Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

In picking books for this club I will try and pick books that would interest a wide variety of readers. Feel free to share some of your favorite reads from the past or generes you enjoy reading as it may help me pick some of the titles.

One of my favorite books is Enders Game.

Natasha wrote: "One of my favorite books is Enders Game."

It has been years since I read that, but I enjoyed it. I have heard that unless you are really into it, that book is the only one in that series that you need to read.

I'm pretty eclectic. The only books I have a hard time getting into is westerns. :) sorry.

Kristina wrote: "I'm pretty eclectic. The only books I have a hard time getting into is westerns. :) sorry."

Interesting - I have only tried a Western or two in my time. They were okay, but I think they take a certain type to truly appreciate. I don't think we would read any straight up Westerns in this group, but I could see some having a slightly Western flair (something along the lines of how Stephen King used the Western genre in the Dark Tower series).

That sounds great. I will be happy with anything. Should broaden my horizons anyways :)

I read Enders Game and loved it but was never interested in reading any of the others because I was told that they were "different" than the first.

Ender's Game seemed to me to be pretty good by itself. There wasn't really a cliffhanger if I recall. I am not even sure what direction the author would have gone to continue the series

Hi all! My favorite types of books are science fiction, fantasy and horror/crime but i will give anything a go. Two books that are high in my list of favorites are 1984 and Brave new world.

Hello Alex! Those are two of my favorites as well (along with The Stand by Stephen King). I hope you enjoy the books we read here.

I was think about it today and I wanted to clarify the "romance" comment in the book club description. Many books and stories in general will have a love story or love interest (and I expect that many we will read in this club will have a love story in them somewhere). What doesn't interest me are books officially in the romance genre (you know, a shirtless hunk on the cover with a scantily clad damsel in distress swooning off to the side).

haha I got what you meant, never read a romance novel like that, never plan to. Just doesn't interest me!

Kristina wrote: "I'm pretty eclectic. The only books I have a hard time getting into is westerns. :) sorry."

Living in Wyoming, I understand about westerns. They are an acquired taste. However, we might want to consider a book by Craig Johnson. It's western, but contemporary crime drama. (The basis for the tv series "Longmire.")

I struggle with westerns too, which is why I am surprised by the fact that I am enjoying The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

I love science fiction and dystopia, but there are little bits of that in so many popular books today that I don't really have to seek those out!

I'm also not a huge bursting bodice romance reader, but like Matthew said, many of the books I love have a romance thrown in.

Kandice wrote: "I love science fiction and dystopia, but there are little bits of that in so many popular books today that I don't really have to seek those out!"

I know what you mean! Even with our current book club read - and several other recent ones - lots of post-apocalyptic dystopia! And . . . believe it or not . . . I am not doing it on purpose - it's just that so many popular, recommended book club titles have this element it is hard to avoid!

I have a special place in my heart for non-fiction. Also, true crime which is alternately fascinating and terrifying. Helter Skelter was crazy awesome!

I have been doing a lot of non fiction audio. I think I follow and stay more interested in it when I listen to it. I will have to listen to Helter Skelter.

Abigail wrote: "I have a special place in my heart for non-fiction. Also, true crime which is alternately fascinating and terrifying. Helter Skelter was crazy awesome!"

When it comes to non fiction I've only read a few bios but I would really be interested in true crime.

If I want something suspenseful, true crime really does it for me. Probably because it really happened and people are crazy. If you need some recs Josen, let me know ;)

Abigail wrote: "If I want something suspenseful, true crime really does it for me. Probably because it really happened and people are crazy. If you need some recs Josen, let me know ;)"

I have read a few true crime books - as you said, it is wild how crazy some people can be!

Truth can definitely be stranger than fiction at times. I'm amazed when I read a true crime novel and think that I wouldn't "buy that" as fiction, but here it is...fact!

Abigail wrote: "If I want something suspenseful, true crime really does it for me. Probably because it really happened and people are crazy. If you need some recs Josen, let me know ;)"

Yeah I will definitely take recommendations! Thanks!

Josen wrote: "Abigail wrote: "If I want something suspenseful, true crime really does it for me. Probably because it really happened and people are crazy. If you need some recs Josen, let me know ;)"

Yeah I wil..."

Well, the classic of true crime is, of course Capote's In Cold Blood it's not my favorite but what is crazy is how and why the whole thing happened.

I've mentioned Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders before. It's about the Manson murders and is probably my favorite of the true crime I've read (I feel like it's wrong to say you have a favorite in this genre lol) The cool thing about Helter Skelter is the author was part of the prosecution team so you get a first hand look at that.

If you want something more modern, there's Columbine which has gotten mixed reviews but I thought it was pretty good for the most part.

If you're wanting something not so modern there's The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective and The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime which both focus on crime in the Victorian era. The former focuses on one case, the latter covers various crimes and the British justice system at the time. Both are a fasacinating look into the culture.

