UK Book Club discussion
Around the World in 80 Books
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Chris's - Around the World in 80 Books
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Ian, this weather makes me want to hibernate until Easter, and wake to the smell of chocolate!
Chris wrote: "Finished - Tainted Blood by Arnaldur Indridason to cover Iceland. I "stole" this suggestion from Ian, and I'm please to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Still half way through Dry Seaso..."
This sound good i have put it on my to read list for Iceland. Can you just confirm first in a a series?
Robert, I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think it is the first written, I think Tainted Blood is the third, but the first two are not yet translated to English. A little bit like the situation with the Jo Nesbo books. I may be wrong since the information on Amazon contradicts that on goodreads. It is also called Jar City to coincide with a film release, but it is the same book. I will try to find out more since I'd certainly read more in this series. It stands alone well enough though, and although the writing style is a bit unusual (gloomy doesn’t cover it), it is easy enough to follow. I wouldn’t read it when feeling down in the dumps!!
Thanks Chris Gloomy sums me up so should suit
Bob
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I stayed up very late last night to read and finish Dan Smith's Dry Season, and I highly recommend it. It has everything; description, thrills, redemption, and some of the best characterisation I've read in ages. A tad violent and scary for me, but all completely in context. Fabulous read if you've not already picked a book for Brazil for this challenge.
Blimey, I know everything is slow with 'mainstream books' it's taken this long for you all to read Dans' great debut novel! I remember plugging this book back in 2010 after Dan 'beat' me at the Brit writers awards at the O2. [We both got beaten by the great Sir T.P.]
I'll 'ave you this time young Dan! my new one is due out in a month!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]
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I know everything is slow with 'mainstream books' it's taken this long for you all to read Dans' great debut novel! I remember plugging this book back in 2010 after Dan 'beat' me a..."
Hi Paul, we were wondering where you'd got to - busy writing by the sounds of things? Welome back :)
Hi Liz,My typing finger[s]are worn down to stumps!
Re-edited 'Ro' my first book, out any day on Kindle, no doubt some typos are still lurking!
The follow up to 'Ravens' is due out at the end of the month. I'll be on the Authors OnLine stand at Olympia 24th,25th and 26th of Feb as part of 'The Who Do You Think You Are' exhibition, should have some copies with me.
I'd like to recommend one of the best books I've ever read to you all, it is set mainly in Germany,
Check out 'The Novak Legacy' by John Douglas-Gray.
In my humble opinion it is as good as a Le Carrie, and as some of you will know, he is my favorite author.
Gotta go, The boss [Babs[ has just uttered those dreaded words, 'Paul, can you just...'
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]
Mod
My mistake Ian, you're quite right! I should have said T H E Boss.All the best, Paul Rix [old geezer]
P.S. just found out 'RO' my first book is now available on the kindle store! [this was a true story, as near as could be told!]
Just started Knights of the Black and White, by Jack Whyte as an entry for Israel. Whilst mooching through everyone else's list, I picked it out from Bill D's travels. It has mixed reviews, but since I'm interested in the Knights Templar, I'm hoping that I will be in the group of people who enjoy it.
what country will you be classing kashmir as curious as in 1948 was granted same status as india , west & east pakistan and hyberbad
Steve, are you addressing that question to Ian? I would have classed it as India.
Chris wrote: "Steve, are you addressing that question to Ian? I would have classed it as India."but kashmir was split into 2 parts by the war between pakistan and india when both invaded the state of kashmir
Finished Knights of the Black and White by Jack Whyte for Jerusalem/Israel. The book is about the Templars and although the content is interesting, it's not exactly well written.
Mod
Just finished The Garbage King, set in Ethiopia. It's a charming story about two boys from very different backgrounds and their lives as beggers. This was my daughter's library book and I noticed that someone else on the challenge has read and included it here. Not one I would have picked myself, but enjoyable nevertheless.
Might go for Smilla's Sense of Snow for Denmark as my next choice for the challenge. Or Dark Horizons. by Dan Smith since everyone seems to love it
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Ian, I try not to keep books after I've read them, my house is too full of them as it is, so I'm happy to post it to you once I've finished with it.
