A - Z Challenges so far

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

V - Sally Vickers Miss Garnet's Angel Finally another I can put in the A-Z challenge...

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

F - Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Anne starts the diary aged 13 and it finishes just after she's turned 15 - so young and she wrote so well. She had to face a situation no-one (let alone a child) should have to experience. It's by turn, sweet, innocent, honest, courageous & ultimately moving.

[Gill]

A - Kate Atkinson
B - Linwood Barclay
C - Josephine Cox
D - Lucy Dillon
E - Barbara Erskine
F - Katie Fforde
G - Tess Gerritson
H - Thomas Hardy
I -
J - Erika James
K - Cathy Kelly
L - Steig Larsson
M - Stephenie Meyer
N - David Nicolls
O -
P - James Patterson
Q - Sheila Quigley
R - Peter Robinson
S - Sidney Sheldon
T - Barbara Taylor Bradford
U - Lisa Unger
V -
W - Marcia Willett
X -
Y -
Z -

How come most of the authors I am reading all begin with same letters!!!

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Tell me about it, I have read at least 6 'M's this year, a few 'R's and a few 'H's, but still no 'U' or 'Q'!!!!

[Gill]

Read 30 books this year so far. Only the same author twice but still I have only got to 12 in the A-Z challenge.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I only need to do I, U and Y now.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Lynne wrote: "I only need to do I, U and Y now."

Was going to chose a John Updike for my U - possibily The Witches of Eastwick or Rabbit, Run and Kazuo Ishiguro for my I - either Never Let Me Go or A Pale View of Hills

But Y has me stumped....

[Em]

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto? I read it last year, two short stories of a slightly magical-realism nature.

[Em]

I rated it four stars, it is short and quick to read but poignant in an understated, quiet way.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Time to update:
A- Jane Austen & Seth Grahame Smith - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
B- Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
C- Beatrice Colin - The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite
D- Guy Delisle - Pyongyang A Journey in North Korea
E- Kim Edwards - The Memory Keeper's Daughter
F- Anne Frank - Diary of a Young Girl
G- Neil Gaiman - Stardust
H- Neil Humphries - Notes From an Even Smaller Island
L- John Adjvide Linqvist - Let the Right One In
M- Hilary Mantel - Wolf Hall
O- Joseph O'Neil - Netherland
P- Annie Proulx - The Shipping News
R- Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children
S- Kathryn Stockett - The Help
T- Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr Y
V- Salley Vickers - Miss Garnet's Angel
W- David Wroblewski - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
X- Xinran - The Good Women of China Hidden Voices
Z- Carlos Ruiz Zafon - The Shadow of the Wind

I still need I,J,K,N,Q,U,V & Y

Em, Thanks for the suggestion for Y, I will put it on my to read list.....

[Em]

Updating too...


A: When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
B:The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
C: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
D: Feminine Gospels: Poems by Carol Ann Duffy
E:I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
F: The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
G: Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
H:Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
I:A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
J:The Rapture by Liz Jensen
K:
L: The Girl with the Dragon Tattooby Stieg Larsson
M: The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
N: One Day by David Nicholls
O:
P:
Q:
R: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
S: The Planets by Dava Sobel
T: The Darkness of Wallis Simpson by Rose Tremain
U:
V:
W: Poison by Chris Wooding
X:
Y:
Z:

I think I've got K - The Poisonwood Bible, N - One Day, O Star of the Sea, P - A Sterkarm Kiss, V - Cutting for Stone and Z - The Shadow of the Wind which means I'm open to suggestions for Q, U, X, and Y.

[Gill]

Gill wrote: "So far I've done:- (only 12)
A - Kate Atkinson
B - Linwood Barclay
C - Josephine Cox
D - Lucy Dillon
E -
F -
G - Tess Gerritson
H - Thomas Hardy
I -
J -
K - Cathy Kelly
L - Steig Larsson
M -
N - ..."

