Play Book Tag discussion

This vote was one of the least contentious we've had in a while. The overwhelming winner is:

literary fiction

It was nominated by one of our members, so I guess she knows us well!

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as literary fiction on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

YAY! My favorite! I have so many books that fit this category and of course the buddy read I'll host in November, Circe, fits so please join ussssssss (once I get the thread going) >:-)

While I typically like a challenge, I also really like literary fiction! Not sure what I will read yet, but it seems like half the books I read fit this tag, so we will see what floats to the top.

This is a tag I find endlessly confusing... Gone Girl and Girl on a Train are literary fiction?

Lol, literary fiction just makes me think of something that is neither a poem nor non-fiction. So anything goes!

I'm going to go with The Prisoner of Heaven, a reread but it's been ages! (And it's actually on the shelf, I didn't just point randomly at my library!)

Meli wrote: "YAY! My favorite! I have so many books that fit this category and of course the buddy read I'll host in November, Circe, fits so please join ussssssss (once I get the thread going) ..."

Still on the wait list at my library-#2 , but the person that has it right now is 2 days over-due. I am hoping I get it in time but it does not look good.

Meli wrote: "This is a tag I find endlessly confusing... Gone Girl and Girl on a Train are literary fiction?"

I do think it is easier to say what literary fiction is not as opposed to what it exactly is, but this article does a great job of differentiating. It's fiction, but not genre fiction and generally not especially plot driven . . .


https://nybookeditors.com/2018/07/wha...

Meli wrote: "This is a tag I find endlessly confusing... Gone Girl and Girl on a Train are literary fiction?"

Ha! Just what I thought Meli-how the heck is Gone Girl in this category????

I have had Lord of the Flies on my wish list to re-read, so I may go with that one OR People of the Book.

I'm pretty sure I'll be finishing up The Overstory as I have that one on pause right now, but almost all the fiction I read (but I do read lots of non-fiction) is literary fiction, so I should have an easy month of it.

Some of my favorite authors that fit the tag are Elizabeth Strout, Khaled Hosseini, Anthony Marra, and Jonathan Franzen if anyone is actually in search of books. I imagine most of us have a lot of these on our TBRs already.

Great! It’s a month of free reading for me.

I think I’ll continue with the National Book Award shortlist. That means A Lucky Man, Florida, and The Friend.

Hmmm, ok, character driven and ambiguous ending make sense.
This seems highly subjective, but I have many of these titles on my TBR or read, so YAY for literary fiction :)

Meli wrote: "Hmmm, ok, character driven and ambiguous ending make sense.
This seems highly subjective, but I have many of these titles on my TBR or read, so YAY for literary fiction :)"

It is subjective to some degree, but I also think of literary fiction as something that will stand the test of time, explains something about the human condition, and doesn't neatly fit into a mainstream genre (sci fi, mystery, thriller, etc.), but there is crossover and that's what makes it confusing!

That's helpful, thank you!

I had a feeling this would be the choice . I voted for military history and even added a few votes, but I thought there wasn't a chance in hell that it would be chosen.

I read literary fiction all the time so it is not a problem.

Yay! I love literary fiction. I plan to finish The Weight of Ink, unfortunately not in time for the group discussion. For Halloween I'm reading A Secret History of Witches. After that, I'll have to see.

I do have a couple of books I'd like to recommend:
-People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
-Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbury

Booknblues wrote: "I had a feeling this would be the choice . I voted for military history and even added a few votes, but I thought there wasn't a chance in hell that it would be chosen.

I read literary fiction all..."

These are my feelings exactly, BnB! I too voted for military history and tossed in some extra votes, realizing it likely wouldn't be chosen.

I read lots of literary fiction and have several on my shelves so it'll be an easy month for reading for the tag :)

I read a lot of literary fiction, so I'm thrilled with this topic!

Circe will definitely be one I read, especially since I'll be participating in a buddy read on it during November.

Books I highly recommend that I have read during the last couple of years:

A Gentleman in Moscow
Speak No Evil
The Scribe of Siena
Call Me Zebra
Season of Migration to the North
Zorba the Greek
The Paradise Guest House
A Virtuous Woman
Bel Canto
Villette
The Sellout
Popcorn
Miller's Valley - anything Anna Quindlen in fact.

Brilliant! Though in retrospect I obviously didn’t need to throw maximum points at literary fiction in the desperate hope that it would win 😁 I have some challenges to finish, peeps ...

I have ‘The Shepherd’s Hut’ to finish, and ‘Circe’ if I can get it from the library in time. I need ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ for my speculative fiction listopia challenge and I don’t think I’ll hit it this month in time for the tag. Also, half the stash on the bedside table is literary fiction, but I’d better not get over-ambitious.

