Supernatural Fiction Readers discussion
Common reads
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What are we going to read in this group?
Both of those McCammon books are great, but I'd also add Stinger, Swan Song, or Wolf's Hour (which I think was recently read in one of the other GR groups). But I have never been disappointed in any of his novels. His recent Speaks the Nightbird novel was excellent, by the way. I've heard Queen of Bedlam was very good, as well.
Hmmmm --well, what if I just put "something by Robert McCammon" on the poll; and if that wins, we narrow it down to one title in a follow-up poll?
Well, the person that suggested Mine and Boy's Life is correct, although I would suspect that Boy's Life is probably easily available, because I know some high schools have it on their required summer reads list.
I started Gone South a while back and need to pick it up again
Just now, I posted The Hanging Stones to our group's "read" shelf, so you can check out the book description and my review there if you want to. Also, Hell House is on that shelf (I think it's on the third frame, if you're scrolling). Interestingly, Robert McCammon isn't represented on that shelf at all, and The Heart-Shaped Box isn't there either. Those of you who've read those books might want to remedy that omission! :-)
What about 'The Haunting of Hill House'? Sounds like a good one to me! Oh noticed a lot of neg. views of Joe Hill's 'Heart Shaped Box' by ones who haven't read it yet..... You must try it. It just might surprise you!
Okay, Em and Laura, we'll put those both in the poll!
Yes, Em, we'll definitely have a poll this time --with over 260 members, that's the best way to give everybody a fair chance for input. I was thinking of getting it set up around the end of next week, to allow maximum time for people to nominate books or provide feedback on books already suggested. (Once I set the poll up, I'm not sure if I can add titles to it --but then, I've never created a Goodreads poll before, so it's all new to me!) Does that sound like a workable time-frame?
Werner wrote: "Yes, Em, we'll definitely have a poll this time --with over 260 members, that's the best way to give everybody a fair chance for input. I was thinking of getting it set up around the end of next w..."Sounds great! Try asking each member to nominate two books then look for the most mentioned?!
Em, I'm not sure if Goodreads' poll feature will allow me to set up a poll that way (though I've never used it before, so I'm not sure). And I'd be concerned that with that system, we might wind up with a huge number of suggestions, each one with only one (or very few) votes. The method I was thinking of (which has been used successfully in another group I belong to) is to list all the books we've nominated so far for this go-around, and then let each person who wants to vote for one. That has the virtue of simplicity, and seems more likely to produce a clear winner. If nobody else has a preference between the two methods, the latter is the one I'll use. But I'm in favor of majority rule in how we do things; so if you all want to have some input on that, you have your chance between now and the coming weekend! :-)
After thinking it over, I decided to withdraw my suggestion of The Hanging Stones for this time around. That will leave us four nominees in the poll; I once voted in a group-read poll that had 14 choices, but four seems more manageable. :-) (But there's still room for that perfect fifth --or sixth, or seventh :-) -- option that you've been dying to mention, so this is your chance to post it!) Personally, I'm going to vote for Em's suggestion, The Haunting of Hill House. That's an iconic classic of the genre (as our two previous group reads were, as well), and I'd really like to read it --if I find out, by June, that I'll be able to take part this time after all.Barring anything unforeseen, I'll hope to get the poll up tomorrow evening. So, if you have any additions or other changes to make to the list, let me know between now and then!
Okay, the poll is up and running, and ready for you all to vote on it; just click on "polls" near the top of the group homepage. I've set it up to run about 10 days, through Memorial Day. Over that weekend, I'll be out of town, with limited access to the Internet; but I'll try to announce the results on Tuesday morning, May 26. That should give us plenty of time if we need to have a run-off or follow-up poll.
Those of you who've joined in the past week or so (and if you have, a hearty welcome to each of you!) may not be aware that we have a poll up and running to pick our group's common read for June. So, I'm posting this message to let you know about it (and to remind those who already do). So far, only seven people have voted (for five choices), and there's no clear front runner --so yes, your vote really does matter! Voting will remain open through this coming Monday.
If you guys choose Haunting of Hill House, I'm in. I have it but have not read it yet. I'll vote for it...
I'm pushing for Hell House because I have a copy of it on my To-Read shelf, which is over stuffed. No more additions! I haven't had this problem for years. GR, Bookmooch & PaperBackSwap rock!
Okay, our poll ended in a tie between The Heart- Shaped Box and The Haunting of Hill House, each with three votes. (Hell House got two votes, and the other choices one each.) I've set up a run-off poll between the top two choices, and it will run through the rest of the month.
