Based on our discussion a few weeks ago, it looks like there's still interest in doing a BOM.  I thought I'd kick off a selection for June to see what kind of interest we get, using some of the new ideas we discussed.  We'll use the new voting format to come up with a selection, so to ensure we have time to get our books for June, let's get started.

1. I am going to use Kelly's suggested theme for June.  "Oldies but Goodies." Suggested authors could include Georgette Heyer, Victoria Holt, Daphne du Maurier, Jean Plaidy, etc., etc.  This should be a fun, light topic for a busy summer month.
2. Please post your nominations by end of the day on Friday, May 1.
3. I will then summarize the list of nominations, and will ask everyone to vote for their choice by Wednesday, May 6.

 Voting results:

1. Frederica by Georgette Heyer - 3
2. Green Darkness by Anya Seton - 1
3. The Lady In The Tower by Jean Plaidy - 1
4. Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman - 0

And 1 voter was happy with either Green Darkness or Frederica.  So the winner is Frederica by Georgette Heyer.  Looking forward to reading it!

Michelle, thanks for heading this up.  You may rest assured that you'll be getting a nomination from Kelly and/or myself.  Looking forward to it! --- Linda

Well. Subsequent to Linda's post above, we reviewed our current TBR stack and we have three Georgette Heyer novels to toss up for consideration. Michelle, these aren't nominations yet, just titles to see if one more than the others may be of some interest to the rest of the group. Our reasoning is that by having "oldies" for the BOM, there is a strong chance that some of us may have read (and not wish to re-read) a title; so, we would like some recommendations and preferences on our three Heyer titles first, because any of the three would be just fine w/ us. Thus ...

Royal Escape: one of those historical novels that contains a lot more history than the casual reader expects. A considerable amount of meticulous research went into this story about Charles II, who had been smuggled to safety in France as a young boy. In 1650, the young man returns to Scotland and attempts to forge an alliance with Presbyterian Covenant forces to reclaim his father's throne. All his plans come to ruin in 1651, when the Scottish army is defeated at the Battle of Worcester by the English under Oliver Cromwell. Charles, disguised as a servant, is forced to flee for his life and spends 40 days roaming the English countryside in search of a way to get back to France.

Frederica:  When Frederica brings her younger siblings to London determined to secure a brilliant marriage for her beautiful sister, she seeks out their distant cousin the Marquis of Alverstoke. Lovely, competent, and refreshingly straightforward, Frederica makes such a strong impression that to his own amazement, the Marquis agrees to help launch them all into society. Normally wary of his family, which includes two overbearing sisters and innumerable favor-seekers, Lord Alverstoke does his best to keep his distance. But with his enterprising - and altogether entertaining - country cousins getting into one scrape after another right on his doorstep, before he knows it the Marquis finds himself dangerously embroiled...

These Old Shades: Under the reign of Louis XV, corruption and intrigue have been allowed to blossom in France, and Justin Alastair, the notorious Duke of Avon and proud of his soubriquet 'Satanas', flourishes well. Then, from a dark Parisian back alley, he plucks Leon, a red-headed urchin with strangely familiar looks, just in time for his long over-due schemes of revenge on the Comte de St Vire. Among the splendours of Versailles and the dignified mansions of England, Justin begins to unfold his sinister plans - until, that is, Leon becomes the ravishing beauty Leonie...

On another note - Linda & I are definitely in on the June BOM ... whatever title it turns out to be ... and already looking forward to it!

Kelly

I have about 30 Plaidy's on shelf.  I'm just trying to decide which one to nominate :)

I'd like to nominate Green Darkness by Anya Seton

I'll nominate The Lady In The Tower by Jean Plaidy, just because it's on my bookshelf waiting to be read!  LOL! 

Kelly - I haven't read any of the choices you listed, so all are equally ok by me for your nomination.

I'm going to nominate Here Be Dragons, the first book in Sharon Kay Penman's Welsh trilogy.

Just a reminder that nominations are due tomorrow - end of the day Friday.

Our official nomination is

Frederica, by Georgette Heyer

Thanks for hosting, Michelle ... I'm looking forward to this ...

Kelly

 P.S. We need a ruling - I'm assuming Linda & I each get a vote even tho we share an account? We'll abide by the group's general decision ...

