 years of solitude and The Satanic verses.
any one having tgroublce with their 3g kindle? as i keep loosing my 3g
Helen wrote: "Lots of cheapies in the kindle sale."Thanks Helen....found a book from my tbr which I've wanted to read for ages.
Mod
Sorry, can't help Nick - mine is wireless only
Glad YA won (although didn't vote for it myself). I have been meaning to read Little Brother since I picked it up last year... This seems like a perfect excuse
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