I've read both books, Haunting of Hill House just a couple months ago. I didn't like Heart Shaped Box that much, so if anybody cares. I'm out for June.
But I still want 2 be Friends w/everyone.
But I still want 2 be Friends w/everyone.
Jim wrote: "I'm pushing for Hell House because I have a copy of it on my To-Read shelf, which is over stuffed. No more additions!
I haven't had this problem for years. GR, Bookmooch & PaperBa..."
Hey Jim, O Jim
Maybe You & Me should get together & read Hell House.
I also have a copy.
I haven't had this problem for years. GR, Bookmooch & PaperBa..."
Hey Jim, O Jim
Maybe You & Me should get together & read Hell House.
I also have a copy.
Always, I voted for "Heart Shaped Box" on this round. I have it too. I'm always up for discussing a book. Right now it's a matter of when I'll get to it. Let me know when you do & I'll try to bump it up on my pile.
Jim wrote: "Always, I voted for "Heart Shaped Box" on this round. I have it too. I'm always up for discussing a book. Right now it's a matter of when I'll get to it. Let me know when you do & I'll try to b..."
K
K
Always, as long as you've read the common read and can remember it pretty well, you don't have to actually be reading it concurrently with everybody else (or reading it for the first time) to join in the discussion! There's some advantage to having voices in the discussion who've had time to think about the book, and can share some seasoned reflections with the rest of us who're encountering it for the first time.
Okay, the floor is now open for nominations for our September common read! I'll try to set up a poll on the morning of Aug. 7 (a week from this coming Friday), so try to have all your suggestions in by then. If there's still no objection to trying a (voluntary) monthly common read, I'll try to set up a poll for the October selection sometime in September.
I'll nominate Heart-Shaped Box A Novel this time. It's still in my To-Read pile, so I need an excuse.
The 9 Ghosts of Samen's Bane by Derek A. Schneider (i have a copy and it's screaming for me to read it now)
Gone South by Robert McCammon
Hell House by Richard Matheson
Duma Key by S.K.
Gone South by Robert McCammon
Hell House by Richard Matheson
Duma Key by S.K.
I don't really know of one yet. I will try and think of one.
Both Duma Key and Heart-Shaped Box sound great. I'd like either of those! :)
All of Always's suggestions are books I'd love to read. I have read HSB. I plan to actually participate. (Look at her go!)
I haven't read a good scary book in some time. All my UF and PNR just aren't scary enough if at all lol.
Kitty goes to Washington? OMG
Always wrote: "Kitty goes to Washington? OMG"That was a fun book! Unfortunately, it's 2d in the series, but really not much happens in the first one that would hurt the discussion. This one concentrates on a congressional committee, government experimentation & some other topics that would provide a lot to discuss. A lot more than most candy books.
As for reading tastes, IMO, I think a lot of it has to do w/when we grew up and what the genre influenced us to at the time. I LOVED Dark Shadows as a kid and 'The Night Stalker' series also. So my Vampires are all not dripping Hot & Heavy sexual tensions or frustrations.
But as for the Youth & their taste in books..... At Least They're Reading!
It's what seperates us from the Animals :)
But as for the Youth & their taste in books..... At Least They're Reading!
It's what seperates us from the Animals :)
A quick clarification for Always (and anybody else who might have misunderstood): Kitty Goes to Washington has NOT been picked as the September common read! :-) It just happened to be a book I knew one of us was reading; so, after I finished Twilight and took it off our "currently-reading" shelf, I posted that one. I like having at least one book on that shelf all the time; Goodreads displays the covers right near the top of our group homepage, and I think it makes that page look more colorful and inviting than it does when it's barren. :-) Of course, in the months that we have a common read, I'll post that book there, too. And you all should be free to post any supernatural books you're currently reading there as well --it's as easy as can be! (Just remember to move it to the "read" shelf when you finish.)
The book title sounds kinda naughty Werner... That's were my head was at ;)
Oh, well I just changed the kitty book to 'read'. I'm really bad about keeping up with books as I read them & horrible at doing the group shelves. I've read the first 5 of the Kitty books now & am currently back to another series - the 3d of the Temeraire series by Novik, an alternate history fantasy.Can someone else post a supernatural book they're currently reading for the group? Pretty please? Might be a bit until I get back to one.
