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Go Gothic!
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Mod
This challenge focuses on books that are or might be traditional gothic literature. Your job is to read them and decide how they measure up on the Walpole-o-Meter.
Roll one die and move that number of spaces through the mansion.
When you land on a space, read a book that relates to that space or from that link. If your roll takes you beyond space 30, you land on space 30. After reading that task, the game is over.
There are no page limits.
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author
3. gothic looking cover
4. with a ghost
5. Popular Gothic
6. word in the text - gloomy
7. female POV
8. a short story
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
12. gothic looking cover
13. the best gothic novels, 1764-1937
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
17. Best Gothic Novels
18. modern gothic novel (1938 - now)
19. with a creature
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23. vengeance or vendetta
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30. a short story
Don't forget to date and double rate your book (your rating and the Walpole-o-Meter rating).
Mod
I will roll and plan my books.
Duration: June 1 - August 31, 2015
rolled a 6, am on 6 - text word, gloomy Northanger Abbey 6/7/15 ****
Gothic Wannabe
rolled a 5, am on 11 - female author Silent in the Sanctuary 6/11/15 ****
Not a Gothic
rolled a 6, am on 17 - Best Gothic Novels Touch Not the Cat 7/1/15 ****
Gothic Wannabe
rolled a 1, am on 18 - modern gothic novel Watch the Wall, My Darling 8/9/15 ***
Gothic Wannabe
rolled a 3, am on 21 - male author The Hound of the Baskervilles 6/17/15 ****
Walpole Wannabe
rolled a 2, am on 23 - vengeance or vendetta Revenge of the Barbary Ghost 7/30/15 ***
Not a Gothic
rolled a 4, am on 27 - text word, fog The Thing From the Lake 8/29/15 ****
Walpole Approved
rolled a 2, am on 29 - spooky title In the Shadow of Blackbirds 6/2/15 ****
Walpole Approved
rolled a 6, am on 30 - short story The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 7/24/15 ****
Gothic Wannabe
Okay, well I didn't roll, but I finished an Amanda Quick novel, With This Ring. It had almost every element of a gothic. The author did it on purpose maybe because the Heroin was a writer of gothic novels. However, our Heroin who was in fact distressed did not faint. Quick/Krentz heroins never do, however, she did shriek in order to distract the villain so the Hero could tackle him. And, of course, like most of this author's novels the powerful, tyrannical male is usually the Hero, who eventually softens. I have read this book several times, but this is the first time I really noticed and read the author's note. lol, the author's note was about a short history of gothic novels. Nifty
0/75. Popular Gothic
3 8. a short story A Secret Killer 6/19
1 9. set in a castle
6 15. male POV Dead on the Island 6/20
6 21. male author Brett Battles Becoming Quinn 6/18
3 24. a mystery Natural Causes 6/12
5 29. spooky title Hunted by the Others 6/20
Mod
I don't think I've read that book, Leslie. Thanks for letting me know about it.
Go Gothic! I can't resist games. Duration: June 1 - August 31, 2015
Finished: 9/9
Rolled 3, on space 3 gothic looking cover
06/27/2015 - Not a GothicRolled 5, on space 8 short story
06/28/2015 - Not a GothicRolled 6, on space 14 omen or curse
07/05/2015 - Wannabe GothicRolled 2, on space 16 word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
07/06/2015 - Walpole ApprovedRolled 6, on space 22 gothic looking cover
- Wannabe Gothic (I read the English version)Rolled 1, on space 23 vengeance or vendetta
07/22/2015 - Not a GothicRolled 1, on space 24 a mystery
07/25/2015 - Wannabe GothicRolled 3, on space 27 word in the text - fog or foggy
07/28/2015 - Not a GothicRolled 3, on space 30 short story
08/14/2015 - Not a Gothic
Thinking I'm going to give this a try! Go Gothic!
Duration:June 01 - October 1 2015
Roll 1 5; 5 -
Roll 2 2; 7 -
Roll 3 5; 12 -
Roll 4 1; 13 -
Roll 5 5; 18 -
Roll 6 5; 23 -
Roll 7 4; 27 -
Roll 8 6; 30 -
_______________________________________________________
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author
3. gothic looking cover
4. with a ghost
5.
6. word in the text - gloomy
7.
