Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

I was wondering the same thing. I guess "polarizing" doesn't necessarily mean strong feelings, but it means it got a lot of up votes and down votes. I don't remember seeing positive comments or even book suggestions.

°~Amy~° wrote: "Two of my up votes made it in. I didn't vote one way or the other on Powells. Between the Hugo's and the Nebulas, I can find something to read pretty easily.

😁"


Same here I'm happy with this.
I'll be looking to the Hugo and Nebula lists to expand my horizons a little. (Or maybe I'll be surprised and find I read a few already.)

EDIT - No, gulp. I think I read only 1 or 2 on each list (and one was Harry Potter, which is too easy.) Surprisingly, I found two (maybe three) books from Obama's lists on the Sci-fi award lists. Now isn't that interesting?

Chrissy wrote: "I’m wondering if I’ll be able to find something gothic by an author of color, other than Mexican Gothic. Any ideas?"

I just discovered that afro-gothic is a subgenre because I found a university course module on it. Their reading list is:
Richard Wright, Native Son
Toni Morrison, Beloved
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus
Mohale Mashigho, Intruders

This list has plenty that look quite gothicky to me:
https://bookriot.com/horror-books-by-...

I'd agree This Poison Heart contains gothic elements (though I thought the ending was awful).

I clearly don’t know what “gothic” means if Purple Hibiscus is gothic.

Although I hadn’t voted for gothic, after checking out the listopias, I’m pleasantly surprised by the choices, with some already on my TBR. Lots of good ones, especially for BIPOC. Bummed Sgt. Pepper and rabbit prompts didn’t make it in this round. I’m hoping for at least one creative prompt like those next year.

i don't know if anyone else has commented this (and i'm sorry in advance for so damn clueless), but what exactly is 'gothic elements'? it has something to do with haunted houses and classic novels, right?

This article suggests there are 10 gothic elements:
https://www.invaluable.com/blog/eleme...

And the prompt isn't asking for full gothic. Some things that come to mind when I think of a gothic story are a big mysterious house, disruption of status quo, romance with power imbalance, hauntings and spiritualism, general spookiness and moody atmosphere.

Chrissy wrote: "I’m wondering if I’ll be able to find something gothic by an author of color, other than Mexican Gothic. Any ideas?"Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas this is kind of a polarizing book but I really enjoyed it.

Here is the Wikipedia link for an explanation of gothic fiction-
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothi...

From another site-
Gothic elements include the following:
• Setting in a castle
• An atmosphere of mystery and suspense
• An ancient prophecy is connected with the castle or its inhabitants (either former or present).
• Omens, portents, visions.
• Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events
• High, even overwrought emotion
• Women in distress.

Chrissy wrote: "I’m wondering if I’ll be able to find something gothic by an author of color, other than Mexican Gothic. Any ideas?"

Perhaps The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle?

thanks so much for the help pam & ellie! I'm glad it's more based on ~vibes~ rather than anything too specific. i loved haunted houses and paranormal ghosty stories so i should be able to find heaps of books on my tbr that fit!

ladymurmur wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "I’m wondering if I’ll be able to find something gothic by an author of color, other than Mexican Gothic. Any ideas?"

These have been labeled both horror and gothic. (The last two had more horror than I like).

*Things We Lost in the Fire
Her Body and Other Parties
*Mouthful of Birds
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

The first three are well regarded short story collections, but the authors might also have novels. *Argentina.

I'm just catching up on everything after a weekend away. Sorry for the delay, but the community spreadsheet is updated if you want to add your planned books on there.

I voted for two of the three, and I have no problems with gothic elements so I'm pretty glad about the winners -- especially my Powell's suggestion!

Someone just retweeted this old Twitter thread for a Lady's Guide to Surviving Gothic Fiction, made me think of our prompt: https://twitter.com/ellle_em/status/1...