You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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Help! I need a book set in....
Deborah wrote: "oh! you clever thing! That sounds just right for me.......couldn't see the woods for the trees! thank you :) I will look at The Martian also."You might consider a non-fiction book called An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield who is a Canadian astronaut. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my TBR list.
Deborah wrote: "OK, I can't ignore this any longer. Books set in space - this is a requirement TWICE and I don't do sci-fi....post-apocalyptic genre? yikes! So, that's 3 books (at least) that might as well be wr..."
There's Space which is historical fiction and not sci fi.
Also, there is no "whole" challenge of 222 books, unless it's your own personal challenge.
Deborah wrote: "OK, I can't ignore this any longer. Books set in space - this is a requirement TWICE and I don't do sci-fi..."I'm not sure if An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth would qualify for this task. Part, but not all, is set on the international space station; other parts deal with training required to become an astronaut, etc. It is a very readable and inspirational non-fiction book written by a Canadian astronaut.
Yes, Janice, it's my own personal challenge. Sorry, didn't mean to suggest anyone else should be daft enough to do this! Unfortunately I find Mitchener a real pain so won't go there.......Rusalka - I have read the first Hitchhiker's Guide, maybe a second. I'll look at the others you suggest - thank you for taking the time :)
Deborah, I see Sam recommended the same book as I did. I don't know how I missed that. If Janice will allow An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth for this task, I think it would be a great choice.
TrudyAn wrote: "Deborah, I see Sam recommended the same book as I did. I don't know how I missed that. If Janice will allow An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth for this task, I think it would be ..."Yes, I think it would work.
i agree with many of the recs for space and post apoc. I'll throw a couple more in to the mix. I couldn't put Leviathan Wakes down when i read it - set in space. Ancillary Justice was quite unusual too for a sci-fi book. The Fireman is post apoc. A new release which was very good. I loved Swan Song too but it's pretty chunky.
There is also Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 which is a non fic bookPost apocalyptic: maybe What If An Asteroid Hit Earth? also non fic
Hi Deborah, There are so many books that are sci-fi, but not scientific or dry or whatever you think this genre is. What about Star Wars or Star Trek books? There are so many out there. One of my favorites is Crystal Singer and another by the same author, The Ship Who Sang. Robert Heinlien wrote lots of books and short stories that are not all cut and dry and are interesting stories.
If you ever watched the old TV show about the Robinson family and Dr. Smith called Lost in Space - there are books out there about this.
I think you would enjoy The Martian, You do not have to care about or even understand any of the electronics stuff that Andy talks about. It is funny and almost heartbreaking in parts.
I don't mind chunky if it's a good read....nothing I like better, actually! Mariab - the asteroid one actually looks like an interesting read! If Janice is happy with that for post apocalyptic I will read that for the task I think. I will look at all the suggestions as the point of doing this challenge - for me - was to push my boundaries in reading and it's been really great so far! I've read books I probably never would have considered - and enjoyed them. So maybe I can find an edge to nibble in these, my most avoided genres. Just about all my sci-fi reading, little as it is, has been classics (and the odd modern classic like The Hitchhiker's Guide); H.G. Wells and Jules Verne sort of thing.
Drat! Can't use What If An Asteroid Hit Earth? - it's only 48 pages and mainly pics. Never mind, I will look at that sort of thing.......edit: have decided to bravely try The Hunger Games for post apocalyptic.
Here is a list to post-apocolyptic teen fiction. Got to be something you could/would/might want to read here!https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
I have read a lot of them, and don't be put off, just because it says teen.
Cherie wrote: "Hi Deborah, There are so many books that are sci-fi, but not scientific or dry or whatever you think this genre is. What about Star Wars or Star Trek books? There are so many out there. One of my ..."
Cherie - I just don't have any real interest in making up worlds when the one I'm in is so interesting. (I can't believe my timing in having read Comrade Corbyn: A Very Unlikely Coup: How Jeremy Corbyn Stormed to the Labour Leadership within the last week, for example). I do have my exceptions in that I do enjoy some magical type fantasy but I'm pretty picky about that also. Thanks for your contributions, I'll look at them also. And the lists. Maybe I'll have a Road to Damascus experience.....hahaha
Deborah wrote: "I just don't have any real interest in making up worlds when the one I'm in is so interesting. ..."Part of the beauty of challenges is that they get you reading books you may never have picked up otherwise. You're looking at 2 books out of 222? You never know, you may discover a couple of gems.
