Book of the Month?

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sat February 12th, 2011, 8:53 pm

I wonder if it would be easier if the book of the month was selected a little earlier than the month before, say two months instead - this would give more time for people to obtain and read the book. Just a thought!

This strikes me as a good idea. I wanted to read Mistress of Nothing, and I put it on hold at the library, but the book didn't come in early enough for me to read it in time for the BOM. There is often a long waiting list at my library for a new book.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sat February 12th, 2011, 9:01 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]That said, most of them are long forgotten OOP's that no one else is much interested in reading, so I just follow my own path. If a BOTM selection can fit in my plans, great if not...
[/quote]

And that's what I'm saying. I'm almost to a point now that I've thrown up my hands in even suggesting a book because no one shares my tastes. That's fine, but dont expect me to run out and grab a book taht doesnt excite me so I can participate in BOTM.

[quote=""Margaret""]This strikes me as a good idea. I wanted to read Mistress of Nothing, and I put it on hold at the library, but the book didn't come in early enough for me to read it in time for the BOM. There is often a long waiting list at my library for a new book.[/quote]

Maybe thats another reason it should be bi monthly.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 12:56 am

So we've had a few slow months...we've had some amazing discussions here, more often than not. No, I do not want to drop it. I'd suggest that we limit the number of nominated books, or, have a run off of the top three. Otherwise you get the winning book that might have only had 4 votes but beat out all the others. And those 4 people might decide not to participate.

Instead of having one person select a book each month, I'd suggest that perhaps one person pick a topic for a month. Different topics that others might not have though of, might lead to more interesting nominations, and more of a variety of times and places.

You also could change the BOTM to just bestsellers; at least then you'd have more readers who'd be able to get ahold of the books easily.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 1:11 am

I'm not nominating at this point, but Divia mentioned wanting to read more novels set in the U.S., and I've just read Alice Hoffman's outstanding latest novel, The Red Garden. Most of Hoffman's novels are contemporary (although they often have a historical angle and/or a sense of generational change and continuity), but this one begins in 1750 and continues into the present. (See review.) It's fairly short, an absorbing read without boring stretches of educational background (some historical novelists get sucked into this), and full of interesting nuances and subtleties that could be discussed. If we chose it as a BOM, I would probably re-read it - it's that good. Not for people who despise magical realism, though.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 1:15 am

I want to read more HF novels set in the US, but no one else does.

I'll check it out though, for my own TBR pile.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 2:02 am

I want to read more HF novels set in the US, but no one else does.

I doubt this is true - what about it, everyone? For myself, I'm a little burned out on Civil War/slavery novels, because I've read so many, and a lot of them have very similar story lines. But a lot more has happened in U.S. history!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 2:09 am

[quote=""Margaret""]I doubt this is true - what about it, everyone? For myself, I'm a little burned out on Civil War/slavery novels, because I've read so many, and a lot of them have very similar story lines. But a lot more has happened in U.S. history![/quote]

I love it as well, but there isn't a lot of *new* hf coming out on the topic. There's plenty of old OOP's to be discovered, but those books are of much interest for those participating in BOTM. Books like Mary Sutter are very rare.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 5:38 am

One of the very best books I read last year was Bloodroot by Amy Greene. I'm not sure if technically it would be considered HF -- it takes place from about 1913 to the present, and is set in Appalachia. Even if the setting doesn't sound appealing, if you're interested in HF in an American setting I recommend it. It was very well-written -- I could hardly put it down.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 7:24 am

Actually, it looks as though next month's BOM will be The Raven's Bride, which is also set in the U.S. - it's about Edgar Allen Poe's child-bride.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Sun February 13th, 2011, 10:52 am

I enjoy reading books set in all sorts of different countries and cultures, so I'm happy to read about anywhere.

I have Mary Sutter on my Kindle. It wasn't published in the UK until January so it was difficult to join in with the discussion!

Perhaps the topics could be by country or continent?

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