You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

After the conversations over the past couple of months, I thought this is in the Challenge We Need. Australia has an election probably in July, and I have my State election in October. The States have the election in November, not to mention the focus on the Primaries and Conventions before hand. The UK have the EU referendum in June. Plus at least 35 other general or presidential elections around the world.

Point is, we can't escape politicians.

So if we can't escape them, we shall read about them. The challenge this month, is to read a book with a politician as a character. This can be a fiction book, or a non fiction book.

Important thing to note, it's not a book about politics. It's about a politician. So for example, Animal Farm would NOT count. As although the book is obviously about politics, the animals are not politicians. Where as House of Cards would count, as although the characters are fictional, there are many politicians as characters. As would The Downing Street Years as there are many characters again who are politicians.

General Rules:
1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be in any genre.
3. The book may NOT be combined with the Year Long Geocaching Challenge.
4. The book must be read between May 1 - 31 2016 (based on your own time zone).
5. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose.
6. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read. If reading eBook or audiobook page numbers will be determined by the issue that comes up first on a Goodreads search.

Scoring

Politics
Determined by the main political character or the most major character:
2 pts - Character had different political leanings to yourself
1 pt - Character had the same political leanings to yourself
(P.S. not whether you like them)

Genre:
5 pts - Non Fiction (except Biography and Autobiography)
4 pts - Biography or Autobiography
3 pts - Romance
2 pts - Science Fiction
1 pt - Thriller

Cover
5 pts - Has a mayflower on it (the flower or I will also count the boat)
4 pts - Has a bull on it
3 pts - is 70% yellow
2 pts - Has the author's name in black
1 pt - Has a flag on it

Author
5 pts - Is born in a country besides the US, UK, Canada, or Australia.
4 pts - Is a journalist or a historian
3 pts - Is a woman
2 pts - Has published more than 5 books
1 pt - Is the subject/main character of the book

Pages
4 pts - 500+pp
3 pts - 400-499pp
2 pts - 300-399pp
1 pt - 200-299pp

Bonus Points
2 pts - If someone rides a bicycle/pushbike for National Bike Month
2 pts - If there is a sex scene of some sort (can be solo or with company) for National Masturbation Month (United States, so it's not my fault)
2 pts - A character is from South East Asia or has South East Asian heritage for South Asian Heritage Month. If you need some geography tips on this one, please ask but map should be in spoiler
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Clarifications:
The level of the politician's involvement in the story or the book is as much as you would like, but I want them to be a character, not a mention.

Eg. Then we sent the memo to the Foreign Minister/Secretary of State and went on with our lives never to mention them in this book again - not good enough for this challenge.
Eg. Then we had an interview with the mayor and here is what was said - that will count.
Eg. The prime minister is the main character in this book. - that will count.

Message 63 also attempts to explain challenge again.

Interesting challenge!
The first two books that came to mind, both in my TBR, were: Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva and Wilson but both are way to long (700 and 800 pages).
I would be interested in reading Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter if you think it fits, Rusalka. I would say that there are many politicians in the Kennedys family, but I can't know they role in this book. I'll keep gophering while waiting for your ruling.

Looks like her Dad, Joe, is a character in the book, who was a politician. And sounds like JFK is in there too. I'd say it counts, from that read, particularly with "Kate Larson reveals both the sensitive care Rose and Joe gave to Rosemary" and the decision hinted later in the blurb. What you think?

Edit: sorry that's re: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Rusalka wrote: "Edit: sorry that's re: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter"

I think it fits. Since my post was the first one, I didn't have other examples of books to know "how much" of a politician you were expecting there. Thank you!

No worries. And thanks for posting. I has worried when it had been up for an hour and about to head to bed, and no one had posted!

Yes, us mods are needy too ;)

Go to sleep! This challenge is going to be a success, as always!
God bless you mods! :]

And the Rosemary book was so highly recommended to me by a friend, I'm glad I will finally read it.

Oh I will, just have half a glass to finish first :P

Glad this gives you the opportunity to read it!

This needy mod is going to have to delay gophering. I should be getting ready to go to work.

I've been gophering and I'll choose from at least one of these from my tbr:

Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva
The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America
Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring

This challenge is a great push to get these read!