I'm putting Nights at the Circus as my hot recommendation (again) from this year. It's funny, it's smart, it's literary fiction. what more can you ask for.

so many options to read... It's pointless listing them
but here are few that I consider reading this month

One of these for sure:
Literary fiction about WWI (for the november holiday challange):
All Quiet on the Western Front
A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry
The Good Soldier Švejk (one of the oldest TBRs I own, but really really long...)

Other literary fiction options:
The Transit of Venus from Denizen's list
A Month in the Country a short book that everyone seem to rave about
Stoner
Memoirs of Hadrian (also historical fiction)
The Stranger
Fire from Heaven (also historical fiction)

I was the person who nominated "Literary Fiction" ... it's my preferred reading. For me it means a book that I can really sink my teeth into, with complex characters, and major themes worthy of long discussion.

Books I would recommend:
What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
Eventide by Kent Haruf
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J Gaines
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Blindness by Jose Saramago
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Known World by Edward P Jones


As for what I'll read ...
I'm going to try to get to There There by Tommy Orange
(which also carries the Native American tag .... the other tag I was considering nominating)

Great article, Anita. Thanks for sharing!

I keep thinking of more recommendations:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Relief and gratitude washes over her like gentle rain. Thank you voters and friends. Sounds like we’re all very happy.

Kimber wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I had a feeling this would be the choice . I voted for military history and even added a few votes, but I thought there wasn't a chance in hell that it would be chosen.

I read l..."

I thought I was probably the only one. So glad to hear that I wasn't alone. Did you have a plan for what you wanted to read?

I was planning to read Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam which is on the long list for the National Book Awards for Young peoples literature.

Anita wrote: "This vote was one of the least contentious we've had in a while. The overwhelming winner is:

literary fiction ..."

Sigh... Well, that being said, I imagine I'll have something...

Ellie wrote: "Lol, literary fiction just makes me think of something that is neither a poem nor non-fiction. So anything goes!..."

Ha! I like this!

Booknblues wrote: "I had a feeling this would be the choice . I voted for military history and even added a few votes, but I thought there wasn't a chance in hell that it would be chosen...."

Thanks for trying! It was what I was hoping for! (But, I don't get to vote!)

Booknblues wrote: "I was planning to read Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam which is on the long list for the National Book Awards for Young peoples literature. ..."

Are you reading for "Fall Flurry of Holidays"? You can still read it for that!

I actually have a decent-sized list, but many don't seem all that appealing.

Probably the most appealing - at first glace - is The Wonder by Emma Donoghue.

I'm going to look closer, though, and see if there are ones that also fit other challenges that I'm either doing in November or ones that will help me with annual challenges.

Maybe
Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange / Amanda Smyth (one person has it tagged, so I might just go with that!)

Maybe something by Louise Erdrich. I have a couple on my tbr: Tracks or The Round House

- Such a Pretty Face / Cathy Lamb (one person has it tagged "literary fiction"
- Whiter Than Snow / Sandra Dallas (also one person)

Ooooh, or maybe a bit of a spin on "literary fiction" and go with:
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing / Jasper Fforde.

LibraryCin wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I had a feeling this would be the choice . I voted for military history and even added a few votes, but I thought there wasn't a chance in hell that it would be chosen...."

Than..."

What did you want to read?

A Thousand Splendid Suns has been on my bookshelf forever. Maybe Life After Life too, if I feel like I'm on a roll!

Hmm this is a tough one for me. Bad connotations! When I think of Literary Fiction, I think of the guys who come into the library and sneer at genre fiction, trying to convince others that the books that they read are vastly superior.
"Yes, but is it Literature?"

Thanks everyone for recommending appropriate titles! Circe is on my tbr, and there are a lot of good options on the link provided.

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Hmm this is a tough one for me. Bad connotations! When I think of Literary Fiction, I think of the guys who come into the library and sneer at genre fiction, trying to convince others that the book..."

It is a strange way to define some fiction, because I love genre fiction and do not personally find it to be less valuable literature than other literature, but I think it is an attempt to define something that is difficult to define...

Forget pretentious readers, there is plenty of popular literary fiction that can also intersect with genre fiction! I would be equally weary of a fan base turning you off something.

How about these titles?

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
The Stranger
The Handmaid's Tale
All the Light We Cannot See

Meli wrote: "It is a strange way to define some fiction, because I love genre fiction and do not personally find it to be less valuable literature than other literature, but I think it is an attempt to define something that is difficult to define...

Forget pretentious readers, there is plenty of popular literary fiction that can also intersect with genre fiction! I would be equally weary of a fan base turning you off something"

I am happy so long as people are reading, and enjoying reading, and not hurting anyone. I read most genres, but generally avoid True Crime.

Looking at the list, I have read a lot of literary fiction. I would classify the books as classics or modern classics, which, I guess, is about the same as calling them Literary Fiction. Just using a different word. I am still learning!

