Subject: FunTrivia Book Club
Posted by: kyleisalive
Date: Nov 09 13
I've been speaking with our editors in Literature and we'd like to encourage some of you, especially those looking for recommendations, to some of our favourite books. All of us read different things and sometimes it's just nice to send out a Staff Pick and spread the joy of the written word.
Below are ten different books and the reasons why Agony, Mothergoose, Leodavinci, and Looney_Tunes (and myself, to round it out to ten) have chosen them as favourites. Here, we hope that it will convince you to pick them up, read them, and write a quiz to add to the site.
If you complete a quiz on one of the listed books, then it's your turn! You get to send in a recommendation (the title, author, and why) and then someone else has to write a quiz about it!
Without further ado, let's get reading! ;)
Exodus by Leon Uris
"I was around 14 or 15 when I first read this book. Until then I knew little or nothing of the struggle of the Jewish people to found a state in the aftermath of WW2, or Britain's part in post war Palestine. This book, very moving in parts, heroic in others, tells that story, and it sent me off on a voyage of historic discovery delving into books about The Balfour Declaration, how Israel finally achieved statehood and her fight to hang on to it. Historically accurate it is at the same time a story of people and overcoming all the odds." (Recommended by Christinap)
My Father Immortal by Mike D. Weaver
"This is the only book that I have ever had to replace because it has been read so often! Six tiny children are sent back to earth in six adult sized survival pods. During the journey they grow in so many ways and along the way learn why they are alone in space with just computers for company. The first time that I read this book, I limited myself to one page per day because I did not want it to end." (Recommended by Zippolover)
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
"As much as I don't sway towards the idea of the western, I found this book quite difficult to put down. With all of the appeal and style of a Coen Brothers film, this novel kind of made me care about two ruthless gunslingers and kept me wondering what weird adventures they'd get into chapter after chapter." (Recommended by Kyleisalive)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
"This book was recommended to me by a friend years ago, and I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. I'm sure I had read historical fiction novels before this one, but this is the book that made me fall in love with the genre. It is set in 19th century China and follows the story of two Chinese girls who become 'laotong'--a lifelong bond that was like a sisterhood. Not only does the novel offer cultural and historical information from the time period, but it also provides a story that will pull at your emotions...I was weeping by the end of it!" (Recommended by Tiffanyram)
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
"Let's take the Book Club down a different path: sci-fi. I picked this book up from a mystery book box a few years ago and went into it blind only to be surprised by how much I enjoyed this fascinating book that crosses 'Inception' with a mystery novel. I hope you enjoy it too." (Recommended by Kyleisalive)
South Riding by Winifred Holtby
"'South Riding' is set in a part of Yorkshire in the 1930s, and has a large and colourful cast, each with their own story to tell. From dynamic new teacher Sarah Burton and good-hearted alderman Emma Beddows, to impoverished gentleman farmer Robert Carne and his manic daughter Midge, to Lydia Holly, a working-class teenager struggling to balance school with caring for her family, Holtby portrays country life, the ins and outs of local politics and ideological clashes vividly and draws you into her world; her characters feel like real people." (Recommended by Kankurette)
Not Wanted on the Voyage by Timothy Findley
"It is a modern and magical take on the story of Noah and the flood that portrays Noah as an obsessed and cruel tyrant. Most of the book is told through the eyes of a blind cat who belongs to Noah's wife, who is kind and compassionate where Noah is mean-spirited and brutish. The book is at times disturbing and it's provocative but it is very thought-provoking." (Recommended by Ramonesrule)
Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
"This is a book about talking dogs! It's actually much more than that as fifteen dogs are released from a veterinary clinic and given the gift of language and human thought by Gods. Following the journey the various dogs go on as they grapple with their newfound state of consciousness is a heartbreaking ride, especially if you're a dog lover!" (Recommended by Ramonesrule)
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
"Based on the Dozer School in Florida, "The Nickel Boys" brings to light truths that were buried and need to be brought to light. When a young lad, Elwood Curtis, is brought up embodying the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr., is taken in for a crime he didn't commit, his life changes drastically. Brought to "reform" his ways at the Nickel School, he gets dragged into a life of physical abuse, sexual assaults, racism, and segregation. However, Elwood meets an unlikely friend, Turner, who shows him a different form of resistance and what friendship actually means." (Recommended by Leodavinci)
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut
"One of the first lines of "Mother Night" reads: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be very careful what we pretend to be." The novel is narrated by Howard W. Campbell Jr., a man who was born in the U.S. but had been living in Germany since he was young. It is a relatively short yet thought-provoking book that is well worth the read!" (Recommended by Lpez)
Please remember to note in the Editor's Note Box that you are writing for the Book Club!
