Literary Exploration discussion

Interesting in becoming a Literary Explorer too? In 2013 Literary Exploration is challenging you to try out new genres; with a 12 book, 24 book and 36 book challenge. We give you a list of genres and anyone participating in the challenge has to complete one book from each genre over the course of the year.

Easy Challenge

Classics
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Historical Fiction
Horror
Literary Fiction
Mystery
Non Fiction
Romance
Science Fiction
Thriller
Young Adult

Hard Challenge

Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography
Chick-Lit
Classics
Drama
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery
Non Fiction
Paranormal
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp - (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction
Steampunk
Thriller
Victorian
Young Adult

Insane Challenge

Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography
Chick-Lit
Childrens Book
Classics
Cyberpunk
Drama
Dystopian
Educational
Erotica
Espionage
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Gothic
Hard-Boiled
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery
Noir
Non Fiction
Paranormal
Philosophical
Poetry
Post-Apocalyptic
Romance
Science Fiction
Steampunk
Supernatural
Thriller
True Crime
Urban Fantasy
Victorian
Young Adult

Challenge has been added to the top of the Literary Exploration page but looks like you can't join it till the 1st Jan

You can choose your own books. (I've just linked to the Goodreads page of each genre, to help offer suggestions).

I'm in! It'll be fun. These reading challenges are all new to me. But I just don't know how I'm going to read horror or romance...

Sonia wrote: "I'm in! It'll be fun. These reading challenges are all new to me. But I just don't know how I'm going to read horror or romance..."

I'm happy to offer suggestions if you need it.

I'm excited to do this challenge! Of course this will be alongside my regular goodreads challenge for 2013.

Michael wrote: "Sonia wrote: "I'm in! It'll be fun. These reading challenges are all new to me. But I just don't know how I'm going to read horror or romance..."

I'm happy to offer suggestions if you need it."

Michael, that would be a great help. Please do offer your suggestions. I'd even be bold enough to say you'll have idea of what I might like and tolerate in those two genres...(I know, that wasn't nice)

Sonia wrote: "Michael, that would be a great help. Please do offer your suggestions. I'd even be bold enough to say you'll have idea of what I might like and tolerate in those two genres...(I know, that wasn't nice)"

I would something like Frankenstein (classic horror but it will offer some elements that you'd enjoy and it's not really scary) and The Marriage Plot would work for the romance genre

This is a great idea! I'm attempting to read 50 books by next September, and I'm already on my way so I will give the 24 book challenge a go. Thank you for including links as for some of these genres I'd have no idea where to start!

Its very exciting. I would like to try the Insane Challenge because that will take me out of my comfort zone. Chick-Lit...eeek, Paranormal...gaaah,but I'll give it a go.Oooh(rubbing palms with glee).:-)

This is a great idea! I have been trying not to subscribe to any challenges for 2013 but this actually seems very worthwhile and I think I'll really enjoy the Insane challenge. Looking forward to it!

Sonali wrote: "Its very exciting. I would like to try the Insane Challenge because that will take me out of my comfort zone. Chick-Lit...eeek, Paranormal...gaaah,but I'll give it a go.Oooh(rubbing palms with glee..."

Sonali I will have the exact same trouble as you! I can't stand so-called Chick-Lit, or even "romance" novels really... although some novels I have read have had a romantic element to them, I guess.

Another one I might have trouble with is Pulp fiction -I'm not entirely sure what fits into this category? I guess it is quite flexible?

I am just pleased that "YA Romance" didn't make the list! I know it's a popular genre but it just doesn't appeal at all and I think it would stretch my patience a bit too far!

Michael wrote: "Sonia wrote: "Michael, that would be a great help. Please do offer your suggestions. I'd even be bold enough to say you'll have idea of what I might like and tolerate in those two genres...(I know,..."

Perfect! Thank you.

This challenge provides an opportunity to read genres normally by-passed. I recently read a young adult novel and a graphic novel at the request of my son. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed both. Will these genres become my favorites now? No,but I gained a new respect for them.

It's funny but I did make a list. Trying to fit books into all those genres and then took a step back. Today I look at my list and noticed then rather to really challenge myself - I tried all I might to shoe-horn in the books I really would read anyway under those genres.
So today I wipe that pitiful list clean and will try to go all in and actually try to pick up those books I normally would refuse to read.
Like 'Romance' it is easy to simply put any old Austen there but for me that misses the mark. What I want to do is to leave the comfort zone and really go all out and read a new and popular mass-produced romance book. With muscular men and lilywhite ladies on the cover.

