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

Let's keep this thread exclusively for the Badge One Theme tasks. All other general discussion on questions should be posted here.

Theme Definition

Peggy wrote: "Hi Janice, with the first badge themes, are they supposed to be specified somewhere on the GR page of the book (not sure if that even exists) or could it just be clear from the blurb or the story i..."

They don't need to be on the mpg. As long as you justify your selection, that will be sufficient.

I should have clarified the theme of love - this may be any kind of love. Love between mother/child, love of animal towards human. It does not have to be romantic love.

Hi Janice - For the "Villainy" are you wanting just bad guys or super evil? I know it seems obvious, but I don't read a lot of villainy (or true crime for that matter) so am trying to find a book for this one that isn't too icky. :) I'm a wimp!

I will be happy to hear about the villainy as well. I am probably overthinking it.

Jayme wrote: "Hi Janice - For the "Villainy" are you wanting just bad guys or super evil? I know it seems obvious, but I don't read a lot of villainy (or true crime for that matter) so am trying to find a book f..."

The Villain Edit if you like romance......maybe this will work?

Heather wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Hi Janice - For the "Villainy" are you wanting just bad guys or super evil? I know it seems obvious, but I don't read a lot of villainy (or true crime for that matter) so am trying to..."

Thanks, Heather. This is perfect!

This prompt immediately made me think of The Lies of Locke Lamora which is about a gang of con arts/grifters/thieves.

Or while I am thinking about it more, Fingersmith fits this line of thinking for me too. Thieves and con artists.

Is that kind of an acceptable thread, Janice? Protagonists who would be villians if the story was turned?

Perhaps the main character is a villain, or the main character is caught up in a situation controlled by villains. For example, Stillhouse Lake and the series is about a women whose husband was discovered to be a serial killer. He, and others, hound her, preying on her.

There are tons of villains in Greek mythology, as we recently discovered in some group reads.

Google "Books with the theme of villainy", and there are some options there. Go to lists under "Browse" and type in "Villain". There are lots of lists there.

Granted, the selections can be pretty dark, so I'll accept some innocuous reads like Heather's suggestion, where it's more light and fluffy.

Adding to that, I think I will pencil in The Silence of the Lambs for that task - a serial killer is on the loose, and the FBI enlists a serial killer who is a true villain to help them identify the perp. His sordid story becomes intermingled,

Rusalka wrote: "Or while I am thinking about more, Fingersmith..."

That is a good idea. I was looking for an opportunity for reading Fingersmith soon. If at some point in 2025 can be considered soon...

I love Heather's spin! Nice find!

Okay. Let me give this some thought. I did read Fingersmith and it was good. I may save The Villain Edit for badge 2 "V" word.

Rusalka wrote: "This prompt immediately made me think of The Lies of Locke Lamora which is about a gang of con arts/grifters/thieves.

Or while I am thinking about more, Fingersmith..."

Yes, I think that idea would work for villainy. They sort of explore what makes a villain, or at least the possibility of a villain. You don't really know at the beginning of the book. Locke never really loses that "rogueness". I think there are villains in Fingersmith.

Oh I agree, I love Locke and his rogueness. I guess I was thinking that there are a lot of people who would consider him the villain in their own story (whether this is correct or not is a coin toss sometimes).

I looked into your lists and prompts, and The Dinner which is on my shelf popped up. Not knowing what the "Event" is makes it hard to judge, but might be an option for me.

Rusalka wrote: "Oh I agree, I love Locke and his rogueness. I guess I was thinking that there are a lot of people who would consider him the villain in their own story (whether this is correct or not is a coin tos..."

It sounds like it has potential. Unfortunately, you might have to take the chance to read it to find out and then be disappointed.

Oh or The Wasp Factory.

WTF Rus, it's 2.30am on a Monday morning, stop looking at book lists and go to bed!!!

The Dinner definitely has villains in it...

Rusalka wrote: "Oh or The Wasp Factory.

WTF Rus, it's 2.30am on a Monday morning, stop looking at book lists and go to bed!!!"

LOL! My situation is a bit different. I have things to do - laundry, call AMA to give me a boost, WOW to play.... and I'm looking at books.

Time for a new car. Dang thing is always draining the battery for some reason.

Sandra wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Or while I am thinking about more, Fingersmith..."

That is a good idea. I was looking for an opportunity for reading Fingersmith soon. If at some point in 2025 can b..."

Fingersmith definitely has villains AND it is oh so good! (IMO)

Rusalka wrote: "Oh or The Wasp Factory.

WTF Rus, it's 2.30am on a Monday morning, stop looking at book lists and go to bed!!!"

LOL!

My situation is more like yours, Janice. I have a super long list of things to do, already too much to do in one day, and I'm sitting here book surfing.

Edit: My cat is very happy with this decision. lol

Almeta wrote: "Fingersmith definitely has villains AND it is oh so good! (IMO)"

This was not on my radar, but will be added to my list of books to consider. I love peeking at everyone else's lists for book ideas!