[Sam]

Managing to get through the alphabet slowly but surely:

A. Kelley Armstrong, Stolen
B. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
C. Caroline Carver, Black Tide
D. Rhys Davies, A Human Condition
E. Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho
F. David Fine, The Executioner’s Art
G. Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book
H. James Herbet, The Ghosts of Sleath
I. Bryan Islip, Going with Gabriel
J. Rev C.A. Johns, Flowers of the Field
K. Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic
L. John Ajvide Lindqvist, Let The Right One In
M. Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing
N. Stuart Neild, Dame Demise
O. Kakuzo Okakura, The Book of Tea
P. Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures
Q. Thomas de Quincey, On Murder
R. Alun Richards, The Penguin Book of Welsh Short Stories
S. C.J. Sansom, Revelation
T. Scarlett Thomas, The End of Mr Y
U.
V. Charles Vrooman, Green Power
W. John Wiseman, SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in any Climate, on Land or at Sea
X.
Y. Billy Young, Bublos
Z. Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

Only two left now!

[Zoe, UK Book Club Founder]

Finally reading a book by an author who's letter I haven't already read a book for! Will complete my A very shortly :)

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Catching up on the A-Z challenge, I've added J & U

A- Jane Austen & Seth Grahame Smith - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
B- Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
C- Beatrice Colin - The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite
D- Guy Delisle - Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
E- Kim Edwards - The Memory Keeper's Daughter
F- Anne Frank - Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
G- Neil Gaiman - Stardust
H- Neil Humphries - Notes from an Even Smaller Island
I- Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go
J- Hillary Jordan - Mudbound
K - Ishmail Kadare - The Palace - of Deams
L- John Adjvide Linqvist - Let the Right One In
M- Hilary Mantel - Wolf Hall
N- David Nicholls - One Day
O- Joseph O'Neil - Netherland
P- Annie Proulx - The Shipping News
R- Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children
S- Kathryn Stockett - The Help
T- Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
U- John Updike - The Witches of Eastwick
V- Salley Vickers - Miss Garnet's Angel
W- David Wroblewski - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
X- Xinran - The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices
Z- Carlos Ruiz Zafon - The Shadow of the Wind

I ONLY NEED Q & Y !

[Gill]

Gill wrote: "A - Kate Atkinson
B - Linwood Barclay
C - Josephine Cox
D - Lucy Dillon
E - Barbara Erskine
F - Katie Fforde
G - Tess Gerritson
H - Thomas Hardy
I -
J - Erika James
K - Cathy Kelly
L - S..."

Only 6 more to go. I,O,V,X,Y,Z
I've got my V lined up but not sure about the others!

[Donna]

Gill wrote: "Gill wrote: "A - Kate Atkinson
B - Linwood Barclay
C - Josephine Cox
D - Lucy Dillon
E - Barbara Erskine
F - Katie Fforde
G - Tess Gerritson
H - Thomas Hardy
I -
J - Erika James
K - Cathy..."

I'm claiming Dara O'Briain as my O even though goodreads has it listed under B!

[Em]

A: When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
B:The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
C: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
D: Feminine Gospels: Poems by Carol Ann Duffy
E:I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
F: The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
G: Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
H:Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
I:A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
J:The Rapture by Liz Jensen
K:
L: The Girl with the Dragon Tattooby Stieg Larsson
M: The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
N: One Day by David Nicholls
O:
P:
Q: The Beloved Son by Jay Quinn
R: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
S: The Planets by Dava Sobel
T: The Darkness of Wallis Simpson by Rose Tremain
U:
V:
W: Poison by Chris Wooding
X:
Y:
Z:

8 left, well 7.5 (halfway through my K - Jack Kerouac!)

[Em]

A: When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
B:The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
C: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
D: Feminine Gospels: Poems by Carol Ann Duffy
E:I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
F: The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
G: Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
H:Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
I:A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
J:The Rapture by Liz Jensen
K: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
L: The Girl with the Dragon Tattooby Stieg Larsson
M: The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
N: One Day by David Nicholls
O:
P:
Q: The Beloved Son by Jay Quinn
R: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
S: The Planets by Dava Sobel
T: The Darkness of Wallis Simpson by Rose Tremain
U:
V:
W: Poison by Chris Wooding
X:
Y:
Z:

19 down, 7 to go...

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I - The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden

2 left!

[Gemma]

Just starting my A-Z Challenge today with The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood.

