You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Monthly
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June 2015 Challenge - Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Sarah wrote: "I'm reading the third Mieville one at the moment and it does have some time spent on a train but nowhere near 70% and I'm struggling with it. Railsea looks more fitting but I can't have two Mievill..."Fair enough! That would be hard.
Sarah wrote: "Really? Red seas is all about boats. If they're not on them they are talking about them or procuring them. There is a lot of boat terminology to get your head around too and some seafaring customs ..."Me too. As I read your comment out loud and there was wailing and gnashing of teeth.
He really needs a goodreads account.
Indeed Rusalka. lol. I read Lady Cyclist's Peggy. It's a good read but not much about cycling.
Cherie wrote: "Susan wrote: "Thanks to a suggestion by Lanelle I'm thinking about reading The Driving Lesson for this challenge. It's about a young teen who goes on a cross country road trip with ..."Hmmm. I saw that. Went back and looked at the rules for this challenge and it needs to be at least 150 pages so I guess it could still work. Waiting on ruling from Janice. Otherwise I'm jumping on the The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics bandwagon...
Casceil wrote: "Has anyone read Ancillary Sword? I know the main character is captain of a ship (and in a sense is a ship), but I don't know whether 70% of the story takes place on the ship."I haven't read it yet. From the end of the previous book it sounded like a lot of time would be spent on ships, but the protagonist is headed to deal with an issue on a habitat, so I'm expecting most of the action to occur there.
Well, I looked through my 2015 to-read list, and here are the books I'm considering:Trading in Danger
Ascension
Chicago: America's Railroad Capital: The Illustrated History, 1836 to Today - which I got through GR First Reads
Havoc
Railsea - which I just bought for 25 cents at the library yesterday
@ Connie The Cats Table sounds really good I added to my tbr.
Well, if 70% of it has to be IN the car, train, boat, etc., then The Girl in the Train won't fit. I think 70% of it has the train as a presence, like the sound, memories in it, etc., but the story doesn't happens 70% of the time in the train.
Rusalka wrote: "Ohhh... bugger."One thing to add about We, the Drowned is that whilst the action is split roughly 60/40 on the sea and on the land, boats play an important role in the story. The town where it takes place is a seafaring town and there are individual ships that become almost like extensions of certain characters. There are also a lot of sailing and nautical terms as well as talk of the ship building industry. If we are counting that sort of thing for this challenge then yes, I would say that it works after all :)
Sandra wrote: "Well, if 70% of it has to be IN the car, train, boat, etc., then The Girl in the Train won't fit. I think 70% of it has the train as a presence, like the sound, memories in it, etc., but the story ..."Thanks again Sandra. I had better wait and see what Janice thinks.
Has anyone read or know of anyone who has read Retribution Falls? It's about sky pirates so I am assuming that they spend a fair bit of time on airships or whatever but I'm not sure if it will amount to 70% or more.
The challenge rules say primary theme OR setting so some of these last few examples might work?!? Janice?
Which Agatha Christie book has the murder happen while on the airplane? I remember it was a Hercule Poirot mystery.
I am considering The Cat's Table, The African Queen, or Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania.I looked at The Caine Mutiny, but it looks like there is a trial, so I am afraid that it won't hit the 70% mark. Has anyone read this book?
Hehe, this theme is certainly proving quite the challenge! The little grey cells are getting a good workout! I love it! :)
Connie wrote: "I am considering The Cat's Table, The African Queen, or Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania."The Cat's Table starts on a ship, but the second half of the book is on land.
I know, Lisa! I wish the summaries gave us more details.
Lanelle wrote: "Which Agatha Christie book has the murder happen while on the airplane? I remember it was a Hercule Poirot mystery."You may be looking for Death in the Clouds.
Casceil wrote: "Connie wrote: "I am considering The Cat's Table, The African Queen, or Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania."The Cat's Table starts on a shi..."
Thank you very much for the info, Casceil. You cannot tell from the summary of the book.
Connie wrote: "Lanelle wrote: "Which Agatha Christie book has the murder happen while on the airplane? I remember it was a Hercule Poirot mystery."You may be looking for Death in the Clouds."
Thanks, Connie. That's it.
Sandra wrote: "I was discussing The Girl on the Train with a friend yesterday, and she doesn't think 70% of the book is set in the train, and she made me doubt. She agrees the train is a fundament..."I have to agree, I don't think it 70% either but the train is an important part of the story.
Sarah wrote: "Thanks Camilla. Janice do Space stations count? I'm guessing not...."No, I think not. Otherwise I'd have to accept Rusalka's train station. It opens a whole can of worms.
Sandra wrote: "I was discussing The Girl on the Train with a friend yesterday, and she doesn't think 70% of the book is set in the train, and she made me doubt. She agrees the train is a fundament..."Because the train is like another character, it will fit the challenge. We're not just looking at setting. We are also looking at theme.
Rusalka wrote: "I'd say Ender's Game counts on a space station. But Lexx is telling me no, it's not going anywhere, it doesn't count (pedant).But maybe we should have a ruling, Janice. Does your sp..."
It sounds like it's set primarily on a space station. So no, it won't count... just like your train station.
Rusalka wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Red Seas Under Red Skies"I was looking at this one, and Lexx contested the 70%ness."
I just finished it, and it's border-line 70% setting. I'm going to accept it because it's in the spirit of what I was aiming for with this challenge. Like Sarah said - if they aren't on the boat, they're talking about them and procuring them.
