05 - A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics

[Ketutar]

Katy wrote: "I don't know if this is even possible, but I'm going to try to go the extra mile and read a book that takes place in a city that hosted the Olympics and takes place in the same year that city hosted the Olympics."

Ooh, nice!

[Ketutar]

Jackie wrote: "Oh man, I kind of want to do a side challenge and read a book from every Olympic city..."

You could combine... can you find a book to fit the other prompts that is set in an Olympic city?

[April]

Tayari Jones has a couple of books set in Atlanta.

[Sam]

Kind of cheated and went for This is London by Ben Judah. A very obvious choice.

[Mahi]

I realized I've been meaning to read This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor for the longest time, but haven't yet, and it's set in London so it works for this prompt.

[Errlee]

I haven't decided yet but trying to pick one that will also help me with my Around the World challenge so London and Paris and a bunch of others are out. For now I have these as possibilities:

My First Murder by Leena Lehtolainen - Helsinki

Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan - Singapore

[Sherri]

I read Girl,Woman,Other by Bernardine Evaristo set in London.

[Kim]

I read for this prompt.

[Kelly]

Moscow (1980 Olympics)
The Secrets We Kept

[Nicole]

Reading The Paris Wife for this one. Love it so far!

[Alex]

I just finished XXXholic Omnibus (Issues) for this prompt. I read the entire series because just one manga feels like cheating. I believe it's set in Tokyo. It's never really stated, more just assumed because of the art, but I'm 90% certain it's set in Tokyo. I've read it before and was really excited to read it again. Lots of traditional Japanese folklore and the art is lovely. I DON'T recommend reading it without Tsubasa Omnibus (Issues) though (which I'm reading for book from a series with 20 or more books in it). The two intersect and much of xxxHolic doesn't make sense without Tsubasa.

[Warring]

I read 'Cinder' by Marissa Meyer for this one. He he... I know, very original. But what can I say? Had some catching up to do.

[Nadine in NY]

Frogli wrote: "I believe the book is out of print so not sure you'd be able to get it on kindle now...."


You are correct, it's out of print, and it turns out my library doesn't even have a hard copy. They have NO copy! :-( and yes, there is no kindle version available on Amazon. This is a travesty!! Why would a reasonably popular book go out of print after just a short time??

[Aimee]

I came across a new one for this prompt today - The Downstairs Girl, set in Atlanta which hosted the summer Olympics in 1996. Sounds like an interesting read too!

[Linda]

Katy wrote: "I don't know if this is even possible, but I'm going to try to go the extra mile and read a book that takes place in a city that hosted the Olympics and takes place in the same year that city hoste..."

Gold by Chris Cleave would be perfect.
From the description:
"Gold is the story of Zoe and Kate, world-class athletes who have been friends and rivals since their first day of Elite training. They've loved, fought, betrayed, forgiven, consoled, gloried, and grown up together. Now on the eve of London 2012, their last Olympics, both women will be tested to their physical and emotional limits. They must confront each other and their own mortality to decide, when lives are at stake: What would you sacrifice for the people you love, if it meant giving up the thing that was most important to you in the world?"

[Nupur Khare]

Agatha Christie has a lot of London-based books

[Sandra]

Katy wrote: "I don't know if this is even possible, but I'm going to try to go the extra mile and read a book that takes place in a city that hosted the Olympics and takes place in the same year that city hoste..."

The 'Alex' series by Tessa Duder about a teenage swimmer from New Zealand has the third book "Alessandra" take place during the Roma Olympics

[Shelley]

I read Night Watch which is about magical "detectives" (not really but close enough) in contemporary Moscow. I love reading just normal translated books like this because it gives such a feel for the actual society without the author even realizing what they are revealing.

[Barbara]

I read The Black Dahlia by James Ellory. It takes place in Los Angeles.

It's pretty good. But I can't say that I liked it. I guess the Noir genre isn't really my thing.

[L.]

Just finished The Widow for this prompt. It was set in London and surrounding suburbs.

[Brenna]

I read In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin, set in Berlin. A non-fiction book with a unique perspective of Americans living in Berlin and observing Hitler's rise to power.

[Sarah]

I'm going to read which is a fantasy novel. Plus you could use it for the Bird on the Cover too (if you needed to).

[Morgan]

takes place in Los Angeles. It's one of Book of the Month's picks for February. Just started it today! Probably could work for many of the 7 deadly sins prompt as well.

