The Book Vipers discussion

This is the thread for all post about the 2014 Magic Square Challenge

For all those wondering who Richard and Judy are, they are a talk show couple who also have a book club slot. Their website is here: http://richardandjudy.whsmith.co.uk

And a more extensive list of books is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

Some R&J books have been very good actually. I may try all 25 featured in the magic square, as it builds in free reads - but for now I have selected 12.

Will there be a group widget for this challenge on our own profile page?

I think that it has to stay on the group page. You could post the link on your profile

Fantastic. I have spread the word about the group, as I really think this is a fab challenge :) Merry Christmas!

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too!

I've shelved 18 so far and I am really looking forward to them. I won't list them just yet in case I make any changes.

For my Genre I avoid, this really needs to be a full on Fantasy/YA type read. I am thinking Game of Thrones or the Hunger Games, both of which are so far off my radar, but I really don't know which.

I also could choose from so many for non-fiction and the book which has been on my shelf for ten years.

yey I love this challenge, great idea :D I've signed up for 10 books but I might change it later, hopefully I'll read more :D

Romance is my avoided genre! So I'll have to procure a Mills & Boon from the waiting room at work :/ lol

Romance is my other one, but I didn't even realise until you mentioned it!

I wasn't even aware that I avoided any genre until I liked on the Waterstones site, yesterday! I thought it was mystery, but I do actually like some mystery!

Jo, having read nearly all the Game of Thrones series, and now reading the hunger Games, I would recommend The Hunger Games....more instantly enjoyable. If fantasy is a genre you tend to avoid, I would definitely opt for The Hunger Games. :D

Charlotte, this is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for ! Thank you. I kind of had a feeling that Hunger Games might be a tad "easier" if you like, for a newbie to the genre but really had nothing to go on than gut instinct so I do appreciate the feedback.

I'm not a fan of fantasy genre either, but found The Hunger Games an enjoyable read. But wish I had left it at that one and not read the other two - not so enjoyable.

The Hunger Games is definitely the easier read. Game of Thrones is huge with a massive number of characters and quite an investment of time required.

Meant to say, my avoided genre is definitely chicklit, so I'll be reading the new Bridget Jones!

Lisa wrote: "Meant to say, my avoided genre is definitely chicklit, so I'll be reading the new Bridget Jones!"

Mine too! The last chick lit I read was Bridget Jones.

Lisa wrote: "Meant to say, my avoided genre is definitely chicklit, so I'll be reading the new Bridget Jones!"

Shuddering at the thought!!! Great spot, though, for another avoided genre!

I bought the latest Bridget Jones in the Amazin sale. I don't mind chick-lit as long as it is reasonably well written, with humour. Poor sloppy writing irritates me, whatever the genre.

Amazon sale. It wasn't all that amazin' :o

Spent a great afternoon populating my Magic Square. Have now nominated 12 books, but hope to complete the full 25. Excellent challenge BTW, thank you.

YA is my nemesis. Am planning to read to get it out of the way first for genre I avoid. Will also fulfill a category (dystopian) in another challenge I'm doing elsewhere; so two birds with one stone

Have just remembered I bought the first Game of Thrones last year..might get around to it finally as part of this challenge..

ok Have just added my first book under free choice... nice world war 2 novel The Paris Architect

Need to find time to sit down and work out my Magic Square reads. Can't decide what my avoided genre is - probably fantasy, definitely would not want to read horror.

Elizabeth wrote: "Need to find time to sit down and work out my Magic Square reads. Can't decide what my avoided genre is - probably fantasy, definitely would not want to read horror."
Agree Elizabeth, I don't want to read horror any more than I would watch a horror film!

Perhaps Some Kind of Fairy Tale Elizabeth?

Hmm, will have a think about that one. Philip Pullman maybe, or something else.

Or Neverwhere? Jo really liked it

I would definitely recommend The Hunger Games :) if you're not a fan of fantasy normally, I think YA dystopia is a good place to start because it isn't normally totally "out there" like some fantasies that create entirely new worlds, creatures etc!

I'm liking the sound of Some Kind Of Fairy Tale. Fantasy / Science Fiction is my no-no genre - though I've loved Gaiman. The Joyce sounds as if it's out of the same box, so I think I'll add it to my square. Thanks, Paul.

Nicola wrote: "I would definitely recommend The Hunger Games :) if you're not a fan of fantasy normally, I think YA dystopia is a good place to start because it isn't normally totally "out there" like some fantas..."

Already read that - first one was good, went down hill from there though.

Have downloaded a sample of The Passage. Not sure if it fits the bill, but seems to be quite readable. May get it, as it is only 99p atm.

Is it ok to count a book to the magic square challenge that is also a monthly group read? Say for history fiction/nonfiction is it ok to count the wives of Henry vIII book?

I suppose I can do it however I want really, but interested to know how the challenge is intended to be interpreted!

Hi everyone, I am new to this group but happy to have stumbled upon the Magic Square- seems like a fun thing. Can I confess, I am probably having more fun picking out books than I will have reading them...

Imogen wrote: "Is it ok to count a book to the magic square challenge that is also a monthly group read? Say for history fiction/nonfiction is it ok to count the wives of Henry vIII book?

I suppose I can do it h..."

Of course. I do it too

Hate chick lit but Bridget Jones was an exception. I'm reading the new one. Great fun

Yup...1 down, 24 to go ! So enjoyable, great fun.

I agree. We should get out more maybe ... but we love it.

Pat wrote: "I agree. We should get out more maybe ... but we love it."
Oh Pat.... I meant the idea of the challenge was great fun... I haven't read B Jones, not a fan of chick lit either, lol... I have a Marian Keyes book to read as a genre I avoid, lol. Happy reading :)

I read a Marian Keyes book as part of last months books. Ok but not my thing. However, for some reason I do like the Helen Fielding books.

I've been having fun adding the first 12 books to my magic square challenge list. Want to try for all of them if I can. My avoided genre will be chick-lit too....or perhaps self-help books *brrr*. May have to make whichever it is a slim book!

I need to find a list of genres, as I read most I can think of. Hate crime though. Oh, and science, ugh.

Maybe I should also give Bridget Jones a go then. I did read the others many years ago.

And Imogen, I double up reads with monthly reads and challenges as well.

I've just been having a look at my books, and sorting them into the Magic Square. Will list them as and when I've read them, in case I make changes.

Just pondering whether I could be cheeky and put Robert Galbraith in as a new author! May add as the crime novel choice instead!!

Sorry to be thick. Can we set up a magic square via Goodreads or is it done via your own means via eg Word?

I'm just looking at the one on here and making lists into my shelf. No need to make your own square, unless you want to.

Thanks.

I have copied out the square into a notebook - am being very Old Skool.

May chose a play as the genre I avoid - don't think I have ever read a play! Except maybe a Shakespeare one yrs and yrs ago at school...

Pat wrote: "Sorry to be thick. Can we set up a magic square via Goodreads or is it done via your own means via eg Word?"

I am doing mine in a spreadsheet.