What are we going to read in this group?

[Mike]

For me, Heart Shaped Box stayed dull though the whole story... never quite caught on fire.

[Werner]

I wasn't very impressed with the reviews I read of that one. So I'll join you in voting against it!

[Henrik]

I am reading it these days, and I quite like it. I'll post a review when I have finished it.

In any case I don't think I will be much up for a discussion of any books come late December-January. We're having a baby (our first), so I have a distinct feeling that I will be quite caught up with other things for a while;-)

[Jim]

How about Haunted Lily: The Nightmare Ball by Sidney Fox - a GR author & member of this group. I just read it & it's a good one.

[Werner]

Yes, Henrik, you and your wife are going to be busier than you ever thought possible! (Barb and I raised three, so I know what I'm talking about. :-)) But even if it's exhausting, it's rewarding, and we're all really happy for you. Let us know when the little one arrives!

Jim, I'd thought about suggesting Haunted Lily myself. The only consideration that gives me pause is the fact that it's still pretty new. You bought a copy, and maybe others of us own a copy, or (like me) soon will; but those who would depend on interlibrary loan to get it will probably still run into difficulty. By late 2009, that shouldn't be a problem, if we wait and do it as a common read then; but in the meantime, a lot of libraries have policies against lending newer books to other libraries.

[Jim]

Oh, hadn't thought about all that, Werner. Good points.

Henrick, again, congrats - you'll feel like you need condolences too, so you have mine. We also raised three. Nothing can use up more time & money, take you to the heights or the depths like a kid can. It's a very wild ride & worth it.

[Rora]

I like the idea of continuing with a group reading.

I'll nominate Ghost Story by Peter Straub. It's one of my favorite ghost books, wouldn't mind re-reading it again. But I'm also ok with whatever everyone decides on.

[Dylan]

I'm up for reading Ghost Story too. I have it on my shelf to read. :D

[Werner]

Okay, that's two votes for Ghost Story so far. I've heard of it, of course, but so far have never read it; I don't have any objection to picking it, and it should be fairly easy for everyone to get their hands on a copy. But that's not an "official" vote for it; like Rora, I'm okay with whatever the whole group finally decides on. :-)

[[deleted user]]

I loathe the title Heart Shaped Box so never wanted to read that one, LOL! Titles can really influence me!
I love ghost stuff so Ghost Story sounds good.
Norah Lofts writes some good stuff on ghosts, my favorite being the "ride of Lady Alice" who was a witch in real life and rides a certain road in Suffolk still. She may have been the cause of Sir Richard Shelmadine's death in Afternoon of an Autocrat. But he was also ill "wisht". She also wrote The Haunting of Gads Hall about evil that remains. I have read both these books more than once.
Is it possible to get Ghost Story from the library?
Alice

[Henrik]

I recently read Ghost Story, and as I wrote in my review I find it a superb story. So I throw in a vote for that one too:-)

Thanks, Werner & Jim. Yes, people keep telling me having kids is one hell of a rollercoaster ride... But who doesn't like rollercoaster rides?;-)

[Werner]

Okay, we've now got four votes for Ghost Story. Yes, Alice, that was a very popular book (a best-seller, I think), so most public libraries will probably have it. If they don't, they won't have any trouble getting it through interlibrary loan; ask the librarian about that.

I've read some of Norah Loft's historical fiction (which sometimes has a hint of the paranormal in places), but didn't realize she wrote in the supernatural genre, too. I'll have to check out the titles you mentioned!

[[deleted user]]

Hi Werner, Well, I logged into Colorado Springs library system and they do not have a copy! I did order another book by him and will probably have to call as getting a book on interlibrary loan is a little tricky here. I have done it a few times.
I lived in Suffolk for a year and that is where I first started reading Norah Lofts and became more interested in ghosts. Suffolk has quite a few areas that are haunted. Getting a copy of Afternoon of an Autocrat is hard to do now. (out of print) I got a good copy thru Alibris. Since its one I read over and over I had to have it. I also got a whole box of her books on eBay for a good price. Hope you are able to find them and let me know what you think. We may have a discussion on the Norah Lofts group about The Road to Bethlehem for Christmas read. After writing about Mary who seems to have some type of seizure she moves to Korea where the first astrologer (wise man) sees the Star that appeared at that time. It will be a read again for me if we do discuss it. Members don't all have copies. Sure hoping to get a copy of Ghost Story sure.
thanks, Alice

[Werner]

Alice, are you familiar with a site called Book Mooch (that's www.bookmooch.com, I think)? One of my Goodreads friends, Jon Moss, belongs to it, and I plan to join next spring. It might be a good source for hard-to-find books.

