Introducing the genre challenge

[Matt]

Oh, okay! If they win we don't do them again?

I will look at Liz's post - obviously not doing my homework. Gawd! Another detention.

Hope you're feeling better.

[Helen]

Thanks, voice going that usually signals that my throat won't hurt much longer. Also earache gone so feeling much better :)

I'd have liked to do the historical

[Matt]

Good oh! Hopefully that'll be it for holiday illness.

Yes, me too. I seem to be getting in to it recently. As I used to read almost entirely non-fiction, I like the mix of fiction with non-fiction. Have also managed to find HF authors that link into my interests or preferences.

Ho hum. Maybe next year! Having picked up a copy of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell I am burining to read it, so have chosen MR (now I know what it means after last month's debate...sort of).

[Helen]

Me too - I have The Book Thief lined up! It'll be some surreal genre now!

[Matt]

Helen wrote: "Me too - I have The Book Thief lined up! It'll be some surreal genre now!"

Actually it could be a toss up between the 2 as i've just managed to pick up copy of that too. Not sure what genres that would fit into.

Was a bit dubious it might just be very dark - but dipped in & it made me smile! Am intrigued now!

[Susan]

Strey wrote: "Good oh! Hopefully that'll be it for holiday illness.

Yes, me too. I seem to be getting in to it recently. As I used to read almost entirely non-fiction, I like the mix of fiction with non-fiction..."

I read a couple of weeks ago....I thought it was brilliant....you have a treat in store!

[Abi]

The Book Thief and Jonathan Strange are two of my favourite books - enjoy guys!

[Dave]

Abi wrote: "The Book Thief and Jonathan Strange are two of my favourite books - enjoy guys!"

The Book Tief was a great read moved me to tears in parts. But I have to say i don't share the enthusiasim for Jonathan Starnge i found parts of it really entertaining but it was a real struggle in some parts its a long book.

[Matt]

Thanks Susan, Abi & Dave. Currently shuffling the two...trying to decide! Being an emotional soul I am still a bit worried about 'Thief'...

Was hoping the Genre Challenge poll might make my mind up, as particularly JS may take up quite a lot of my month's reading. Neither will fit into a pocket for carrying around with me & quick reads on passing benches!

[Yes! Yes! I know what my Kindleista friends will say to that, thanks!!]

But looking at the GC running I'm not sure I can shoe-horn either into "Comedy"! So I think it's got to be the magicians...or maybe the thief...hmmm!

[Abi]

Strey wrote: "Thanks Susan, Abi & Dave. Currently shuffling the two...trying to decide! Being an emotional soul I am still a bit worried about 'Thief'...

Was hoping the Genre Challenge poll might make my mind u..."

I think it depends on what kind of a read you want! As I said I loved both books, but equally I think they could both be described as 'challenging'. The Book Thief for it's subject matter. Jonathan Strange for the sheer size of the thing - I won't lie it took me a while to get into it but I'm glad I stuck with it.

If I had to choose out of the two, I would probably rate The Book Thief higher, as Dave said it was a really moving book and I think the author handled the subject material really well, giving how dark it could be. Not sure if this will help with your decision at all!!

[Matt]

Abi wrote: "Strey wrote: "Thanks Susan, Abi & Dave. Currently shuffling the two...trying to decide! Being an emotional soul I am still a bit worried about 'Thief'...

Was hoping the Genre Challenge poll might ..."

Thanks Abi. The truth is I'll end up reading them both...now just need to decide which first...! :)

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I have Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell on audio and had to follow it with the book as I kept getting lost. Reading along with the book helped to understand it better.

[Helen]

I'm looking forward to reading Thief, although don't know when I'll get to it without the genra challenge's influence.

[Liz, Moderator]

Strey wrote: "Thanks Susan, Abi & Dave. Currently shuffling the two...trying to decide! Being an emotional soul I am still a bit worried about 'Thief'...

Was hoping the Genre Challenge poll might make my mind u..."

I loved Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - it's certainly a whopper and the style takes a while to get used to BUT it is wonderful (like Dickens on laudanum).

I can't comment on The Book Thief as I haven't read it - but it's on my to read list....

[Liz, Moderator]

Well, it looks like comedy and horror are currently neck & neck. If you haven't voted yet; go on, you know you want to...

[Ian, Moderator]

Book Thief is fab Matt

[Matt]

Thanks Ian et al. I have taken the plunge with "Book Thief" (with "Jonathan Strange..." to follow I suspect...) maybe sandwiching a GC book of some sort. Hope it's comedy, I might need a bit of light relief!

Am around 100 pages in & though I'm enjoying it, I am as yet fairly ambivalent as to the style - I'm sure it's a grower!

To use a nautical analogy I find it sorts of ebbs and flows like a tide of words, but has yet to make it's mind up...but in that it sort of represents an unseen insecurity to the situation. Hmm, anyway...

Once I get Pratchett's Mort out of my head I'm sure I'll be fine...am I that shallow?! Maybe it's just 'cos the tide's out...