8. a short story
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
12.
13.
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
17. Best Gothic Novels
18.
19. with a creature
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23.
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27.
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30.
_______________________________________________________
I'm in!Go Gothic!
Duration:September 01 - December 31, 2015
Roll one die and move that number of spaces through the mansion.
When you land on a space, read a book that relates to that space or from that link. If your roll takes you beyond space 30, you land on space 30. After reading that task, the game is over.
There are no page limits.
Rolls
Roll #1: 5 - Popular Gothic
Book: TBD! (Jane Eyre? Northanger Abbey? Kate Morton book??)
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author
3. gothic looking cover
4. with a ghost
5. Popular Gothic
6. word in the text - gloomy
7. female POV
8. a short story
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
12. gothic looking cover
13. the best gothic novels, 1764-1937
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
17. Best Gothic Novels
18. modern gothic novel (1938 - now)
19. with a creature
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23. vengeance or vendetta
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30. a short story
Don't forget to date and double rate your book (your rating and the Walpole-o-Meter rating).
(view spoiler)
So not sure if this is acceptable for "the best gothic novels, 1764-1937". Rebecca is #24 on the list even though it was published in 1938. Still appropriate seeing that it was on the list?
Err, oops, I forgot about this. And since my dates were wrong anyway (had it for 3 months), I'm going to restart this with today's date instead. Will edit my post to reflect the change.
Mod
Yeah, it shouldn't be on that list.
But it is, so I'll let you decide.
Mod
Yay, do-overs!
Lanelle wrote: "Jacki wrote: "So not sure if this is acceptable for "the best gothic novels, 1764-1937". Rebecca is #24 on the list even though it was published in 1938. Still appropriate seeing th..."Found The Time Machine a bit further down the list. I'm going to do that instead!!
And finished just in time! Eight rolls to get to the top. Great challenge - really got me reading books outside of my usual genre :)Roll 1 5; 5 -
Roll 2 2; 7 -
Roll 3 5; 12 -
Roll 4 1; 13 -
Roll 5 5; 18 -
Roll 6 5; 23 -
Roll 7 4; 27 -
Roll 8 6; 30 -
_______________________________________________________
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author
3. gothic looking cover
4. with a ghost
5.
6. word in the text - gloomy
7.
8. a short story
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
12.
13.
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
17. Best Gothic Novels
18.
19. with a creature
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23.
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27.
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30.
_______________________________________________________
Mod
I've put it on my TBR list.
Lanelle wrote: "Congratulations on finishing, Jacki. The Dark Unwinding looks really good. I've put it on my TBR list."
Yea give it a try! I can imagine some would find it a slower read but everything about that book appealed to me.
I can't resist a challenge that has Gothic in its title.Go Gothic!
Duration: March- June 2016
1st roll: 4 - with a ghost
Grey Dawn by Clea Simon - 7/19/16
There's a ghost cat in this one.
2nd roll: 6 (10) - spooky title
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs - 6/6/16
3rd roll: 6 (16) - word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
Alice by Christina Henry - 3/28/16
4th roll: 1 (17) - Best Gothic Novels (YAY!)
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - 7/24/16
5th roll: 5 (22) - gothic looking cover
by Ransom Riggs - 5/18/166th roll: 5 (27) - word in the text - fog or foggy
Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn - 5/14/16
7th roll: 6 (30) - short story
Red Spectres: Russian Gothic Tales from the Twentieth Century - 4/1/16
Mod
I knew there some gothic lovers here on TCF :)
It's been over 6 months since I finished this challenge. I think I'm about ready to do it again.
this sounds like it might be fun to try, Duration; 5/17/16-8/30/15
rolled a 4 ;4. with a ghost:
The Legend of Souls Chapel 1 star 5/18/16 1 - 2 elements = Not a Gothicrolled a 3: gothic looking cover:
I, Ripper: A Novel 6/20/16 five stars Walpole Approvedrolled 2 male author:
by Stephen King6/8/16 4.5 stars Wannabe Gothic
Well, I overshot the deadline by a month, but it's finally finished. Really enjoyed this one!Go Gothic!
Duration: March- June 2016
1st roll: 4 - with a ghost
Grey Dawn by Clea Simon - 7/19/16
There's a ghost cat in this one.
