The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

I'm opening the nominations for October.

In keeping with the spirit of Halloween the theme for October will be Gothic/Horror/Fantasy (think Dracula and Frankenstein, etc). Please remember that the book should fit our time period, 1800-1910, and should not have been read by the group within the last two years. Additionally please indicate if you would be willing to lead the discussion should your nomination win the poll.

The following two links might help us come up with some lesser-known books should you need some inspiration. The best gothic novels, ghost stories and early horror 1764-1937 (please note this list contains books from several years prior and after our time period so please check the year of publication if you use this list) and Great Supernatural Thrillers & Horror - 19th Century.

I'll keep nominations open until August 6th or until we have 8 nominations, which ever comes first. Let's have fun with this! I'm looking forward to your nominations.
________________________________________________
1) In a Glass Darkly
2) Lady Audley's Secret
3) The Beetle
4) The Canterville Ghost
5) Dracula
6) Ghost and Horror Stories
7) Edgar Allan Poe
8) Wuthering Heights

I'd like to read something by Sheridan Le Fanu. I'll tentatively nominate Uncle Silas, but if others would rather read a different book by this author, we can change it - I haven't read any of his books, so any one of them is fine with me. It looks like you've read Carmilla rather recently. I could lead the discussion if no one else wants to.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I was going to nominate Uncle Silas but goodreads had issues posting my comment, so I am glad Lori has mentioned this book, since I wanted to nominate it.

Rosemarie wrote: "I was going to nominate Uncle Silas but goodreads had issues posting my comment, so I am glad Lori has mentioned this book, since I wanted to nominate it."

I was having problems as well, but it seems to have cleared up.

I was going to nominate The Monk but it's just outside our period so will go for Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon instead.

I had trouble posting last night.

My nomination is

Cool cover, eh? Also free on Kindle:
The Beetle

Also on the Guardian list of 1000 novels, I think.

Christopher wrote: "I had trouble posting last night.

My nomination is

Cool cover, eh? Also free on Kindle:
The Beetle

Also on the Guardian list of 1000 nov..."

I've never heard of "The Beetle" but it sounds like it would be a fun read. Awesome suggestion.

❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I had trouble posting last night.

My nomination is

Cool cover, eh? Also free on Kindle:
The Beetle

Also on the Guard..."

I know; all of these are going on my "want to read" list! I love gothic literature.

I would like to nominate The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde. I would be willing to lead the discussion.

Dracula

Roman Clodia wrote: "I was going to nominate The Monk but it's just outside our period so will go for Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon instead."

Personally - and I know none of the other moderators will agree ... lol - I think if we're going to do gothic, it's a shame that people can't nominate The Monk (one of the best!) or The Mysteries of Udolpho. They started the gothic genre. It's not like nominating a gothic novel from today. Plus, Uncle Silas is on the list, and we've already done Uncle Silas.

Just my humble opinion. :-)

I would like to read Dracula with the group if it wins.

Lynnm wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "I was going to nominate The Monk but it's just outside our period so will go for Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon instea..."

Oh, have you done Uncle Silas? Sorry; I saw Carmilla on the bookshelf but didn't see Uncle Silas. Should I nominate a different one by Le Fanu? Any suggestions?

Lori wrote: "LOh, have you done Uncle Silas? Sorry; I saw Carmilla on the bookshelf but didn't see Uncle Silas. Should I nominate a different one by Le Fanu? Any suggestions? "

The group did to Uncle Silas but that was 5ish years ago, therefore it is a valid nomination. That being said, I have no issues if you'd like to change your nomination. I'm easy like that.

I wonder how much time this group has spent with Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce. I suspect many of you read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” in school.
With that in mind I nominate:
Ghost and Horror Stories

With some hesitation I offer myself as a moderator

I'm going to nominate Edgar Allan Poe.

I've made a list of a few stories that we can read (no particular book) and will be more than will to add to my list if anyone has suggestions.

So far I have:
The Black Cat
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Cask of Amontillado
The Fall of the House of Usher

❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Lori wrote: "LOh, have you done Uncle Silas? Sorry; I saw Carmilla on the bookshelf but didn't see Uncle Silas. Should I nominate a different one by Le Fanu? Any suggestions? "

The group did to Un..."

Well, if a lot of people here have already read Uncle Silas, maybe we could do In a Glass Darkly instead? We could skip over Carmilla and read the other four stories in it.
Like I said, I haven't read anything by Le Fanu, so any of his books or stories is fine with me.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

Lori wrote: "maybe we could do In a Glass Darkly instead? We could skip over Carmilla and read the other four stories in it..."

Sure thing. I've updated it.

❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "I'm going to nominate Edgar Allan Poe.

I've made a list of a few stories that we can read (no particular book) and will be more than will to add to my list if anyone has suggestions.

So far I ha..."

Poe is always a good choice too.

Thanks. I've not read much of Poe but am very interested in reading more.

❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Thanks. I've not read much of Poe but am very interested in reading more."

The Purloined Letter by him is known as one of the first detective stories

Deborah wrote: "❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Thanks. I've not read much of Poe but am very interested in reading more."

The Purloined Letter by him is known as one of the first detective stories"

Good to know, maybe next time I'm modding my theme will be detectives stories. I do love themes.

A disclaimer: I'm very, very new, and may not have navigated the past reads well, though I tried - have you read Wuthering Heights in the past 2 years? It's no Dracula, but it has deeply gothic/supernatural elements. Child ghosts that bleed! Domestic violence! Corpse exhumations! Hanged puppies! All that Sturm und Drang! What more could you want in a horror story? :) Often Wuthering Heights gets read as a romance, which it is decidedly not. It might do well to examine it in the light of its supernatural themes.

Merry wrote: "A disclaimer: I'm very, very new, and may not have navigated the past reads well, though I tried - have you read Wuthering Heights in the past 2 years? It's no Dracula, but it has deeply gothic/sup..."

Merry, Wuthering Heights has been read by the group but that was back in 2010, so it is a valid nomination. I'll add it to the list. Thank you.

And we have our eight! I'll get the poll up within the next few days.