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

We have a gothic theme for the May group reads. So to clarify, the gothic theme would include books with a character who is a goth (I'd accept emo in there too), there is a goth looking person on the front cover of the book, it has a gothic setting or is of the gothic genre.

Apparently, the gothic genre combines elements of both the uncanny and romance. Who knew! https://www.goodreads.com/genres/gothic There are some interesting books on there. Also, a couple more lists that might help you:
Gothic Horror
Gothic Revival
Southern Gothic
Gothic Romance
Best Gothic Books of all Time
Modern Gothic

So if you have a book suggestion that fits this theme, go ahead and nominate it. Please tell us why it fits the theme please!

If you don't want to nominate your own book, you can second someone else's nomination instead, and that will count as your own nomination, and that book will be entered an extra time in random.org - giving the book an additional chance to make the cut.

Nominations can be seconded multiple times by different people . If you second a nomination, please make clear that is what you are doing. E.g. If I nominate "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", you need to state "I second Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone".


A couple of points to consider when nominating:

- To allow enough time for as many people as possible to read, try and limit the page count to approximately 400 pages maximum.

- To ensure the book is available for as many readers as possible, please consider whether your nomination is 1) still in print or 2) available as a reasonably-priced e-book (under $12) or 3) published no less than 3 months ago.

- Please check the YLTO Group Book Shelf to ensure we haven't already read the book in the last 2 years before nominating it.

- One nomination/seconding per person.


Only 5 books will be selected to be in the poll when it comes to voting.

Each of the chosen group read books will have a discussion leader assigned to help facilitate the discussion. The discussion leader will be the person who originally nominated the book, or someone who seconded their nomination if they do not wish to do it.


Nominations close 22nd April.

Nominations so far:
Slade House - Sarah
Rawblood - Lisa
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Kristie, TJ, Casceil
Wintersong - Janice
The Supernatural Enhancements - Lanelle
The Castle of Otranto - Silver
The Thirteenth Tale -Debra, KimeyDiann
The Haunting of Hill House - Laura

I would like to nominate Slade House by David Mitchell. It was listed on the Gothic genre page on GR and in it's blurb it states that it is a "reality-warping new vision of the haunted house story".

I will nominate Rawblood by Catriona Ward. It's listed as Gothic on Goodreads and is marketed as a Gothic horror.

I'm not sure if I just don't really know what gothic books are or some of the books on the lists aren't what I think they are or if they were added incorrectly. What is it that makes a book "gothic"? I'm thinking maybe for some of the books listed it's just a creepy factor.

I think I'll nominate We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It is listed as gothic on the book page and is on the "Best Gothic Books of all Time" list. Plus, I think the setting and cover fit.

I guess with all genres, there are different interpretations. To me I guess it's a creepy feel although it doesn't have to be spooky or scary. Perhaps a bit darker than usual in theme. Maybe a bit bleak. I also associate old house settings especially mansions and gothic architectural buildings such as churches. I think gothic architecture was very popular in Europe. So an example would be Zafon's Shadow of the Wind and subsequent books. I would also class many of Sarah Water's books as gothic genre and setting. Also Wuthering Heights, Dorian Gray - both because of setting and feel. I'd say your pick counts Kristie.

This gives a good description of what makes a book gothic - http://study.com/academy/lesson/gothi...

Annoyingly you can't view the whole article but the first part lists some gothic characteristics.

I love Gothic novels, especially those written in the 60's and 70's by Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney. I even made a Gothic reading challenge for another group.

Here is the necessary elements for a book to qualify as Gothic:

1. Setting The story takes place in an old, abandoned, decaying, ruined castle or mansion, often with secret passages, trap doors, hidden staircases. Often there are caves nearby. There is some sort of miserable weather happening.

