What should we read for July?

[Lil Reads]

It could be. That's a good point.

I can see that. My hubby's mom has a similar situation. She was recently saying the same thing about how busy and crowded it gets driving in/out of work and going to the store because she lives near the beach.

That's good! I like most of the genres. I tend to be a bit leery with Science Fiction unless it's Dystopian, then I'm all for it!

I noticed that happening when I was reading a ton of Victoria Holt books back to back. Since she wrote them every year and I would sometimes finish one then start the next one the same day, I kept seeing similar patterns and settings.

She has my sympathy. Though Bike Week/Biketober is worse in the short term, beach traffic happens most weekends and gets worse during some periods (big holidays/spring break). Ah well, bad traffic is what books are for.

I'm curious, any particular reason for that? I've seen the genre sub-divided sometimes into Science Fantasy or Hard and Soft Science Fiction; I'm assuming the genre is changing more than ever so it might be easier to find a niche for everyone.

I haven't read any Victoria Holt books, but I can how tiring it could become reading a lot from the same author back-to-back, especially if the patterns and settings are similar.

This is true - books can solve a lot of problems!

I'm not too familiar with Hard and Soft Science Fiction, but my main problem is the language some authors use. If it becomes too technical or if there are too many inventive and/or scientific words, then it becomes overwhelming for me and I stop enjoying the book. This could also be that I'm not finding the right type of Science Fiction books because I'm sure there's plenty out there that are not as technical and could be enjoyable. Does that make sense?

Her stuff is still good though, since she does use information from her research under her other pseudonym Jean Plaidy to add historical context to the books. You can make a game out of trying to guess which tropes she combines with which other ones because sometimes you think she's going to use one trope then she might swerve it slightly. I ended up reading them back to back so quickly since it was summer break and several copies of her books had been recently weeded from the library so I was worried they would all be weeded or only available digitally, which can sometime load weirdly on my devices.

Books solve a ton of problems.

I think those terms are still fairly new terms as some authors have tried to base their science fiction closer to science fact while other authors bend science a bit more. It totally makes sense; I struggle with more scientific terminology too. Unfortunately, I can't think of any specific author that might be less technical. There might be some online lists you could look at.

[Gravy]

Voted!

I voted for LGBTQ+, but if it comes down to a tie-breaker, I'm willing to throw my vote to science fiction. Maybe it will push me to read some of the books I've been putting off!

[Heidi M Simone]

I haven't read any Victoria Holt books, but I can how tiring it could become reading a lot from the same author back-to-back, especially if the patterns and settings are similar.

This is true - books can solve a lot of problems!

I'm not too familiar with Hard and Soft Science Fiction, but my main problem is the language some authors use. If it becomes too technical or if there are too many inventive and/or scientific words, then it becomes overwhelming for me and I stop enjoying the book. This could also be that I'm not finding the right type of Science Fiction books because I'm sure there's plenty out there that are not as technical and could be enjoyable. Does that make sense?

Her stuff is still good though, since she does use information from her research under her other pseudonym Jean Plaidy to add historical context to the books. You can make a game out of trying to guess which tropes she combines with which other ones because sometimes you think she's going to use one trope then she might swerve it slightly. I ended up reading them back to back so quickly since it was summer break and several copies of her books had been recently weeded from the library so I was worried they would all be weeded or only available digitally, which can sometime load weirdly on my devices.

Books solve a ton of problems.

I think those terms are still fairly new terms as some authors have tried to base their science fiction closer to science fact while other authors bend science a bit more. It totally makes sense; I struggle with more scientific terminology too. Unfortunately, I can't think of any specific author that might be less technical. There might be some online lists you could look at.

Oh, I see. Maybe I'll look her up.

Books are the best!

Ah, I see. It's interesting how the selection of genres have changed over the years. Yeah, perhaps if Science Fiction is chosen, I can do some research on books that aren't as technical. Maybe other OBC members might have some ideas, too!

[Heidi M Simone]

Voted!

I voted for LGBTQ+, but if it comes down to a tie-breaker, I'm willing to throw my vote to science fiction. Maybe it will push me to read some of the books I've been putting off!

Thanks for voting! Switching, if necessary, sounds like a good idea, thank you!