KP

Nominations are in the first post.  Please PM me your vote by Wednesday, May 6.  Kelly and Linda - Of course you each get a vote!

The voting results are updated in the first post.  The selected book for June's BOM is Frederica by Georgette Heyer.  I'm interested in what people thought of the nominate/vote process.  To be honest, most people voted for their own nomination.  LOL. 

Wonderful! Thank you so much for hosting and your work on tallying the votes.

I look forward to reading it.

To be honest, most people voted for their own nomination.  LOL. 

Yep. That's probably to be expected. Like running for office and then not having the conviction to vote for yourself. As we get more people participating who do not nominate titles of their own, things will shake out a little different.

It didn't matter this month, but I wondered about limiting nominations to the first 4 or 5 titles received. ... ???

On the other hand, Linda & I are considering hosting a BOM some month soon using the theme of Jane Austen books. So, in that situation, we could list all six of her completed novels and see what the group wants to read ...

But in the mean time, I'm looking forward to reading Frederica and discussing it with everyone!

Kelly

I didn't vote because I would have been happy reading any of the nominated books. :-)

I agree, Felicia, it was a good list - hopefully we'll have an active discussion next month.

Kelly and Linda - a Jane Austen theme is a great idea.  Can you believe I've never read a Jane Austen book?

Michelle!! Letting us know you have not read any of Jane Austen's books is probably giving us a clue to your age!! Jane Austen books used to be assigned reading in high school - in the mid 1970's !!! LOL ... But, I'm thinking they are no longer included on suggested reading lists ???

Maybe Linda & I will host the Jane Austen BOM in September - a back-to-school literature reading assignment!  

Kelly

At some point in the future I would love to see an American HF as BOM.  I haven't participated so far because either not enough time or the chosen book didn't appeal to me.

Donna - that sounds like a good theme, I have a bunch of American HF on my shelf that I could nominate.  Would you be interested in leading a month?

Kelly - you're right, Jane Austen was not on our reading list in school.  I graduated from HS in '93.  =)  But, that sounds like a great idea for September!

Just a reminder that we'll be starting the June BOM in about a week.  Please pick up a copy of Frederica (I have mine on the way from the library), and plan to join us.

Not that it really matters, but Jane Austen is not historical fiction.  She was writing about her own time.

Ahh, Donna ... the age-old debate of how to define historical fiction. I take the easiest definition of all ... for me, the reader, is it fiction? Does it have a historical setting and is it true to the era being written about? This, to me, is Historical Fiction.

I know there are several ways to define it, in fact, we most recently discussed this in Shelley's thread Historical Fiction - Let's Make a List.  http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=157428&l=25

To the point specifically about a Jane Austen book: before Linda & I host a Jane Austen BOM, we will certainly conduct an informal poll to ensure there's enough interest. If there's not, we'll abandon the idea. Certainly it wouldn't be much fun for others to listen to an on-going conversation just between me & my Mother about a book !!

Kelly

Linda & Kelly:  I would love to join in on a Jane Austen discussion anytime!!  I have them all and would never mind re-reading any of them so just pick your poison!

Ahh, Donna ... the age-old debate of how to define historical fiction. I take the easiest definition of all ... for me, the reader, is it fiction? Does it have a historical setting and is it true to the era being written about? This, to me, is Historical Fiction.

Kelly, I didn't mean to sound like such a brat.  Sorry.    I just get confused on the definition of HF.  Once I brought up To Kill a Mockingbird and was told that it wasn't historical fiction, which I disagree.  I actually like your definition.

Donna ... LOL! I would never call you a brat! It's one of those 'eye of the beholder' type of things. I take a much broader view, I guess because it suits my purposes to do so.

On another forum, a person was describing a book and she said, it's more accurately defined as 'a fiction book with a historical setting rather than true historical fiction' ... now that seems to be splitting a very fine hair!

BTW, I would definitely consider To Kill a Mockingbird as historical fiction, as an American classic, as a must read for all students, etc., etc.

Kelly

My time at work seems to have eased up....so, with fingers crossed, I am going to try to participate in the June BoM; I've missed the BoM discussions hugely.  So, now, off to order or purchase Frederica.....

Great news, Colleen - we've missed you!  I'll have discussion threads posted by the end of the weekend.