Deborah wrote: "Drat! Can't use What If An Asteroid Hit Earth? - it's only 48 pages and mainly pics. Never mind, I will look at that sort of thing.......edit: have decided to bravely try
Sorry, I didn't checked the pages' number...!
You can also always read any Prep-book, there is a LOT of them, like The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster
Here other suggestions:
Cat's Cradle
and
Blindness
Deborah wrote: "Just about all my sci-fi reading, little as it is, has been classics (and the odd modern classic like The Hitchhiker's Guide); H.G. Wells and Jules Verne sort of thing...."Jules Verne has From the Earth to the Moon
But, if you would dare to treat in deeper waters, I would strongly recommend These Broken Stars
Yes, have read that, Mariab - I am reserving a re-read of H.G. Wells The Time Machine for in case I can't settle for something else - it's years since I read it and I did enjoy it.
Now THAT looks REALLY interesting! Thank you, Mariab!
Sarah wrote: "i agree with many of the recs for space and post apoc. I'll throw a couple more in to the mix. I couldn't put Leviathan Wakes down when i read it - set in space. [book:Ancillary Just..."Oh they are the two I'm looking at. Good to hear you loved them, Sarah!
Deborah wrote: "Rusalka - I have read the first Hitchhiker's Guide, maybe a second. I'll look at the others you suggest - thank you for taking the time :) "No worries. I am always happy to ease people into the world of sci fi, as I was so hesitant myself. It's not as daunting or uniform as it seems, but on the outside it seems ridiculously so.
Deborah wrote: " Comrade Corbyn: A Very Unlikely Coup: How Jeremy Corbyn Stormed to the Labour Leadership"That is uncanny timing
Well, I am 0 for 2 on books set in China. I just started The Money Dragon
and see that it starts in China but most of the "stories" take place in Hawaii. Need a book for Hawaii, anyone?
My next try is going to be Women of the Silk
. I requested it from my library.
Cherie wrote: "Well, I am 0 for 2 on books set in China. I just started The Money Dragon and see that it starts in China but most of the "stories" take place in ..."If you strike out with your 3rd choice, Cherie, I highly recommend Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter. I read it during the toppler and gave it 5 stars.
Lori Z wrote: "If you strike out with your 3rd choice, Cherie, I highly recommend Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter. I read it during the toppler and gave it 5 stars. ..."
I took notice about this one, Lori!
Cherie wrote: "Need a book for Hawaii, anyone? My next try is going to be Women of the Silk Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama. I requested it from my library ..."
LOL.
This is today in Amazon: The Moon in the Palace
https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Palace-Em...
(in case your 2nd. book don't work either)
Deborah wrote: "Now THAT looks REALLY interesting! Thank you, Mariab!"Glad to be helpful
Cherie wrote: "Well, I am 0 for 2 on books set in China. I just started The Money Dragon and see that it starts in China but most of the "stories" take place in ..."I'm currently reading Lost in Translation which is set in China. It could also be used for the archeology task. There are three archeologists in the book and they are looking for the remains of the Peking Man.
Thanks everyone. I will review your suggestions of book #3 does not pan out!
Thanks a lot, Cherie. I just added "Lost in Translation" to my TBR. (And just as I was congratulating myself on my restraint in the randomizer thread.)
I'm still looking for a book about a vacation in the mountains. Has anyone found a good one?
Casceil wrote: "I'm still looking for a book about a vacation in the mountains. Has anyone found a good one?"I am going to read Descent only because I happened to pick it up at a library book sale.
It is a tough one to gopher for. If you haven't read it, I have seen people apply Bill Bryson's book A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
If you need an unusual book set in Ireland, The Islandman was written by a fisherman born in the mid-1800's on an island off the west coast. There is no real narrative; it is more anecdotes from his memory of an isolated, Gaelic-speaking community. It is not a book about the Great Hunger.It is charming.