[Amalia]

[Julia]

My pick is White Oleander by Janet Fitch


City: Los Angeles

[Aimee]

I've just read Convenience Store Woman for another reading challenge; it's set in Tokyo so would definitely fit this prompt too. The story is funny and quirky, and I really learned a lot about Japanese society.
It's a short read (163 pages) so useful for anyone who's starting to fall behind a bit!

[Marie]

I've just started War and Peace as my next "Kindle book." I didn't check it against the prompts until after I started it, but luckily it fits this challenge--assuming I finish it some time this year. :D

[Meagan]

I read White Oleander (Los Angeles) for this prompt. I have never read it and have wanted to for a long time. I really enjoyed it!

[Brittany]

I just finished Norma by Sofi Oksanen which is set in Helsinki, Finland (1952 Olympics)

[Pam]

I read The Library Book (non-fiction) by Susan Orlean. It's set in Los Angeles.

[Heather]

Just finished the silent patient. I enjoyed it.

[Leona]

Finished Things in Jars by Jess Kidd that is set in London.

[Britany]

Finished The Paris Hours by Alex George

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cindy]

I read A Curious Beginning, Audible edition. Fun read. I thought it would be your basic romance novel but it is more of a mystery. I've been reading some pretty heavy literature lately so this was a good escape.

[Lilith]

I read Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata - takes place in Tokyo.
I love Keiko! I love her logic - she makes me smile, laugh, and think.
Is it better to be "normal" with a host of "problems", or "abnormal" (Keiko's words ) and be absolutely fine?

I will definitely read more by Ms. Murata!

[Ashleigh]

I read The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter

Set in Victorian London

[♛primadonna♛]

I just read Perfect Days set in Rio de Janeiro.

[Janet]

Just finished Norwegian By Night, by Derek Miller-for my Debut book club. Set in Oslo it is a wonderful read, a cross of a thriller/mystery with aging, effects of wartime on a life, etc. some wonderful passages.

Another awards:
John Creasy Mystery Award
Economist Top Fiction Award
Financial Times a best Book of the Year Award
Kirkus Review Best Crime Nobel of the Year
Guardian Best Crime and a thriller of the year award

[Evil Secret]

I read The Cuckoo's Calling By Robert Galbraith

[Amy J.]

I just finished The Library of Legends, which starts in Nanjing, China. I'm counting it even though the narrative eventually leaves the city when the university is evacuated.

[Courtney]

I read for this prompt. I found it listed on the group list. I love the lists.

[Shelley]

Cindy wrote: "I read A Curious Beginning, Audible edition. Fun read. I thought it would be your basic romance novel but it is more of a mystery. I've been reading some pretty heavy literature lat..."

If you ever get the chance to go to one of her signings I highly recommend it. She's hilarious.

[Arunimaa]

Magic Stars by Ilona Andrews - Atlanta, Georgia. (1996 Summer Olympics)

[Brandon]

You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook

The book takes place briefly in Vancouver (at the beginning and end of the story) and mostly in London. I recommend it for fans of YA, thrillers, and Alfred Hitchcock.

[Novels and Neckties -]

Khristina wrote: "Just a list:

Albertville
Amsterdam
Antwerp
Athens
Atlanta
Barcelona
Beijing
Berlin
Buenos Aires
Calgary
Chamonix
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Dakar
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Grenoble
Helsinki
Innsbruck
Lake Pl..."

This is really helpful THX for sharing <3

[Jill]

I am assuming What Alice Forgot is set in Sydney, but could someone confirm this for me? Thanks!

[Udari]

Sarah wrote: "I'm going to go for Sydney, because it's the closest I've ever got to being at the Olympics - we were on holiday there in December '99, and I remember seeing some prep going on for it before they h..."

Love your idea. Thank you Sarah. I'm going to go for Beijing because I was in China during the 2008 Summer Games.

[Cornerofmadness]

I went with Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman. Mostly because it was on my shelf. Los Angeles hosted the Olympics in 32 and 84

[Barbara]

I read The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy. It takes place in Los Angeles. It was good, but I didn't really like it. I didn't find anyone in the story particularly compelling and I struggled to care about anything that was happening.

[Tamara]

I read "The Awakening" by Shakir Rashaan (Set in Atlanta).