If you're wanting something that's crime without the murder than I'd say go withPilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier Not the best book I've ever read but the family is interesting.

Sorry if this is really long, I just got really excited to share some of the better books I've read in the genre. Like many others I love to share what I've read. Hope you find something good here and if you do ending up reading any of them, let me know as I'd love to hear what you think :)

Abigail wrote: "Josen wrote: "Abigail wrote: "If I want something suspenseful, true crime really does it for me. Probably because it really happened and people are crazy. If you need some recs Josen, let me know ;..."

Wow thanks for all the recs! I will definitely look into those. And I think we all understand about when we start talking books we can all go on forever. Believe me I appreciate when people have so many great books to share. For me it's when I'm talking to someone in person about books, that's when I start to realize I'm talking someone's ear off. Lol!

I has been awhile since we did a non-fiction in the group. Maybe it is time for another . . .

I love reading anything that scares me or has me solving a mystery by the end. My favorite genres are horror, suspense, and mystery. My favorite author is Agatha Christie.

I just joined your book club and saw that Bird Box was the December read. It's already on my TBR list, so I'll check it out and post my thoughts.

Happy reading!

Welcome, Yawatta!

Bird Box had been well received so I hope you enjoy!

Since I am not conceited enough to think that everyone has looked at my "to read" list, I will just say it: I will read almost anything. I just want a good story and well developed characters. I do have a few genres that I tend to lean towards: mystery, romance, and dystopian. I also like historical pieces but not any specific time periods. I'm more interested in particular topics or people (i.e. The Tudors, women in WWII, etc.).

Well you realize now we're all going to look. Lol! And it takes a confident man to say he reads romance. ;)

@Josen......hahaha. My list is a little intense. Romance (and "Chick Lit" -- which I hate as a term) is 100% my guilty pleasure when it comes to literature......I am not ashamed.

I'm not in to romance in general either, but love The Tudors, which by their very essence, means a lot of, if not romance, then sex! :)

Lol! Well I love that whole Tudor period! Even watched the show, was it BBC?

Josen wrote: "Lol! Well I love that whole Tudor period! Even watched the show, was it BBC?"

I LOVED that show, but I don't think that was realistic at all. I mean Henry was slated for the church and if he had sex with that many women, he would not have needed that many wives. Having said that, it was entertaining as all get out!

Kandice wrote: "I'm not in to romance in general either, but love The Tudors, which by their very essence, means a lot of, if not romance, then sex! :)"

Josen wrote: "Lol! Well I love that whole Tudor period! Even watched the show, was it BBC?"

I don't think the people were quite as attractive as they make them out to be in those shows. Also, considering the hygiene of the time period, I cannot imagine things were quite as "sexy" as the stories and shows make them out to be!

I watched a show on Henry VIII recently and they said you could smell him coming because of the infected sores on his legs . . . I am sure they don't address that in the show! *gross*

Lol! Yeah I'd read that somewhere too. So true about not being as attractive or hygienic. There's no way I could possibly have wanted to live in that time period but I still find it so fascinating. I had even gotten a book but I have yet to read it.

I think The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George is one of the most realistic portrayals of Henry I have ever read. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., not spoiler-ish, because if you don't know the bare bones of his tale, you've lived under a rock your whole life!

Ooooo..........I'll have to look into that one.

I just saw Matthews email about the book pick for April!!!
I look forward to gushing about Locke and Jean my favourite all time book friendship bromance with everyone.
I love this series so much! The fourth book The Thorn of Emberlain is my most anticipated book of the year.

Glad to hear, Ally! I saw your review and that you were the only member to read it so far, so I figured I should spread the love to the entire group!

This is the first one since I joined the group that was previously on my to-read list. Not that I have a problem with that. I joined a book club so I would come across things outside my comfort zone(s). Nevertheless, I am super excited about this one. Like this level of excited:

Richard wrote: "This is the first one since I joined the group that was previously on my to-read list. Not that I have a problem with that. I joined a book club so I would come across things outside my comfort zone(s). Nevertheless, I am super excited about this one. Like this level of excited:"

Excellent reference #SoScared

I will read just about anything, however I gravitate more towards True Crime, Mystery Thrillers and Horror.

I HATE the classics....to long winded for me.

Abbie DiscoSuperFly wrote: "I will read just about anything, however I gravitate more towards True Crime, Mystery Thrillers and Horror.

I HATE the classics....to long winded for me."

We do a few classics around here - in fact I am already planning one for later this year. But, at least from month to month you know it is always going to be different so you will definitely see true crime, mystery, thrillers, and horror, too!😁

Abbie DiscoSuperFly wrote: "I will read just about anything, however I gravitate more towards True Crime, Mystery Thrillers and Horror.

I HATE the classics....to long winded for me."

I'm definitely a thriller/horror gal. I haven't read much True Crime and classics I TRY to get into. Sometimes not so lucky with that one. Lol! And Matthew does do a nice variety so that's always good. :)