Introducing the genre challenge

[Ian, Moderator]

Looking forward to erotica - lol

[Mary]

Ian wrote: "Looking forward to erotica - lol"

Looks like it might be 'the Spy who loved me' Ian

[Ian, Moderator]

Mary wrote: "Ian wrote: "Looking forward to erotica - lol"

Looks like it might be 'the Spy who loved me' Ian"

Don't count your chickens Mary....the fantasy lovers have a get out of jail free card with short stories. Bet that wins in the end.

[Liz, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "I read an autobiog!"

Sorry, didn't meant to come over all 'holier-than-thou'! ;)

[Helen]

Just kidding Liz! Ian, I'm saving the short story option for inbetween all that serious stuff, a glimmer of light as it were!

[Helen]

Read a zombie book - Dark and Hollow Places. Was good. So spy stuff next.

[Liz, Moderator]

Yup, it's spies and espionage for November's genre - so get reading.

I think I'm going to enjoy this one. Definitely The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Then a Grahame Green (though I haven't decided which) and finally, if I've got time, an Ian Fleming - I've never read any of the Bonds - so it's got to be done....

Erhm, I've still got Norwegian Wood to finish up first.... ;)

[Bill]

I read Casino Royale, but since it was still October, I'm considering it as a warm-up. Currently reading Spies of the Balkans: A Novel by Alan Furst and am loving it.

[Janet]

Liz wrote: "Yup, it's spies and espionage for November's genre - so get reading.

I think I'm going to enjoy this one. Definitely The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Then a Grahame Green (though ..."

Liz wrote: "Yup, it's spies and espionage for November's genre - so get reading.

I think I'm going to enjoy this one. Definitely The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Then a Grahame Green (though ..."

Hi Liz
what are you making of Norwegian Wood? I've just read it and am not sure if I enjoyed it or found it horribly self-indulgent - all that teenage sex and death stuff! It kept me reading though, and some of his descriptions were beautiful.

[Helen]

Read Goldfinger when I was a teen, an old Pan copy. Thought Casino Royale might be good, what did you think Bill?

[Ian, Moderator]

It'll be some Le Carre for me

[Bill]

Helen wrote: "Read Goldfinger when I was a teen, an old Pan copy. Thought Casino Royale might be good, what did you think Bill?"

It was a good intro to the Bond series. I'd read when I was a youngster, along with most of the Bond books. They were all interesting.

[Mary]

Think I'll read a Colin Forbes then reread Tinker Tailor.... Looking forward to them.

[Bill]

I've finished Spies of the Balkans: A Novel, which was great, so I'm going to read an old classic now, The Thirty-Nine Steps

[Deanne]

I've got The Key to Rebecca by Follett, world war II spies.

[Ian, Moderator]

Nicola W wrote: "Le Carre for me too - I have Our Kind of Traitor sitting ready on my bookshelf."

Me too

[Vicky]

I'm considering [Book:Operation Mincement|8860129] by Ben MacIntyre, to fit in with this month's theme. Just have to finish the couple of books that I have on the go at the moment...

[Helen]

I'm really enjoying The Judas Strain

[Geoff]

Liz wrote: "Yup, it's spies and espionage for November's genre - so get reading.

I think I'm going to enjoy this one. Definitely The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Then a Grahame Green (though ..."

Have we decided what the genre challenge is for December yet?

[Liz, Moderator]

Oops! Let me sort out that poll...

[Helen]

I think we should all read something Christmasy for December!

[Liz, Moderator]

If you haven't voted for December's genre, you have two days left. Currently, 'short stories' is in the lead, closely followed by 'romance/erotica'.....

Just to recap, so far this year we have already read:

Jan: Historical fiction
Feb: Crime/detective
March: Classics
April: Biography/memoir
May: Sci-fi/dystopian
June: Fantasy
July: YA
August: Magical Realism
September: Humour/comedy
October: Horror/gothic
November: Espionage/spy

[Kim]

Will this start over in January? For another round? I totally missed out on this year's challenge.

[Liz, Moderator]

Kim wrote: "Will this start over in January? For another round? I totally missed out on this year's challenge."

I think we're just going to carry on until we run out of genres!

[Liz, Moderator]

Ok, the genre for December is: Short stories. Any recommendations?

My favourite book of short stories is The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter. I've also enjoyed the short story collections of Truman Capote and Somerset Maugham.

I do have The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales on my shelf, perhaps I'll give that a go.....

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Tales with a twist Nocturnes by John Connolly or I have A little book of Christmas by John Kendrick Bangs on my kindle to read - think it was a freebie!

[Helen]

I read a short yesterday!

[Dave]

Hmm - Either more Sherlock Holmes or I have an Alistair Reynolds collection of shorts.

[Bill]

I've got a couple on my book shelf to read; The Seeds of Time by John Wyndham and News From Elsewhere by Cooper, Edmund. Maybe I'll read both, they're not too long.

[Liz, Moderator]

I've just posted the poll to vote for January's genre. Please go ahead and cast your vote! Thanks :)

[Bill]

It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas.

[Susan]

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction, Bill......I couldn't find it!

