Book Suggestions for 2017 Challenge

[Cherie]

Wow, Rusalka, I remember a lot about Broken Shore. Joe, the other characters, the wind and cold and beautiful writing, but have NO sense of the date/month. I looked at the summary, my review and all of my status updates and nothing of the time frame was mentioned. Did your Library Thing mention it?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

No. I remember it saying in the book it was late autumn, possibly May, but it's definitely late Australian autumn. And my family have a holiday home on the stretch of coast it's set on, and the place shuts down in autumn as tourism drops off.

I flicked through the book this morning, and couldn't find anything besides the weather again, and what time it was getting dark, which backed up the MAy theory again.. I then went to my good friend google and found http://theconversation.com/the-case-f...

[Casceil]

Jannene, Sandra and Rusalka, thanks for the recommendations. Sam's Journal looks like fun, but is too short. I read Kindle samples for Memorial Day and Broken Shore, and part of the sample for London Bridges. Broken Shore is the most appealing of the group, and I think I will read it.

[Cherie]

Great choice, Casceil. I think you will like it. You might need to get out your overcoat. The weather ahead is not the Labor Day May we are used to in the states, unless you get the wild, unexpected snow flurry, like my family and friends encountered at the end of our Holliday weekend at Prineville Resivore, in central Oregon. Labor Day weekend in Australia was more like our Thanksgiving weekend here.

[Casceil]

Cherie, I think you mean Memorial Day, not Labor Day. I don't even know if Memorial Day is celebrated in Australia, since it sounds like an American Holiday, but since it is in the right month I'll claim it counts. The worst that can happen is someone might tell me I have to read a different book.

[Mariab]

Casceil wrote: "Cherie, I think you mean Memorial Day, not Labor Day. I don't even know if Memorial Day is celebrated in Australia, since it sounds like an American Holiday, but since it is in the right month I'll..."

Not to sound obnoxious, but I think the month only doesn't count. Only the title or the theme: "Read a book that is about that holiday, set during that holiday, or has the name in the title."

[Cherie]

Yes, I meant Memorial Day. :0)

[Casceil]

Mariab is probably right. I may have to resign myself to reading Memorial Day. It's not badly written. It's just not my cup of tea--conspiracy, terrorists, main character is a CIA operative who does not seem at all likeable based on the first two chapters. And its over 500 pages long. Maybe I will keep looking.

[Jannene]

Casceil wrote: "Mariab is probably right. I may have to resign myself to reading Memorial Day. It's not badly written. It's just not my cup of tea--conspiracy, terrorists, main character is a CIA ope..."

London Bridges is set during Memorial Day. It is a thriller/mystery and not terrorists.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Nope, you're right. Memorial Day is American, so we don't celebrate it. And no snow either, it's just colder, sometimes a bit greyer but usually not, windier, and early morning fog. Temps will be about 0-4C overnight, with a frost every couple of days, and days will be 12-17C.

And I just saw Mariab's very sensible comment. Sorry Casceil :( If you have autumn as your favourite season it would work.

[Tejas Janet]

Casceil, there's another book by the same name, Memorial Day, that looks pretty promising to me, but I haven't read it yet. Adding it now to my tbr list tho.

[Casceil]

Thanks, TJ. That one is available on Kindle Unlimited, so I can read it for free!

[Tejas Janet]

Reading for free is a plus : ) Hope it's a 4 or 5 star read for you. Will be interested to hear how you like it.

[Peggy]

Does anyone know of a love story set in London? I don't like romance books, so it shouldn't be a very cheesy cliché romance book. I was thinking of The Last Letter from Your Lover but it's for the 'who do you miss' task and I want to read a book that I will love. Or at least very much enjoy. And Jojo Moyes' books haven't been that great for me.

[Margo]

I can think of 2 that are partly set in London. One Day and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married and Last Chance Saloon may fit the bill but they're a bit more fluffy.

[siriusedward]

Death in the Stocks, False Colours, Duplicate Death..The Grand Sophy, Arabella, Frederica, Cotillion and Cotillion.. light romances(some with cozy mysteries) set in London.

[Peggy]

Thanks! A book like One Day is what I was thinking of too but I read it already. The others you mention too except Salmon Fishing. Will look into it!

Thanks for your suggestions too siriusedward. I worry though that they won't be 'special' enough for me to read for that task. I think I want to read a book that has been on my wishlist for a while.

I could extend the search to England instead of just London. I had a look through my books and think Major Pettigrew's Last Stand could work!

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "I could extend the search to England instead of just London. I had a look through my books and think Major Pettigrew's Last Stand could work! ..."

I have had that one on my TBR too, Peggy. I love the cover!

[siriusedward]

Peggy wrote: "Thanks! A book like One Day is what I was thinking of too but I read it already. The others you mention too except Salmon Fishing. Will look into it!

Thanks for your suggestions too siriusedward. ..."

you may be right about that Peggy..

[Lisa]

Peggy wrote: "Thanks! A book like One Day is what I was thinking of too but I read it already. The others you mention too except Salmon Fishing. Will look into it!

Thanks for your suggestions too siriusedward. ..."

Peggy, if you are including England as well as London, what about Mariana by Susanna Kearsley? I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it, and it would definitely fit with what you are looking for.

[Peggy]

Thanks Lisa! I have that one on my tbr as well and have been wanting to read it for a long time. I'll add it to my possibilities :)

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "Thanks! A book like One Day is what I was thinking of too but I read it already. The others you mention too except Salmon Fishing. Will look into it!

Thanks for your suggestions too siriusedward. ..."

