Historical Fictionistas discussion

Hi all... I thought that I would put up a thread which would remain active, as I often get ideas for things at times when they aren't needed, and then when it is the right time, come up blank.

So, feel free to post your challenge ideas here whenever you want... :)

I live in a small community and we often rely on each other as neighbors when the need arises. We water gardens and feed animals while our neighbors are on vacation, share in the bounty of said gardens in the fall, take turns plowing our driveways and roads in winter, give each other treats during the Christmas season, borrow and lend tools and implements, and generally enjoy an impromptu middle-of-the-road chat that steadily gains participants when the opportunity presents itself.

In the spirit of neighborliness and friendship, read a book written by two or more authors.

What a beautiful tribute to you and your community, JenC. I loved it.

Yay! We have a suggestion! Come on people. I know you got more than one in ya!

How about 'read a best-seller from _______ [specify a year or maybe a specific decade:]' It's amazing the types of book that made it onto those lists in bygone years.

That's true! For the fall challenge there is a task to pick a book from the year you were born! I had no idea Interview with the vampire was as old as me!

How about reading a book set in the state in which you live?

Or reading a book based (or written) in the country of your ancestors?

Read a book (any genre) that's been translated to english.

Gayle wrote: "How about reading a book set in the state in which you live?"

What if you live in the state of denial? :)

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: What if you live in the state of denial? :)"

Then I say good luck finding one! There's GOT to be one. Maybe something about Cleopatra? :P

JenC. wrote: "That's true! For the fall challenge there is a task to pick a book from the year you were born! I had no idea Interview with the vampire was as old as me!"

I couldn't believe it to read the The bourn identity was published in the year I was born!!!!!!

How about read a book in which any game is mentioned?

How about a book in which the main character is an author?
or one where the author of the book is retired from some other profession, such as doctor, policeman, stock trader, actor?

Luckngrace wrote: "How about read a book in which any game is mentioned?

How about a book in which the main character is an author?
or one where the author of the book is retired from some other profession, su..."

great ideas! I especially like the game one, that could mean any kind of game - board game, video game, children's traditional games, like tag and hide-and-seek, so many possibilities.....

How about Read the first book in an established series that you have not yet started?

Thanks Jen. Here's another idea: How about a political-themed fiction?

I don't mean to hog the thread, but I keep having these ideas. It's okay if they don't all click.

I've noticed a few books whose ratings seem to be all 1 stars and 5 stars. Read one of these books. To go along with that, read an author whose previous book you read and didn't like (the 2nd chance task).

Read a book which features a "house as a character".

Read a book that features a lost treasure or something being searched.

Read about something to be overcome: addiction, cancer, bad reputation.

Read a book featuring an animal, bird, fish.

Thanks Heather. About the suggestion to read one of the 1star/5star books, I think it would be fun if the reader stated if they loved or hated the book and why they think readers are so polarized by it. That's getting too wordy, but you get the idea.

Have you ever read a book you hated but noticed everyone else seems to love that author? Guess we need to give them a 2nd chance, huh?

I really appreciate you and JenC commenting on my ideas.

I have a question regarding the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" challenge. Which list are you looking at?! The one on Good Reads only has 470 on it. I did a search and came up with multiple lists in various places. So.......WHICH 1001 list did you want us to use?

I don't have a definite answer for you, Gayle, but what I used was the first list that came up when I entered 1001 Books to Read Before You Die on the internet. I also just noticed that Goodreads 1001 books actually do have 1001 books. Maybe there is another shorter list that I am missing. I would think either list would be fine since the books listed are all quality ones.

OK, thanks Maude....that's what I went by too when I was looking for a book to fill that challenge.

Read a book set in the 1300s. (Or another hundred year time period)

read a book with water on the cover (rain, a lake, tears, etc.)
read a book that features your star sign (I'm a leo - so a lion on the cover or in the title/plot, if you're a gemini then twins could be part of the plot)

for HF - a historical -something- (historical romance, historical thriller, historical fantasy)

HF with a character that shares the same first initial as yourself (I'm a J, so John, Jessica, etc.)

read a book that features your star sign (I'm a leo - so a lion on the cover or in the title/plot, if you're a gemini then twins cou..."

But that would be a hard one for those of us who are Taurus - a book will a bull??? - maybe a couple with bull fighting in Spain but would be very limiting.

LemonLinda wrote: "read a book that features your star sign (I'm a leo - so a lion on the cover or in the title/plot, if you're a gemini then twins cou..."