2. Suspense There is a feeling of mystery or fear. "It is the mood that defines the Gothic...it is about the atmosphere created and the emotions evoked." The Gothic: 250 Years of Success: Your Guide to Gothic Literature and Culture by A.J. Blakemont

3. Inexplicable Events Dramatic, supernatural, amazing events occur; such as ghosts walking, inanimate objects coming to life, strange noises, bodies disappearing or doors that open themselves.

4. High, Overwrought Emotion The narration may be highly sentimental, and the characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, terror.

5. A Woman in Distress The female character often faces events that leaves them fainting, terrified, screaming and/or crying. Emotional speeches are frequent.

6. A Powerful, Tyrannical Male An employer, lord of the manor, father, or guardian may demand the female do something intolerable.

7. A Hero The hero is handsome and adventurous, but is also dark, brooding and mysterious with a difficult or tragic childhood.

8. Vocabulary The constant use of appropriate words creates the atmosphere. Examples : diabolical, haunted, ominous, secret, agony, dreaded, despair, frantic, shrieks, terrible, wretched, alarm, shocking, anxious, rage, temper, wrath, dismal, black, and tremendous.

Thanks Lannelle. That's very useful. That will give everyone some ideas if they choose to go down the genre route rather than setting or character.

I nominate Fiercombe Manor (aka The Girl in the Photograph)

We read that one last March Peggy. That dual title caused problems last time too. Would you like to nominate something else instead?

I nominate Maybe This Time, which is Jennifer Crusie's rewrite of the classic Gothic tale, The Turn of the Screw.

see messages 17 and 20

Thanks! That was very helpful. I guess it is just a broader genre than I had originally thought it was. I just thought of it as a creepy setting and somewhat dark theme with some mysterious (or maybe magical) elements. I was surprised by some of the books listed in the gothic lists, but they make more sense now.

I knew there was something with that book and ylto, but I thought it was that several people read it for a challenge on books with more than one title.

I need to think about another nomination, this was all I could come up with.

I'm going to nominate Wintersong. I just finished reading it and would love to discuss it. I can't find that it's on any list for gothic, but it checks off all of Lanelle's points in the definition.

1. Setting - The Underworld with all it's labyrinth of passages.
2. Suspense - The playing of the game with dire consequences for both winner and loser.
3. Inexplicable events - the whole world of the goblins is one of magic.
4. High, Overwrought emotion - it runs the gamut.
5. A Woman in Distress - both the heroine and her sister are caught in the web.
6. Powerful, tyrannical Male & 7. The Hero - The Goblin King is both.
8. Vocabulary - Check again.

It's a retelling of Labyrinth. Dark and a bit disturbing.

I've added it to my wishlist Janice. A rewriting of Labyrinth. It has to be read. It's quite a recent publication but it looks reasonably priced/available so we're all good.

You're nomination Lannelle doesn't have good availability. No kindle version here in the UK, hardback is £25 and the paperback isn't out until the end of April. Would you like to nominate something else instead?

Sarah wrote: "I've added it to my wishlist Janice. A rewriting of Labyrinth. It has to be read. It's quite a recent publication but it looks reasonably priced/available so we're all good."

Sorry, I didn't check that out. Audible has their 50% off right now, so that may help. I have the Kindle edition, so all Audible will give me is the Whispersync price. It won't give me the sale price.

No worries Janice. It's well priced in all versions here so I'm guessing it is elsewhere too. Books tend to be more expensive and behind with publications here in the UK compared to elsewhere it seems. Very annoying.

Sarah wrote: "Your nomination, Lanelle, doesn't have good availability. No kindle version here in the UK, hardback is £25 and the paperback isn't out until the end of April. Would you like to nominate something..."

I'm surprised, Sarah. I assumed since it was first released 7 years that there wouldn't be any problems. I'll try again :)

I nominate The Supernatural Enhancements instead. I'm curious to see if the author can pull off a good Gothic story in the epistolary style. (Crossing my fingers that it's accessible in the UK and not too expensive.)

