UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
Group Challenges
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Reading around Britain and Ireland.
Counties of England1.
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32. Staffordshire
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35.
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41.
42.
41/42
Wales1.
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6. Denbighshire
7. Flintshire
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11. Montgomeryshire
12.
13. Radnorshire
9/13
Scotland1.
2.
3. Argyllshire
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6.
7.
8. Caithness
9. Clackmannanshire
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13. East Lothian/Haddingtonshire
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17. Kinross-shire
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19. Kincardineshire
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22. Nairnshire
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24. Peebles-shire
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27.
28. Selkirkshire
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
24/33
N. Ireland, IOM & the Channel Islands1. Antrim
2. Armagh
3.
4. Fermanagh
5. Londonderry
6. Tyrone
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8.
9.
also The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
10.
11. Sark
12.
6/12
Adding Counties of the Republic of Ireland
1.Carlow
2.Cavan
3.Clare
4.
5.Donegal
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.Kilkenny
11.Laois
12.Leitrim
13.Limerick
14.Longford
15.Louth
16.
17.Meath
18.Monaghan
19.Offaly
20.Roscommon
21.Sligo
22.Tipperary
23.Waterford
24.Westmeath
25.Wexford
26.
7/26
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After some thought and a search through the books on my kindle I have made a start on this challenge - one of the counties that have several possibilities for me to choose from.
Oh! Lexi's Murray of Letho books are good if you haven't read them, they are mostly based in Fife but also St Andrews, Aberdeen and one is entirely in Edinburgh so that would cover a couple of your Scottish counties. Good luck! I hope you enjoy your challenge, it's a fantastic idea :o)
Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Oh! Lexi's Murray of Letho books are good if you haven't read them, they are mostly based in Fife but also St Andrews, Aberdeen and one is entirely in Edinburgh so that would cover a couple of your..."I have several choices for Fife and Edinburgh. Which of Lexi's books covers Aberdeen? I've read the first one and I think I have the next couple on the kindle. Do I need to read them in order?
I know she is writing a new book that is based in Aberdeenshire but I thought one of the Murray ones featured Aberdeen (he visits) but I could be wrong, or maybe you want a book that is completely based in Aberdeen... Stuart MacBride books are based in Aberdeen
I'd recommend Amande's Bed for a book set in Aberdeen but it's not on kindle! But Stuart MacBride books are very good.For Banffshire The Redemption of Alexander Seaton is set in Banff itself.
For Kincardineshire there is A Scots Quair trilogy set in the Mearns - the first being Sunset Song
I think there is a Dorothy L Sayers based in Galloway (Kirkcudbrightshire). *goes off to look*Yes Five Red Herrings
And for East Lothian there are the books by Quintin Jardine featuring Skinner. (nowhere near as good as Rebus imo) or Peter Kerr's book Thistle Soup: A Ladleful of Scottish Life is the story of his childhood on a farm in East Lothian
Argyll and Bute - the fantastic The Crow Road, set in a fictional town in Argyll, or Morvern Callar set in Oban.
There's a series of books featuring a lawyer set in Linlithgow which I've enjoyed but the name escapes me at the moment... I'll get back to you!
Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "I think there is a Dorothy L Sayers based in Galloway (Kirkcudbrightshire). *goes off to look*Yes Five Red Herrings"
I have that on my list to read for another challenge this year
Thanks for all the other suggestions
That's quite the challenge, Janet!Good luck with it!
Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Linlithgow - the Best Defence series, the first is Relatively Guilty"Just checked that one and it is on kindle unlimited so I may borrow it to try.