Janice wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I was discussing The Girl on the Train with a friend yesterday, and she doesn't think 70% of the book is set in the train, and she made me doubt. She agrees the train..."Yay! Thanks for clarifying Janice :)
Susan wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Susan wrote: "Thanks to a suggestion by Lanelle I'm thinking about reading The Driving Lesson for this challenge. It's about a young teen who goes on a cross country ..."Sorry Susan, I missed this. I've been reading the reviews and it sounds like most of the story happens on the road with the car, so I'm going to accept it.
Rusalka wrote: "Me too. As I read your comment out loud and there was wailing and gnashing of teeth.He really needs a goodreads account.
"
What's he waiting for? LOL!
Sarah wrote: "The challenge rules say primary theme OR setting so some of these last few examples might work?!? Janice?"Yes, we are looking at primary theme and/or setting.
Connie wrote: "I am considering The Cat's Table, The African Queen, or Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania.I looked at The Caine Mutiny, but..."
Would the trial not concern events that happened on the ship? If so, theme is part of the equation.
Thanks Janice. I expected it to be a No for space station. My canal boat book it is then unless I come up with something else between now and then.
I'm jumping back and forth between messages and I'm afraid I'm missing questions. Please let me know if your question remains unanswered.I agree that the book blurbs don't tell us enough and can make it hard to determine.
When gophering, remember that we are looking at theme as well as setting, so don't get too hung up on the 70% setting if the remainder of the book's theme fits.
Hey Sarah, I just thought of the Terry Pratchett trilogy I finished in my last Series Challenge level. I am on the app and cannot link but the first book is exclusively on an air ship stepping across alternate earths. It is called "The Long Earth". Worth a try for you. Interesting characters and concept, a little slow in places, IMO, but a quick read.I read Death in the Clouds in March. Not 70% on the plane, but that is where the murder happens. Most of the story is analyzing how it happens and who could have done it. Dawn can correct me if I am wrong.
Please tell me that Murder on the Orient Express is 70% on the train, I am getting worried about my other train book.
Oh and I thought Travis's rec of "2001 A Space Odyssey" is a good one. Great story!
"My Travels with Charlie" should qualify. All in a camper traveling in USA.
Oh, and TJ had a book last month about two guys riding around the world on motorbikes. I can't recall the title.
Thanks for the clarification, Cherie. Are you familiar with The Mouse and the Motorcycle? Is the motorcycle important enough to be considered as a theme, or is the mouse on the motorcycle about 70% of the time?I thought of another book if anyone is looking for a non-fiction. It's Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod. Author Gary Paulsen tells about his experiences training his dogs to run the Iditarod and then completing the race. It's a fantastic book!
Connie wrote: "I am considering The Cat's Table, The African Queen, or Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania.I looked at The Caine Mutiny, but..."
My recollection is Caine Mutiny will absolutely work. The trial is not much of the book. Just the tail end of it. But I think even the trial goes into flashbacks of life on the boat.
Oh, Janice may have put Murder in the Clouds back on the okay list with her comment about theme. Whew! I think it would qualify then.
I haven't read the Ralph S Mouse book yet, but it sounds like it might fit the theme, Lanelle.The Gary Paulson book IS great!
Oh, just saw "The African Queen" mentioned. Always wanted to read it! Great recommendation.
Cherie wrote: "Please tell me that Murder on the Orient Express is 70% on the train, I am getting worried about my other train book...."Murder on the Orient Express definitively qualifies! Unless there is brief moment at the beginning when perhaps passengers are boarding (which I don't remember), this story is 100% on board the train.
Cherie wrote: "Oh, and TJ had a book last month about two guys riding around the world on motorbikes. I can't recall the title."That would be Long Way Round and Long Way Down
Cherie wrote: "I read Death in the Clouds in March. Not 70% on the plane, but that is where the murder happens. Most of the story is analyzing how it happens and who could have done it. Dawn can correct me if I am wrong...."Yes, exactly this.
Most of the mystery is talking about where and what everyone was doing on the plane though it is not actually on the plane after the first couple chapters.
Almeta wrote: "Murder on the Orient Express definitively qualifies! Unless there is brief moment at the beginning when perhaps passengers are boarding (which I don't remember), this story is 100% on board the train...."Yes, absolutely. I agree with Almeta here.
Thank you Lynn, Almeta and Dawn!I guess I better get back into my office room and work for the rest of the day now.
Janice wrote: Sorry Susan, I missed this. I've been reading the reviews and it sounds like most of the story happens on the road with the car, so I'm going to accept it. ..."Yay! Now I just have to find it. ;)
Diane wrote: "I still am waiting to see if On the Road might possibly fit. (Post #59)"Sorry, Diane. I thought I'd replied to your question. I think it will count. Go ahead.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Miniaturist (other topics)Three Men in a Boat (other topics)
Head Over Heel: Seduced by Southern Italy (other topics)
Around India in 80 Trains (other topics)
Slow Train to Switzerland: One Tour, Two Trips, 150 Years - and a World of Change Apart (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Agatha Christie (other topics)Miriam Toews (other topics)
Jules Verne (other topics)
Ian Fleming (other topics)
Gary Paulsen (other topics)
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Book titles can be very deceiving! One of my first ideas was A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar, but it doesn't appear to be about a woman cycling to Kashgar at all.