New Leaf Theme Suggestion Thread

[gmw]

Hmm... Having spent a few seasons as a fruit-picker I have to say that "fresh" isn't a word that springs immediately to mind for a fruit farm.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by gmw

Hmm... Having spent a few seasons as a fruit-picker I have to say that "fresh" isn't a word that springs immediately to mind for a fruit farm.

Hah! My grandfather had an orchard when I was growing up...I completely understand that statement.

[CRussel]

I'd like to propose Trade Secrets -- books related to business or "trade". There's all sorts of places we could go with it, from non-fiction to fiction to pure genre. Or, thinking laterally, it could go down the path of encryption, or secret societies.

[Bookpossum]

Anything from the East India Company to John Le Carre. It sounds promising.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Another idea for a theme, something fresh.

Books could be new books

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Just scrolled back and found "Something Fresh". I like that one too and it could be about new writing, a new author's first book,

Actually, they cannot be new books. We have a rule that books have to be at least a year old. So new books are out. It's due to cost and waiting times at Overdrive. New books can cost more and have a longer wait time at Overdrive.

[JSWolf]

I'd like to suggest Mysterious Reads. We could read books with some sort of mystery to them.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I wouldn't want to see war and revenge tied together--both of them are quite broad categories to begin with. War could encompass every conflict in history, every story of soldiers and spies and families at home, both fictional and historical. Plus there are science fiction and alternative history accounts. And that's without engaging in any "lateral thinking," which, I suppose, could bring in stories of gang wars, drug wars, even divorce wars, etc.

I agree. Revenge covers a whole lot of areas that tying it to War would preclude. I do think Four Horsemen would be good though, as it opens up all sorts of options.

I'll also give my vote to Something Fresh, which again gives plenty of options.

[Bookpossum]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Actually, they cannot be new books. We have a rule that books have to be at least a year old. So new books are out. It's due to cost and waiting times at Overdrive. New books can cost more and have a longer wait time at Overdrive.

Quite right Jon: to clarify, I meant newish, allowing for the 12 month rule of course, but someone relatively new to being a published author. You know, an author where you read a story of bidding wars for an unpublished manuscript by an unknown author, which indeed turns out to be very successful.

One example which comes to my mind is an Australian author called Hannah Kent, whose first book a few years ago, called Burial Rites stirred up a lot of excitement, and she has I think just published her third novel.

[June]

I like the after the 60s theme, I would love to read something newish (and I’m born in the 60s heh)

I would also propose something like not lost in translation for books which were originally written in some other language than English (since English is the book club language). It might help us find some previously unfamiliar authors.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I wouldn't want to see war and revenge tied together--both of them are quite broad categories to begin with.

I agree with this; I'd like to see them separate, also. Perhaps because they appeal to me so much!

Some suggestions seem a little close to genres to me; others are a little close to categories in the other clubs. I think we've got to take the long view; I'm not saying never, just not yet. We've got fodder for years and years!

And this is just in my opinion, but I'd rather see the concept come before the tricky title. Anyway, there's much to winnow.

[gmw]

The problem with having the concept before the tricky title is that (I think) that is where you are getting ideas that seem more like genres and the categories of other clubs. One of the neat/cute/amusing aspects of the whimsical titles is working out just how they can be interpreted. (Like the "Rainbow of reading" theme.)

Sure, if we want a particularly tight theme then be a bit less whimsical. "The book came first" was, I thought, a nice half-way mark (the right sound but also gave more precision as was desired).

I like June's Not Lost In Translation - for me this has that same sort of half-way mark sound as "The Book Came First": precision with style.


I'm not keen on the blunt war or revenge themes, but will of course go with the flow if that's what others want to see.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Quite right Jon: to clarify, I meant newish, allowing for the 12 month rule of course, but someone relatively new to being a published author. You know, an author where you read a story of bidding wars for an unpublished manuscript by an unknown author, which indeed turns out to be very successful.

One example which comes to my mind is an Australian author called Hannah Kent, whose first book a few years ago, called Burial Rites stirred up a lot of excitement, and she has I think just published her third novel.

Hugh Howey is another with his Wool series. He went from being an unknown self-published author to being a rather popular author.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by gmw

I like June's Not Lost In Translation - for me this has that same sort of half-way mark sound as "The Book Came First": precision with style.

That brings up a can of worms big time. People who's first language is not English could nominate books translated into their language. So please, let's not go there.

I do have a suggestion for a theme that may be interesting. How about One word titles? Books with just one word titles with no subtitles.

I also still think First book in a series where the series is finished would be a good one. I have read of some no liking to start a series that's ongoing with no end in sight. This way, the series is finished and if you like the first book, the end is in sight.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Did we already suggest something related to Food? The thread is getting too long to keep track.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That brings up a can of worms big time. People who's first language is not English could nominate books translated into their language. So please, let's not go there.

I do have a suggestion for a theme that may be interesting. How about One word titles? Books with just one word titles with no subtitles.[...]

You just did. June was clear: this is an English language book club. No one is going to nominate a book that most of the other participants cannot read. (Or they are just as likely to do so for any of the themes.)

I happen to have a thing for one word titles, so yes, I like that one.