Stalin's Daughter sound so interesting, Tasha, it's in my TBR too. But it is over 700 pages, and I don't dare...
Looking forward to your thoughts if you decide to read it.

I'm not sure if I can fit another book in in May what with my chunky buddy read. But I'll try. So a couple questions:
1) Can it be a made politician? I.e President Joe Bloggs rather than President Barack Obama.

2) Are Mayors classed as politicians? Mayor's in cities here are elected and often affiliated with with a political party.

Janice wrote: "This needy mod is going to have to delay gophering. I should be getting ready to go to work."

You should have saved The Coroner's Lunch!☺

I'll definitely be trolling this thread for ideas. Everything I've found so far has been a romance (not interested), a 700 or so page thriller (too long), or royalty (not technically politicians).

Does anyone know if there are any politicians in Wayward? It seems like there might be, since it's about the whole town, but then again (view spoiler)[ I believe people were assigned jobs in Pines, so that may eliminate the need for politicians. However, they may still have politicians to keep up appearances. (hide spoiler)]

Almeta wrote: "Janice wrote: "This needy mod is going to have to delay gophering. I should be getting ready to go to work."

You should have saved The Coroner's Lunch!☺"

I was thinking the same thing, but I used it for April's challenge read as a tribute. What about the second in the series, Thirty-Three Teeth?

Hm, I have to gopher for this one! I'm not really interested in non-fiction on this topic, so I'll have to see if I have something else that fits. Probably not much. Maybe that one Stephen King book on Kennedy would count, but that's a bit chunky.

Or maybe not, after rereading the blurb ;-)

I think I might be in the mood for an old favorite, All Night Long, for this challenge. It won't get me very many points, but it's been a long time since I've read it.

Peggy wrote: "Hm, I have to gopher for this one! I'm not really interested in non-fiction on this topic, so I'll have to see if I have something else that fits. Probably not much. Maybe that one Stephen King boo..."

I ws thinking 11/22/63 also.

Sarah wrote: "I'm not sure if I can fit another book in in May what with my chunky buddy read. But I'll try. So a couple questions:
1) Can it be a made politician? I.e President Joe Bloggs rather than President ..."

1) A "made" politician? As in a made up one? Yes. Fictional characters are fine. See my House of Cards example.

2) Mayors count too.

Think a bit laterally everyone. Doesn't have to be a book about politics, just needs to have a politician in it.

Looking at a what I have read recently and can think of, The Coroner's Lunch is a good example. In Grave Witch her Dad is a politician. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen has a politician as a character.

A non-fiction book may not be about politics itself, but may have a politician who is involved in the topic and pops in and out.

At work so won't be able to pop in for a few hours but will check in soon.

Your comment got me thinking, Rusalka, so I've decided to change my nonfic choices to a fic one. I'm planning on reading The House of Special Purpose.

As long as you're reading something you want to read Tasha, go for it!

Oh and addition to the last post:
Feel free to read a book about politics too! Point is it doesn't HAVE to be about politics.

I am, it's actually working for another challenge as well in another group. I'm happy to read it! :)

I can think of two books with politicians that I have read off the top of my head: Prime Deception and Skewed. I'm sure I've read plenty more, but those came to mind first.

Rusalka - When I think of royalty, I don't consider them politicians, since they are born into their position and not voted in. For the sake of this challenge, are you including royalty?

Royalty, no. Exactly for the reasoning you mention.

A book I really enjoyed was Taft 2012. A hundred years after his presidency, he's back - and William Howard Taft is even more popular now as a presidential candidate. Funny, witty, and short, I highly recommend this for someone who wants to keep it light, while still getting some historical info.

Sarah Vowell has some fascinating books with politicians - my favorites are Assassination Vacation and The Partly Cloudy Patriot. I recommend listening to them.

A witty satire is the best description for Christopher Buckley's books. Reco'd for this challenge - No Way to Treat a First Lady and Supreme Courtship.

Rusalka wrote: "Think a bit laterally everyone. Doesn't have to be a book about politics, just needs to have a politician in it.

Can the politician be dead for most of the book? I was thinking about Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever. Although I am adding The Coroner's Lunch to my tbr pile, so I might go with that.

Rusalka wrote: "Royalty, no. Exactly for the reasoning you mention."

