Classic Trash discussion

Is there something you would like us to read? Suggest it here.

I've been delving into various retellings of the myths of King Arthur - which is fantasy pulp genre in its own way.

And so I was thinking that some version of it must fit in this group -- and then I came across this title, a pulp romance time travel version: "Ms. Pendragon" by Michele Lang. It is supposedly sexy (an Amazon review says one MUST read the scene where Arthur interrupts her rose petal bath), funny (perhaps sometimes intentionally), and in which the modern day Gwen encounters the corporeal spirit of Mordred before... blah blah blah time travel... etc.

Too over the top? Any other ideas? there are PLENTY of re-tellings. John Steinbeck's "The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights" looks good, or Rosemary Sutcliff's "Sword at Sunset."

In the detective genre I love the few Kurt Wallander books I've read (Swedish) and Detective Erlendur (Icelandic).

Hey Christopher, I just finished a great King Arthur book: The Winter King. Not classic genre but great stuff.

Thanks, Sarah! I actually had started listening to the audiobook for that, and then switched to Mallory first (with plans to go back to it). I'd be fine with that version, or any. Adelaide, would any of these fit your vision of "Classic Genre"?

Christopher wrote: "Adelaide, would any of these fit your vision of "Classic Genre""

I have a pretty loose definition of "classic." I wanted to give folks a chance to read some great older genre books, since a lot of classic groups focus on literary fiction and a lot of genre groups focus on modern stuff. To be generous, let's say anything before the 90s is fair game.

I think an Arthurian Book would be great! I was planning on a horror novel for October for obvious reasons, a cozy mystery for November, and was not quite sure what to do for December. Since folks are busy that month, I thought maybe a longish-short story, so how about Arthur to start off the new year? Both the Steinbeck and Sutcliffe look good. Has anyone read the Mary Stewart Arthur books?

Not yet. :)

I am leaning towards Sword at Sunset for January. I'd never even heard of it. Looks good. Let's do it.

Sword at Sunset sounds perfect.:)

Adelaide:
Hi. Chris can vouch that I am mostly harmless. +1 vote for "Sword at Sunset".

I vouch: Fred is mostly harmless. And very sweet and an excellent cook.

I've never read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and really want that to be a read.

Heather wrote: "I've never read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and really want that to be a read."

Hmm. While we are technically a classics group, we focus more on genre classics rather than literature classics and Huck Finn is Literature with a capital L. (I also need to put my bias right up front: I don't like this book at all. I tend to find Twain tedious.) Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Some boy choices. :-) Not sure if any of these are classics or not:

"The Count of Monte Cristo"
"The Three Musketeers (The D'Artagnan Romances #1)"
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
"Crime and Punishment"
"Dracula"
"Don Quixote"
"Gulliver's Travels"

But I have never read any book by Mark Twain either, should at some point.

The group did 'Frankenstein" already right?
--greg.

We have not done Frankenstein. I would say that it, "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Three Musketeers", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", "Dracula", and "Gulliver's Travels" would all fit within the scope of our club, because they are adventure or horror classics. They may be counted as "literature" now, but at the time they were written, they were not.

I'd like to suggest:

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (horror)

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (mystery/suspense)

Ooo, both of those are good ones and fit within the scope of the group. We just did a Highsmith novel not too long ago, so it might be awhile before we cycle around to her again, but The Talented Mr. Ripley is so good, I don't think anyone will mind.

So, I already have plans for Sept and Oct.

Sept: Above Suspicion
Oct: Something Wicked This Way Comes

How about

Nov & Dec: Count of Monte Christo (It's pretty long.)
Maybe an additional longish short story for Dec.

January: The Exorcist

I'd like to suggest:

The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

I haven't read it, but would like to. (I did read The Stars My Destination and liked that.)

I will put it on the list!

I have another suggestion:

The Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann.

Cheryl wrote: "I have another suggestion:

The Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann."

That is a great suggestion!

Cheryl wrote: "I have another suggestion:

The Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann."

I have added it as the March book. (I have been procrastinating on The Demolished Man because we just read it in the Sword and Laser bookclub and I need a little recovery time before I read it again.)

Adelaide wrote:

I have added it as the March book. (I have been procrastinating on The Demolished Man because..."

