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BriS
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On a lighter note! I was thinking each generation has its stand out favourite for every genre. My limited literary knowledge makes it hard to pinpoint books but I was looking at the childhood favourites topic and for that one I'd say the following list. Anyone around in some of the earlier years will probably correct me.  I wonder if this gives an insight into continuing or new trends or that there are always perenial popular themes in different genres. These ones seem to have some common themes as well as all being distinctly original. Originality plus common themes a key to success? 19th Century 1900 - 1910 The Wizard of Oz 1910 - 1920 Peter Pan 1930 - 1940 ? 1940 - 1950 - The Famous Five 1950 - 1960 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 1960 - 1970 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 1970 -1980 ? 1980 - 1990 ? 1990 to Present - the author who like her famous villian need not be named!
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cathysoapsuds
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This is an interesting site http://www.vrh.org.uk/static/inspiring_reading/history/10_twentieth_first.html Anyone remember Billy Bunter This is taken from the site above discussing 1940:- 'There is much in children’s literature of this time that makes us look twice, or even wince. School stories, with their descriptions of caning and bullying, were ever popular – right up to Billy Bunter ‘The Fat Owl of the Remove’ who made his first appearance in 1947. Many books can surprise modern readers by their political incorrectness, although it must be borne in mind that many writers were expressing commonly-held views of their time. It was the publication of the first mass produced paperback by Puffin in 1941 that caused the biggest revolution in children’s publishing. Launched with Barbara Euphan Todd’s Worzel Gummidge, the cheapness of the books ensured that they reached millions of children over the years. From picture books to fiction and with such classic titles as John Burningham’s Mr Gumpy’s Outing and Phillippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden'. The Story of Doctor Dolittle appeared in 1920, Winnie the Pooh in 1926, The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant (in English) in 1934, The Hobbit in 1937 and Madeline in 1938. 
This post was last edited by cathysoapsuds, 04 Jun 2006, 12:36
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Cathf
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Interesting. Sci-fi would be a good one to look at because that changes with whatever the times are obsessed with. I don't know enough about the genre to do it, but in the early century there were people like CP Snow and HG Wells, and a lot about evolution, which was new at the time. Then there was fascism and communism, and books like 1984, Brave New World etc that focussed on that, and the bad side of the new evolution, social & genetic engineering stuff. Then there was space travel, the nuclear age, computers. Now it's almost going back round, full circle to, back into Sci-fi often being more like magic realism, or looking to a post-technological age, or at how technology can destroy what makes people human.
This post was last edited by Cathf, 04 Jun 2006, 12:39
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RiteStuff
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Quote: BriS, Sunday, 4 Jun 2006 12:21Originality plus common themes a key to success? 19th Century 1900 - 1910 The Wizard of Oz 1910 - 1920 Peter Pan 1930 - 1940 ? 1940 - 1950 - The Famous Five 1950 - 1960 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 1960 - 1970 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 1970 -1980 ? 1980 - 1990 ? 1990 to Present - the author who like her famous villian need not be named! What was popular between 1970 to 1990?  I can't remember and I was growing up then. I did read a lot of Asterix the Gaul. They seem to be a lot about dreams coming truen and the trials of being a kid and growing up. Aha!
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eileenmcinnes
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This thread is interesting to me as I have had loads of problems with the genre for Woodsmoke. Over the weekend, I have re-read Alice in Wonderland which is supposed to be an all-time favourite. It really wasn't that good at all. Anyone remember Angela Brazil and her schoolgirl stories? About the 1930s and 40s. I loved them but a few months back, the local library found one for me. I read the first couple of chapters and just could not believe that at one time, I didn't want to read anything else? It was pretty awful and I couldn't even finish it.
Eileen
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murrayhurray
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We change so much with our tastes. These books are really food for thought. I like reading more than anything else as I'm not a great writer! The books on the list have so much originality but at the heart of each story a real emphasis on character and what, in this list at least, will appeal to kids. Maybe sometimes it is really wise to look at what has had great appeal before venturing off to write something.
About this book list, many commentators say Rowling reinvented brilliantly the successful elements of the popular old boarding school stories and gave it a new modern slant. Maybe it's about, as has been said, doing something original but with classic elements that always strike home with readers.
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opradine
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1980's - I think it was Dahl again with BFG.
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thirdplanet
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I like this one. I'll try to come up with a list for my favourite genre.
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demolinero
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Quote: eileenmcinnes, Sunday, 4 Jun 2006 14:21This thread is interesting to me as I have had loads of problems with the genre for Woodsmoke. Over the weekend, I have re-read Alice in Wonderland which is supposed to be an all-time favourite. It really wasn't that good at all. Anyone remember Angela Brazil and her schoolgirl stories? About the 1930s and 40s. I loved them but a few months back, the local library found one for me. I read the first couple of chapters and just could not believe that at one time, I didn't want to read anything else? It was pretty awful and I couldn't even finish it. Eileen Yes - I remember Angela Brazil. What a romantic name. They were my mum's books that she let me read when I was growing up and I loved them. Haven't seen anything of hers for aeons so can't comment - but I'm sure you are right and that they'd be pants now. I remember that they were quite moral, though, in their way, and that the baddies always got what they deserved. Liz (Demolinero)
http://www.elizabethjasper.com Find my books on Amazon Kindle here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meggie-Blackthorn-ebook/dp/B005UBZOPA/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Bed-of-Knives-ebook/dp/B007PT0ILA/
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visinker
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Quote: cathysoapsuds, Sunday, 4 Jun 2006 12:28Anyone remember Billy Bunter Ah - I was just trying to remember what I enjoyed reading and you've reminded me! Billy Bunter - though I liked the other ones by the same person better and I can't remember what they were called... 
Barbara Scott-Emmett The Bumble's End by Jimmy Bain - Comedy Crime EbookThe Stiletto Heel and other stories - erotica ebook MadCow
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The Genre Code - The Way to Genre Success?
04 Jun 2006, 12:21