2nd roll: 6 (10) - spooky title
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs - 6/6/16
3rd roll: 6 (16) - word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
Alice by Christina Henry - 3/28/16
4th roll: 1 (17) - Best Gothic Novels (YAY!)
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - 7/24/16
5th roll: 5 (22) - gothic looking cover
by Ransom Riggs - 5/18/166th roll: 5 (27) - word in the text - fog or foggy
Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn - 5/14/16
7th roll: 6 (30) - short story
Red Spectres: Russian Gothic Tales from the Twentieth Century - 4/1/16
I am going to play from July 26th through Otober 26th*. :) 1st roll: 3, Gothic looking cover
WANNA-BE GOTHICThis book features 5 Walpole elements listed above: 1. Setting; 2. Suspense; 3. High, Overwrought Emotion; 4. A Woman in Distress; and 5. Vocabulary. I gave it a 4 star review because I really liked it and I didn't predict how it would end. Finished 8/4/2016, ****
2nd Roll: 5, which brings me to 8: A Short Story
WANNA-BE GOTHICHmm, this one is difficult to judge. For its Walpole ratingI'll give it 3: the elements of: Suspense; High, Overwrought Emotion, and Vocabulary. I gave it a personal rating of 4 stars because I found it genuinely frightening. Finished 8/10, 2016, ****
3rd Roll: 4, which brings me to 12: A Gothic looking cover
NOT A GOTHICWhile I absolutely loved this book, this does not score high on the Walpole gothic meter! I give it only 1 point, for Setting, because it takes place in an old (but functioning and in great shape) castle. The main character is very headstrong, defiant, and certainly not helpless. While there are elements of fear and terror (it is a murder mystery), it is not overwrought and there is no supernatural activity at play. The "hero" is the protagonist, Keira, who doesn't need saving by a man. Great book! Finished 8/23/16, ****
4th Roll: 4, which brings me to 16: Word in the text: faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
WALPOLE APPROVED!From the text: 'Has she ever committed any great crime?' I asked, feeling as if I were on the point of fainting.
Walpole rating 7: for Setting; Suspense; Inexplicable Events; High, Overwrought Emotion; A Woman in Distress; A Powerful, Tyrannical Male; Vocabulary. I LOVED THIS BOOK and so glad I finally read it after a few years of really wanting to! Finished 9/2/16; ****1/2
5th Roll: 2, which brings me to 18: Modern gothic novel (1938 - now)
WALPOLE APPROVED!Walpole Rating: 7, for: Setting; Suspense; High, Overwrought Emotion; A Woman in Distress; Powerful, Tyrannical Male (that would be Hyde, not Jekyll); Vocabulary. I LOVED this book. It was creepy, sad, thoughtful. Finished 9/5/16, *****
6th Roll: 2, which brings me to 20: Middle grade or YA.
WANNA-BE GOTHICWalpole rating: 5, for: Setting; Suspense; Inexplicable Events; Hero; Vocabulary. This book is a young adult horror book. It was characterized as a "gothic ghost story" so that's why I picked it. It scored higher on the Walpole meter than I would have thought. It has a gothic-esque cover, with the creepy old house and a young woman hovering nearby, but it was unlike most other gothic books I read. It was adventurous, witty, and a little spooky.
Finished 9/11/16, ****
7th Roll: 4, which brings me to: 24: a mystery.
WALPOLE APPROVED! Walpole rating 7: for Setting; Suspense; Inexplicable Events; High, Overwrought Emotion; A Woman in Distress; A Hero; Vocabulary. I kind of debated about "hero" but I figure the Drew character could satisfy that requirement. I absolutely loved it and could not put it down. I wanted the mystery solved, but I also wanted to stay at Havenwood! *****
8th roll: 3, which brings me to 27, word in the text - fog or foggy
NOT A GOTHIC Walpole rating 3: for Setting; High, Overwrought Emotion; A Woman in Distress I really wanted to like this book and I loved how it started. Unfortunately it felt really bogged down and repetitive. I also found many of the characters to be irritating, frustrating and unlikable. I also thought there was this weird sense of abuse between the father and the daughters (not just psychological). **
9th roll:4, which brings me to 30: short story.