I have several genres that I'm trying to rotate reading in right now; fantasy, supernatural, pulp & various nonfiction. The fantasy ranges widely from Wurt's series which is dense, high fantasy to candy books with supernatural leanings, like the Kitty books. The pulp is everything from SF to Hard Case Crime. HCC is republishing a lot of old classics in the crime pulp genre. I have about half the books but have only read a half dozen, so I'm trying to catch up. I have several YA, SF & mystery books I'd like to fit in sometime soon, too.
I've really been lagging on the nonfiction lately. I have 2 books, one is learning to get by without glasses. Interesting, but so far more for people who have trouble seeing distances. My problem is the over 40, close up work. The other is a history on the Founding Fathers, which I haven't touched in a week.
So many books, so little time.
Always, I missed that aspect of the title (still do, but I've been known not to pick up on that sort of thing :-))! If nobody else posts a book until just before I leave for vacation on Aug. 7, I'll browse some of your profiles and pick one --but I won't pick on Kitty again! (She seemed like a perfectly nice werewolf to me, but what do I know? :-))Like Jim, I read in a lot of other genres, so don't always have a "currently reading" supernatural book of my own. Right now, I'm reading The Return of Tarzan, and there's nary a ghost or warlock to be found there!
You're So Sweet Werner, it's too bad your Married... But as for reading stuff, really, if the subject doesn't interest me I won't go to great lengths to find it. I'll just sit here, on my porch, chewing my bubble gum, reading what I like until the rest of you catch up and pick something I'd Love to read w/the group.
Take Care,
Always :)
Take Care,
Always :)
Thanks, Always! :-) And your philosophy about reading what you like is a good one --that's why these group reads are voluntary. Nobody needs to feel obligated to take part in one unless it sounds interesting --and if we do one every month, the chances are pretty good that, sooner or later, everybody will find a few to join in on. :-)
Okay, the poll for picking our common read for September is up and running! I'll plan to announce the winner soon after noon (Eastern Time) on Monday, Aug. 17, so all those of you who are interested, cast your vote before then.Since I have some other reading outside the genre that I've promised people I'd do, I'll sit this one out. But we've got five nominees that look interesting, and I'm sure any one of them will be a rewarding read!
In a little over a hour, I'll be leaving on another vacation; and until I get back on Aug. 16, I won't have Internet access. I'll look forward to getting back online then!
The polls will be closing soon, so everyone should get your vote in! Looks like only a few have voted, so far.
Looks as though Everyone's On Vacation this week. Eh?
Yeah. I took a week, last week but stuck around the place. Very nice & relaxing. Got to read & see a lot of movies.
It's always nice to get away Jim & be young again.
Well, the poll results are in, and we have only three votes, split between three books. :-) Given the relative lack of response, I'd say the best thing to do is cancel the September common read. August tends to be a month when a loty of people travel for vacations, etc., so probably isn't the best month for taking a poll.What I'll do, unless anyone objects, is repost the same poll sometime in the latter part of September, for an October common read. We can see how much interest there is then, and decide where to go from there on that basis. It may be that we've outgrown the feasibility of a common read; but I'm not ready to jump to that conclusion yet. As always, your thoughts and suggestions are welcome!
As an alternative, or maybe a supplement, anyone who's reading a particular book and wants to get a group discussion going about it can message people who've read it, or might enjoy reading it, and invite them to join in. Or you can keep an eye on our "currently reading" shelf and see if anything there looks like a book you'd like to join in reading and discussing. (Of course, there'll be more choices there if more of us start posting books to that shelf! :-)) Others can always chime in on the thread as they want to.
Always, The 9 Ghosts of Samen's Bane will be one of the nominees for October. (Or were you offering it as the subject for an ad hoc group read with anyone who wants to join in, as suggested above?)
I've been reading it and It's A Good story so Far. The writer is here on Goodreads.... So maybe I'm helping Promote.
:)
:)
Supernatural Fiction Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Cold Visitor (other topics)The Cold Visitor (other topics)
The Stones of Muncaster Cathedral (other topics)
The Jewel of Seven Stars (other topics)
The Jewel of Seven Stars (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Westall (other topics)Bram Stoker (other topics)
Robert Westall (other topics)
Anthony Trollope (other topics)
Antonia Barber (other topics)
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To add variety, I'll nominate something by one of my favorite supernatural writers, Manly Wade Wellman (preferably something I've read already, since, as I noted earlier, by June I may not be in a position to be doing any fiction leisure reading :-)). In his case, I haven't actually checked World Catalog; but I'd be surprised if most of his books aren't pretty widely available, except for John the Balladeer. My suggestion for this group would be The Hanging Stones, one of his Silver John novels; but I'd be open to alternate nominations from other Wellman fans.