If it is chosen, maybe you and/or others could help me find something that I might like since Science Fiction is a 'meh' kind of genre for me.

[Lil Reads]

I haven't read any Victoria Holt books, but I can how tiring it could become reading a lot from the same author back-to-back, especially if the patterns and settings are similar.

This is true - books can solve a lot of problems!

I'm not too familiar with Hard and Soft Science Fiction, but my main problem is the language some authors use. If it becomes too technical or if there are too many inventive and/or scientific words, then it becomes overwhelming for me and I stop enjoying the book. This could also be that I'm not finding the right type of Science Fiction books because I'm sure there's plenty out there that are not as technical and could be enjoyable. Does that make sense?

Her stuff is still good though, since she does use information from her research under her other pseudonym Jean Plaidy to add historical context to the books. You can make a game out of trying to guess which tropes she combines with which other ones because sometimes you think she's going to use one trope then she might swerve it slightly. I ended up reading them back to back so quickly since it was summer break and several copies of her books had been recently weeded from the library so I was worried they would all be weeded or only available digitally, which can sometime load weirdly on my devices.

Books solve a ton of problems.

I think those terms are still fairly new terms as some authors have tried to base their science fiction closer to science fact while other authors bend science a bit more. It totally makes sense; I struggle with more scientific terminology too. Unfortunately, I can't think of any specific author that might be less technical. There might be some online lists you could look at.

Oh, I see. Maybe I'll look her up.

Books are the best!

Ah, I see. It's interesting how the selection of genres have changed over the years. Yeah, perhaps if Science Fiction is chosen, I can do some research on books that aren't as technical. Maybe other OBC members might have some ideas, too!

Some of the stuff shows its age a bit - e.g. some of the male characters really are jerks - but since she was trying to evoke ideas from Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, it fits.

Yes they are.

Definitely; I think because people want more variety in their books that writers are trying to use ideas and themes from other genres. As we currently have a tie between Science Fiction and Classical Literature, we might be able to use War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, or Frankenstein. There are probably other Classics that are early Science Fiction, but those are the three that spring to my mind.

[Gravy]

Voted!

I voted for LGBTQ+, but if it comes down to a tie-breaker, I'm willing to throw my vote to science fiction. Maybe it will push me to read some of the books I've been putting off!

Thanks for voting! Switching, if necessary, sounds like a good idea, thank you!

If it is chosen, maybe you and/or others could help me find something that I might like since Science Fiction is a 'meh' kind of genre for me.

I have those genres.

You can't really go wrong with something by H.G. Wells.
Or I just read an interesting, but very odd, book. Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller. Post apocalyptic, dystopian. People who can connect with animals via nanites. A few other sci-fi elements. Really more of a sci-fi lite.

Plus it has some nice LGBTQ+ represenation.

[gali]

Voted!

I voted for LGBTQ+, but if it comes down to a tie-breaker, I'm willing to throw my vote to science fiction. Maybe it will push me to read some of the books I've been putting off!

Thanks for voting! Switching, if necessary, sounds like a good idea, thank you!

If it is chosen, maybe you and/or others could help me find something that I might like since Science Fiction is a 'meh' kind of genre for me.

I have those genres.

You can't really go wrong with something by H.G. Wells.
Or I just read an interesting, but very odd, book. Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller. Post apocalyptic, dystopian. People who can connect with animals via nanites. A few other sci-fi elements. Really more of a sci-fi lite.

Plus it has some nice LGBTQ+ represenation.

"Blackfish City" by Sam J. Miller is on my list, so I wouldn't mind reading it. I love dystopian books!

[Gravy]

Thanks for voting! Switching, if necessary, sounds like a good idea, thank you!

If it is chosen, maybe you and/or others could help me find something that I might like since Science Fiction is a 'meh' kind of genre for me.

I have those genres.

You can't really go wrong with something by H.G. Wells.
Or I just read an interesting, but very odd, book. Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller. Post apocalyptic, dystopian. People who can connect with animals via nanites. A few other sci-fi elements. Really more of a sci-fi lite.

Plus it has some nice LGBTQ+ represenation.

"Blackfish City" by Sam J. Miller is on my list, so I wouldn't mind reading it. I love dystopian books!

