Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2017 Challenge prompts
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A book set in a hotel
Amy wrote: "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"I read this last year, and it's a great book but it wasn't really set in a hotel. A hotel was mentioned a few times and had a role in the plot, but the majority of it was not set there.
probably going to read Self Condemned by Wyndham Lewis; I understand it 's mostly set up in a "apartment-hotel", whatever that is. Plus, it's close at hand on my wife's bookshelves!
I'm currently reading Evergreen Falls which I picked up at the library before I definitely decided to do the challenge again. Turns out that a hotel is featured prominently in this, it is set in two time periods (and the author is from Australia, if you've never been there- I haven't), so could fit in multiple prompts...
Ngaio Marsh's Colour Scheme is a murder mystery set in a hotel-spa in New Zealand in the 1930s.Colour SchemeA Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie takes place in a resort in the Caribbean. A Caribbean Mystery
At Bertram's Hotel by the same author takes place in a posh London hotel. At Bertram's Hotel
Mrs. Marchmont at the ClaremontMrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is a bittersweet story of an older woman in a retirement hotel and her friendship with a much younger man.
The 17 widows of Sans-Souci is a psychological thriller about a hotel mainly inhabited by widows and the sinister goings-on. The Seventeen Widows of Sans Souci
I would recommend Beautiful Ruins Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. A young Italian innkeeper and his almost-love affair with a beautiful American starlet.
I received a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow in the mail! I bought it with some of my Christmas money on Amazon (along with *cough* 18 others *cough*).
I "unfortunately" read Kate Racculia's Bellweather Rhapsody about a month ago, so can't use it for the challenge. But I really enjoyed it a lot. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys quirky, geeky mystery novels and/or feels nostalgia for the 90s. The Bellweather is a fictional hotel in upstate NY, and the novel is almost entirely set there.Kate Racculia's style reminds me a bit of Lauren Groff's or Audrey Niffenegger's.
I am wondering if anyone has read Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes and if it would work for this prompt? I am thinking I could stretch the prompt and use it, but I would like the book to be set in a hotel at least part of the time and not just about a hotel.
I have always wanted to read The Shining, but I am not good with scary movies. Is the book scary? Like, want to cry and run away scary?
Kristen wrote: "I "unfortunately" read Kate Racculia's Bellweather Rhapsody about a month ago, so can't use it for the challenge. But I really enjoyed it a lot. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys ..."Ah, so good to hear! This is looking like my pick for this task. I'm so happy to see a positive review!
Tami wrote: "The Hotel on Place Vendome: Life, Death, and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris"This is on my list, as well as The Girl from The Savoy
I just read Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle for this part of the challenge. Set in Provence with charming characters, a little mystery thrown in, mixed in with delightful doses of Provençal cuisine and Pastis.
Katie wrote: "I just read Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle for this part of the challenge. Set in Provence with charming characters, a little mystery thrown in, mixed in with delightful doses of Provençal cuisine and..."Thanks for the reminder. I'll have to see if I can locate my copy.
Hotel World? I read it a few years ago so can't remember all the details but it's definitely one which would count for this category!
I will be reading A Mediterranean Affair
. This is actually set in a floating a hotel - the main character goes on a cruise. I own a Kindle edition of this and I've had it for at least a couple of years.
Kill the Boy Band is a hilarious-in-a-cringeworthy-way YA contemporary fiction about some hardcore fangirls accidentally (??) kidnapping a member from their favourite band and holding him hostage in their hotel room. Hijinks ensue. Super short! (the ebook version i read was 264 pages.)
Am reading A Gentleman in Moscow, and enjoying it so far! Plus the hotel setting (Metropol Hotel!) is so fitting and wonderful :)
If anyone is looking for a good YA option the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan would fit this and they're really fun reads
Katherine wrote: "Kill the Boy Band is a hilarious-in-a-cringeworthy-way YA contemporary fiction about some hardcore fangirls accidentally (??) kidnapping a member from their favourite band and holdi..."I've been considering Kill the Boy Band for this category! I've read the Kindle sample and it seems promising. Is the entire book set in the hotel?