[Em]

Lynne, which 2 are left? Do you have the books lined up ready to read? I've got a good idea for most of my outstanding letters, bit stuck on X though.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Em wrote: "Lynne, which 2 are left? Do you have the books lined up ready to read? I've got a good idea for most of my outstanding letters, bit stuck on X though."

Only Y and U to go Em, I have The Shack by William P. Young on my bookcase and i tried to read The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike but couldn't get past the first few pages.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I've just got Q left - I will tackle it after I finish 'The Little Stranger'

Em, if you're looking for an X - I read The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran - It's a book of true stories, collected from women across China.

It was chosen for my local bookclub and I probably wouldn't have picked it up normally. It's not a bundle of laughs, but it's often moving, and occasionally jaw-dropping. (Makes Jung Chang's experience in Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China look as if she had the easy life!)

[Em]

I saw the The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices in charity shop months ago, knew I should've bought it! I loved Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. I also found Half of Man Is Woman by Zhang Xianliang.

[Gemma]

GemS' Author A-Z Challenge (started Dec 2010)
26/26 done! FINISHED!

A: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamamda Ngozi Adichie
B: The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
C: Fire by Kristin Cashore
D: Zoo Station by David Downing
E: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
F: Alone In Berlin by Hans Fallada
G: Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee
H: An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
I: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
J: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
K: The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra
L: The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke
M: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
N: The Snowman by Jo Nesbo
O: The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
P: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
Q: Every Breath You Take by Sheila Quigley
R: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling
S: The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood
T: Address Unknown by Kressmann Taylor
U: The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
V: Red Gloves by Beth Vaughan
W: The Legacy by Katherine Webb
X: Miss Chopsticks by Xinran
Y: Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Z: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I've got my Q on order at the library - I'm cheating a bit: Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (should probably be an 'X' but I've found good Q's very hard to find) - it's meant to be very good and as I'm living in Asia I feel I should read a few more local authors!

[Donna]

I started my challenge in April, and I'm slowly getting there. I am trying to do it in order, but I skipped I and L. I have just gone back to I for the book I am currently reading. Here is my list so far.....

A = Atkinson, Kate - When Will There Be Good News?
B = Bauermeister, Erica - The Monday Night Cooking School
C = Curran, Bob - Bloody Irish: Great Irish Vampire Stories
D = Doyle, Arthur Conan - The Lost World
E = Ekman, Kirsten - The Dog
F = French, Nicci - Until It's Over
G = Gately, Stephen - Tree of Seasons
H = Howe, Katherine - The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
I = Izner, Claude - Murder on the Eiffel Tower - currently reading
J = James, P D - The Children of Men
K = Kostova, Elizabeth - The Swan Thieves
L =
M = Meyer, Stephenie - Breaking Dawn
N = Niffenegger, Audrey - Her Fearful Symmetry
O = O'Flynn, Catherine - What Was Lost
P = Powell, Mark - Quantum Breach

[Em]

The challenge is going pretty well Donna, virtually in order as well!

I wondered what you thought about Her Fearful Symmetry? I loved The Time Traveler's Wife and literary portrayals of twins hold particular interst to me (I'm Mum to twins) but I've read some very mixed reviews and I'll confess it's put me off a little bit.

[Donna]

Em wrote:

I wondered what you thought about Her Fearful Symmetry? I loved The Time Traveler's Wife and..."

I wasn't overly impressed with it to be honest, I think I gave it two stars. It was a disappointment after TTW which is one of my favourite books! If you would like my copy you are welcome to it rather than buying it. I'm happy to post it to you. Send me a PM if you are interested.

[Em]

Cheers Donna, it's such a shame when a book doesn't quite meet expectations! Thanks for offer, my Aunt has a copy so I'll borrow from her (save postage), don't think I'll be buying it, not sure it's one to keep!

[Kimberly]

This challenge sounds great! I guess I have already begun, I am reading Emma by Jane Austen!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Y - It Waits and It Waits Again by Robert M Yelverton - 2 short story ebooks from Feedbooks.com.

Just U to do now!

[Kirsty]

I love this idea! I want to read more books by new-to-me authors (or ones I've forgotten about) in 2011 and think I'll incorporate the A-Z idea. No promises to stick to alphabetical order though!