The Road to Bethlehem is another Lofts book I haven't read, though I've heard of it. I'll have to put that on my to-read list, too!

[Becky]

I am a member of BookMooch as well. I like it, but it can be difficult to find books to swap if you don't know exactly what you want, along with a list of back-ups. Their "browse" and "search" features could use a little improvement, in my opinion. It takes a long time to search as well, and sometimes freezes... which is bad, because I have high speed internet.

Another site you might try, which I prefer, is PaperbackSwap.com. I have an easier time browsing & finding books there, and there is no trade requirement - BookMooch requires you to trade out 1 book for every 3 you receive, even if you have credits available.

If you are thinking of joining a bookswap site, you should give them both a try and see which one you like better... Or use them both, like I do.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks! I have never checked out Book Mooch. I usually go to Alibris but will have to try that one. Thanks, Alice

[Jim]

I've tried reading "Ghost Story" several times. Never could get into it. That's what I said about "Interview" as well, though. I have it on audio, so I'll try that again if everyone else wants to read it.

I just got my copy of "Interview" through BookMooch. Excellent site, although expect to get mooched a lot when you first sign up. I sent out 7 books before it started evening out & I've now got 3 coming in. That's better than SwapTree where I haven't had a single hit & I've been on slightly longer.

[Becky]

Swaptree is definitely hit or miss sometimes. Lately, I've taken to keeping a list on GR for books that I am willing to trade, and periodically check Swaptree to see what I could get for them if I was to list them.

Since Swaptree penalizes you if you reject too many trades, this has been working well for me, and I can control how many books I have to ship out.

Have you tried PaperbackSwap, Jim? I like that one the most of the 3 I am a member of.

[Werner]

Thanks, Becky; I visited PaperbackSwaps' site yesterday. It looks like it's another venue that would be worth checking out!

Jim, for now I'll count you as a vote against Ghost Story. :-) We're not wedded to any selection yet --it's a long time between now and February! For whatever it's worth, I've been dying to read Shadowmancer by G. P. Taylor ever since it came out in 2004, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Would there be any interest in that book as a common read?

[Becky]

Anytime, Werner

I'm willing to read pretty much anything, really. I haven't yet read Peter Straub, aside from his contribution to The Talisman & Black House, so I would be willing to go that route if the group so votes.

[Becky]

Ok... Unfortunately, I have to contradict my own statement and vote "no" on Shadowmancer.

I looked at several descriptions and reviews, and I love epic battles of good vs. evil, but I don't think this book is for me. The religious content is impossible to miss, even in the brief description. This isn't bad, but several of the reviews indicate that the book is preachy in an in-your-face, my-way-or-the-highway manner, which I'm not a fan of. *sigh*

[Werner]

Okay, we'll scratch Shadowmancer. I'm actually not a fan of preachy hard-sell messages in fiction, either --a novel and a tract should be two different things. :-) One of these days I'll read it on my own, and make my own judgment as to which category it fits into (I think the plot has possibilities, if it's handled right), but we won't do it as a group read!

[Jim]

Becky, I have PaperBackSwap down to try next, if I need to. I actually cancelled my SwapTree account yesterday & moved the books to BookMooch. Keeping up with GoodReads & BookMooch is about all I can handle right now. Thanks for the recommendation though.

[Jim]

Would anyone else be interested in Black Canaan by Robert E. Howard? While he's primarily known for the Conan series, he did write short horror stories, too. This book is a collection of them.

Karl Edward Wagner, author of the Kane series (kind of a mean Conan) wrote a lot of horror. One collection is, In a Lonely Place. He also edited several books of short story horror, such as The YearÂs Best Horror Stories: XVII.

[Becky]

"...a novel and a tract should be two different things."

I completely agree. I actually do enjoy religious content and symbolism etc., in fiction, but if it is too pushy, or too "I'm right and you're evil", I can't enjoy the story, no matter how engaging or how well written. Tell the story and let readers choose what to believe. *shrug*

I would be interested to hear what you think of it though, Werner.

[Becky]

Jim, hopefully PBS works for you. I like their site better than BookMooch, but I do use both.

I've never heard of either of those books, Jim. In a Lonely Place sounds intriguing... King Dinosaur describes it as a blend between Lovecraft and Matheson. Hmmm...

