Captain
Feb 20, 2017

THEMES

11 comments

Edited: Feb 20, 2017

Each month, we try to give our books a theme. We produce a short list of related novels, and we vote for the winner! Themes are generally pretty witty and have literal or loosely related books. If you've read any, or have any titles that would fit nicely in a theme, post below!

Captain
Feb 20, 2017

FIRST MEETING

February 2016

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heilein

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

 

This was our club's literal first meeting, and we didn't yet have the concept of themed months, other than Sci-Fi and Fantasy. So bear with us until May until we got our stuff together.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

SCI-FI + Fantasy

March 2016

 

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey

Books of the North: Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook

Legend: The Drenai Saga by David Gemmel

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

SCI-FI + FANTASY

April 2016

 

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Sabriel by Garth Nix

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

FANTASY

May 2016

 

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Sabriel by Garth Nix

 

We themed this month "Fantasy Renaissance-ish" because we had read two heavy science fiction books in a row. Also, one of our members REALLY wanted to read Sabriel, which we have yet to read.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

TIME TRAVEL

June 2016

 

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

The Anubis Gate by Tim Powers

Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock

Timeline by Michael Crichton

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

CANLIT

July 2016

 

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Station Eleven by Emily St John Handel

The Untold Tale by J.M. Frey

 

Making a Canadian-Literature themed short list of July was a great idea... Until it came time to vote. Definitely our most heated vote to date. Tables were flipped. Shots were fired.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

HOT TIME IN THE CITY

August 2016

 

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

The City and the City by China Mieville

 

Definitely a fitting theme for the month, because we had record high temps in Hamilton.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

BACK TO THE BOOKS

September 2016

 

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins​

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M Miller Jr​

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman​

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson​

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

 

Books about books.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

SO SCARY

October 2016

 

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn​

Swan Song by Robert McCammon​

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

​Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist​

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

 

A great selection of horror chosen by one of our founding members, who himself happens to be a horror fanatic, and indeed read all of these novels in one month.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

NOT LOST IN TRANSLATION

November 2016

 

The Three Body Problem – Liu Cixin Chinese

Blood of Elves: The Witcher – Andrzej Sapowski Polish

We – Yevgeny Zamyatin Russian​

Paprika – Yasutaka Tsutsi Japanese

Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafón Spanish

 

This genius selection of books have all been translated to English from another language.

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Captain
Feb 20, 2017

THE LONG WINTER

December 2016 - January 2017

 

The Inheritance Trilogy - N.K. Jemisin ​

The Southern Reach Trilogy - Jeff Vandermeer ​

The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F Hamilton ​

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke 

 

Novels clocking in at between 700-1,400 pages to tide us over for 2 months.

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New Posts
  • Captain
    Feb 20, 2017

    The Inheritance Trilogy by NK Jemisin

    December - January 2017 The Long Winter Clocking in at over 1,400 pages, this epic fantasy novel was sure to tide us over for two whole months! DISCUSSION QUESTIONS General Questions I. Did you like the book? II. Did you get involved in the story? III. Was it hard to get invested in the story and characters? IV. What part of the book grabbed/lost your attention? V. What was your favourite part/quote/chapter in the book? Character Questions I. What characters did you like and why? II. Did the characters grow or develop throughout the book? III. Are the characters actions justified? IV. Dos the community the characters live in/created contribute to their actions/decisions? V. Are the dynamics between the characters important? Plot Questions I. Did the story interest you and was the plot engaging? II. Was the story driven by the plot or the characters? III. Did anything in the story surprise you? IV. Did anything in the story up set you? V. Was the plot compelling? Book Structure Questions I. Was the book written from one or multiple perspectives? Did the different perspectives add or take away from the book? II. Does the timeline move in a straight like? Does the timeline make sense? III. Is the story one large story or a series of small interconnecting short stories? IV. Why do we think the author chose to tell his story this way? V. Does the way the story is written give us any deeper insight or understanding of the characters/plot? Theme Questions I. Did the book fit the theme of the month? II. What themes did the author explore in this book? III. Why do you think he chose those themes? IV. Do the themes make sense to be included in the story? V. Did the author use any symbolism or imagery? VI. Are there any themes that you didn't like or found problematic? Ending Questions I. Was the ending satisfying? II. Did you predict the ending or was it a surprise? III. Why do you think the author ended the book in this way? IV. Is there anything that surprised you? V. Would you change the ending of the book, if so, how? The Inheritance Trilogy Questions I. Race and nationality are very contentious in this world -- Amn, Darre, Maro -- how did the gods and gods wars promote unity OR diversity? II. These books include glossaries, appendices and scribbled; did these improve your reading experience? Would you prefer these books as stand-alone novels, or did you like the stories as a collection (and which was your favourite)? IV. With the strong female voice in the books, how did you feel about the male Darre issues presented in The Awakened Kingdom novella?
  • Captain
    Feb 20, 2017