WALPOLE APPROVED!Walpole Rating: 6, for Setting; Suspense; Inexplicable Events; High, Overwrought Emotion; A Woman in Distress; Vocabulary. I hope this can count as a short story, even though it's a novella? It's under 100 pages... Anyway, I LOVED Carmilla. It was deliciously creepy and I'm pretty amazed that it was written and published when it was. I wish I could go back and time and read it after it was first published and feel the reaction of the world.
* lol, I thought I only had three months to do the challenge! Silly me :D
I FINISHED! (see message above) However, for my last roll, which was for a short story, I read Carmilla - is that OK? if it's not, I can read something else :DThis has been my favorite challenge, EVER!
Mod
Go Gothic!Starting: August 2017
Finishing: January 2018
Points on Walpole Meter:
Link to Walpole Meter Measurements
How does your book rate on the Walpole-o-Meter?
1 - 2 elements = Not a Gothic (1)
3 - 5 elements = Wannabe Gothic (4)
6 - 8 elements = Walpole Approved (3)
Total books read: 9
Elements: setting, suspense, inexplicable events, overwrought emotion, a woman in distress, a powerful/tyrannical male, a hero, vocabulary.
(view spoiler)
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen, read 8/1, rating 3 stars, Not a Gothic (scored 2 - suspense and inexplicable events)
3. gothic looking cover -
, read 8/6, rating 4 stars, Walpole Approved !! (7/8 - only setting doesn't apply)4. with a ghost
5. Popular Gothic
6. word in the text - gloomy
page 108 "Mrs Wellington, was in her gloomy kitchen..."
Death of a Policeman, read 8/7, 4 stars, Wannabe Gothic (score 3 - hero, powerful/tyrannical male, vocabulary)
7. female POV
8. a short story Doctor Who: The Last Voyage, read 8/7, 5 stars, Wannabe Gothic (4 elements - suspense, emotion, inexplicable events, hero)
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
12. gothic looking cover
13. the best gothic novels, 1764-1937 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde read 8/8, 5 stars, Walpole Approved (6 out of 8)
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
17. Best Gothic Novels
18. modern gothic novel (1938 - now)
19. with a creature 'Salem's Lot read 8/9, 5 stars, there are vampires in the book, Walpole Reading: 8 out of 8!!! Definitely Walpole Approved!
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23. vengeance or vendetta
24. a mystery
25. features a hero The 5th Wave read 8/11, 4 stars, Walpole Rating: Wannabe Gothic (4 out of 8, suspense, inexplicable events, overwrought emotion, a hero)
26. Austen's horrid novels
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
28. female POV
29. spooky title Hidden Bodies read 8/24, 5 stars, Walpole Rating: Wannabe Gothic (5 out of 8, suspense, overwrought emotion, lady in distress, powerful male, vocabulary)
30. a short story Children of the Corn by Stephen King, 47 pages long, read 9/6 5 stars - 6 out of 8 Walpole Approved (setting, suspense, inexplicable events, overwrought emotion, lady in distress, vocabulary)
Finished this challenge and loved it!
I'm inDuration: from September 1st to February 29th
Dice roll 2: Male author
Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali
Rating: stars
Not A Gothic
The Challenge FactoryGo Gothic!
Duration: 5/15/2018 - 11/15/2018
Progress: 7 out of 7
The gothic novel was invented almost single-handedly by Horace Walpole, whose The Castle of Otranto contains essentially all the elements that constitutes the genre. Walpole's novel has influenced novels, short stories, poetry, and even movies. You might be surprised at how many of those elements can be found in the book you're reading right now.
How does your book rate on the Walpole-o-Meter?
1 - 2 elements = Not a Gothic
3 - 5 elements = Wannabe Gothic
6 - 8 elements = Walpole Approved
And the elements are:
1. Setting The story takes place in an old, abandoned, decaying, ruined castle or mansion, often with secret passages, trap doors, hidden staircases. Often there are caves nearby. There is some sort of miserable weather happening.
2. Suspense There is a feeling of mystery or fear. "It is the mood that defines the Gothic...it is about the atmosphere created and the emotions evoked." The Gothic: 250 Years of Success: Your Guide to Gothic Literature and Culture by A.J. Blakemont
3. Inexplicable Events Dramatic, supernatural, amazing events occur; such as ghosts walking, inanimate objects coming to life, strange noises, bodies disappearing or doors that open themselves.
