Reading Roulette returns!
I had a quick search on 746 Books and it is a full FOUR years since I last did a Reading Roulette! I was reminded of it by a recent post on Fiction Fan’s fab blog and thought I’d revisit what was once a pretty regular slot on my blog.
For those who can’t remember, Reading Roulette is when I put my literary fate in your capable hands and ask you to pick my next read from the 746!
Since Reading Ireland Month ended I’ve been reading a lot of recent releases, but it’s time to put some work in again to reduce that old 746 and get back on track.
You’ve picked me some great winners in the past – Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt and Eventide by Kent Haruf. Who will join them this time round? I’ve got six possibilities for you to choose from so 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 too? 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….
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Critically acclaimed and exploring ‘the lasting power of the written word’ – sounds good to me!
Election by Tom Perrotta
I’ve seen the movie and despite having a lot of his books in the 746, I’ve yet to read anything by Perrotta, so this could be a good place to start.
Jamaica Inn by Daphne DuMaurier
Thanks to Ali’s DuMaurier Reading Week last year, I rekindled my love for an author I hadn’t read for years. This is one I didn’t get round to during the challenge.
Speedboat by Renata Adler
Part novel, memoir and essay? It’s no wonder Speedboat is back in favour and it seems like a good time to try this cult classic!
Light Years by James Salter
I have heard so many good things about Light Years but never seem to get round to it, despite the fact that it sounds right up my street.
Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Winter’s Bone sounds like the perfect melding of place and characterisation. I have yet to see the movie adaptation, so it would be good to read it first.
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 April 20th. Just comment and tell me which I should read next and the one with the most votes will be saved from languishing on my shelves!
I’m not quite sure why these books have lingered on the TBR as I’d be quite happy for any of them to win. As a consolation prize, the losers might just find themselves on my 20 Books of Summer pile (once I double check the word count!).
So, have you read any of these? Which do you think will win? I have no idea!
Get voting x
Cathy746books View All →
I am a 40 something book buying addict trying to reduce the backlog one book at a time!
I’ve only read The History of Love and Jamaica Inn from those six. I found The History of Love a bit underwhelming – Krauss has written better. Jamaica Inn would be a fun, immersive read right now. Election sounds great, but I haven’t read it!
After some deliberation, my vote goes to Election so you can let me know if it’s worth reading or not 🙂
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Perfect! Thank you Laura x
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Brave woman! I’d plump for The History of Love without a doubt.
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I think it’s nudging in to the lead 😀
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Hurrah!
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Election! It’s good fun and you can follow it up with watching the excellent movie 🙂
I might have to d a Reading Roulette post as well – I reckon it’s been a few years since me last one.
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Go for it! And thanks for the vote – that’s Election in the lead 👍
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Hi Cathy – this is an interesting one!
I had only ever heard of Jamaica Inn, so I looked at all the Goodreads synopses, and to be honest I don’t think I’d want to read most of these at the moment, they just sound too serious/heavy for me – so I’d probably go for Jamaica Inn, as at least it sounds like a good story, and I did love Rebecca.
If you haven’t seen it, there is an excellent (but now very old – 1971 I think) documentary about Du Maurier, interviewed in Cornwall by Wilfred De’Ath (they are both unbelievably posh – she was quite different from how I had imagined her, having once seen her in very old age when I was staying with friends who lived at Fowey). It is still on BBC i-Player: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00nw1z9/daphne-du-maurier
If not Jamaica Inn then I think I’d choose Winter’s Bone, as it does sound intriguing.
I’ll be interested to find out which book wins.
Rosemary
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I love du Maurier so I’ll vote for Jamaica Inn 😊
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👍
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I love Jamaica Inn, my favourite DDM novel, but I think it’s best for late, windy cold autumn time for moodiness. Or save it for when Ali does DDM reading week in again May.
I’m voting for The History of Love. I’ve not yet read it, but looked up a bit more about it and it seems like a good fit for right now in a world with stress and loneliness that needs some uplifting.
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Ooh I didn’t realise DDM was coming back! It would be good to save for then.
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Wow, they all sound good to me, except Winters Bone, hard choice! I think I have to go with Light Years.
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Thanks Peggy!
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I’ve read your first three, plus a different book by Woodrell. I remember the Krauss being really heartwarming, so I vote for that one for you right now.
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Thank you! Heartwarming might be just the thing.
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Gosh Cathy, there are two I want to vote for. “Jamaica Inn” and “Winter’s Bone”. Happy Reading!
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I’ll call that one for each 😀
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I vote The History of Love because a friend lent it to me years ago and I still haven’t gotten around to reading it – maybe this will inspire me!
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Good reason! It’s looking like the frontrunner right about now.
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This is a great idea! I’ll vote for Election. Good luck ☺️
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Yay! Thank you 😘
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I would definitely choose Jamaica Inn. Though I think I am probably going to do #DDMreadingweek again in May.
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Then I think if Jamaica Inn wins I might go for second place and read JI for your week x
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Yay good plan. I suppose it’s about time that I announced the date. 😊
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The History of Love sounds good! 😀
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Right? It’s definitely in the lead at the moment!
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I haven’t read any of them. I’m torn between Jamaica Inn and Winter’s Bone so I am putting one vote in for both of them sorry if that’s cheating. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched the movie for Winter’s bone and I enjoyed Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.
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Nope, I’ll count it as a vote for each!
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Thanks for the shout out! 😀 Having read none of them, I’m voting for the du Maurier because it’s on my TBR too, so you can tell me if it deserves to be moved up the priority list! 😉
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Speedboat gets my vote as I’m hoping to read it soon and I’d love to know your thoughts 🙂
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Good call 😉
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The History of Love gets my vote although I think you’ll be happy with whichever book wins 😀
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I think so! Well, let’s face it, I have to read them all at some point 🤣
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Mmm! Tricky one. I think my vote goes for the History of Love. Not that I’ve read it but that ‘lasting power of the written word’ sounds intriguing. What’s not to like.
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Exactly! Thanks x
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Fun idea! And a smart one too – it takes away all the dithering about what to read next.
I’ve read only Jamaica Inn so will vote for that one (was there a voting button? i didn’t see one). It’s a romp of a story, just what you want to distract you right now
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No voting button Karen, but that’s counted! If it wins, I may safe it for Ali’s DuMaurier Reading Month in May and go with second place, but we’ll see!
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I vote for Jamaica Inn! I’ve read and loved two of du Maurier’s other books and have Jamaica Inn slotted as my next read from her, with very high hopes. 🙂
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Jamaica Inn is in the lead!
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Well, as I huge fan of Daphne du Maurier, I have to give my vote to Jamaica Inn – It isn’t my favourite of hers because it slightly on the darker side tone and story wise, but it is still great and I think you might like that it is a bit darker. Happy reading whatever your result is! 🙂
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I loved The History of Love, but I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on any of them!
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Winter’s Bone, sounds interesting – I do like a crime/mystery element to a book
Jamaica Inn, would love to know what you think about this – but if you’re going to read it in May for DDM reading week that will be an added bonus
The History of Love – sounds charming
Hope you enjoy whatever wins!
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Jamaica Inn definitely! Join in the reading week again.
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That’s the plan – it such a great Reading Week!
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