    The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

    November 2016 - Not Lost in Translation China's bestselling Science Fiction novel. Set amongst the Chinese cultural revolution, we establish contact with aliens on the brink of destruction. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS General Questions I. Did you like the book? II. Did you get involved in the story? III. Was it hard to get invested in the story and characters? IV. What part of the book grabbed/lost your attention? V. What was your favourite part/quote/chapter in the book? Character Questions I. What characters did you like and why? II. Did the characters grow or develop throughout the book? III. Are the characters actions justified? IV. Dos the community the characters live in/created contribute to their actions/decisions? V. Are the dynamics between the characters important? Plot Questions I. Did the story interest you and was the plot engaging? II. Was the story driven by the plot or the characters? III. Did anything in the story surprise you? IV. Did anything in the story up set you? V. Was the plot compelling? Book Structure Questions I. Was the book written from one or multiple perspectives? Did the different perspectives add or take away from the book? II. Does the timeline move in a straight like? Does the timeline make sense? III. Is the story one large story or a series of small interconnecting short stories? IV. Why do we think the author chose to tell his story this way? V. Does the way the story is written give us any deeper insight or understanding of the characters/plot? Theme Questions I. Did the book fit the theme of the month? II. What themes did the author explore in this book? III. Why do you think he chose those themes? IV. Do the themes make sense to be included in the story? V. Did the author use any symbolism or imagery? VI. Are there any themes that you didn't like or found problematic? Ending Questions I. Was the ending satisfying? II. Did you predict the ending or was it a surprise? III. Why do you think the author ended the book in this way? IV. Is there anything that surprised you? V. Would you change the ending of the book, if so, how?The Three Body Problem Questions I. How are knowledge, technology and video games treated in this book? II. Do you see any parallels between the book and our current society? III. Would you welcome the Trisolarans?
  • Captain
    Feb 20, 2017

    Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

    October 2016 - So Scary This ever-disturbing and difficult novel of circus carnival "freaks" had us cringing the whole way through. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS General Questions I. Did you like the book? II. Did you get involved in the story? III. Was it hard to get invested in the story and characters? IV. What part of the book grabbed/lost your attention? V. What was your favourite part/quote/chapter in the book? Character Questions I. What characters did you like and why? II. Did the characters grow or develop throughout the book? III. Are the characters actions justified? IV. Does the community the characters live in/created contribute to their actions/decisions? V. Are the dynamics between the characters important? Plot Questions I. Did the story interest you and was the plot engaging? II. Was the story driven by the plot or the characters? III. Did anything in the story surprise you? IV. Did anything in the story up set you? V. Was the plot compelling? Book Structure Questions I. Was the book written from one or multiple perspectives? Did the different perspectives add or take away from the book? II. Does the timeline move in a straight like? Does the timeline make sense? III. Is the story one large story or a series of small interconnecting short stories? IV. Why do we think the author chose to tell his story this way? V. Does the way the story is written give us any deeper insight or understanding of the characters/plot? Theme Questions I. Did the book fit the theme of the month? II. What themes did the author explore in this book? III. Why do you think she chose those themes? IV. Do the themes make sense to be included in the story? V. Did the author use any symbolism or imagery? VI. Are there any themes that you didn't like or found problematic? Ending Questions I. Was the ending satisfying? II. Did you predict the ending or was it a surprise? III. Why do you think the author ended the book in this way? IV. Is there anything that surprised you? V. Would you change the ending of the book, if so, how? Geek Love Questions I. Self-esteem or self worth are themes throughout the book. How do they affect the characters and their growth? II. Do you think the Binewski’s believe they are better than everyone else? Why? III. Sexuality and pregnancy play huge roles throughout the book. How does this affect the story?