[Helen]

I'm late starting a read for another group - The Witching Hour so heres hooping horror wins. Its 1300+ pages so I shall be some time!

[Angela]

Helen wrote: "I'm late starting a read for another group - The Witching Hour so heres hooping horror wins. Its 1300+ pages so I shall be some time!"

I really enjoyed The Witching Hour - hope you do too!

[Vicky]

If it's comedy is Romantic Comedy ok? I'm going to read The Single Girl's To-Do List I haven't read any chic lit type books in ages (thanks to the genre challenge my horizons have truely been broadened)

[Em]

Romantic Comedy definitely ok in my book!

I knew that if Gothic/Horror won I'd go for the obvious choice of Frankenstein which I've never read but I can't quite make up my mind about Comedy... perhaps re-visit some Douglas Adams or P. G. Wodehouse or I could try another Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novel - I really enjoyed the first one. There again, would like to re-read The Life and Loves of a She Devil which is a v. dark brand of humour but I loved it so much when I first read it, it would be good to have an excuse to read it again. There are others in the running too. Indecisive, as you can see!

[Bill]

If it's comedy, I'll be reading The Return of Hyman Kaplan by Leo Rosten. If it's Gothic / Horror, I'll be reading The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson..

[Liz, Moderator]

*drumroll*.....
....Comedy/humour has beaten horror/gothic by one vote!

[Helen]

Boo hiss! I still have 900+ pages of my gothic horror book - what if I laugh every 10 pages or so...

[Dave]

Hmm no real comedy in my to read pile at the moment.

Would Chris Evans autobiography count do you think?

Failing that I have New Moon to read (don't ask!!) based on reading the first book that should be fairly humorous.

[Em]

The thought of you reading New Moon is amusing me Dave! You don't strike me as the target demographic for that particular series somehow.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

New Moon now that is hilarious!

[Em]

It's hard to imagine how a person could fit any more teen-angst type torture (which boy to pick) into one book - mooning around I think my Mum used to call it. Is that why it's called New Moon?

[Bill]

Liz wrote: "*drumroll*.....
....Comedy/humour has beaten horror/gothic by one vote!"

Hyman Kaplan it is then.. :0)

[Deanne]

The ascent of Rum Doodle, just have to go to the library.

[Helen]

I enjoyed the whole Twilight series!! Although Jacob was definitely the better bet.

[Liz, Moderator]

Dave wrote: "Hmm no real comedy in my to read pile at the moment.

Would Chris Evans autobiography count do you think?

Failing that I have New Moon to read (don't ask!!) based on reading the first book that sh..."

I have Steve Martin's autobiography lying around somewhere too - I'm sure it'd squeeze into the comedy genre...
(BTW if you really want to laugh out loud, Breaking Dawn had me rolling!)

[Ian, Moderator]

I shall be delving into some Stephen Fry

[Joseph]

Now your talking Ian, 'The Liar' is very good.

[Ian, Moderator]

More likely to be his memoir-

[Em]

I enjoyed that one Ian! Still making my mind up.

[Ian, Moderator]

Could also try by Caitlin Moran which I think may help in my lifetime quest to learn Venutian

[Tuğçe]

I missed the voting, I would definitely vote for horror as I don't have much humour books in my hand at the moment. I am planning to read A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Hope it's a good one as it is definitely a long one.

[Dave]

Em wrote: "It's hard to imagine how a person could fit any more teen-angst type torture (which boy to pick) into one book - mooning around I think my Mum used to call it. Is that why it's called New Moon?"

Nope definitively not the target demographic - my evil friend bought in for me as an xmas 'present' knowing full well that I have to read every book I'm given.

suffering from OCD much :)

[Bill]

Tugce Nida wrote: "I missed the voting, I would definitely vote for horror as I don't have much humour books in my hand at the moment. I am planning to read A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Brys..."

I just finished and enjoyed very much. It doesn't get too technical and he covers 'almost everything'..

[Tuğçe]

Bill wrote: "Tugce Nida wrote: "I missed the voting, I would definitely vote for horror as I don't have much humour books in my hand at the moment. I am planning to read [book:A Short History of Nearly Everythi..."

Glad to hear, it is next on my pile. :)

[Liz, Moderator]

Ok, the poll results to date:
Currently in the lead with 13 votes is Magical Realism, closely followed by Horror and Spy fiction, both with 11 votes.

If you haven't voted yet, what are you waiting for?
We'll find out which it's to be on 1st Sept.....

[Helen]

Shall I confess now that I didn't do comedy? I'm 1 2/3 books behind on August too. Have two lined up for Magical Realism though, The Book Thief and if I can get a kindle version, The Magician King.

[Ian, Moderator]

ego te absolvo Helen

[Helen]

What a super Mod you are today!

[Ian, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "What a super Mod you are today!"

I try to please

[Em]

I'm pleased, I can read The Shadow of the Wind at last and it will complete my A-Z Challenge too. Fantastic!

Helen, perhaps you should just read a funny poem for Comedy -
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat perhaps?

[Helen]

Haha, okay then.

[Helen]

Completed it! Feel quite saintly.

[Em]

Happy to help!