4. High, Overwrought Emotion The narration may be highly sentimental, and the characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, terror.
5. A Woman in Distress The female character often faces events that leaves them fainting, terrified, screaming and/or crying. Emotional speeches are frequent.
6. A Powerful, Tyrannical Male An employer, lord of the manor, father, or guardian may demand the female do something intolerable.
7. A Hero The hero is handsome and adventurous, but is also dark, brooding and mysterious with a difficult or tragic childhood.
8. Vocabulary The constant use of appropriate words creates the atmosphere. Examples : diabolical, haunted, ominous, secret, agony, dreaded, despair, frantic, shrieks, terrible, wretched, alarm, shocking, anxious, rage, temper, wrath, dismal, black, and tremendous.
Duration : this is a six month challenge
This challenge focuses on books that are or might be traditional gothic literature. Your job is to read them and decide how they measure up on the Walpole-o-Meter.
----------------------------------------------
Roll one die and move that number of spaces through the mansion.
When you land on a space, read a book that relates to that space or from that link. If your roll takes you beyond space 30, you land on space 30. After reading that task, the game is over.
There are no page limits.
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23. vengeance or vendetta
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30. a short story
Don't forget to date and double rate your book (your rating and the Walpole-o-Meter rating).
Roll #1 = 1
1. Read The Castle of Otranto:
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - *** - 5/16/2018 - 125 Pages
Roll #2 = 2
3. Gothic Looking Cover:
Raven CursedFaith Hunter - ***** - 5/17/2018 - 353 Pages
Roll #3 = 1
4. With a Ghost:
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas - ***** - 6/5/2018 - 454 Pages
Roll #4 = 3
7. Female POV:
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - **** - 6/8/2018 - 288 Pages
Roll #5 = 4
11. Female Author:
Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - ***** - 6/11/2018 - 384 Pages
Roll #6 = 4
15. Male POV:
Foundation by Isaac Asimov - *** - 6/12/2018 - 244 Pages
Roll #7 = 3
18. Modern Gothic Novel (1938 - now)
Verity by Colleen Hoover - ***** - 1/24/2023 - 341 Pages
Roll #8 = 3
21. Male Author
Go Gothic!Duration: 1/1/18-6/30/18
Books 3
Rolls
Roll One: 4
Roll Two: 2
Roll Three: 6
Roll Four: 5
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author
3. gothic looking cover
5. Popular Gothic
7. female POV
8. a short story
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
13. the best gothic novels, 1764-1937
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
18. modern gothic novel (1938 - now)
19. with a creature
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23. vengeance or vendetta
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30. a short story
4. Ghost
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling 2/17 Wannabe Gothic
6. word in the text - gloomy
Clean by Alex Hughes 3/25 Wannabe Gothic
12. gothic looking cover
House of Furies by Madeleine Roux 5/30 Wannabe Gothic
17. Best Gothic Novels
1/3/18
Roll #1: 5
Popular Gothic
I'm going to read Castle of Otranto. I have it in my copy of Three Gothic Novels : The Castle of Otranto ~ Vathek ~ Frankenstein.
under cut
(view spoiler)
walpole o meter under cut
(view spoiler)
Go Gothic!8/1/19-1/31/20
Books: 0
How does your book rate on the Walpole-o-Meter?
1-2 elements = Not a Gothic
3-5 elements = Wannabe Gothic
6-8 elements = Walpole Approved
And the elements are:
1. Setting The story takes place in an old, abandoned, decaying, ruined castle or mansion, often with secret passages, trap doors, hidden staircases. Often there are caves nearby. There is some sort of miserable weather happening.
2. Suspense There is a feeling of mystery or fear. "It is the mood that defines the Gothic...it is about the atmosphere created and the emotions evoked." The Gothic: 250 Years of Success: Your Guide to Gothic Literature and Culture by A.J. Blakemont
3. Inexplicable Events Dramatic, supernatural, amazing events occur; such as ghosts walking, inanimate objects coming to life, strange noises, bodies disappearing or doors that open themselves.
4. High, Overwrought Emotion The narration may be highly sentimental, and the characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, terror.
5. A Woman in Distress The female character often faces events that leaves them fainting, terrified, screaming and/or crying. Emotional speeches are frequent.