I'm wondering if Hamish Macbeth would count as Ross & Cromarty as I have some of those on the kindle (and they would also count for the get rid of old books on kindle challenge)
Edit****just checked and the author says Sutherland, it was the tv series that was filmed in Ross & Cromarty
I've backdated the start of the challenge to the beginning of this year. I've still some more books to check but my progress so far isEngland. 9/42
Wales 0/13
Scotland. 1/33
N. Ireland IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12
Overall Progress 10/100
And another one crossed out The Hangman Murders: A DC Oliver Cole Mystery and Under The Crown: A DC Oliver Cole Mystery are set in Northumberland.I'm now in Oxfordshire with my kindle, and continuing reading Five Red Herrings in paperback.
Progress so far
England. 11/42
Wales 0/13
Scotland. 1/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12
Overall Progress 12/100
Progress so far
England. 12/42
Wales 0/13
Scotland. 4/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12
Overall Progress 16/100
I'm reading some of the Hamish Macbeth books (which have been on my kindle for a while so are also for another challenge to read books from a few years ago) The main setting of the series is Sutherland, there are plenty of references throughout the books so far mentioning that. The setting according to Goodreads is "Auldbiggings near Paisley" which is obviously not correct. (There seem to be a lot of books set there according to Goodreads.)
The book that I've just finished reading Death of a Snob is mainly set on an island off the west coast - there has been a mention of getting a boat from Oban to the island. So I'm trying to work out which of the Scottish counties this book should be set in.
Are they any good Janet? I read a whole bunch of her Agatha Raisin ones and thought they were dreadful and they got worse through the series (some I bought cheap, others were from the library). Read about 6 and decided never again. What with the character's constant 'howling' and other verbal ticks.So I've not been tempted by Hamish MacBeth.
Pam wrote: "Are they any good Janet? I read a whole bunch of her Agatha Raisin ones and thought they were dreadful and they got worse through the series (some I bought cheap, others were from the library). Rea..."I prefer the Hamish Macbeth books to Agatha Raisin - I like Hamish as a character and didn't like Agatha at all.
Progress so far
England. 13/42
Wales 0/13
Scotland. 5/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 0/12
Overall Progress 18/100
You've not tackled Wales yet :)I did a google and found this page https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
I haven't read many books (that I can think of) set in Wales.Two I recall are:
Trouble on the March - 3*
Don't Need The Whole Dog! - 5*
Joo wrote: "You've not tackled Wales yet :)I know :).
I have read all the Cadfael books and most of Ellis Peters other books so won't be re-reading them, but I have a couple of books on the kindle plus my niece is lending me her copy of The Mabinogion
One problem that I have is deciding exactly where books are set. Some are very vague - just saying North Wales, East Anglia or the south coast of England for example. Others are set in fictitious counties and so can't be counted at all.
I will be in Wales for Christmas- and possibly earlier if my sisters house move goes ahead. So a good opportunity to read about Wales.
Unless something else catches my eye the next few books will cover Essex, Westmorland, Somerset, Lincolnshire, Breconshire and the Isle of Man.
I found a map that I can use to mark the completed counties so I have added it to my blog.
I've just read Daughter of TimeNow I have to decide which Welsh county to mark off on my challenge. It is a time travel story, and after the first few chapters set in the present, the story begins at Criccieth Castle in Caernarvonshire, moves to Merionethshire and finally to Brecon Castle, Brecknockshire.
The next one crossed off will definitely be Wales - I found two books already on my kindle from a couple of years ago, one set in Pembrokeshire and one on Anglesey.
Progress so far
England. 17/42
Wales 1/13
Scotland. 5/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 2/12
Overall Progress 25/100
I am wondering whether to add N. Ireland to bring the total of books to complete the challenge to 100.
Which I have now done
The only novel I've read lately set in rural Wales was Earth Witch by Louise Lawrence, quite a strange moody and supernatural story.
I've updated the challenge to include the book I finished last night.I'm still part way through a paperback copy of Five Red Herrings. I'm going to have breakfast, then perform the dog walking task - I'm full of a cold but my mum is under the weather and on a course of antibiotics. I also need to speak to the joiner and see if we can decide what shade of green to choose for the new kitchen tiles. The kitchen is looking good - most of the base and wall units are fitted, just no floor down, no heating, no water and no light.. Then it's off to work.