Charlotte wrote: "Katherine wrote: "Kill the Boy Band is a hilarious-in-a-cringeworthy-way YA contemporary fiction about some hardcore fangirls accidentally (??) kidnapping a member from their favour..."Charlotte: yes, the glut of the book takes place in the hotel, save a few flashbacks, and at the very end, when the main narrative is complete :)
Katherine wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Katherine wrote: "Kill the Boy Band is a hilarious-in-a-cringeworthy-way YA contemporary fiction about some hardcore fangirls accidentally (??) kidnapping a member..."Thanks! I think I'll read it for this challenge then :)
poshpenny wrote: "I was feeling pedantic and looked up the definition of "hotel." All of the dictionaries say it is a place where you pay money to sleep in a room. So, hotel, motel, inn, B&B... interpret as you wish..."Great... I read Ready to Wed which is part of a long series I am reading that all takes place in a Bed and Breakfast run by 3 sisters. I LOVE this series .
3 books read this year... 3 prompts done.
I am reading The Undoing which not only takes place in a hotel, but a gruesome murder happens there.
Nicole wrote: "I have always wanted to read The Shining, but I am not good with scary movies. Is the book scary? Like, want to cry and run away scary?"Ooooooh yeeeeeeeeesss.......
Astrid wrote: "Am reading A Gentleman in Moscow, and enjoying it so far! Plus the hotel setting (Metropol Hotel!) is so fitting and wonderful :)"I was just eyeballing this in the library last night. Maybe this is the motivation I need to pick it up ;)
Would Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet count for this? I was also thinking about using this for the book set in 2 time periods (which it would definitely count as), but I'm not sure.
I was all set to read Suite Scarlett for this, but I have seen SO MANY people RAVE about A Gentleman in Moscow that I might read that instead. I usually don't like the books that everyone else loves, but there are exceptions (Station Eleven, for example, was fantastic!) so I keep trying them.
Nadine wrote: "I have seen SO MANY people RAVE about A Gentleman in Moscow that I might read that instead..."Let's do it! :)
Elexa wrote: "Would Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet count for this? I was also thinking about using this for the book set in 2 time periods (which it would definitely count as), but I'm no..."I would say you're better off using it for the 2 time periods. There are a couple of plot points that are set in the hotel, but the majority of the story does not take place there.
Sara wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I have seen SO MANY people RAVE about A Gentleman in Moscow that I might read that instead..."
Let's do it! :)"
Okay it's a plan! :-) I've got some trepidation, but I'm so curious about this book. Of course it has to get in line behind all the other books I currently have checked out from the library ...
Let's do it! :)"
Okay it's a plan! :-) I've got some trepidation, but I'm so curious about this book. Of course it has to get in line behind all the other books I currently have checked out from the library ...
Hi everyone *waves* (this is my first post on these boards) I read A Dark Lure for this prompt. Possibly a slightly tenuous link but I figures that set in a hotel didn't have to mean the book was about the hotel as the main theme of the story? Was a great thriller and has helped me find another by the same author for another prompt :)
Emma wrote: "I've just found The Grand Babylon Hotel free on kindle so I'll read that "Thanks for the tip... I'll get this too
I read, and highly recommend, I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios for this one! It's a YA romance novel set in a motel.
I read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, a lovely, engaging book almost exclusively at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow.
Should we have an unofficial group read for "Gentleman in Moscow"? This is not on the final list of monthly group prompts. (Mods: is this OK?)
Books mentioned in this topic
Psycho (other topics)Beautiful Ruins (other topics)
The Devil in the White City (other topics)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (other topics)
The Penultimate Peril (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jess Walter (other topics)Amanda M. Lee (other topics)
Pin Ho (other topics)
Pin Ho (other topics)
Jess Walter (other topics)
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I've just found The Grand Babylon Hotel free on kindle so I'll read that