I'm starting with

A - The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison

[Em]

This challenge definately encourages you to look outside of the same old authors you always return to!

[Donna]

I have read the following books so far since last April. I wonder if I can finish within the year??

A - Kate Atkinson - When Will There be Good News?
B - Erica Bauermeister - The Monday Night Cooking School
C - Bob Curran - Bloody Irish: Great Irish Vampire Stories
D - Doyle, Arthur Conan - The Lost World: Being an Account of the Recent Amazing Adventures of Professor E. Challenger
E - Ekman, Kirsten - The Dog
F - French, Nicci - Until its over
G - Gately, Stephen - The Tree of Seasons
H - Howe, Katherine - The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
I - Izner, Claude - Murder on the Eiffel Tower
J - James PD - The Children of Men
K - Kostova, Elizabeth - The Swan Thieves
L
M - Meyer, Stephenie - Breaking Dawn
N - Niffenegger, Audrey - Her Fearful Symmetry
O - O'Flynn, Catherine - What Was Lost
P - Mark Powell - Quantum Breach
Q -
R - Rayne, Sarah - The Death Chamber - currently reading
S - Slater, Nigel - Toast
T - Talbot-Ponsonby, Spud - Two Feet, Four Paws - currently reading
U -
V - Vonnegut, Kurt - Galapagos
W - Wolpert, Howard - Smart Pumping
X -
Y -
Z - Zafon, Carlos Ruiz - The Prince of Mist

[Em]

I've done U The Ruby in Her Navel by Barry Unsworth!

[Sam]

Finally got another letter done with The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike, only X to go now!

[stan]

Hi My turn
A-Archer Jeffrey First among Equals
B-Baldacci David The Camel Club
C- Canning Victor Queens Pawn
D- DeMille Nelson The Generals Daughter
E- Eisler Barry The Last Assassin
F- Forsyth Frederick

[Helen]

Having just joined and spotted this thought 'Oooh I could do that'. So how come all authors start with C!

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Helen wrote: "Having just joined and spotted this thought 'Oooh I could do that'. So how come all authors start with C!"

Funny that, I found I kept reading authors beginning with M!

[Helen]

Ha ha, it's really wierd isn't it. My classic even starts with c- Wilkie Collins

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Helen wrote: "Ha ha, it's really wierd isn't it. My classic even starts with c- Wilkie Collins"

I just looked back over last year. I read 9 books where the author was an M!!!!! (Plus 7 x B's and 5 x S's). I guess some letters are just more common at the beginning of surnames...

[Helen]

Don't suppose you notice until they count for something else.

[Lj]

C - Sam Christer - The stonehenge Legacy
H - Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse series)
M - Karen Maitland - The owl Killers
S - Sherri Smith - Children of Witches

[Ian, Former Moderator]

This looks like fun, so here's Ian's A- Z 2011 so far. Can't believe I've read 13 books so far this year and only done 7 letters.

B - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
C - Heart of Darkness by Jospeh Conrad
D - Room by Emma Donoghue
F - The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale
L - Sister by Rosamund Lupton
N - The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
T - Trespass by Rose Tremain

[Abi]

So far this year I seem to have read a lot of books by authors beginning with M - I'm going to have to start looking with different letters!

B - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
H - A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
I - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
M - Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
S - The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

[Susan]

Abi wrote: "So far this year I seem to have read a lot of books by authors beginning with M - I'm going to have to start looking with different letters!

B - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
H - A Moveable Feast b..."

What did you think of Skippy Dies?

[Abi]

Susan wrote: "Abi wrote: "So far this year I seem to have read a lot of books by authors beginning with M - I'm going to have to start looking with different letters!

B - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
H - A Move..."

Hi Susan,

I really enjoyed. It took me a while to get into, and the sheer length of it was a little daunting in the beginning I must admit, but I'm really glad I kept going - couldn't put it down by the end!

[Zoe]

This looks like a great challenge. A long way to go yet, but here's my (diminutive) A-Z so far...

B - Andrew Blackman, 'On the Holloway Road' (currently reading)
C - Angela Carter, 'The Bloody Chamber'
K - Barbara Kingsolver, 'The Lacuna'
R - Salman Rushdie, 'The Satanic Verses'