We hope you enjoy the books and we look forward to your quizzes! :)
Completed Books
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon - Christinap
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - Zippolover
Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block - Zippolover
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien - Lias777
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett - Kyleisalive
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières - Zippolover
The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler - Zippolover
The Scar by China Mieville - Zippolover
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart - Rossian
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Saleo
An Old Captivity by Nevil Shute - Lottie1001
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein - Shadowmyst2004
Jean of Storms by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - LauraMcC
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Daaanieeel
To Serve Them All My Days by R. F. Delderfield - Lonely_Lady
What's Bred in the Bone by Robertson Davies - Cellardoor
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham - Kyleisalive
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony - Lonely-Lady
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - AcrylicInk
The Awakening by Kate Chopin - Tiffanyram
White Teeth by Zadie Smith - Kankurette
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin - Kyleisalive
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey - Kyleisalive
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Ramonesrule
A Secret History by Donna Tartt - Kankurette
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Ramonesrule
The Ghost by Robert Harris - Ramonesrule
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Leodavinci
Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger - Lpez
Posted by: kyleisalive
Date: Nov 09 13
I've been speaking with our editors in Literature and we'd like to encourage some of you, especially those looking for recommendations, to some of our favourite books. All of us read different things and sometimes it's just nice to send out a Staff Pick and spread the joy of the written word.
Below are ten different books and the reasons why Agony, Mothergoose, Leodavinci, and Looney_Tunes (and myself, to round it out to ten) have chosen them as favourites. Here, we hope that it will convince you to pick them up, read them, and write a quiz to add to the site.
If you complete a quiz on one of the listed books, then it's your turn! You get to send in a recommendation (the title, author, and why) and then someone else has to write a quiz about it!
Without further ado, let's get reading! ;)
Exodus by Leon Uris
"I was around 14 or 15 when I first read this book. Until then I knew little or nothing of the struggle of the Jewish people to found a state in the aftermath of WW2, or Britain's part in post war Palestine. This book, very moving in parts, heroic in others, tells that story, and it sent me off on a voyage of historic discovery delving into books about The Balfour Declaration, how Israel finally achieved statehood and her fight to hang on to it. Historically accurate it is at the same time a story of people and overcoming all the odds." (Recommended by Christinap)
My Father Immortal by Mike D. Weaver
"This is the only book that I have ever had to replace because it has been read so often! Six tiny children are sent back to earth in six adult sized survival pods. During the journey they grow in so many ways and along the way learn why they are alone in space with just computers for company. The first time that I read this book, I limited myself to one page per day because I did not want it to end." (Recommended by Zippolover)
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
"As much as I don't sway towards the idea of the western, I found this book quite difficult to put down. With all of the appeal and style of a Coen Brothers film, this novel kind of made me care about two ruthless gunslingers and kept me wondering what weird adventures they'd get into chapter after chapter." (Recommended by Kyleisalive)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
"This book was recommended to me by a friend years ago, and I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. I'm sure I had read historical fiction novels before this one, but this is the book that made me fall in love with the genre. It is set in 19th century China and follows the story of two Chinese girls who become 'laotong'--a lifelong bond that was like a sisterhood. Not only does the novel offer cultural and historical information from the time period, but it also provides a story that will pull at your emotions...I was weeping by the end of it!" (Recommended by Tiffanyram)
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
