It seems like a long time since I have done a Reading Roulette, but I think it’s time once again to put my literary fate in your capable hands and ask you to pick one of my October reads from the 746!
I have six options this time round, some with a spooky feel, given that it will be close to Halloween by the time I get round to reading them but all gathering dust on my shelves.
Have a look at the options and cast your vote. Maybe you’ll choose a book because you loved it? Or because you still have to read it to? Or even because you hated it?!
I don’t really mind. I’m in your hands! Let’s see if you can pick me my new favourite book….
So, for October my Reading Roulette choices are:
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Bad Behaviour by Mary Gaitskill
Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt
Stoner by John Williams
I’ve linked the titles to their Goodreads page just in case you want some more details on the books and I’ll keep the voting open until September 30th.
Most of these are books that I have lost that urge to read and probably wouldn’t pick up if I was choosing my next book. I’d be quite happy for any of these to win. I’ve never read any Sherlock Holmes (for shame!) and Alice Hoffman is an old favourite whose work I haven’t read for years. I’d love to read Patrick de Witt’s new book, but given the whole premise of my blog, it’s probably better to read the one that I already have and I have yet to hear a bad word said about Stoner.
So, have you read any of these? Which do you think will win? I have no idea!
I voted for Stoner, but here’s my caveat. It is absolutely worth reading (I thought everybody had, it was the “it” book a few years back). It is solid but my god, he is a such a wet dishrag I wanted to strangle him. Would love to see what you think. Since you love Irish lit you may well enjoy this one.
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Cool, thank you! It’s good to hear another perspective. One of the reasons I started 746 Books is because I was constantly buying the latest ‘it’ book then never reading them!
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I voted for Stoner too because I’d like to read it. I remember when it was the “it” book. I tend not to read “it” books but I would like to read this one now it’s not so “it”. Haha.
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I think I bought it when it was the ‘it’ book but never got round to reading it. Story of my (reading) life!
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I’ve read The sisters brothers (one of those books I’ve bought for the cover) and It wasn’t that good. A bit of a book about a pointless journey. But that’s my feeling, maybe you’ll like it but I won’t make you read it 😉
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Thank you!
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The Thirteenth Tale or The Sisters Brothers!
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You could always vote twice!
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Good idea! I just did.
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Most of these are still on my own list, but I have read Sisters Brothers, which I thought was good. I’d like to hear about any one of these!
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For once Naomi, I don’t mind which one wins!
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Holmes is always a joy, of course, but my pick is Stoner.
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It could be the winner…
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I’ve voted for Stoner. I liked it on the whole but I’d be interested to know what you make of the depiction of his wife!
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Intriguing!
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I voted for The Hound of the Baskervilles. I love the Sherlock Holmes stories, and I am hoping to read this one this autumn.
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I don’t know how I have managed to get this far in life without reading Sherlock!
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Stoner is great but The Sisters Brothers is hilarious as well as literary. 🙂
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I’ve been meaning to pick up The Sisters Brothers for so long now!
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Thirteenth Tale or Stoner the two I fancy…
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I caught a little bit of the TV adaptation of The Thirteenth Tale but stopped watching so it wouldn’t spoil the book when I (eventually!) got round to it!
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I voted for the Thirteenth Tale because I really enjoyed it – but you should read Sherlock too!
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Oh I know. I think I’ll read Hound regardless of whether it wins or not!
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I voted for The Thirteenth Tale, loved it and my copy appears on the header of my blog
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Oh yes, I’ve noticed that before!
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I voted for The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt! This novel has been sitting on my Kindle for the last two years, and this way I can read along with you!
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Oh cool! Even if it doesn’t win, let’s do that!
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You’re on! If it doesn’t win, just let me know when you want to do it and I’ll be ready and waiting!
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I voted for Thirteenth Tale! No one writes true gothic fiction anymore, and the writer did it very well. I really, really enjoyed it.
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Great to hear Bethany, thanks!
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A great selection of books, Cathy. Stoner is excellent, but I’ve voted for the Sisters Brothers as it’s such a fun read. It reminded me a little of some of the Coen brothers’ work – perfect for a movie adaptation.
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Jacqui, I think I originally bought it because it had been compared to a Coen brother’s movie!
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I went for Sherlock Holmes, in part because I’ve just started working my through the stories and am discovering how great they are. Enjoy whatever you get.
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Thanks Emma, I’d be quite happy if Sherlock won!
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Stoner please! I haven’t read it but am v. curious.
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Thanks for voting!
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I really wanted to vote for three – Stoner, The Thirteenth Tale and Sister Brothers – but plumped for the deWitt because I’ve just finished Undermajordomo Minor which reminded me just how much I enjoyed SB. I hope you enjoy whatever lands in the barrel!
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Thanks Susan, for once I have no real preference!
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Thanks for the heads up on deWitt’s new one – now on my wish list. 🙂
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I’ve voted for The Hound of the Baskervilles because I feel so sad for you that you’ve never read any Holmes! 😉 I don’t care whether it wins – you should read it anyway! What’s not to love about curses, legends, a wicked Sir Hugo, and supernatural hounds baying over the darkness of Grimpen Mire…
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I intend to read it this month, after whatever wins!
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Ha ha, Hound or Stoner would be my vote, but they all sound great. If I had to choose one, it would be Hound. A good read for a misty autumn day.
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Sounds perfect!
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I voted for Stoner because I’ve had it lingering on my Kindle since I bought it on sale ages ago. From all I’ve heard about it, it will make for a good conversation.
I’ve read a couple other choices in your list. I don’t remember much about Blue Diary, but I do remember reading a lot of Alice Hoffman around the time I read BD. I haven’t read her in a few years now. Sometimes I’m in the mood for the kind of drama she writes about, and sometimes I’m not.
I’ve also read The Thirteenth Tale, but it was not my thing. Now that I think about it, I don’t love many gothic stories, even the oldies. But if you like gothic, I think you’d like it.
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I kind of remember having to be in the mood for Alice Hoffman too. I was in my late teens when I read her, so it would be interesting to see what I make of her work over 20 years later!
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I went with The Hound of the Baskervilles, since it is the book that got me hooked on crime when I was 12. But The Thirteenth Tale is also a fantastic autumn read!
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Looking forward to both!
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The Thirteenth Tale is really good, I hope you enjoy it when you read it. 🙂
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It sounds great!
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Okay, now I’ve read this post – yes, I didn’t vote and, I would have struggled to vote for this one because I like a number of the books – definitely you need to read Conan Doyle and Setterfield. I also like Hoffman but this isn’t my favourite book of hers.
Lynn 😀
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I’m already halfway through The Thirteenth Tale Lynne and hoping to get to Baskervilles by Halloween!
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