[Werner]

Becky, whenever I read Shadowmancer, I'll review it and then post the book to this group's read shelf. That won't happen for awhile, though!

Jim, I marked down Black Canaan and In a Lonely Place as possibilities, and gave them a "vote" each, so far. Unlike elections, here you can vote for more than one choice. :-) I like Howard's sword-and- sorcery fantasy, so wouldn't mind reading more of his work; and I've heard enough about Wagner from some of my Goodreads friends that I'd like to try his work sometime as well.

Like Becky, at this point I'm up for almost anything the majority of the group wants to pick; and as I said, I've never read Ghost Story (or anything by Straub), so don't have an intelligent opinion on it. Not all Goodreads reviewers have viewed it as kindly as Henrik did, though: some comments included a recommendation for "people who like mediocre;" "just blah;" "the writing equivalent of a mediocre cheese cake;" and the observation that Straub's style "made the reading experience...murky at best." To be fair, though, most responses seemed more positive, and it got several 4 or 5 star ratings. (Few books please all reviewers!)

[Jim]

A lot of the books I like are kind of hard to find any more (I'm a pack rat), so I decided to check the availability of the ones I suggested. Probably should have in the first place - duh.

There is only 1 copy of Black Canaan for $5. So it isn't a good choice. It was only published once that I know of, 30 years ago as a paperback. I don't know what's in the libraries but I doubt it's still around.

The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard: Wings in the Night is readily available on Amazon at $3.91 for a used copy. I'd like to substitute it. OK?

In a Lonely Place is available on Amazon - $100 for the hardback. Ouch! I have the paperback & that's not available, so I guess we should scratch this one, too.

Interestingly, a book by Wagner about Bran Mak Morn, one of Howard's characters, is available & one of the least expensive of all Wagner's books. Bran Mak Morn: Legion from the Shadows is only $4 on Amazon. It's a horror/S&S book - closer to Conan or Kane. One of his paperbacks about Kane, Death Angel's Shadow, is going for $26.47 & it's a newer edition than the one I own. Sheesh! I think I bought my copy new for $2.25. Antiques Roadshow, here I come!

[Werner]

Jim, thanks for checking on this. After I read your message, I checked the holdings for the first three titles on World Catalog, the OCLC database that most libraries use for interlibrary loan (I'm assuming a lot of us would count on that as a book source). There are 100,000 libraries in the system; but only 14 libraries in the U.S. have Black Canaan, so it's not very readily available that way either! In a Lonely Place is actually held by 56 libraries worldwide, but that's not enough for all 91 of us to borrow it at once.

The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard is a series, and Wings in the Night is one of the volumes (#2, I think). It's actually less common in libraries than the Wagner anthology (9 U.S. libraries have it --there are more that have other volumes of the series); but if it can be bought that cheaply, availability probably wouldn't be too much of a problem; so we'll scratch the other two, and add it to the list of prospects! Ghost Story would definitely be easier to obtain by interlibrary loan, though.

[Rora]

Re: Shadowmancer

I consider it one of the worst books I have ever read. One of the very few that I rated one star.

[Werner]

Rora, since I haven't read Shadowmancer, I can't personally vouch for it; sometimes my suggestions on this thread are books I'm curious about, rather than ones I've actually vetted. I may agree with you after I've finished it! But in any case, it's not on the table as a possible common read. Personally, my feeling is that we shouldn't pick a book that any members are really uncomfortable with, even if the common read is strictly voluntary. (But sometimes we don't know about people's reactions to a given book unless somebody puts up a trial balloon, as it were. :-) )

[Marsha]

I've started Shadowmancer twice and never got very far at all. It's set in a part of the UK that I am very fond of, so I expected to like it, but it just didn't hold my interest. It's been a long time since I tried to read it, so I can't say exactly what I didn't like about it.

[[deleted user]]

Or maybe Robert McCammon; "They Thirst, Swan Song, Mine to name a few good ones by this author.

[Werner]

So far, we've done a common read every four months or so; if we keep to that schedule, the next one will be in (roughly) the month of June. Robert McCammon can certainly be an author to consider!

In one of my other groups that does common reads, we've used Goodreads' poll feature to vote on our choice. If you all like that idea, when we get closer to the time and more suggestions have been made (say around the middle of May), I can post a poll for this --provided I can figure out how; I'm no computer genius by a long shot! :-) But most of Goodreads' features are pretty user-friendly.