Booknblues wrote: "I thought I was probably the only one. So glad to hear that I wasn't alone. Did you have a plan for what you wanted to read?
I was planning to read Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam which is on the long list for the National Book Awards for Young peoples literature. "

Boots on the Ground sounds like a good one. I'm going to add it to my list.

I was thinking about a Vietnam War era book as well: Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War. It's fiction but draws from the experiences of the author, who was a Marine during the Vietnam War, so I believe that was why it was included in the Military History tag.

My dad was in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War time period. He was stationed in Germany, which is where I was born. His birthday is on Veteran's Day (Nov 11) so I always wish him a happy birthday and thank him for his service on the same day :)
Those are some of the reasons I was influenced to vote for the Military History tag. I should probably join the Fall Flurries challenge, because I think I'm reading books that would fit!

I also reserved The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West from another library and it has come in so I am going to read it even though it doesn't fit the monthly tag. (It would work for Fall Flurries' November theme I think.)

I am totally content with the Literary Fiction tag though -- I have three or four choices (out of a long list of possibilities) that will also work for other challenges and/or are upcoming reads for my in-person book club.

Book Concierge wrote: "I keep thinking of more recommendations:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver"

I just picked up Cutting for Stone at a used book sale-good to know it fits the tag!

Booknblues wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I had a feeling this would be the choice . I voted for military history and even added a few votes, but I thought there wasn't a chance in hell that it would be ch..."

I gave it all I had too. I wanted to read The Guns of August for my Pulitzer Non-Fiction challenge...

With the tag chosen I guess I'll get to catch up on the Listopia challenge instead.

Whew, glad this one won! Wasn't sure what I would have read with either of the other two tags.

I still had to sift a bit to find things, but I think I might finally read a Celeste Ng novel (husband recommends Everything I Never Told You). I've also got a hold on the audio book of The Night Circus that'll hopefully come in on time, read by the lovely Jim Dale. I've got a Diane Satterfield ARC that would also fit the bill. And if by some chance I don't finish Station Eleven for this month, I can count it for next.

Hebah wrote: "Whew, glad this one won! Wasn't sure what I would have read with either of the other two tags.

I still had to sift a bit to find things, but I think I might finally read a Celeste Ng novel (husban..."

OMG, yes, please! I love Celeste Ng SO much.
Either that or Little Fires Everywhere, both solid. Highly recommend.

I gave Everything I Never Told you 4 stars, but every time I am reminded of that book I think "love" so maybe it should've been a 5...

Booknblues wrote: "What did you want to read?..."

I didn't have anything specific in mind, but I know I'll be reading something for Remembrance Day for Fall Flurry, so (had military history been the winning tag) whatever I chose would fit nicely for both!

I know I have something by Cornelius Ryan on my tbr, so I might go with that, but I'll take a look at what else I've got.

Kimber wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I thought I was probably the only one. So glad to hear that I wasn't alone. Did you have a plan for what you wanted to read?
I was planning to read Boots on the Ground: America's..."

Matterhorn is really good. I would classify it as literary fiction, as well as military history.

Meli wrote: "OMG, yes, please! I love Celeste Ng SO much. "

Excellent! I think we own both, so I can see which one better strikes my fancy when November arrives. People really seem to imprint on one book over the other, depending on which they read first.

Anita wrote: "This vote was one of the least contentious we've had in a while. The overwhelming winner is:

literary fiction

It was nominated by one of our members, so I guess she knows us well!

Please share ..."





https://media.giphy.com/media/PRQ6McR...

Circe just came in for me at the library! Go Buddy Read!

Recommendations:

Where do I begin????? There are so many great ones. I heartily agree with All the Light We Cannot See, but then there are so many literary masterpieces from the ages...

On the one hand, I am happy this won (in case you missed the gif!) On the other hand, I'm in a conundrum about this big literary novel I'm reading. It's brilliantly written, and even though I heartily disagree with the philosophical stances I still enjoy the writing. BUT two very disturbing bits have left me in a moral quandary as to whether or not to continue. On the one hand, I have read worse for history classes and realize we can't sanitize all of our reading, it fits with the times and background of the author who is not supporting suppression of this character and it's only happened twice (minor character), but on the other hand--ICK!!

Joanne wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "I keep thinking of more recommendations:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Lacuna by B..." I just picked up Cutting for Stone at a used book sale-good to know it fits the tag!

I loved Cutting for Stone!

Barbara wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "I keep thinking of more recommendations:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
[book:The Lacun..."

Well, that's two recommendations so I guess that's the one I will try-not my favorite genre, but I have opened my mind a lot since joining this group! I bought because the "blurb" on the back cover intrigued me.

It is far easier to say what I will not be reading:

Anna Karenina
Wolf Hall