I've found that I quite like them, especially eco-dystopians.

I hope you enjoy it! It's very different than I expected, but I loved it.

[Heidi M Simone]

Oh, I see. Maybe I'll look her up.

Books are the best!

Ah, I see. It's interesting how the selection of genres have changed over the years. Yeah, perhaps if Science Fiction is chosen, I can do some research on books that aren't as technical. Maybe other OBC members might have some ideas, too!

Some of the stuff shows its age a bit - e.g. some of the male characters really are jerks - but since she was trying to evoke ideas from Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, it fits.

Yes they are.

Definitely; I think because people want more variety in their books that writers are trying to use ideas and themes from other genres. As we currently have a tie between Science Fiction and Classical Literature, we might be able to use War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, or Frankenstein. There are probably other Classics that are early Science Fiction, but those are the three that spring to my mind.

That's good to know beforehand, thanks!



Hm...combining the two genres didn't even occur to me. For now, I might stick with one genre this month and the other for August. I don't want to limit people in what they'd like to read, but thank you for the suggestion. I've definitely been curious about Frankenstein, though.

[Heidi M Simone]

Voted!

I voted for LGBTQ+, but if it comes down to a tie-breaker, I'm willing to throw my vote to science fiction. Maybe it will push me to read some of the books I've been putting off!

Thanks for voting! Switching, if necessary, sounds like a good idea, thank you!

If it is chosen, maybe you and/or others could help me find something that I might like since Science Fiction is a 'meh' kind of genre for me.

I have those genres.

You can't really go wrong with something by H.G. Wells.
Or I just read an interesting, but very odd, book. Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller. Post apocalyptic, dystopian. People who can connect with animals via nanites. A few other sci-fi elements. Really more of a sci-fi lite.

Plus it has some nice LGBTQ+ represenation.

I haven't heard of Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller, but the elements to the book does sound interesting! Thank you for the suggestion!

[Heidi M Simone]

Since it is a tie between Classic Literary Fiction and Steampunk/Science Fiction, let's split the two for the next two months. For July, why don't we go with Steampunk/Science Fiction, and then for August, we can read a Classic Literary Fiction?

There was a recent BOTD that I want to read that I think is labeled as Science Fiction, so I wouldn't mind giving that one a try for this month, but I'm totally up for suggestions, too!

Thank you to everyone who voted!

[gali]

Since it is a tie between Classic Literary Fiction and Steampunk/Science Fiction, let's split the two for the next two months. For July, why don't we go with Steampunk/Science Fiction, and then for August, we can read a Classic Literary Fiction?

There was a recent BOTD that I want to read that I think is labeled as Science Fiction, so I wouldn't mind giving that one a try for this month, but I'm totally up for suggestions, too!

Thank you to everyone who voted!

Sounds good to me. I opened the new forum.

What BOTD was it? I may read it as well.

[NDOW ALAGIE]

I will start reviewing and analysing and also adding some key points as we moves on.Thank you.

[Heidi M Simone]

Since it is a tie between Classic Literary Fiction and Steampunk/Science Fiction, let's split the two for the next two months. For July, why don't we go with Steampunk/Science Fiction, and then for August, we can read a Classic Literary Fiction?

There was a recent BOTD that I want to read that I think is labeled as Science Fiction, so I wouldn't mind giving that one a try for this month, but I'm totally up for suggestions, too!

Thank you to everyone who voted!

Sounds good to me. I opened the new forum.

What BOTD was it? I may read it as well.

Thank you!

I was thinking of reading Zeva by Tesha Finley. Did you want to read this one, too?

[gali]

Since it is a tie between Classic Literary Fiction and Steampunk/Science Fiction, let's split the two for the next two months. For July, why don't we go with Steampunk/Science Fiction, and then for August, we can read a Classic Literary Fiction?

There was a recent BOTD that I want to read that I think is labeled as Science Fiction, so I wouldn't mind giving that one a try for this month, but I'm totally up for suggestions, too!

Thank you to everyone who voted!

Sounds good to me. I opened the new forum.

What BOTD was it? I may read it as well.

Thank you!

I was thinking of reading Zeva by Tesha Finley. Did you want to read this one, too?

Yes, I did.