I've got books set in Shropshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire and Jersey to choose from for my next book. Or I may just read something that catches my eye and isn't part of this challenge.
Progress so far
England. 17/42
Wales 5/13
Scotland. 5/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 2/12
Overall Progress 29/100
Progress so far
England. 22/42
Wales 5/13
Scotland. 7/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 2/12
Overall Progress 36/100
Jay-me (Janet) wrote: "Joo wrote: "You've not tackled Wales yet :)I know :).
I have read all the Cadfael books and most of Ellis Peters other books so won't be re-reading them, but I have a couple of books on the k..."
Here's one set in Cardiff where I live - see what you think........
The Hiding Place: by Trezza Azzopardi It's set in the Tiger Bay (or as us locals call it - The Docks) area, where there is a large immigrant community and this is about a settled Maltese family. I do know some Azzopardi's - don't know if it's the same family as the author.
This challenge is going to continue next year (and very probably the year after)End of year update.
England. 25/42
Wales 5/13
Scotland. 8/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 3/12
Overall Progress 41/100
UpdateEngland. 27/42
Wales 6/13
Scotland. 8/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 3/12
Overall Progress 44/100
Are you going to tell us which books you've read in each category, Janet ? (to make this interesting thread really fascinating ; )
Elizabeth wrote: "Are you going to tell us which books you've read in each category, Janet ? (to make this interesting thread really fascinating ; )"When i am less busy (hopefully towards the end of next week) i will sort out a list and a comment about each one read so far.
Therre have been - and probably will be more- that I wouldn't normally have chosen to read, but I realised when I started that there would be some counties with very little to choose from. Of course for some counties I could read dozens of books.
That's great - I do appreciate it's going to take some time to do the list!
End of July 2017 Progress so farEngland 31/42
Wales. 6/13
Scotland. 12/33
N.Ireland. 0/6
IOM & Channel Islands 3/6
Total 52/100
As promised lists updated with titles of books. Some counties I have read more than one book, but have just listed the first that I read for that county. I still need to go back through and put notes somewhere. These notes will probably be along the lines of
~~OK~~
~~Wouldn't have read it if I could have found a more interesting book set in this county~~
~~Really enjoyed and read the next books in that series~~
I need to make a dent in N. Ireland and read some more Dandy Gilver for parts of Scotland. Plus I have a few ready for some of the missing parts of England
Good progress - post if you need any help on missing areas.
Well done Janet. Must be a challenge just finding books to cover some of these counties.Don't know if it's any help but Jo Zebedee's new spooky novel is set in County Antrim (NI) - Waters and the Wild
Beginning of October 2017 progressEngland 32/42
Wales. 6/13
Scotland. 14/33
N.Ireland. 0/6
IOM & Channel Islands 3/6
Total 55/100
Update at the end of the year December 2017
England. 33/42
Wales. 6/13
Scotland. 14/33
N. Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands. 3/12
Overall Progress 56/100
UK Amazon Kindle Forum
Books mentioned in this topic
Secrets & Lies: A Fantasy Adventure (other topics)The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (other topics)
Murder on Clare Island (other topics)
The Green Road (other topics)
On the Black Hill (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Christina McKenna (other topics)Christina McKenna (other topics)
I'm using the list of historical counties, and I am including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. I have used the same list of counties that I use for my family history research.
My challenge won't be limited to any particular genre or time period, but obviously will not include any poetry.
There is no time limit on my challenge
Unless there are no alternatives for a particular county then I will not re-read books. (The exception to this is books that are being re-read as part of another challenge - this will allow me to count Five Red Herrings which I am currently reading again)
I will probably find myself reading several books from one area as when I find a new series I like to read my way through it.
If I can get my blog working then I will also record my progress on there. Failed with that so instead *** I have a new blog https://jaymekindle.wordpress.com/ ***
Blog needs updating :(