6. A Powerful, Tyrannical Male An employer, lord of the manor, father, or guardian may demand the female do something intolerable.
7. A Hero The hero is handsome and adventurous, but is also dark, brooding and mysterious with a difficult or tragic childhood.
8. Vocabulary The constant use of appropriate words creates the atmosphere. Examples : diabolical, haunted, ominous, secret, agony, dreaded, despair, frantic, shrieks, terrible, wretched, alarm, shocking, anxious, rage, temper, wrath, dismal, black, and tremendous.
Book That Relates
1. read The Castle of Otranto
2. male author
3. gothic looking cover
4. with a ghost
5. Popular Gothic
6. word in the text - gloomy
7. female POV
8. a short story
9. set in a castle
10. spooky title
11. female author
12. gothic looking cover
13. the best gothic novels, 1764-1937
14. omen or curse
15. male POV
16. word in the text - faint, fainting, swoon or swooning
17. Best Gothic Novels
18. modern gothic novel (1938 - now)
19. with a creature
20. middle grade or YA
21. male author
22. gothic looking cover
23. vengeance or vendetta
24. a mystery
25. features a hero
26. Austen's horrid novels
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
28. female POV
29. spooky title
30. a short story
Rolls
First: 4
Second:
Third:
I'm in. I'm done! Just in time too.Roll 1
3. gothic looking cover
Waking Hours
Wanna be Gothic
Roll 2
9. set in a castle
Peril in the Palace
Not a Gothic
Roll 3
14. omen or curse
Of Curses and Kisses
Roll 4
20. middle grade or YA
Love à la Mode
Not a Gothic
Roll 5
23. vengeance or vendetta
Black Mad Wheel
Wannabe Gothic
Roll 6
27. word in the text - fog or foggy
The Library of Lost Things - fog in the text.
Not a Gothic.
Roll 7
30. a short story
Eve of the Emperor Penguin
Go Gothic! Duration: May 22 - November 21, 2021
Roll 1 = 2
2. Male author
Not a Gothic.
Roll 2 = 1
3. Gothic looking cover.
Wannabe Gothic
Roll 3 = 1
4. With a ghost.
Walpole Approved.
Roll 4 = 5
9. Set in a castle
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Verity (other topics)Gothikana (other topics)
Blood-Kissed Sky (other topics)
Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (other topics)
Of Curses and Kisses (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Colleen Hoover (other topics)Isaac Asimov (other topics)
Susan Elizabeth Phillips (other topics)
Kazuo Ishiguro (other topics)
Sarah J. Maas (other topics)
More...
How does your book rate on the Walpole-o-Meter?
1 - 2 elements = Not a Gothic
3 - 5 elements = Wannabe Gothic
6 - 8 elements = Walpole Approved
And the elements are:
1. Setting The story takes place in an old, abandoned, decaying, ruined castle or mansion, often with secret passages, trap doors, hidden staircases. Often there are caves nearby. There is some sort of miserable weather happening.
2. Suspense There is a feeling of mystery or fear. "It is the mood that defines the Gothic...it is about the atmosphere created and the emotions evoked." The Gothic: 250 Years of Success: Your Guide to Gothic Literature and Culture by A.J. Blakemont
3. Inexplicable Events Dramatic, supernatural, amazing events occur; such as ghosts walking, inanimate objects coming to life, strange noises, bodies disappearing or doors that open themselves.
4. High, Overwrought Emotion The narration may be highly sentimental, and the characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, terror.
5. A Woman in Distress The female character often faces events that leaves them fainting, terrified, screaming and/or crying. Emotional speeches are frequent.
6. A Powerful, Tyrannical Male An employer, lord of the manor, father, or guardian may demand the female do something intolerable.
7. A Hero The hero is handsome and adventurous, but is also dark, brooding and mysterious with a difficult or tragic childhood.
8. Vocabulary The constant use of appropriate words creates the atmosphere. Examples : diabolical, haunted, ominous, secret, agony, dreaded, despair, frantic, shrieks, terrible, wretched, alarm, shocking, anxious, rage, temper, wrath, dismal, black, and tremendous.
Links that will help familiarize you with gothic traits:
How to tell you're reading a gothic novel (scroll to #1)
Elements of the Gothic Novel