UK Book Club discussion

I'm interested to know: what are the top 3 genres of books you plan to read in 2023?

Historical Fiction is always my number 1 go to genre so that will feature heavily.
Murder Mysteries will probably be second.
My third would normally be Fantasy but I actually have plans to read a few Young Adult books this year (Percy Jackson series for starters) so I guess that's more likely.

This is why I like our monthly genre challenge because it encourages me to try different genres I might not bother with normally. But I'll always return to my favourites!

I read lot's of horrors and thrillers but plan to try to read a more varied selection this year. I should really come up with a plan and stick to it but I don't appear to be very good at that so far this year.

My favorite genre, if you can call it that, is always retro domestic comedy, novels of manners. That’s the comfy robe I slip into at the end of the day.

Other than that, I read a certain amount of historical fiction, mainly out of duty since I also write in that genre so I like to see how others approach their world-building and the subjects they focus on.

I like to read essays, though they seem to be a dying breed. I enjoy their leisureliness, how they wander into a topic and stroll about. Nonfiction books generally tend to be more agenda-driven than essays, and that can be useful but it’s not the same kind of pleasure.

The Reading the Detectives group here on Goodreads has an interesting project going, classic mysteries set in different location types, and I want to read along with that. The first month was the library, the next month the university, and so on.

In general my reading is driven by the group reads and challenges in the many Goodreads groups I follow, but toward the end of each month I get the opportunity to suit myself.

Hi Kate
Thank you for answering my question about reading genres. I read on your profile that you are interested in manuscripts. Do you feel that modern technology has robbed people of the ability to see the progression of manuscripts - the evolution of a book, a plot, an idea? I feel that a hard copy manuscript with margin notes, corrections, etc. has a reality about it that seems to bring the writer to life. Miriam

Absolutely Miriam. There is something magical about going to the British Library or a museum and seeing the early manuscript notes of an author.

For example there are letters and first drafts of Jane Austen's at her House in Hampshire which really show the evolution of her novels and the influence her life had on her storylines.

I've seen exhibitions of Agatha Christie's work and am always awestruck when I see her actual handwriting, same with a lot of other classic authors.

Nowadays authors use technology for its speed and editing which means there is no tangible evidence anymore. :(