Yes very strange given how old it is. Your new nom is available here on kindle for a reasonable price although the paperback is nearly £10. You have expensive taste ;-) Let's go with it as it's bound to be available in the library given its age and is unlikely to have huge waiting lists.

Sarah wrote: "Yes very strange given how old it is. Your new nom is available here on kindle for a reasonable price although the paperback is nearly £10. You have expensive taste ;-) Let's go with it as it's bou..."

Thanks, Sarah.

I nomminate The Castle of Otranto a classic gothic novel I have been wanting to read for a while but have't managed to get to.

Silver wrote: "I nominate The Castle of Otranto a classic gothic novel I have been wanting to read for a while but have't managed to get to."

Silver, The Castle of Otranto is the original Gothic novel. All other Gothic stories are compared to it. If I hadn't already nominated a book, I would second yours :)

I wanted to nominate Bellefleur, but it's over 500 pages, another common characteristic of books in the gothic genre.

Instead, I think I'll second the nomination of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I was tempted to second Wintersong, but its longer length made me opt for the other.

Revised post:

Got this one from the Gothic Revival list and I already read and loved it. A must read! Would really like revisiting it. The Thirteenth Tale

I read many of the books nominated and enjoyed most of them! Since I love horror, I get a lot of Gothic reading done too.

Good one, Debra. I liked The Thirteenth Tale a lot. Worth revisiting, too, I think.

Tejas Janet wrote: "Good one, Debra. I liked The Thirteenth Tale a lot. Worth revisiting, too, I think."

Glad you agree. Almeta is the one who turned me on to it, I think. It kinda blew my mind.

We'll keep Thirteenth Tale in the mix although I'm not sure how many participants we'd have as it was a group buddy read a while ago and many members read it then.

Ooh look - The Castle of Otranto is free on kindle :-)

Sarah wrote: "No worries Janice. It's well priced in all versions here so I'm guessing it is elsewhere too. Books tend to be more expensive and behind with publications here in the UK compared to elsewhere it se..."

Hah. Come to Aus. I fill my suitcase full of books when I go to the UK

I'll second The Thirteenth Tale. I read it before, a few years ago, and would like to give it a re-read (listen actually).

Debra - I saw The Thirteenth Tale on the list too. I didn't choose it because I read that one already, but I really enjoyed it.

I promise this will be the last time I post information about the Gothic genre. Once you see the link, I hope you'll forgive me :)

Back in 2014, TheGuardian (UK) published an awesome article called "How to tell you're reading a gothic novel – in pictures". The link is no longer working on their website. Maybe it's been archived.

Anyway, I finally found it on hubsite.com in an article called The 15 Best Infographics of 2014. Lots of great information in a entertaining format!

I think it's interesting information, Lanelle. Thanks for posting it.

Hey, Sarah, I think you missed TJ's second. :)

I would also like to second We Have Always Lived in the Castle

I haven't been on a computer to be able to update the first post for a day or so. Today is the day.

Silver wrote: "I nomminate The Castle of Otranto a classic gothic novel I have been wanting to read for a while but have't managed to get to."

Looks interesting. Is it long enough?

Annerlee wrote: "Silver wrote: "I nomminate The Castle of Otranto a classic gothic novel I have been wanting to read for a while but have't managed to get to."

Looks interesting. Is it long enough?"

We do not have a page limit for group reads like we do with challenges so it's long enough. It is only 125 pages long so it would be a quick read. Ordinarily, shorter reads may not have much to discuss so are not necessarily the best choices for group reads. That said, this book is a classic which sounds like it has much contained in those few pages to discuss. Many people love it (especially as it started off the Gothic genre) and many people find it just "ok" so that alone should bring up some interesting discussion if it were picked.

Thanks for the clarification Sarah

I nominate The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. It was on the list of best Gothic books of all time. I've seen the remake of The Haunting which was based off of this book, so I'm interested to read the book and see how the movie compares.