inkspot's realist vs non-realist (probably) challenge

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inkspot's realist vs non-realist (probably) challenge

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1inkspot
Sep 7, 2009, 2:40 am

Hi everyone

I’m quite excited about this group. Although I seldom do reading challenges, I think this one has great potential for starting interesting, in-depth book discussion, not to mention encouraging you to break out of your reading habits.

In general, I enjoy non-realist fiction – most sci fi genres, a little fantasy (either dark or humorous), magical realism. I also seek out books with something unusual about them - odd characters, a weird plot, unconventional narration or writing style, etc. My favourite authors are:
Margaret Atwood
Douglas Adams
Terry Pratchett
Milan Kundera (although I haven’t read that much of his work yet)
Slavoj Zizek (for philosophy)
Octavia Butler
Iain M. Banks
Jasper Fforde
James Tiptree Jr.

Most of my favourite books are by these authors. A few others are:
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
Perfume by Patrick Suskind
The Female Man by Joanna Russ

I very occasionally read non-fiction. It's usually about philosophy or language.

The types of books I typically avoid are mostly of the realist type:
Hard sci fi (too technical, I’m more interested in the ideas, story and characters than how the science works)
Biographies (the only one I’ve ever wanted to read is about James Tiptree jr)
War stories (I’ve read a few, but I don’t seek them out)
Westerns
Romance – chick lit, bodice rippers, fantasy/paranormal romance (I liked Garden Spells, but that was about it.)
Conventional dramas – Jodi Picoult, Danielle Steele, etc.
Classics. I’ve got nothing against them, I just seldom bother with them.
Sword and sourcery fantasy (Not realist, but sort of fluffy to me. Lord of the Rings is the only one I liked, but I don’t plan on re-reading it)
Religious fiction. By this I mean a pro-religious book with religious themes. If I do read books with religious themes, they take a critical stance toward religion.

For the challenge, unless a book is unusually cheap (a classic or romance novel) I won’t be able to buy a new copy, so please suggest something I can find easily secondhand, free online, at a library, or on BookMooch.
For the moment, if anyone would like to challenge me to read Jodi Picoult, I happen to have Tenth Circle and Salem Falls. I was planning to give them away on bookmooch, but I can hang on to them for a bit longer. Also anything currently in my BM inventory would make for a very convenient challenge – they’re mostly books I haven’t read and have no interest in.

I think that’s at least most of what you need to know about my reading habits. Loking forward to taking up a challenge!

2London_StJ
Sep 7, 2009, 10:07 am

I responded to your comment on my thread, but I thought I'd post a reference to the challenge I'm offering you here as well.

We've read several of the same books (largely Pratchett), but the biggest split in tastes definitely comes at scifi and classic lit. So in response to your challenge to read The Eyre Affair I'd like to challenge you to read one of my favorite gothic novels: The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. It's available from Project Gutenburg for free, although I have not personally looked at the edition they have made available.

Thanks again for your own challenge!

3pahoota
Sep 7, 2009, 11:10 am

What a great idea for a group.

#1 OK, I'm a sci-fi/speculative fiction/non-realist fan myself. I like the new wave stuff from the 60s as well as hard sci-fi. Anyways I know this doesn't seem like an answer to your challenge, but here's where I'm going with this: I've recently been trying to expand beyond "non-realist" fiction myself. I just finished Richard Stark's "The Hunter". Brutally amoral crime fiction, available at any library.

4inkspot
Sep 7, 2009, 3:00 pm

Hi pahoota

I used to read brutal crime and thriller fiction in high school, and I haven't bothered much with it since then, so I guess that's a challenge then :) I've just started one with Luxx, but I'll look for The Hunter in the meantime.

Since you like hard sci fi can I challenge you to read some 'soft' sci fi? I suggest The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. You can download it for free at www.truly-free.org.

5pahoota
Sep 7, 2009, 5:04 pm

Hey inkspot,

Well, I had The Handmaid's Tale assigned to me in college... I was always resistant to anything suggested by english teachers so I blew it off and planned to skim it the night before to prepare for the test. I ended up staying up until 3 AM reading every word and I believe to this day I've never read a book as fast as Atwood's. What an outstanding story!

