<p>My book club wants everyone to come up with a list of possible books for this year covering different genres. I have had no problems with most of the genres but two are alluding me. I need to suggest a science fiction (I have fantasy) and a romance novel. This is a club of mostly 50ish women, mostly liberal. Any ideas besides Ender’s game?</p>
<p>For romance maybe Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand</p>
<p>SF: Stephen King 11/22/63; The Handmaids Tale
There might be ideas here:
[Maurice’s</a> Ten Favorite Books Of 2012 | Maurice on Books](<a href=“http://mauriceonbooks.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2012/12/29/maurices-ten-favorite-books-of-2012/]Maurice’s”>Maurice’s Ten Favorite Books Of 2012 | Maurice on Books)</p>
<p>The CC book club considered reading Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer, which is science-fictionish.</p>
<p>Romance - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain</p>
<p>[The</a> Paris Wife: A Novel: Paula McLain: 9780345521309: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Novel-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521307]The”>http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Novel-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521307)</p>
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<p>Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald…<<</p>
<p>Take a look at the Goodreads Choice Awards 2012: Science Fiction.</p>
<p>[Goodreads</a> Choice Awards: Best Books of 2012](<a href=“Best Books 2012 — Goodreads Choice Awards”>Best Books 2012 — Goodreads Choice Awards)</p>
<p>Personally I plan to read (from that list) - Angelmaker </p>
<p>[Angelmaker</a> by Nick Harkaway - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists](<a href=“http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12266560-angelmaker]Angelmaker”>Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway | Goodreads)</p>
<p><em>Notice that it’s also listed as A Wall Street Journal and Booklist Best Mystery of 2012. So … science fiction/mystery … what’s not to like? (</em>Note: I haven’t read it yet, so can’t give a definitive “thumbs up.”)</p>
<p>As for romance … hmm, I second Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. Let me see if I can think of another one or two. </p>
<p>I just noticed Nora Robert’s The Witness listed under the Goodreads Choice Awards 2012: Romance. I read it and liked it: it falls squarely in the romance genre. Less “literary” than Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. It depends what you want, really.</p>
<p>Have to add: To truly fall in the romance category, a book has to end with a “happy ever after.” 
So … yes to Pride and Prejudice and no to Gone With the Wind. In other words, I’m uncertain about the recommendation of The Paris Wife.</p>
<p>Thank you all! I’m going to suggest Angelmaker & shine, shine, shine as well as The Woman who Heard Colors and the Lost Wife both of which were mentioned on Maurice’s Top Ten. I’ve read Major Pettigrew, the Paris Wife, 11/23/63 and The Handmaiden’s Tale- all very good books. I think I have my homework done!</p>
<p>One more to consider (I guess I’d put it in the romance category–it’s about relationships–romantic and family): The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Really enjoyed this book a great deal–so did most of my book group.</p>
<p>I read the first two of Maurice’s Ten Favorite Books of 2012: The Orchardist and The Art Forger. I liked both and think either would work as a good book club book.</p>
<p>Onward: Take a minute to list the genres and your book suggestions. Curious minds want to know.</p>
<p>Science Fiction–Origins by Randolph LaLonde. It’s actually 3 books if I remember correctly. Stephen King’s 11-22-63 is a bit science fictionish too.</p>
<p>11-22-63 is a great book, but extremely long. My book club would toss me to the curb if I ever picked anything that lengthy.</p>
<p>I like the idea of picking books by genre, so long a “romance” doesn’t imply anything with Fabio on the cover.</p>
<p>Okay, this is what I have down so far:<br>
For Historical Fiction- Bringing Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. I’ve read Wolf Hall and I am hoping this one can stand alone for other people. I also put down Doc by Mary Doria Russell.<br>
For fantasy- Among Others by Jo Walton.
Mystery- The Likeness by Tana French.<br>
Suspense- In the Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (I’ve read this several years ago and really liked it).<br>
Non-fiction-Destiny, A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of the President by Candace Millard.
And in fiction (genre?), The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka and the Woman Who Heard Color by Kelly Jones.
Romance- The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman<br>
Mystery/Science Fiction- The Angelmaker.</p>
<p>One of the other woman sent her list out and she had on it:
Mystery: The 500, Kingdom of Strangers, and Into the Darkest Corner
Non- Fiction: Journal of Best Practices, What Really Matters, Then Everything Changed and The Yard.
Romance: Maine
Historical Fiction: Sweet Tooth, The Orchandist, and Those Who Save Us
Sci Fic: Among Others
Bio: Cleopatra
Humor: No Biking in the House Without a Helmet, Sacre Bleu
Memoir: Father’s Day</p>
<p>Can you tell she is a librarian? Happy reading everyone!
And Bromfield, we read The Language of Flowers in 2012! MommaJ, we had all agreed on no bodice rippers…</p>
<p>^^^ Thanks for filling us in.</p>
<p>Hey, if you liked The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon continues the story:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/]Carlos”>http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/]Carlos</a> Ruiz Zaf</p>
<p>I better read Shadows of the Wind again to get ready for The Prisoner of Heaven! So many good books…</p>