UK Book Club discussion

Hi all,
It's time to start the genre challenge once again!

Please join us as we travel beyond our usual comfort zones. You can join us for the long haul, or dip in occasionally; whichever you prefer.

Last time around the list included:

Historical
Magical-realism
Crime/detective (includes true crime)
Classic novels (pre 20thC)
Modern British classics (20thC/kitchen sink)
American 20thC classics
Travel/exploration
Non-fiction/self-help
Sci-Fi/dystopian
Horror/gothic/ghost-story
Fantasy/folklore
Biography/memoir
LBGTQ
Psychiatry/madness
Young Adult/New adult/Children's
Romance/Erotica
Short stories
Espionage/spy
Cult/Chemical fiction
War/revolution
Poetry
Comedy/humour
Award-winning (Booker, Orange, Pulitzer)
Western
Graphic novels
Literary adaptations (books that have been adapted for the screen)

That's 26 genres in total and yes, I combined a few to simplify things and keep the challenge to just over two years (it's amazing how quickly two years flies by).

So, we'll tackle a different genre every month. It's up to you what books you choose and how many for each genre - one is enough, but don't let me stop you if you want to read more of your favourites. At the start of the month, I'll ask for your recommendations and share a few of my own.

As to which genre and when...? First time around we voted, but the problem was that all the unpopular choices were left until the later stages of the challenge, which made it far harder. So for the last few times we have used a random generator, which I think works much better.

One question, two options:
1. Would you like to have the randomly selected list for the entire challenge, up front, so you can plan well ahead?
2. Would you prefer to be told what's coming just one month ahead, to have more of a surprise?

Let me know your preference. For now I will go ahead and spin the wheel to see what comes up for March...

Its quite a list isn't it!
I wonder if there's a third option whereby you let us know 3 at a time so we can plan to some extent but still have the surprises spread out over the 2 years.

Good idea, Kate.

So I have 'spun the wheel' and the first three genres we'll be tackling are:

1. March 2025 - Short stories

2. April 2025 - Biography/memoir

3. May 2025 - Classic novels (pre 20thC)

You can start planning and I will go ahead and set up the thread for short stories...

lovely, I'm really looking forward to the challenge, you're doing great work with all this Liz

Paul wrote: "lovely, I'm really looking forward to the challenge, you're doing great work with all this Liz"

Thanks, Paul. Enjoy!

I'm going to set up the thread for April - Biography/Memoir here we come...

A reminder that for May we'll be reading Classics (pre 20th Century). I'll be setting up the new thread soon....

Liz wrote: "A reminder that for May we'll be reading Classics (pre 20th Century). I'll be setting up the new thread soon...."

Hi Liz I am new to this group and had a personal query that I wanted to run it thru you first , but I am not able to send messages to the moderator, is there an email or any other way to send in the message

When I tried messaging the moderators, It showed "not accepting messages"

That's strange, Richelle. Messages usually work. I get them all the time. Have another go. (I'll check at my end in the morning, when I'm on my laptop).

ok will try again

Richelle. wrote: "ok will try again"

Tried still shows the same message, I have a screenshot of the error message,,,,not sure if copy paste works here

I will be reading The Moonstone by Willie Collins, my first reading of him.

Wilkie Collins. Damn you predictive text.

Liz, Please could you draw up the next 3 genres when you get a minute? Thanks!😊

Only just spotted your message, Kate. Yes, I will do it tomorrow morning.

I've just checked the random generator and the next three genres will be:

June 2025 - The Western
July 2025 - Poetry
August 2025 - Espionage/Spy

The dreaded poetry - argh! I will set up the new thread for the Western....

Thanks Liz. I think it helps to plan ahead particularly for the Summer holiday months.

New genre alert - Nigerian Flash Fiction

August is Espionage/Spy fiction and/or non fiction. I will set up the thread...

Tolulope wrote: "New genre alert - Nigerian Flash Fiction"

Thanks, Tolulope.

Hi Liz, as we are half way through August please could you generate the next few months. Sep-Dec would be good. 😊 Thanks!

Sure, I'll do it tomorrow.

So the genres we'll be tackling in upcoming months are:

Sept 2025 - Cult/Chemical fiction
October 2025 - Horror/gothic/ghost-story
November 2025 - Sci-Fi/dystopian

So put your thinking caps on to decide what you might like to read....

Thanks Liz! Cult/chemical fiction always gets me stumped!

Can anyone enlighten me about Cult/Chemical fiction please

Cult fiction are books based on their reception that have picked up a cult following. Here is a list of examples: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Chemical fiction tends to have chemical elements to the story e.g. sci-fi, mystery with chemicals like poison or drug related.
Here is the thread from the last time we did it where Liz explains them and there are more examples: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Hope that helps.

Thanks, Kate. I'll be setting up the new thread later today....