"Let's take the Book Club down a different path: sci-fi. I picked this book up from a mystery book box a few years ago and went into it blind only to be surprised by how much I enjoyed this fascinating book that crosses 'Inception' with a mystery novel. I hope you enjoy it too." (Recommended by Kyleisalive)
South Riding by Winifred Holtby
"'South Riding' is set in a part of Yorkshire in the 1930s, and has a large and colourful cast, each with their own story to tell. From dynamic new teacher Sarah Burton and good-hearted alderman Emma Beddows, to impoverished gentleman farmer Robert Carne and his manic daughter Midge, to Lydia Holly, a working-class teenager struggling to balance school with caring for her family, Holtby portrays country life, the ins and outs of local politics and ideological clashes vividly and draws you into her world; her characters feel like real people." (Recommended by Kankurette)
Not Wanted on the Voyage by Timothy Findley
"It is a modern and magical take on the story of Noah and the flood that portrays Noah as an obsessed and cruel tyrant. Most of the book is told through the eyes of a blind cat who belongs to Noah's wife, who is kind and compassionate where Noah is mean-spirited and brutish. The book is at times disturbing and it's provocative but it is very thought-provoking." (Recommended by Ramonesrule)
Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
"This is a book about talking dogs! It's actually much more than that as fifteen dogs are released from a veterinary clinic and given the gift of language and human thought by Gods. Following the journey the various dogs go on as they grapple with their newfound state of consciousness is a heartbreaking ride, especially if you're a dog lover!" (Recommended by Ramonesrule)
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
"Based on the Dozer School in Florida, "The Nickel Boys" brings to light truths that were buried and need to be brought to light. When a young lad, Elwood Curtis, is brought up embodying the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr., is taken in for a crime he didn't commit, his life changes drastically. Brought to "reform" his ways at the Nickel School, he gets dragged into a life of physical abuse, sexual assaults, racism, and segregation. However, Elwood meets an unlikely friend, Turner, who shows him a different form of resistance and what friendship actually means." (Recommended by Leodavinci)
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut
"One of the first lines of "Mother Night" reads: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be very careful what we pretend to be." The novel is narrated by Howard W. Campbell Jr., a man who was born in the U.S. but had been living in Germany since he was young. It is a relatively short yet thought-provoking book that is well worth the read!" (Recommended by Lpez)
Please remember to note in the Editor's Note Box that you are writing for the Book Club!
We hope you enjoy the books and we look forward to your quizzes! :)
Completed Books
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon - Christinap
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - Zippolover
Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block - Zippolover
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien - Lias777
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett - Kyleisalive
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières - Zippolover
The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler - Zippolover
The Scar by China Mieville - Zippolover
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart - Rossian
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Saleo
An Old Captivity by Nevil Shute - Lottie1001
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein - Shadowmyst2004
Jean of Storms by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer - LauraMcC
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Daaanieeel
To Serve Them All My Days by R. F. Delderfield - Lonely_Lady
What's Bred in the Bone by Robertson Davies - Cellardoor
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham - Kyleisalive
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony - Lonely-Lady
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - AcrylicInk
The Awakening by Kate Chopin - Tiffanyram
White Teeth by Zadie Smith - Kankurette
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin - Kyleisalive
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey - Kyleisalive
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Ramonesrule
A Secret History by Donna Tartt - Kankurette
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Ramonesrule
The Ghost by Robert Harris - Ramonesrule
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Leodavinci
Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger - Lpez