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Sorry Ian, I didn't realise. Let's hope the publisher puts it on kindle for you. I'd like to say it's rubbish and you're not missing anything, but that is not the case - well so far anyway.
A copy of I May Be Some Time: Ice and the English Imagination became available at the library so got bumped up my list. Smilla will have to wait until I’ve finished my trip to Antarctica.
My Antarctic visit via I May Be Some Time: Ice and the English by Francis Spufford was a tad disappointing! Although the topic is very interesting, and the book has great reviews, I found the writing lack-luster and unexciting. I found myself “skim reading” much of the time to the end. Back to the library for this one!
Oh flippin heck, I've just accidently deleted my first post, detailing all the 36 books for this challenge! Grrrrrrrrrrr!
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I just finished I May Be Some Time: Ice and the English Imagination last night and the title was totally appropriate - it has taken me AGES to finish.
A dense read is how I'd describe it - there were some fantastic stories & quotes threaded through, but the main narrative itself, was a struggle! And only the final 50 pages (out of 360) were dedicated to Scott's ill-fated journey to the South Pole (my main interest).
A little too academic for my taste.
Liz, your description of "academic" is much more positive than my "lack-lustre" so I'll go with yours. I hate to be so negative and there were definitely some good stories between the parts I "skimmed"
Just finished Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg for my Demark stop. It'sa very intellegent thriller and I highly recommend it.
Finished A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve. In the main, I liked it, but I'll leave off writing a review for a while. I think it may be one of those books that you like more after you have read and thought about it a bit more
Chris wrote: "Just finished Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg for my Demark stop. It'sa very intellegent thriller and I highly recommend it."
read years ago most of his books in early 2000's
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Chris wrote: "Just ordered a copy of Dan Smith's The Child Thief set in the Ukraine I believe."chris
Can you let me know if a good read and also set in Ukraine
struggling for countries now
Ta
Bob
I was hoping that it would be here today, but sadly NO! I'll let you know as soon as. I still have not got to Dark Horizon yet, so I may have a go at that whilst I wait for the post tomorrow
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chris
Can you let me know if a good read and also set in Ukraine
struggling for countries now
Ta
Bob"
You can ask Dan himself Bob - he's just posted in the What are you Reading and Kindle threads.
I thought I'd get another country with Dry Season but I've already got a book for Indonesia. Going to read it anyway, but need some inspiration for this challenge!
Chris see you like historical fiction
I harp on a bit about Robert GODDARD get odd countries you would not expect so may be worth a look I have some listed on my list
Bob
Chris wrote: "I thought I'd get another country with Dry Season but I've already got a book for Indonesia. Going to read it anyway, but need some inspiration for this challenge!"indonesia is split up into many parts like uk lol ask ian
Robert wrote: "Chris see you like historical fiction
I harp on a bit about Robert GODDARD get odd countries you would not expect so may be worth a look I have some listed on my list
Bob"
Some good choices there, I'll peruse the library for one. I quite like the look of Past Caring.
Stephen wrote: "Chris wrote: "I thought I'd get another country with Dry Season but I've already got a book for Indonesia. Going to read it anyway, but need some inspiration for this challenge!"indonesia is spli..."
My knowledge of geography is dreadful!
Mod
Reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time,
- Pakistan and Hothouse Flower
, which i think I can count as Thailand?! Not started Dry Season (very naughty, but too many books - too little time)!
Chris wrote: "Reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time, [bookcover:Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time] - Pakistan and H..."
if you want iraq try the baghdad railway club by andrew martin
Just collected The Child Thief,
from the library - Ukraine I think, but will confirm once I've read it
Chris wrote: "Just collected The Child Thief, 
from the library - Ukraine I think, but will confirm once I've read it"mine at library too with the many others on my own shelf lol
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Still half way through Dry Season, and enjoying that one too (Tainted Blood became unexpectedly available via library, otherwise I would not have ignored Dry Season in favour of Tainted Blood)