Thanks for suggesting Locke Lamorra! I have it on my tbr. I checked some lists yesterday but often only a couple of people have voted on a book so I never know if they really are good choices.

Two others I found on lists for villains are Daughter of Smoke & Bone and Shadow and Bone. Has anyone read these and would they fit?

Just be prepared Peggy, the series isn't complete for Locke Lamorrow. Scott Lynch seems to have quit after book 3.

Oh wow, thanks for the heads up Janice! Will definitely look for something else then, if I start another fantasy series I need something finished consisting of preferable just 3 or 4 books.

For the Villainy theme, I'll probably read Artemis Fowl. Definitely light and fluffy, and not too icky.

I just saw The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue on the GR list for villains. Does anyone know if this would really fit? Or were some GR members just stretching with the villains tag?

Kristie I believe it works. Addie makes a deal with a villain ( I think the devil) which permeates the entire plot. It’s been a couple years since I’ve read it but that’s my memory of it.

Can we do tasks in any order for badge 1 - so I could tackle true crime before Books about books for instance

Marie (UK) wrote: "Can we do tasks in any order for badge 1 - so I could tackle true crime before Books about books for instance"

Yes, you may read them in any order within a list.

Thanks for another great challenge, Janice!

For villainy, would the first (or any) Harry Potter book work?

Marnie wrote: "Kristie I believe it works. Addie makes a deal with a villain ( I think the devil) which permeates the entire plot. It’s been a couple years since I’ve read it but that’s my memory of it."

Thanks, Marnie. I've added it to my list of possibilities.

I'm super excited - one of the books I was thinking about for the mythology task, Daughters of Olympus, is on sale at Audible for just $2.27! Woot!

Laura wrote: "Thanks for another great challenge, Janice!

For villainy, would the first (or any) Harry Potter book work?"

I think there are several villains in the Harry Potter series.

I'm going to read Starter Villain for the Villainy task.

For the True Crime theme I immediately think of books about serial killers, but they will give me nightmares so I prefer to chose something else.

I have Souvenirs - Beter na Bataclan on my wishlist. It's about the mass shooting at The Eagles of Death Metal show in Bataclan in Paris in 2015. The book is a sort of memoir written by someone who was at the concert, so it describes the event itself but is mostly focused on the aftermath for him, and how it changed from anger to gratitute and forgiveness. He now speaks about his experiences to large audiences.

Would something like this work or does the main focus have to be on the actual crime(s)?

Peggy wrote: "For the True Crime theme I immediately think of books about serial killers, but they will give me nightmares so I prefer to chose something else.

Peggy I don't like true crime also because of the abundance of serial killers. I have found that there are several true crimes focused on art thieves. I am planning on reading The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession for this task.

Thanks Jayme, that actually sounds very interesting! I added it to my wishlist.

On that topic I was wondering if this would work for true crime:

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

It focuses on the women he killed. I’m guessing the crimes themselves aren’t really the focus.

I did see true crime on the main book page, so maybe this book would work, regardless?

Jayme wrote: "Peggy wrote: "For the True Crime theme I immediately think of books about serial killers, but they will give me nightmares so I prefer to chose something else.

Peggy I don't like true crime also ..."

What Peggy said, Jayme. This looks good and my friends list loves it too!

Peggy wrote: "Thanks Jayme, that actually sounds very interesting! I added it to my wishlist."

And I can buy the ebook right now for €2.98! Done. Nevermind my question Janice, I'll read this one instead :)

Shannon SA wrote: "I'm going to read Starter Villain for the Villainy task."

Perfect choice! I hope you enjoy it. :)

Peggy wrote: "For the True Crime theme I immediately think of books about serial killers, but they will give me nightmares so I prefer to chose something else.

I have Souvenirs - Beter na Bataclan which is about mutiny and gets away from the horror of serial killers.

I don't know what is happening to my reply to you Peggy, it keeps deleting my response and only showing your quoted bit.

Yes, I think your choice will work. I plan on reading The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder which is about mutiny and gets away from the horror of serial killers.

Laura wrote: "On that topic I was wondering if this would work for true crime:

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

It focuses on the women he killed. I’m guessing..."

Yes, that will be fine Laura.

Janice wrote: "I don't know what is happening to my reply to you Peggy, it keeps deleting my response and only showing your quoted bit.

Yes, I think your choice will work. I plan on reading [book:The Wager: A Ta..."

Nice! Thanks :) That will give me options which is always nice :)

I would like to recommend a book that fits really well the "Women" task: When Women Were Dragons. I'm currently reading it, so can't use it for next year, but it's a very good book imho.

Rusalka wrote: "Oh or The Wasp Factory.

WTF Rus, it's 2.30am on a Monday morning, stop looking at book lists and go to bed!!!"

Oh that one was really good! In a seriously twisted psycho evil kind of way.