But that would be a hard one for those of us who are Taurus..."
that's true, it was just a suggestion that came to mind. It doesn't have to get picked.

Read a Mashup book. (These books take classics like Pride & Prejudice & add a major twist like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies does.)

Read a HF that takes place in your state or local region.

JenC, I like your idea re star signs. I think it would be fun. It wouldn't necessarily be ALL about the sign - just having one of the animals in the story. I am a Capricorn and I don't think I could find a whole book about a goat! Linda, you could have bulls on ranches, rodeo's, bull fighting in Spain or elsewhere, think of the Mary Stewart book when she went to a bullfight to escape the man she thought was her enemy - having a brain infarct, can't remember the name of the book!)

I'm really liking some of these suggestions like star signs and regions. We have many, many good writers in North Carolina and the rest of the South. As for Mashup books, I've been afraid of trying them as I it just felt like corrupting a classic, but if you put it in a challenge, I'll sure try one! That's what this group is all about, isn't it?--expanding our horizens.

Luckngrace - I've read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and was actually amused more than offended by the changes. It's great woman power for Lizzy to want to marry well...and be one of the best zombie killers in England. *grin*

As for the Mashup books, that might be a task I would have to skip. I am a bit like Luckngrace in that it is tarnishing the name of books that I have loved or probably would love. I am not a big zombie or vampire book reader. The one vampire book that I really enjoyed was The Historian but I think that was more about the history and travel parts of the book. I was more into the intellectual pursuit of Dracula rather than Dracula himself. And I read one book last year with zombies and vowed - no more of that type for me. Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but the greatest thing that goodreads had done for me is to help me with my book choices so that I am reading mostly books that I really enjoy and for me that is the reason that I read - to enjoy it.

After reading Interview With the Vampire years ago I, too, decided not to pursue this subject, not even the megahit Twilight series. But my daughter did convince me to read The Host, also by Stephanie Meyer and, after feeling a little strange the first 50 pages, I did ultimately enjoy the book.

Maude wrote: "JenC, I like your idea re star signs. I think it would be fun. It wouldn't necessarily be ALL about the sign - just having one of the animals in the story. I am a Capricorn and I don't think I co..."

Hey, we're not ALL animals! ;-)

Djrmel, a feisty Libra

Sorry, Ms Feisty Libra, I did overlook a few of you and I can't stop laughing - it looks so funny now that I realize you aren't all animals!

I love language and playing with words. How about a task involving titles with homophones, homographs, onomatopoeia, oxymorons, etc.

Read a book that takes place on an island.

Read a book with a color or word representing a color, such as "color, tone, shade, hue" in the title.

Read and Oprah selection from any year in honor of Oprah's last year on tv.

Luckngrace wrote: "Read and Oprah selection from any year in honor of Oprah's last year on tv."

I like it!

Read a memoir or true story or based on a true story.

Read a book about spies or spying.

Read a HF centered around the winter holidays.

Read a book by an author who uses one or more pseudonyms.

Read an HF with a piece of furniture in the title.

Read an HF set in your state/country of origin.

Read a book with a street name in the title.

Read a book which includes sections/or completely told from an animal's point of view.

Read an HF with the name of a drink/beverage in the title.

Read a book set above 60th parallel north(search Wikipedia for a list of locations).

Read a book that won an award, any award.

Read any author's first book.

I'm loving the ideas... ;et's keep em coming! :D

Luckngrace wrote: "Read a book that won an award, any award.

Read any author's first book."
Actually my own first book won an award ...but you can't buy it. It's out of print :)

I would like to clear out my TBR shelf before adding more, so a task where we have to look at our TBR shelf and pick randomly, like the first 5 prime numbers and choose one of those, or pick one from the 10 oldest on your list, the digits of your year of birth, something like that. Of course your TBR shelf would have to be set by date added for either of these to work.

HAHA or we could do the old "close your eyes and point" trick.

JenC. wrote: "HAHA or we could do the old "close your eyes and point" trick."

Or use one of the random number generators that can be found online. Regardless of how the book is chosen, I love any task that culls my TBR shelf!

Read a book won at GR First Reads or, if no win, a book someone gave you to read.

Luckngrace wrote: "Read a book won at GR First Reads or, if no win, a book someone gave you to read."

I've never done the first reads thing, but I do have a few that need to be returned to their owners....*whistles innocently*