Literary Exploration discussion

Nicole wrote: "Michael wrote: "That is a little difficult to do; how do we decide which country to read? I think I might be easier to do Continents. But then again we have done Japanese and Russian literature (we..."

Picking the books will be easy, I meant with the themes we pick to vote on, it is often hard to narrow it down to a particular country. how do you choice what countries to add to a poll? that is why I think I'd prefer continents.

Like have a theme poll with all the continents and then people can nominate books based on what ever continent wins the theme poll

Here is an updated list, everything back as a possible theme for 2014 (except the ones already used in a 2014 poll).

Possible Upcoming Themes

Future Polls
Existentialist - Pip
Fantasy - Kim
Indie - Hugh
Short Stories - Tpal007
Memoir - Mary
Middle East - Mary
Post-Colonial - Victoria
Post Modern - Michael
Play - Julia
9/11 - Jessa
Alien - Jessica
Any Culture Clash - Anne
Beat Generation - Michael
Blindness - Anda
Childrens' lit - Kate
Culture Clashing Horror - Jessica
Dealing with Neurological Disorders - Tpal007
Environmental - Jessa
Famous Philosophers - Barbara
Gender Identity - Lola
GR Author - Kim
Graphic Novels - Kim
Hard-boiled & Noir Mix (Pulp) - KL
Harlem Renaissance - Tiffani
Holocaust - Kevin
Imprisonment/POW/Escape - Flash Beagle
Indigenous - Sonali
Noir - Franky
Non-Fiction - Mary
Obscure Authors - Toby
Ocean/Desert - Lori
Period Novel - Lori
Philosophical - Justin
Poetry - Julia
Popular science- Rob
Religion-associated fiction - Graham
Romance - Mary
Rural Setting - Mish
Set in Specific City - Lisa
Steampunk - Tiffani
Street Lit/Urban Fiction - Angela
Urban Fantasy - Jessica
War - Brandie
Western - Toby
With a Mystical Thread - Tpal007

I would like to suggest Contemporary Russian Authors as a theme. You know, most of the world, including most of Russia, seems to think that Russia quit writting when Tolstoy died. It's not true, there is some fascinating writing coming out of Russia today, like Ekaterina Sedia. The main challenge is that when most readers see "Russia", they automatically think Tolstoy, but it could be really fun to introduce readers to Russian writing of today.

I like it, we did have a Russian literature theme that did include some modern Russian books awhile ago. But I'm all for more Russian

I would like to second Tpal007's nomination of Short Stories.

Meric wrote: "What about spin-offs of Classics? There is a Listopia https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

I am currently reading a sequel about the Artful Dodger and find tha..."

I like it

How about insanity as a theme?

Janet wrote: "How about insanity as a theme?"

what do you mean by that?

Books with characters who are insane or have serious mental illness.

Mental illness would be an interesting theme to explore

I am currently reading Wuthering Heights. Perhaps not a book like Meric has mentioned or The Bell Jar that is normally associated with mental illness but most of the characters have some form of mental illness. One could certainly enlarge the scope of the topic more than the few famous titles that explore the subject.

I think that a great many of the heroes and heroines of literary texts could, like Heathcliff, be "diagnosed" as suffering from mental illness! That said, a study of books dealing with mental illness would be interesting, imo. I suggest "Faces in the Water" by Janet Frame. (She's from New Zealand!)

Meric wrote: "I agree! Heathcliff certainly had mental illness to behave the way he did, though it would never be diagnosed in the time setting."

I think Catherine had some form of mental illness as well.

What about an animal theme, or specifically dog theme? I'm thinking of The Art of Racing in the Rain, Merle's Door, Water for Elephants, Animal Farm, Flight Behavior, Marley and Me, Cujo, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, or Lives of the Monster Dogs :)

How about cultural history? I'm into non fiction lately. To make it a more precise motto, we could choose history of science, or geistesgeschichte and so on.
I'm currently reading Euclid's Window: The Story of Geometry from Parallel Lines to Hyperspace, and despite my disliking maths it's absolutely fascinating :)

Iselin wrote: "How about cultural history? I'm into non fiction lately. To make it a more precise motto, we could choose history of science, or geistesgeschichte and so on.
I'm currently reading [book:Euclid's W..."

I like that idea

Anyone can suggest me a detective/mystery/suspense novel? such as The Maltese Falcon? or something like that? also, anyone knows of a good scary/horror novel? like those that give you chills in your back while you read them? :) thank you so much!

Hector wrote: "Anyone can suggest me a detective/mystery/suspense novel? such as The Maltese Falcon? or something like that? also, anyone knows of a good scary/horror novel? like those that give you chills in you..."

This is not the place, but try Raymond Chandler

Back to the previous comments in support of a nation based theme, we have seen a great influx of work published on the subject of Afghanistan in the past ten years. Fiction and Non-Fiction alike work to represent the history, development, and present-day realities of life in Afghanistan. I can make suggestions if need be. Just an idea.

I support the Afghanistan idea.

I have a few theme ideas:

Translated books
Single Word Titles
African author

Nea wrote: "I have a few theme ideas:

Translated books
Single Word Titles
African author"

We just did Translated book last month, but I'm all for it

I have another theme suggestion: Gothic Fiction

Nea wrote: "I have another theme suggestion: Gothic Fiction"

We have done Gothic literature

Nea wrote: "I have a few theme ideas:

Translated books
Single Word Titles
African author"

Single word titles... That is a really neat idea. I don't know that I ever would have considered that, but I like it.