I think I did the same thing in some cases Jeanette - some of my choices are already on my book shelf and fit quite nicely, but others I've found really difficult to take a leap out faith. So I will be tweaking my list a bit!

When does the challenge start officially - January? Because I have already started one of my chosen books in my eagerness :-)

Jeanette wrote: "It's funny but I did make a list. Trying to fit books into all those genres and then took a step back. Today I look at my list and noticed then rather to really challenge myself - I tried all I mig..."

Awesome decision. Kudos!
Till now I've gathered 24 books. All from books I have already and wanted to read one time or another.
Some are from the dusty bottom of my to-read pile, some are tomes I'd probably avoid for a few more years.

Leanne wrote: "When does the challenge start officially - January? Because I have already started one of my chosen books in my eagerness :-)"

Haha, I can't wait too.
But you have to mark the books as read in the time frame the challenge is set (Jan-Dez 2013), otherwise they won't count.

This sounds awesome. There are definitely some genres I haven't read much in, so I'm excited to get a little out of my comfort zone for them. The only problem is not starting right away!

Dodo wrote: "Jeanette wrote: "It's funny but I did make a list. Trying to fit books into all those genres and then took a step back. Today I look at my list and noticed then rather to really challenge myself - ..."

Thanks Dodo, it's not a problem, it's all reading at the end of the day! I will find another book to fit that genre :) Can't wait for the challenge to start though! :)

I made a spreadsheet for the 2013 Challenge (and no I'm NOT usually that organized!).
Like Dodo some are ones I already own and/or have been on my TBR list. For other genres, especially genres I do not normally read, I looked to 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die for ideas. I'm already doing that challenge so it would kill 2 birds with one stone. book. whatever. AND I would get books that are good and/or seminal in their genre. Some genres have several options and others (Steampunk in particular) are wide open. -- which means I hope I can look to other members for ideas throughout the year.

That's funny...I did a spreadsheet too with basic references and cross references, country where the story is set. Drove myself a bit crazy then stepped back and decided I was over-engineering it.
But it helps with organization.
I'm very much looking forward to starting!

I agree Barbara, I had the same experience.We do become stuck in our grooves at times.That's why I'm so happy about this challenge.

Hi Michael,

I am looking forward to join this challenge. A vast scope of discovering genres that are new to me. :)

-Asha

It's very interesting... I'm thinking about Insane Challenge but there're some genres which aren't my favorite. It'd be a real challenge for me.

Maria wrote: "It's very interesting... I'm thinking about Insane Challenge but there're some genres which aren't my favorite. It'd be a real challenge for me."

That's the whole point :P It isn't about reading x number of books but about challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone and try something different. I've noticed a lot of the lists so far don't really do that. I've noticed they are almost all variations on the same genre. So instead of a real fantasy novel it's a romance/fantasy or even worse paranormal romance which are not fantasy novels at all.

I think I more or less cover the Hard challenge anyway, except for chick-lit/romance, and i'd be happy to try out for the Insane challenge as well, if one could deduct the aforementioned. Of course, mine is even more diverse, since i do non-fic genres as well. :P

But yeah, maybe i'll enrol for either the hard or insane challenges, so i can use them as an excuse to read a bit of everything. I'm sure SOMEthing i read can double as chick-lit. In fact, i read Hunger Games this year, and i'm sure it can double as both YA and chick-lit, so there ya go! XD

(And for the previous year, one could count Twilight for both of those as well.) I suppose it's cheating to count one book over two genres though, eh?

That would ruin the point of reading 36 books! ;) But if you're reading the series of those books, the first book could count as one and the second as another, I bet. Though I'd hardly consider Hunger Games chick-lit.

Traveller wrote: "I think I more or less cover the Hard challenge anyway, except for chick-lit/romance, and i'd be happy to try out for the Insane challenge as well, if one could deduct the aforementioned. Of cours..."

Hey if I can give Steampunk a chance why not try some romance?? :) Romance is simple and formulaic -- 2 people like each other but have obstacles in their way -- it does not need to be a bodice ripper. I just a read a "romance" by Yukio Mishima that was absolutely beautiful ... And short. :) Let me know if you need the name of the novel.
I'm totally with you on the chicklit.

I have the opposite reaction - the new genres are the ones I'm having the most fun with :P

Sound fun, may aim for the easy challenge as do have to study for University.

Diane wrote: " Let me know if you need the name of the novel. ."

