Colour Me Read Challenge: July Challenge Card
July brings two genres I myself am not very familiar with! I tend to stick to my fantasy books so this challenge is a great way for me (and you!) to discover different genres and authors.
This month, our genres are:
Alternate History
This genre of fiction focuses on stories in which one or more historical events happen differently. These books deal with a lot of “what if” scenarios related to crucial points in history and present outcomes that aren’t part of the history we know. What if Hitler didn’t succeed? What if JFK wasn’t assassinated? What would our present be like today? Goodreads has list of books under this genre and some that come to mind include 11/22/63 by Stephen King, the Temaraire series by Naomi Novik, and Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin.
For this genre, I’m planning to read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. I’ve been meaning to read this book for months so this is the perfect time to do it!
Slipstream Fiction
I didn’t even know this genre existed before I started doing research for this challenge but this genre is well-known for crossing boundaries between sci-fi/fantasy and mainstream literary fiction. Say whaaaat? I know! According to Wikipedia, Slipstream “falls between speculative fiction and mainstream fiction” and not all novels use elements of sci-fi/fantasy.
Not knowing anything about this genre, I consulted good ol’ Goodreads for some recommendations. Here’s a list of popular slipstream books if you’re as lost as I am. A number of Haruki Murakami’s books are on the list, along with Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter-house Five. As for me, I’m thinking of picking up Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.
Do any books come to mind when you think of these genres? I’d love to know if you’re planning to participate!
This is the first time I heard of the Slipstream Fiction concept too! I’ll be taking up The Handmaid’s Tale and 11/22/63. It will be the first time I’m reading a book by Margaret Atwood and Stephen King!
I’m so glad to here you’re participating, Mithila! It’s definitely been fun discovering genres I haven’t heard of before and I’m looking forward to what else I’ll find next!
I recently read 11/22/63 – it was my first King book and I liked it. It sounds like you have two very solid choices!
Hm. Might be high time to read The Man in the High Castle! 😀 We’ll see. I’m so on and off with my reading lately. 🙁
Sorry I haven’t had a chance to reply to this, Gemma! I was locked out of my own blog lol. Did you end up reading it? How did it go?
I love the choices this month! I’ve never heard of slipstream fiction before, and I’m still not entirely sure I understand what it is. 😂 I saw The Gunslinger on the list, but only a few people had categorized it that way, so I’m not sure if it counts! What do you think?
I finally got back into my account lol – sorry my reply has taken so long! I definitely counted all the Dark Tower books as slipstream on my GR so feel free to do the same 😀
[…] Instagram page, where she was hosting a monthly challenge in July. I scanned through her blog post for suggested titles, and there I met Stephen […]