Oh don't worry about The Demolished Man, then. I don't have to read it in a group. Pick something you WANT to read. I am open to anything.

Since I will be traveling during the first two weeks of January, I have already read The Exorcist for our January discussion. I got it out of the library, and noticed it was the 40th Anniversary Edition. It said changes had been made by the author, so it's a bit different from the original book. I hope that's OK, because that's the only edition of The Exorcist my library has.

That's the same version I have, so we should be good. I can't imagine the changes are too substantial.

How about something from Isaac Asimov? The Caves of Steel?

Kathy wrote: "How about something from Isaac Asimov? The Caves of Steel?"

That looks really good. I will add it to the list!

For a future read, I'd like to nominate something by James M. Cain. He wrote Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce and The Postman Always Rings Twice. I'll let the choice be up to you.

Cheryl wrote: "For a future read, I'd like to nominate something by James M. Cain. He wrote Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce and The Postman Always Rings Twice. I'll let the choice be up to you."

Cain is a good pick. I've read Mildred Pierce, and it was great. Much darker than the Joan Crawford film. (Although it remains one of my favorites.)

One thing I don't think I have mentioned here before, I do try to keep a basic balance between male and female writers, so that is sometimes a factor in when a request will come up as the monthly pick. I also try to mix the genres up a bit so we don't have two similar books in a row. I like to schedule several months in advance, but I do occasionally change my mind if a better idea comes up.

Adelaide,

That's great that you want a mix of male and female writers! Some female writers that come to mind:

Ursula K. Le Guin - The Lathe of Heaven

Shirley Jackson - We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Maybe the James M. Cain can be pushed further in the future? Totally up to you, though.

I got the book Valley of the Dolls from my library and have begun reading it. Campy fun. This is what I think of when I see the words Classic Trash, lol.

Cheryl wrote: "I got the book Valley of the Dolls from my library and have begun reading it. Campy fun. This is what I think of when I see the words Classic Trash, lol."

Awesome.

I vote for Le Guin...been meaning to read Lathe

Sarah wrote: "I vote for Le Guin...been meaning to read Lathe"

The next books are are sci fi (Dawn), classic horror (The Headless Horseman), sci fi (The Caves of Steel), so maybe a thriller after that (The Talented Mr Ripley), and then Lathe of Heaven? (And then maybe a James M Cain book.) I'm trying not to do all the sci fi together.

I have never read anything by Octavia Butler, but I want to, so I'll have to see if my library has Dawn. If they do, I'll be joining you next month.

Love Octavia. Really loved

...Dawn. Miss Octavia as a Sci Fi chick. She wrote some amazing stuff.

Dawn is one of my favorite books of all time. So good.

How about a western -- True Grit by Charles Portis. I loved both versions of the movie, but have never read the book.

Added to the list. I've been trying to think of a good western to add.

I love 'Salem's Lot. Great choice for October.

Kathy wrote: "I love 'Salem's Lot. Great choice for October."

Yeah, it's one of my favorites. I think it is one of King's scariest.

It would be great to read again Dan Simmon's Hyperion Cantos. This was a Hugo award winning series:
Hyperion
Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
The Rise of Endymion

In my opinion, this is a must read for any SciFi addict.

Yeah! I'd like to read Hyperion too

I will add Hyperion to the list!

I have 2 nominations:

Six Days of the Condor by James Grady (spy)

Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith (mystery)

Both have been made into movies that I've liked, but I never read either book. They should be interesting.

On the list!

Do you know yet what's coming up on the discussion schedule after Carmilla? No pressure, simply curious.

I was thinking Jurassic Park in January and then Double Indemnity in Feb. I need to get some more ladies in there and I also want to read 6 Days of the Condor and Gorky Park.

Adelaide wrote: "I was thinking Jurassic Park in January and then Double Indemnity in Feb. I need to get some more ladies in there and I also want to read 6 Days of the Condor and Gorky Park."

Sounds good! I've seen the film Jurassic Park, but never read the book. Same with Double Indemnity.

Here's a nomination that has a female author:

Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels

It's a supernatural thriller type of book, and although I read it many years ago I do remember that I liked it. It would be interesting to see what I'd think of it after all these years.