[[deleted user]]

I just want to vote No for Heart Shaped Box... Not good at all and No to Ghost Story (yawn);o

[[deleted user]]

What about Hell House by Richard Matheson?

[[deleted user]]

Me thinks this group has many tastes ;)

[Werner]

Actually, Always, we've already done Ghost Story as a common read; it was our most recent selection, for (roughly) February. It got ratings from SFR group members that ranged from one star up to five, so yes, there's a lot of diversity in our tastes! That adds to the fun --and sometimes introduces us to new writers, or new insights, that we wouldn't have stumbled on otherwise. :-)

[[deleted user]]

Werner wrote: "Actually, Always, we've already done Ghost Story as a common read; it was our most recent selection, for (roughly) February. It got ratings from SFR group members that ranged from one star up to f..."

So then what about Hell House by Richard Matheson?

[Werner]

Hell House by Matheson can certainly be a candidate! Though I'm the group's "moderator" (only because I started it), I don't pick the common reads by myself; whatever title garners the most support in the discussions beforehand is the one we pick. So far, we haven't had a formal poll either time, but it might be a good idea to have one --it would be more scientific, and maybe more members would take part.

June is still a fair ways off, and probably most of us aren't ready to think that far ahead yet. But as the time gets nearer, I'm sure both the Matheson and McCammon suggestions will generate a lot of support, since these are both well-known authors in the genre. I haven't read any of their work myself, but like most of us, I'm always open to trying new (to me!) authors.

[Jim]

Hell House by Richard Matheson has my vote. I've already mooched a copy.

[[deleted user]]

Werner,
I will read your book, once I locate a copy of it. B&N doesn't carry it but I am still looking

[Werner]

Always, thanks for your interest! Lifeblood is currently out of print, because my publisher went out of business last year. I'm still actively looking for a traditional publisher to do a reprint; but in the meantime, I've decided to self-publish an edition through blurb.com, just so that people who really want to buy a copy can get one. If the logistics finally go right this time, I'm hoping to have it in print by day's end tomorrow; but whenever it is, I'll post a short notice to this group.

[Jim]

Super, Werner!

[Werner]

Since June is now only about a month away, it's time to start thinking seriously about our next common read. I probably won't take part this time (unless we happen to pick a book I've already read, and so can discuss); at the college where I work, I might be needed to teach a class next fall, and if that happens most of my reading between now and then will be nonfiction, since I'm rusty in the subject area. But I'll follow the posts with interest!

What I'd suggest is that anyone who has a book to propose post it here over the next couple of weeks or so. Then I'll try to use the "polls" feature to create a poll that everyone who wants to can vote on; and I'll notify you here when it's up. We'll try to announce the results a few days before the end of May, to give people time to secure copies of the book we pick. (For newcomers to the group, these common reads are voluntary; nobody puts a hex on you or sics a werewolf on you if you don't take part! :-)) In nominating, try to pick titles that are readily available in libraries (for the benefit of those who may not want to purchase the book). So far, the nominees are: Hell House by Richard Matheson; and something by Robert McCammon. Always, since you suggested the latter writer, would you want to narrow it down to a particular book by him? What's your favorite book by him, or one by him that you've been dying to read? (The Wolf's Hour was mentioned in a selection process earlier, but someone said then that it might be too graphic to choose for everybody as a common read.)

[Werner]

Re the availability of books in libraries, one way to check this is through a database called World Catalog, if your local library subscribes to it. You can do an author/title search for a particular book, and for every hit (there may be more than one --hardcover vs. paperback versions, etc.), the computer will tell you how many libraries or library systems in the database have copies. That database includes at least 100,000 libraries worldwide!

[Chris]

Both Ghost Story and Hell house are good choices. I actually enjoyed Heart-Shaped Box immensely. Can't wait to read another novel by Hill.

[Werner]

Chris, the idea of Heart-Shaped Box as a common read was kicked around in one of our earlier selection processes; but some of the members panned it, so we didn't consider it very seriously at the time. Since then, though, we've gotten a lot of new members who weren't involved in that discussion; so I can put it in the poll and see how much interest there is now. (Of course, Ghost Story was our most recent common read --and those threads are still open for posting.)

[Chris]

I understand, Werner, and that's cool. I just thought I'd chime in that I read HSB and loved it. Ghost Story is just such a fantastic read, in my opinion, and one of my alltime favorites.

[Werner]

For what it's worth, Ghost Story got five stars from me, so you can tell that my reaction was pretty positive, too! I'd never read any of Straub's work before, but now I'd be interested in exploring more of it.