UK Book Club discussion
A - Z Author Challenge
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Andrew's A-Z challenge.
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Sue wrote: "Lol - it is certainly addictive Andrew!"It is - I did it twice this year! And not far from a third lot either!
I am doing it for the first time. I like it, but I keep reading the same letter ! Had to start the 50 books in a year challenge so I could do something with the others not for my a-z list
Thanks Lynne and Nikks for comments . It's all becoming a bit obsessional but fun , I'm finding books thinking will that do for around world or A-Z, I've also found I'm reading more which my wife prob doesn't think possible and I've passed 50 books for first time ever! I heard a chap on radio 4 open book talking about paper and bibliophiles , I seem to remember when I first joined someone posting ' I admit I'm a bookaholic' or similar words I think I'll have to confess as well!!!
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M;
Very intriguing and looking forward to book 3. I'm not normally a sci fi person but I enjoyed this.
G:
I loved this book.Its odd I read Notes from an exhibition a few years ago and really enjoyed his style so why haven't I read any more? An interesting story of a Cornish priest seen from different people and different times beginning with the suicide of a young rugby player made paraplegic in an accident, everything slowly connects which I like even if a bit cheesy towards the end , still its Christmas and as I blubbed at the end of Polar Express at the IMAX this morning a lump in my throat is excused!!
O;
A fairly light read over Christmas. Not quite as funny as the blurb on the cover.
Andrew wrote: "O;A fairly light read over Christmas. Not quite as funny as the blurb on the cover."I read this last year (sounds strange writing that as it was only 4 days ago!) I thought it was a great read too.
N;
Nabakov.As I commented on 'what I'm reading now' post I was recomended to read some non Lolita Nabakov at Uni many moons ago by an English student friend. I've only just done so! It was really good ,short but packed full of events in the life of hapless but lovable Russian emigree lecturer Timofey Pnin!in small town US uni in the 50's.The last chapter moves it from a comic tale to something more as you lose trust in the narrator and see all the layers in the tale unfold. I now want to read more Nabakov ! What would those more learned than I reccomend? Pale Fire looks interesting. Anyway a good read! Losing track of letters now:CDGMNO,20 to go!!
Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Andrew wrote: "O;A fairly light read over Christmas. Not quite as funny as the blurb on the cover."I read this last year (sounds strange writing th..."
I know Lynne, It'll be christmas again before you know it!
F:
Thanks to the historical fiction thread I have added George Macdonald Fraser. I checked in the library and he is under F not M.
J;
I loved this although didn't have tissues ready for last few chapters. A book that really lived up to all the hype.CDFGJMNO.
B;
A really good read,Bainbridge's historical books are so engaging.The narrator is Morgan nephew of Rothschild the banker who has been rescued from poverty to the life of the young and rich who inhabit 1st class. His story is uncomfortable but makes the losses at the end with characters you've engaged with poignant. I've now done BCDGJMNO.
A;
A book group read but thought it was pants. The story of how a group of people addled by drugs knock down a young girl in a car accident and hoe it affects them over the next 30 years. Unfortunately I couldn't care less!!
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Ian wrote: "I do love the expression "pants" though I think always best prefixed with "utter, utter" to truly denote the gravitas of feeling lol."I'm trying to develop my literary criticism skills in case anyone from the TLS is reading,I think utter utter pants could add to readers enjoyment!
X;
I really enjoyed this crime novel set in post Tianamen square China. Not so sure about the food though!
S;
Hard to describe this book, it tells the story of two couples in American academia from the voice of Larry who is looking back over their lives at a significant ending. I kept expecting something dramatic to happen but whilst there is an important event the book is about relationships and questions your feelings about the individuals. Wonderfully written I would recommend it
Over halfway courtesy of the genre challenge and W;
and L;
Both really good reads and for Moon Tiger a 5 star rating.
V; double whammy with round world challenge
R;
Not a bad read but prob won't go higher than 3 stars, not quite the white knuckle read described on the cover, but I didn't dislike it!
Andrew wrote: "R;Not a bad read but prob won't go higher than 3 stars, not quite the white knuckle read described on the cover, but I didn't dislike it!"Thanks Andrew - this look like another book to add to the TBR pile. Sounds right up my street.
I;
9 more left to go,an improvement on his last bookLast Night in Twisted Riverand an interesting look at transgender theme and aids epidemic in 80's US.
H; Have reviewed
under USA in 51 states but I loved this, didn't think it would be my kind of book but it was great!
T; Part of genre challenge
I enjoyed this story of 1960's Glasgow tenement life.
