The Book Vipers discussion

Sarah wrote: "Ok, I'm being really brave here, a genre that I usually avoid is science fiction, as I have never really 'got' any science fiction - books or tv. Does anyone have any suggestions of books I could r..."

Sarah, two that I would recommend are:
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
The City and the City by China Miéville

Its 'lite' sci-fi/ fantasy. Very enjoyable reads.

I finished my 15th book for this challenge last night - Book from a Small Publisher, Gossip from the Forest, 4★s. Such an unusual but wonderful, whimsical, thought-provoking book, I'm so glad I read it. Thanks to Paul for introducing me to it!

My magic square now looks like this:

X X X X X
O O O X X
O X X X X
O X O O O
X O X O X

7 books left to complete all 25 books in the challenge. Still no idea on what to read from the Richard and judy list.

The one I am reading at the moment is mine from that list: The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

I just finished my 16th book for the challenge, Storm Front (A Friend's Recommendation). It was a fun, quirky read, good recommendation :-)

My magic square now looks like this:

X X X X X
O O O X X
O X X X X
O X O X O
X O X O X

Now up to 17 in the challenge! Square now looks like:


X X X X X
X O O X O
X X O X O
X X X X O
X X X O O

Finished book 16 - Anna Karenina for the translated into English square. Now looks like this:

X X X R X
X X X X X
X O X O O
X X O O O
X X O X O

Well done Sally Paul and Cathy. Nice going :)

I just finished my 17th book - A Genre You Avoid (YA), The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I found it surprisingly thought-provoking - 4★s.

My magic square now looks like this:

X X X X X
O O O X X
O X X X X
O X X X O
X O X O X

After some advice about poetry - it's not something I particularly enjoy so does anyone have any advice for a book of poems that would suit a novice to poetry?

Spike Milligan, his stuff can be pretty funny, nice place to start.

Or try Carol Ann Duffy Hannah

Thank you Jason and Paul.

I will complete this soon. I haven't forgotten!

Only 4 books left to read I think now.

Just finished Struck by Genius: How a Brain Injury Made Me a Mathematical Marvel really good read and I only read this because of the square challenge. So I think this proves just how good this challenge is making you venture into reading books you wouldn't have give a chance to before.

Jason wrote: "Only 4 books left to read I think now.

Just finished Struck by Genius: How a Brain Injury Made Me a Mathematical Marvel really good read and I only read this because of the square ..."

Completely agree. Just started The Day Of The Owl purely because it's my Translated into English, and it's brilliant

Yay! Three lines completed now. Finished books 18 The Cuckoo's Calling (crime) and 19 Park Notes (small publisher) this week. Here's my review of Park Notes: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Completely agree with Jason and Pamela about the challenge making you read outside your comfort zone and discover new things.

Wait until next years then!

Sounds like you've got something good planned, Paul!

Paul is setting up a crèche for next years challenge as it will be taking up so much of our time.

Jason. Your humour is priceless.

Paul wrote: "The one I am reading at the moment is mine from that list: The Girl Who Fell From The Sky"

I am on book 24 from the list, only left with the troublesome square, Richard and Judy. The girl who fell from the sky is from the summer 2013 list, is it ok to read one from there? As that has the only book I fancy reading by them.

Jason wrote: "Paul wrote: "The one I am reading at the moment is mine from that list: The Girl Who Fell From The Sky"

I am on book 24 from the list, only left with the troublesome square, Richar..."

For the Richard and Judy square I thought that any book that had been part of their bookclub would be ok?
I have managed 12 of the squares so far..

As Gail says, Any from their list is fine.

Excellent.

I am currently reading my 23rd and 24th, Life after Life and Mountains of the Mind, both excellent. Savouring my final choice The Luminaries to last, then it's back to the series challenge and Game o' Thrones.

Book 24 done, yay. One more to go.

Hey Everyone, I am getting back into reading now. Debbie, I want to read The Luminaries - which is it on your square? Historical?

I am currently reading my travel book - "We'll Always Have Paris" by Jennifer Coburn.

I still have a long way to go before I finish but I am still going to try...

The Luminaries is my chosen award winner. Really looking forward to it.

Well done Debbie and Jason, so close! I loved Mountains of the Mind and looking forward to Life After Life (friend's recommendation). Still got 6 to go.

Well done both or you

Just finished my 18th this morning, the travel book Journey Into Cyprus. Excellent as usual from Colin Thubron

Challenge completed, found some good books to read for this that I wouldn't have bothered trying before.

Finished the series with The Universe Versus Alex Woods a fantastic read.

I fancy a reading challenge, and this looks interesting, but I confess I have no idea what is meant by a 'magic square challenge', and can't find where it's defined. Can someone explain it, or link me to where it's defined?

The challenge is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

And there is a larger photo here Gail:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

Well done Jason :)

Thanks, Paul - that's great. It looks like fun challenge. Now I'm off to find some books to fit the square.

Romance is the genre I avoid, but as with any genre, there must be some really good romance novels out there, as well as the Mills & Boon formulaic stuff. Does anyone know of any? I really don't want to read a Mills & Boon!

Hi Gail, I see you like YA books among others so I've found this list of YA romance on goodreads which you might like to browse through and pick a likely candidate?
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I can't recommend any particular one as I don't think I've read many romance books myself, apart from ones like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.
:)

https://www.goodreads.com/search?page...

^ or that list is more comprehensive!

Thanks, Catherine. Yes, I guess a lot of YA is romance. That's an interesting list. I wouldn't have thought to classify Speak as a romance. It's been a long time since I read it, but I don't remember romance being a major theme of it.

But if Pride and Prejudice is classified as romance, then this might be my chance to motivate myself to read it. It's one of those I started reading once, didn't like it so stopped, but have had at the back of my mind to finish reading one day. It is more appealing than Mills & Boon anyway! :-)

Hi Gail, I am currently working my way through pride and prejudice, it is worth sticking with it as it does get good, also it is one of the book of the months on here so you can discuss it with others on here.

If you haven't read P&P I can heartily recommend it. I loved it...no guarantee you'll love it though but at least you could tick it off your list!

Okay then, you've both convinced me - P&P it is. :-)

Do you all decide what books to put on each square of your magic square in advance, or make your mind up as you go along?

I decided on about half of them, and added the rest later

I decided on all of mine, in advance, it was so much fun deciding. I've changed a couple since though.

Mine have changed a bit along the way! I think I've done 16. Hope to do the full 25 but as long as I get past 20 I will be pleased as I have a big eye on the series challenge too.

Just noticed you finished your challenge! Well done Jason. :)

Thanks Catherine.

Like Paul I decided half and then added the more difficult choices as I cam across a suitable book.