6rainpebble
Sep 7, 2009, 11:24 pm

Hi inkspot.
How many challenges have you accepted as of now? I am going to limit myself to two at a time as I think that is all I can handle at once.
belva

7inkspot
Sep 8, 2009, 3:39 am

Hey pahoota

I'm really glad you enjoyed the Atwood so much! It's one of my favourite novels. However, I'm not really sure what to challenge you to read now. What wouldn't you normally read? There are a few realist titles I've enjoyed. I'm currently re-reading Disgrace by J. M Coetzee, which is brilliant, and a good option for a more realist work. Or there's The Robber Bride, a non-sci-fi Atwood with elements of fairytale. It's also a story about women, which your library lacks.

8pahoota
Sep 8, 2009, 7:49 am

Hi again inkspot,

I've been trying to challenge myself recently to read something other than sf. So anything realist would be a good suggestion. I tried to start Scribbling the Cat by Alexandra Fuller and never finished. She's a good writer, and it's about Africa which I've never been to and therefore am fascinated with; I can't figure out why I stopped. On that note, Disgrace looks like a good book but a little too heavy for me right now. I remember an old roommate having The Robber Bride on her bookshelf and as you noted I haven't read many stories about women. I think I'll start that one today. Thanks!

tom

9inkspot
Edited: Sep 8, 2009, 8:21 am

Ok pahoota, sounds good :)

I'll look for The Hunter this week, and start it once I've finished Disgrace or the book I'm reading for Luxx.

10pahoota
Sep 18, 2009, 10:13 pm

Hi inkspot; I finished The Robber Bride. Thanks for the challenge, it was a great read. I was very impressed with that bit of story-telling.

11inkspot
Sep 19, 2009, 5:45 am

Hi Pahoota

Wow, that was quick - I hadn't realised you had started reading it already. I'm still trying to track down The Hunter I'm afraid. My main problem is that there libraries here aren't open in the evenings or on weekends when I'm not at work, and the second-hand shops I tried didn't have it. I'll check out other bookstores today though, or try to get to a library during work.

I'm really glad you enjoyed The Robber Bride though. It's my favourite non-sci fi Atwood. Atwood wrote a short fictional essay in the persona of the female villain. I love the last line, which I think really sums up Zenia: "I'm the plot babe, and don't ever forget it."

12pahoota
Sep 19, 2009, 9:12 am

I demolished that book! I'm a sloooowww reader, so for me to get it done this quick is a testament to its quality. And it's been a long, long time since I've found a book that actual made me feel genuine emotion for the characters. I was upset at the three women for letting themselves get duped, and angry at Zenia for being to despicable. I actually found my self yelling at the book "he's lying to you!" "oh Zenia you bitch!" Good stuff, thanks again.

I wouldn't sweat not being able to find The Hunter. Honestly I blurted it out since it was the most recent realist fiction I'd read, and I just want to play the challenge game. The characterization is nowhere near as impressive, and there was a major logic violation (in my opinion) in one of the supporting character's actions. I didn't really finish the book thinking "wow, I need to recommend this to all of my friends." So, if you're not swamped by other challenges, let me know and I'll think up another title for you. I used to read a fair amount of Hard SF, which I remember you don't read....

13inkspot
Sep 20, 2009, 12:37 pm

My pleasure :) I felt the same about wanting to yell at the characters sometimes. Although I love Atwood, I feel that some of her characters are too passive and hence become the victims of stronger characters like Zenia. However it's Zenia who brings Tony, Roz and Charis together, and makes an interesting story out of their more average ones. And I think she also helps Charis and Roz by ridding their lives of men who mistreat them but who they don't have the strength or courage to let go of.

I think a hard sf novel would actually be a better choice for me in this challenge. I'm not really strongly opposed to the crime thriller genre. I used to read a lot in high school and eventually just stopped reading them, whereas I've only read one hard sf novel that I can recall - Blood Music by Greg Bear - and I generally avoid the genre as a whole. What title would you suggest?

14pahoota
Sep 20, 2009, 4:10 pm

"And I think she also helps Charis and Roz by ridding their lives of men who mistreat them but who they don't have the strength or courage to let go of." Exactly, couldn't have said it better myself.

I generally stopped reading sf, hard and soft, after high school myself. Recently I went back and tried to read a few of my old favorites and the shine had definitely worn off. I did however give sf another try a few years ago and was pleasantly relieved there's still some magic out there. I recommend that book: The Forever War. It's got a lot of the techno-babble of hard sf, but I remember it being almost a soft sf novel in disguise. And I remember it being a quick read.

15inkspot
Sep 22, 2009, 4:20 am

Sounds good pahoota :) I've found an ebook and will start reading it this evening.