Thank you. Just wanted to make sure. :)

jaxnsmom - Thanks for the great recommendations!

Lori - You just made me think of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. lol That would fit too. :)

I'm thinking that I may read The Dead Zone for this challenge. There is a character, Greg Stillson, who enters the world of politics.

I have Founding Brothers on Audio. This is my excuse to read it!

Oh, but I could also do The Plot Against America. Hmmmm

I've been gophering a bit, could I read Dissolution? Because there's royalty in it, but also Thomas Cromwell, so... would it be ok?

Thanks Rusalka! Yes I meant "made up". Stupid phone!

Re: Wayward - I think in the first book there is a mayor but I don't recall one in the second book. Definitely no other politicians though.

I'm reading Under the Dome during May for a buddy read which I know has a Mayor in it. If I can finish the chunkster in the month I might use it, otherwise, I might read Grave Witch now I know it has a politician in it. Thanks Rusalka!

So do you mean you can include non elected politicians such as those from Communist or totalitarian societies? Because I'm pretty sure the politicians in The Coroner's Lunch were not elected by the people.

Rusalka wrote: "Royalty, no. Exactly for the reasoning you mention."

Oh, wait, so my choice The House of Special Purpose won't work. It has a Tsar who inherited his position. Off to gopher or else use one from my original list.

Lori Z wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Think a bit laterally everyone. Doesn't have to be a book about politics, just needs to have a politician in it.

Can the politician be dead for most of the book? I was thinking ab..."

I think that one would count as it seems to be about the politician. It's within the spirit (as is Lincoln for most of the book it seems. boom tish.).

Ariane wrote: "I've been gophering a bit, could I read Dissolution? Because there's royalty in it, but also Thomas Cromwell, so... would it be ok?"

I was going to say no, but I think it does count for Cromwell. I then googled and ended up with this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/22450966 which says in the first sentence "... and arguably the first modern politician." Who am I to argue with the BBC?

Sarah wrote: " I might read Grave Witch now I know it has a politician in it. Thanks Rusalka! "

I better go check he's in the first book...

Susan B wrote: "So do you mean you can include non elected politicians such as those from Communist or totalitarian societies? Because I'm pretty sure the politicians in The Coroner's Lunch were not ..."

They will count for this challenge. But they have to be in political roles, not public servant roles.

Tasha wrote: "Oh, wait, so my choice The House of Special Purpose won't work. It has a Tsar who inherited his position. Off to gopher or else use one from my original list. "

Oh, sorry. Good pick up. I responded to you on my phone so I didn't check the book. Glad you're on the ball.

Janice wrote: "Almeta wrote: "Janice wrote: "This needy mod is going to have to delay gophering. I should be getting ready to go to work."

You should have saved The Coroner's Lunch!☺"

I was thinki..."

Fortunately, there are 10 books in the series, so we can proceed on to books 2 - 10 - now to look at covers and page counts, lol.

Carol wrote: "Janice wrote: "Almeta wrote: "Janice wrote: "This needy mod is going to have to delay gophering. I should be getting ready to go to work."

You should have saved The Coroner's Lunch!☺..."

Oops. Read Rusalka's guidance after posting.

Rusalka wrote: "Ariane wrote: "I've been gophering a bit, could I read Dissolution? Because there's royalty in it, but also Thomas Cromwell, so... would it be ok?"

I was going to say no, but I think..."

yes, I am sorry, my question needed some explanation, but he was a real politician. Thanks

Oh I knew he was a real politician, but I wasn't sure exactly how politicians worked in 1500s (ie. did they do anything or were just the kings mates?) so had to do some digging.

Rusalka wrote: "Sarah wrote: " I might read Grave Witch now I know it has a politician in it. Thanks Rusalka! "

I better go check he's in the first book..."

He is. He speaks and everything ;)

Sarah wrote: "Thanks Rusalka! Yes I meant "made up". Stupid phone!

Re: Wayward - I think in the first book there is a mayor but I don't recall one in the second book. Definitely no other politicians though.

I'..."

I was thinking Under the Dome would work. I may count this book instead of The Dead Zone and save myself having to read two books. I feel a bit daunted by the sheer size of Dome. I'm also feeling quite indecisive, too.