P;
Extremely disturbing,very grim but very good crime novel continuing the quartet of books around Yorkshire police corruption and backdrop of Yorkshire Ripper!Light read but only 6 to go!!
K:
Interesting trip to Ukraine,only 5 to go E,Q,U,Y,andZ.
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U;
This is the joy of theses challenges. I wouldn't have read this save that I was browsing the U section in the library. A tough read given the subject matter, 4 women trafficced from Nigeria to Antwerp for prostitution tell their individual stories of how they have ended up there. They no longer become anonymous sex objects. Some scenes are graphic and distressing but the book is from my view a brilliant one and should be read widely. On a lighter note only 4 more letters to go!!
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Z;
An enjoyable tale about post civil war Barcelona, much lauded and deservedly so but I frequently got confused about characters and it gradually all tied together in the last third.
Y;
A few years ago I read Revolutionary Road which was brilliant but miserable compounded by then seeing the even more depressing film but I'd always wanted to try another. Someone had apparently nicked Easter Parade from the library (which is his other masterpiece) so I went for this his last novel and enjoyed it. It's the story of an alcoholic womanising advertising salesman whose life spirals out of control , a brilliant first two chapters includes a very good description of his admission for a week to a state asylum. Other parts drift a bit but the final two chapters are very good depiction of deteriorating mental health, so overall a good laugh! Two letters to go!!
Ian wrote: "Just 2 to go. Recommend 
by Sarah Quigley for a Q. One of my 2013 favourites."i saw it in library this week so i may finish with that one, ta
My choice for Q will be anything by Ellery Queen.
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by Kwei Quartey. A crime yarn, Ghana and a Q author ......not read it but only cos not on kindle yet
Ian wrote: "Another poss might be by Kwei Quartey. A crime yarn, Ghana and a Q author ......not read it but only cos not on kindle yet"Thanks Ian , tha's appealing as it would get me an African country as well!
James wrote: "My choice for Q will be anything by Ellery Queen."Thats interesting I was listening to a podcast discussion this week about unknown women american crime writers in
which mentioned Ellery Queen , somewhere in my cellar I have yellow cover bca Ellery queen hardback might have to have a search- Thanks
E;
A totally random choice browsing through the library's E section and very enjoyable. Told in two time lines, in one Joe Novak is a wheeler and dealer on the edge of a breakdown selling hotel apartments in Las Vegas to the very rich. In the other time line he is Mark Wilkinson an 18 year old in a cheshire suburb in the early 90's planning with his girlfriend Bethany to run away to New York. There is a third narrative about Beth as the local carnival queen. I don't want to spoil the plot but part crime novel I really enjoyed it and it was a real page turner.Q next and that's, although I am looking forward to starting again as there is a randomness at the beginning as to what gets on the list!!
Q;
Another plus for the group as this is a book I had never heard of but enjoyed thoroughly but wouldn't have chosen it if I had seen it in a bookshop so a good recommendation. So that's that my first challenge finished Ta Daa!!and very enjoyable it was so I will be planning my next soon.
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UK Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Conductor (other topics)If This Is Home (other topics)
Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives: Stories from the Trailblazers of Domestic Suspense (other topics)
Wife of the Gods (other topics)
Wife of the Gods (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kwei Quartey (other topics)Kwei Quartey (other topics)
Sarah Quigley (other topics)
Sarah Quigley (other topics)
A;Carry the one by Carole Anshaw.
B;Every man for himself by Beryl Bainbridge.
C;The MoonstoneOn Kindle at breakfast,Wilkie Collins
D;The GreatcoatHelen Dunmore.
E;If this is home by Stuart Evers
F;Flashman by George Macdonald Fraser.
G;A perfectly good man by Patrick Gale.
H;This book will save your life by A M Holmes
I;In one person by John Irving
J;The Unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.
K;DEATH AND THE PENGUIN by Andrei Kurkov.
L;Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively.
M;1Q84 by Murakami
N;Pnin by Vladamir Nabakov.
O;The man who forgot his wife by John O'Farrell.
P;1980 by David Peace.
Q; The Conductor by Sarah Quigley.
R;The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan.
S;Crossing to safety by Wallace Stegner.
T;SWING HAMMER SWING by Jeff Torrington.
U; On Black sister's street by Chika Unigwe
V;The sound of things falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
W;Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse.
X;Death of a red heroine by Qui Xialong.
Y;Disturbing the peace by Richard Yates
Z;Shadow of the wind by Carlos Luis Zafon