Ah, if you extend it to all england it opens up a world of classics. How about something by Daphne du Maurier? It could fit in with the gothic theme too - or is that allowed?

[Peggy]

I read Rebecca which I really enjoyed and I added some of her other books to my tbr, but I'm not sure if I want to go for a classic for this task. I sometimes find them a bit of a chore to read.

Extending it to England does make it a lot easier :) Major Pettigrew feels fitting as it's also about a single older man, which my granddad was too.

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "I read Rebecca which I really enjoyed and I added some of her other books to my tbr, but I'm not sure if I want to go for a classic for this task. I sometimes find them a bit of a chore to read.

..."

I own Major Pettigrew's Last Stand but haven't got round to reading it yet. It does sound good ;-) I would recommend Jamaica Inn when you're next in the mood for a classic - it's my favorite du Maurier.

[Peggy]

I'll keep that in mind! :)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Does anyone know of a love story set in London? I don't like romance books, so it shouldn't be a very cheesy cliché romance book. I was thinking of The Last Letter from Your Lover b..."

Tipping the Velvet?

[Peggy]

Thanks Rusalka!

I have it on my tbr too and it seems a good fit, but I was hoping to use it for my underwear-question (if I can find a copy with the right cover)

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: " It could fit in with the gothic theme too - or is that allowed?..."

Yes, it's allowed. The only time there would be a conflict is between the monthly challenge and the year long challenge. Group themed reads and topplers are wide open.

[Lisa]

Peggy wrote: "Does anyone know of a love story set in London? I don't like romance books, so it shouldn't be a very cheesy cliché romance book. I was thinking of The Last Letter from Your Lover b..."

Whilst on the subject of Sarah Waters, The Paying Guests sounds like it would fit with what you are looking for, Peggy. It's got romance and it's set in London.

[Peggy]

Thanks Lisa! Don't know why I didn't think of Sarah Waters myself.

[Lisa]

Peggy wrote: "Thanks Lisa! Don't know why I didn't think of Sarah Waters myself."

I forgot about her too! It was only when Rusalka suggested Tipping the Velvet that I remembered about The Paying Guests. If you do decide to read it, a group of us are planning on buddy reading it, beginning July 1st, just in case you are interested :)

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: " It could fit in with the gothic theme too - or is that allowed?..."

Yes, it's allowed. The only time there would be a conflict is between the monthly challenge and the year long cha..."

Ooh, I'll scan my challenge list for possible gothic fits :-)

[Peggy]

The buddy read sounds nice but it's in the middle of my holiday, so not very convenient.

[Peggy]

If anyone else is still looking for a living-together-but-not-married book, I came across The Best of Adam Sharp. It hasn't been published yet and the reviews so far aren't that great, but it's now available for request on Netgalley. It's by the author of the Rosie Project/Effect so might be worth giving a try! If I receive the book I will read it for the task. The main character has been living with his partner for over 20 years but they never got married and never had children.

[KimeyDiann]

If anyone needs a book set in the late summer to fall, I'm currently reading/listening to The Mailbox. About 70-80% of the book takes place around Labor Day (September). I'm on the last two disks and it just moved into October.

So far this has been a pretty good book. It deals with a 12 y/o child that spent the first several years of his life in foster care until he is adopted by a long lost uncle. The Uncle is a veteran and lives almost reclusively. Its a sort of sad book, the first few pages broke my heart, but I think it is going to have an HEA.

[Karen]

I just finished an interesting read: Valley of the Moon. It doesn't fit any of my categories for the yearly challenge but if someone happened to pick plums for their favourite fruit - the cover is a lovely plum tree.

[Margo]

Fellow Librans, I picked up for 99p on amazon uk.

[Sarah]

Good catch Margo.

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy, are you still looking for a book with wildflowers on the cover?

A Parchment of Leaves could fit.

[Peggy]

Thanks Janice! I haven't read for the task yet but did find 2 books that would work. I'll add this one too :)

[Laura (Lclwags)]

For task 34, favorite animal, my answer was wolf. Would Scarlet meet that task? They're wolf/man hybrids, but they do behave much like wolves throughout the book.

[Janice, Moderator]

Laura wrote: "For task 34, favorite animal, my answer was wolf. Would Scarlet meet that task? They're wolf/man hybrids, but they do behave much like wolves throughout the book."

Yes, and it is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, so I would say that the connection is strong. Enjoy!

[Annerlee]

I chose 'patience' as my commented on quality. Not sure how it can be depicted on a book cover and I haven't found any titles that sound interesting... Lots of romance and theological stuff.. Hmmm, no scifi, quirky, fantasy,, horror...

Any ideas anyjone???

Why didnt I choose something more sensible?

[Peggy]

I had to think of the card game you can play on a computer. So perhaps a book related to playing cards? But maybe that's very far-fetched ;-)

Or a book with a person on the cover who looks very peaceful and patient?

Or a book in which the MC has kids, as I'm sure you need to be very patient as a parent. Or a book with a MC who has a job that requires patience?

[Sarah]

Patience is both a surname and a first name. Perhaps a book by an author or a MC with either of those names?

[Peggy]

Wow, I did not know that Sarah!

[Sarah]

Peggy wrote: "Wow, I did not know that Sarah!"

I went to school with a girl who had Patience as a surname and I've heard it somewhere before as i first name but i can't remember where now.

[Peggy]

There's also a Guns n Roses song named Patience, if that gives you any inspiration Annerlee.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I've met a few Patience's in my time.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm pretty sure there's a potty book with a girl named Patience. I remember reading it when my girls were little.