Yes please! Do tell?
I'm actually not 100% sure what would fall under chick-lit ? Plus, if we do chick-lit, shouldn't we do dude-lit as well- is it in there? (though i suppose a lot of other genres automatically fall under dude lit. What about Westerns- are they in there as a genre? I suppose that would fall under "action" though.

How about we make one of the challenges that you must read 40 discrete genres in one year? I think i'll make that one my personal challenge. Now i need to go and define 40 separate genres... ;)

A good rule of thumb is to check on the right side of the page where the book is and see where most people have shelved it. And you can always explore specific genres and books that fall into them in the 'Explore' section of goodreads.

Good point about fairness for dude-lit, lol. I don't know that publishers aim for male readers, though. There aren't as many compared to women.

Traveller wrote: "Diane wrote: " Let me know if you need the name of the novel. ."

Yes please! Do tell?
I'm actually not 100% sure what would fall under chick-lit ? Plus, if we do chick-lit, shouldn't we do dude-l..."

The romance novel is The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima.
Chick-lit is basically a novel in which modern women tackle modern life (career, motherhood, life in the "big city", and yes perhaps romance) generally told in first-person with lightheartedness, candor, and humor. Romance need not be the focus. And with this definition, uh The Hunger Games would not qualify. :) Sorry.
Dude-lit... hmm that could be interesting. LOL When my girls were beginning readers, the teachers, reading staff, and librarians often talked about "boy's lit" and getting boys more interested in reading. One of the most popular series was . Not sure I want to see Captain Underpants for grown men though. :)

What a great challenge! I'll try the insane level! :)))

This sounds like fun.I will try the hard challenge.Can't wait to get started!

I am up for the insame challenge....might as well go for broke...it should help me expand my horizons :)

This is going to be interesting.I am usually set in my ways,I stay with certain genres,so now,I will try a little bit of everything.

I am doing many challenges in 2013 si, I think I will just try the easy challenge. I really do not like Horror. The rest I think I have some things that may work.

Diane wrote: "The romance novel is The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima.
Chick-lit is basically a novel in which modern women tackle modern life (career, motherhood, life in the "big city", and yes perhaps romance) generally told in first-person with lightheartedness, candor, ."

Thanks Diane! Since Mishima is already in my author's list in any case, i think i can do that! :D Also, maybe then one could count Haruki Murakami? Let's say for instance the Wind-up Bird Chronicle?

(Which although told from a male POV, does sort of include his wife a lot)

Hmm, actually! There's a Gene Wolfe told from a female POV that would fall under your definition, i think. Home Fires

And as for boys-lit, there a lot: my son loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Horrid Henry but he has now moved on to Rick Riordan's books.

I'm still deciding between easy and hard challenge. Maybe I'll start with easy and expand if I finish early. I guess I need to choose my books soon.

Because I'm a pussy, I'm thinking I'll have to do the easy challenge. Ideally I'd do hard, but judging by the fact I've read only a few actual books this year, I'm not really sure I can do that just yet.

I have decided to do insane. I am looking forward to try some genres I don't usually read.

I am looking forward to this challenge also. I will likely do the easy challenge and move up a notch if I burn through enough books.

Love the challenge idea! I'm going for the hard challenge. It includes enough genres that I don't normally read which should make 2013 interesting :) Narrowing down the titles could take a little while...

Do we have to post the books we are going to read or can we decide as we go along?

Either way, personally I don't like to plan too far ahead so I'll be deciding as I go

I love this idea. I'm going to be doing the hard challenge. I have most of my books picked out and ready to go. My question is, will we be able to track our progress on here with a tracker (similar to the standard goodreads challenge,) or will it just be done in the threads? Sorry if this is a n00b question. I haven't participated in any other Literary Exploration challenges yet. Thanks!

There is a tracker available at the top of the group's page, but can't do anything till 2013. But these threads are hear for tracking as well

I am in, only for a 12 books challenge this year. Will stretch myself further in the years to come.
I am happy to browse the suggestions and post a tentative "reading plan".
I am terrified (well, maybe it's not the right word) about "Young Adult" ("Hunger Games" was okay, "Urban Fantasy" - not a big fan of China Mieville) and any things Supernatural (makes me feel very bored). But, I am willing to try and be keen about it.

happy 2013 everyone! I won't be deciding on my books too early on as I will inevitably change my mind! I am starting to wonder if I should have signed up for an easier challenge, since my boyfriend proposed over Christmas and I've now got to squeeze planning a wedding into 2013 too! I'll manage somehow :)