249 replies. On page 1 of 13 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Lpez
|
I will write about "To Kill a Mockingbird", one of my favorite books. I tried to write a quiz like a year go but couldn't complete it. So this is a good chance to try again! Reply #1. Nov 09 13, 1:00 PM |
agony
|
This is obviously going to be a slow-moving challenge, since for the most part authors must read the book first. I'm hoping it takes off in a quiet and leisurely way, though - looking forward to the quizzes. Reply #2. Nov 09 13, 3:12 PM |
kyleisalive
|
I'd like for this challenge to sustain itself for a while; it could technically go on indefinitely. I'd rather those involved enjoy the works and take it at their leisure. If more than one person ends up taking a task (ie. reading the book at the same time as someone else with intent to write the quiz) I'll count any submissions on it for the challenge, though only the first to finish will get to recommend the next one. We're spreading the word on these books. ;) Reply #3. Nov 09 13, 3:15 PM |
Christinap 
|
I'll go for "The Curious Incident etc." I love this book, read it and re-read it. Reply #4. Nov 09 13, 3:54 PM |
reedy
|
I just read "The Colour of Magic" last month - I'll do that one. Reply #5. Nov 09 13, 5:15 PM |
| kyleisalive
|
I'm going to do the same within the next month or two; been meaning to read it for ages. No need to wait for me though. ;) Reply #6. Nov 09 13, 5:24 PM |
MotherGoose
|
To anyone who wishes to do a quiz on "To Kill A MockingBird" - please note that your quiz will need to be exceptional in order to be accepted into the Literature category because it is a restricted category (due to the fact that we already have a lot of quizzes on this book). Please make sure you play the existing quizzes to ensure that your quiz questions do not duplicate them. My apologies that I forgot about the restriction when I recommended the book as I was focusing on Kyle's request for recommendations and this IS my all-time favourite book. In hindsight, perhaps I should have chosen something a little less popular so make it easier for quiz-writing purposes. (Kyle, if you want me to recommend another book, please let me know). Reply #7. Nov 09 13, 8:40 PM |
| Lpez
|
As a matter of fact, this was the reason I gave up with my quiz a year ago. But with more than 50 quizzes written now, I'm confident I can wrtie an expectional quiz. The worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't get accepted... we'll see. Reply #8. Nov 09 13, 11:19 PM |
looney_tunes
|
MotherGoose's comment about an exceptional quiz being required also applies to 'The Hobbit'. That doesn't mean there's no point trying, just that you need to take the time to play the current quizzes to avoid duplication, then write a quiz with questions that haven't been asked a zillion times before and provide substantial relevant interesting information. Reply #9. Nov 10 13, 12:15 AM |
gracious1
|
I have to laugh that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an option. It seems like it's a running gag throughout Quizzyland. ;-) I even wrote a "Mockingbird" question in one of my quizzes that had nothing to do with it. Reply #10. Nov 10 13, 8:58 PM |
zippolover
|
I am glad that someone else has picked the Mockingbird as it is a book that I struggled through just the once. I know that I am in a tiny minority of those who do not like the book - sorry. Reply #11. Nov 11 13, 4:15 AM |
Chavs
|
This is a great idea! It's great that some of the choices already have a number of quizzes available, it goves us something to play when we finish the books! :) Reply #12. Nov 11 13, 8:17 AM |
| Chavs
|
*gives. I really hate not having an edit/preview facility. Sigh. :) Reply #13. Nov 11 13, 8:17 AM |
salami_swami
|
We'll be a minority together, zippo. :) Reply #14. Nov 11 13, 11:08 AM |
| zippolover
|
Phew, I am glad it is not just me! I have ordered a copy of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski on eBay. Reply #15. Nov 11 13, 3:38 PM |
| kyleisalive
|
I hope you enjoy it! It's a weird book, but definitely the one standalone title that's affected me the most while reading it. Reply #16. Nov 11 13, 10:29 PM |
Daaanieeel
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Well considering I'm a huge Tolkien fan I guess I'll have a go at a Hobbit quiz. Reply #17. Nov 12 13, 3:29 AM |
nannywoo
|
I want to read "The Hypnotist" and just downloaded it to my Kindle. Put me on the list for a quiz on that. Reply #18. Nov 12 13, 8:40 AM |
| Christinap
|
OK, mine is submitted Reply #19. Nov 13 13, 4:53 PM |
| Christinap
|
Mine is now online, do you want the links posted here Kyle? Reply #20. Nov 16 13, 12:38 PM |
249 replies. On page 1 of 13 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
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