I'm sure this has been discussed previously, but there is too much to sort through in this thread for me right now. I have used the links at the beginning to look up some ideas, but I'm still a bit stuck. I need a book set in China. The book I was going to use (The Great Zoo of China) did not work out for me, so I'm looking for something new. I would love some recommendations, especially if you've read something and loved it. I'm considering The Rape of Nanking or Women of the Silk among others simply because they have high ratings and some good reviews by GR friends. They do sound interesting, but I'm not really in the mood for something really heavy, so I'm not sure how I feel about reading them at the moment. It seems that most of the books that I find set in China are very deep and meaningful reads, which is great, but doesn't fit my current mood. Maybe I should just wait for my mood to change??
I don't tend to read too many classics or romance novels, so those would probably not be my top choices. Otherwise, I'm fairly open to suggestions and would appreciate any recommendations. Thank you!
Kristie wrote: "I'm sure this has been discussed previously, but there is too much to sort through in this thread for me right now. I have used the links at the beginning to look up some ideas, but I'm still a bit..."Kristie,
I read Mao's Last Dancer for a book set in China. It's an autobiographical account of a young boy from a poor village selected to study ballet in Beijing. It was a fascinating view of his life and struggles to succeed as a dancer. I enjoyed it.
Here's a few titles that I really enjoyed:Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Peony in Love
The Joy Luck Club (set in part in US, but I think there's enough set in China to qualify)
I read Lost in Translation for China and gave it 3 stars. It was a mixed bag for me.
Thanks, Susan and Janice. I'll look into those. Snow Flower is one I was considering too.
Kristie wrote: "I'm sure this has been discussed previously, but there is too much to sort through in this thread for me right now. I have used the links at the beginning to look up some ideas, but I'm still a bit..."Yeah... I'm stuck before China too...
How about The Dream of the Red Chamber, or Pavilion of Women: A Novel of Life in the Women's Quarters, Empire of the Sun
Kristi, I've read a few books this year that are set in China. My top two recommendations would be:Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French
Waiting by Ha Jin
I haven't read it yet, but I've slotted in Fried Eggs with Chopsticks: One Woman's Hilarious Adventure into a Country and a Culture Not Her Own for China. Seems quite light and a bit humorous. I also need to find another China book.
I just read The Three-Body Problem for China. I don't think I've read any books before this one which are set in China.
Thanks, everyone! Lots of great ideas. I'll look into them and I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something.
Books set in China:I've just read two detective novels, set in Beijing in the 90s. The insight into the world of Communist China was fascinating. The books are quite light reading, which I was in need of... there's humour and a mystery to solve and the main character is likeable.
Death of a Blue Lantern
Death on Black Dragon River
If you want a quick mystery read, these may be for you...
Thanks, Annerlee. I'll look into those as well. They sound interesting.
Janice wrote: "There's no challenge for 222 books"Whew! Cause I am trying to do the all site one and I was freaking out for a second when I was afraid I had interpreted wrong!!!
Cherie wrote: "Well, I am 0 for 2 on books set in China. I just started The Money Dragon and see that it starts in China but most of the "stories" take place in ..."House of Eight Orchids works for China and Orchid for people who need either of those (also a key scene involves the local tailor.
I'm looking for a book with shells on the cover. Read the Shell Seekers years ago, would prefer something new. Any ideas?
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk (other topics)The Butterfly Clues (other topics)
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk (other topics)
The Night Rainbow (other topics)
The Gate to Women's Country (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ha Jin (other topics)Paul French (other topics)
Hugh Howey (other topics)
Chris Hadfield (other topics)
Nevil Shute (other topics)
More...
post-apocalyptic genre? yikes! So, that's 3 books (at least) that might as well be wr..."
I used to avoid sci fi as well Deborah, but there is so much that fits into sci fi, I haven't found some one who hates every single subgenre. I am sure we can find you something.
Ender's Game is a quick read and is a really good story. I see you haven't read any The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books, which would be where I would start as long as you like absurdist British humour.
Post apocalyptic, this is where we get into my sci fi fun zone. The Road is a good one. Or Oryx and Crake is wonderful, and is more literary style of writing being Margaret Atwood. I'm currently reading Who Fears Death for that task, as it's set in post apocalyptic Africa and I'm really enjoying it, fantastically written.
Hopefully one of these tickles your fancy.