[Liz, Moderator]

Bill wrote: "It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas."

I'm not sure what happened there; as the current poll, it should have gone automatically to the top of the list. I've since earmarked it for the home page, so now it is easier to find. Technology has never been my strong point...

Yes thanks, we had a great Christmas here, despite lots of rain and a sick child. Plenty of wine and laughs with my sister in law and an old friend from university, both visiting from the UK. Did you have a white Christmas in Canada?

[Em]

Aww Liz, shame your little one unwell over Christmas - we all managed to be ill before Christmas this year but remained healthy for the actual event! My friend was on the phone at 9am on Christmas morning to see if I had Nurofen Kids as her youngest was up all night with high temperature that was Calpol reisistant!

[Dave]

Nicola W wrote: "Karen wrote:

I've been wanting to read The Woman in White for the longest..."

I really enjoyed reading that book."

So did I - read it earlier this year a great gothic read.

[Helen]

I'm going for a reread of that this year. My daughter was always healthy over Christmas but come New Year we'd have projectile vomiting usually bang on the gongs! Became a tradition that I'm sure now she's a student she carries on!!

[Helen]

Meant to list my short stories! Imaginery Friends - ok; Asbo Fairy Tales - bobbins; Christmas Carol - lovely; Simians Lair - not bad.

Also, Daimon - not bad, cliff-hanger. Teddybears and tea parties - bit daft.

[Dave]

Short stories wise I'm re-reading the Return of Sherlock Holmes. Just read The Empty House, the explanation for Holmes survival of the Reichbach Falls still seems terribly contrived to me.

[Liz, Moderator]

Janet wrote: "What are you making of Norwegian Wood? I've just read it and am not sure if I enjoyed it or found it horribly self-indulgent - all that teenage sex and death stuff! It kept me reading though, and some of his descriptions were beautiful.
"

You know with so many Murakami fans around I need to be careful what I say, but Norwegian Wood just wasn't my kind of book. Too many suicides for under 300 pages (although there are more in The Virgin Suicides, which I liked more!)

Perhaps I went in with my expectations, too high. I too admired the description, but just didn't engage with the main character enough to really care. Like you, I found it all terribly self-indulgent. If I'd read it when I was a student, would I have enjoyed it more? Maybe...

I've been assured Murakami's other books are very different, so I might give him another go, but not for a while.

[Bill]

Liz wrote: "Bill wrote: "It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas."

I'm not sure what happened there; as the current poll, it should have gone au..."

Sorry to hear about your sick child Liz. We've spent Xmas and New Years with family in England. Went to Sandringham yesterday, found it very lovely.. Happy New Year!

[Angela]

Bill wrote: "Liz wrote: "Bill wrote: "It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas."

I'm not sure what happened there; as the current poll, it should ..."

Have you been anywhere else in Norfolk, Bill? It's one of my favourite counties - we've two holidays booked there this year!

[Liz, Moderator]

Happy New Year!

The genre has been chosen for January, it's non-fiction.

9 times out of 10 I choose to read fiction over non-fiction, but I do have some neglected titles waiting on the shelf, better blow off the dust and get reading...

(Have to finish The Slap first though!)

[Dave]

The only non-fiction bool I have on my shelf is Chris Evans autobiography. I'll give that a go I think.

[Helen]

Well, I have Radio Times to read!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I have quite a few to read so will get on and sort a couple out. Probably a couple of the Alan Titchmarsh no fiction When I Was a Nipper: The Way We Were in Disappearing Britain or England, Our England.

[Bill]

Angela wrote: "Bill wrote: "Liz wrote: "Bill wrote: "It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas."

I'm not sure what happened there; as the current pol..."

Not really, Angela; we've mostly been in Lincolnshire, near Spalding.. Wed we're heading to Cambridge to have a look about and then down to the Brighton area.. We may come back in the summer and travel a bit more. Where are you planning to vacation in Norfolk?

[Angela]

Bill wrote: "Angela wrote: "Bill wrote: "Liz wrote: "Bill wrote: "It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas."

I'm not sure what happened there; as ..."

We're going to Wells-next-the-Sea, which is on the North Norfolk coast. Love it there, although the weather isn't always reliable! Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay - my youngest son used to live in Brighton - I enjoyed my visits there too.

[Bill]

Angela wrote: "Bill wrote: "Angela wrote: "Bill wrote: "Liz wrote: "Bill wrote: "It's a bit hard to find, Liz; it's kind of in the middle of the list of polls. Hope you had a nice Xmas."

I'm not sure what happen..."

Thanks, Angela. I'm sure we'll enjoy ourselves. The missus will be reuniting with school chums from about 20 years or so ago.. We're looking forward to it.. We might come back during the Olympics, hope if we do we'll see a bit more of Norfolk.

[Liz, Moderator]

Hi all, forgot to mention I posted the poll for February's Genre Challenge last week...

Still plenty of time to get your votes in before the end of the month. This time I'm voting for Romance/Erotica - after all, Valentine's day is coming up!

[Ian, Moderator]

I'm with Liz - all for a bit of romance/erotica