UK Book Club discussion

I wish to read something that is based in my own country, if anyone can recommend anything that will be brilliant.

I haven't read it yet myself (but am hoping to get to it soon), but have you considered Writer's House in Wales? Or for something that is more just a fun easy read, I thought I Think I Love You was quite entertaining.

Nifty list here - http://www.goodreads.com/places/1118-...

thank you the list is extensive!

Try a bit of Tristan Hughes,apart from his most recent,they are all set on Anglesey I think.

Em, my fellow mod loved by Joe Dunthorne. Set in Swansea.

Thank you for the suggestions :)

It is an alternate Wales but have you tried Aberystwyth Mon Amour?

If you like Welsh Celtic Folklore and Fantasy, set in modern times, try 'The Triskele' and it's sequel 'R'hela', by Lowri Thomas :)

Esther wrote: "It is an alternate Wales but have you tried Aberystwyth Mon Amour?"

I didn't even think of the Malcolm Pryce.
Really enjoy his books.

I'd give Cynan Jones a try, I've read Everything I Found on the Beach and The Long Dry both of which I thoroughly enjoyed :-)

Submarine was good, I picked it up because I liked the quirky humour of the film adaptation of it. I thought the humour transfered well from book to film although they took one or two liberties with the plot, of course.

I started at the 5th of the Aberystwyth series for some reason, I enjoyed it despite joining the party a bit late. I plan to read the others. I should mention that Malcolm Pryce may inhabit a Wales that you're not quite familiar with... an alternative modern Wales if you like.

Thank you :)

It depends how recent you want them set. Bernard Knight has set a short series in 1950s Wales recently. If you live in Wales, any bookshop or library should be able to get his books.

Most of Rachel Trezise's books are set in contemporary South Wales.

Carrie's War is.

Allan wrote: "Carrie's War is."

I'd forgotten Carrie's War. I loved that book.

Don't know if you are still looking but I have come across Katherine John. She has written detective stories set around the Brecon Beacons etc. Not read any so can't vouch for her. Interested to know if you do!

How about Phil Rickman? He makes use of Welsh folklore too. Crybbe (which Goodreads wants to call Curfew) and Candlenight are standalones, but his Merrily Watkins series is also set on the borders, with characters from both sides -- first book is The Wine of Angels but I preferred and would start with Midwinter of the Spirit.

Belinda Bauer's Rubberneckeris set in Cardiff. Loved her trilogy set on Exmoor so fingers crossed for this one. It has very good reviews.

Try Richard Rhys Jones's The House in Wales for a horror tale that is highly rated.

Sue wrote: "Don't know if you are still looking but I have come across Katherine John. She has written detective stories set around the Brecon Beacons etc. Not read any so can't vouch for her. Interested to..."

I can certainly recommend By Any Name by Katherine John - this was a really enjoyable story that leapt along at a good pace - a fairly easy but absorbing read set in modern times. I've read a couple of other of her books (Amber Knight & Without Trace) but didn't enjoy them so much. I though By Any Name was a cracking read though, hope that helps :)

Heartbreak Hotel- Deborah Moggach was a light read set on the Welsh borders.

Sue wrote: "Belinda Bauer's Rubberneckeris set in Cardiff. Loved her trilogy set on Exmoor so fingers crossed for this one. It has very good reviews."

Ooh, I hadn't spotted this before, I like her, will definitely add that onto the gigantic TBR shelf!

James Hawes is a top tip. Try White Merc With Fins and you may well go back for more.

A White Merc with Fins

I think Moby Dick took place in a wale or that might have been Pinocchio...sorry it just seemed too easy to resist lol

you could try it's set in north wales, snowdonia area....

I read The Garden In The Clouds by Antony Woodward recently, which was set in the Black Mountains and was very good.

try any Niall Griffith's books. Very good

I've just finished a book that's waiting for a cover before it goes out there. I had a lovely time pitching one of the scenes in the Preseli mountains close to Eglyswrw. Haverfordwest is mentioned too.
I live in Tenby and it was great to write around the places I know.
Fantasy novel called The Hollow Ring.
Raymond, there are no wales in Wales but we have dragons and castles and the mabinogion and unpronounceable road signs designed to confuse the average visitor. (Think scrabble.) Come on down for some Celtic magic in the mysterious mountains. Bluestone came from here and was (somehow) hauled to Stonehenge for its healing powers.

Among Others

Garth wrote: "Raymond, there are no wales in Wales but we have dragons and castles and the mabinogion and unpronounceable road signs designed to confuse the average visitor. (Think scrabble.) ..."
On our recent trip to Wales my son had us all screaming with laughter as he tried to prounounce the Welsh road signs! :)

It's not unpronounceable Welsh has very strict rules and once you know them its easier to work out how to pronounce a new to you Welsh word than an English one. I'm not aware of Welsh having the equivalent of Southwark or Dalziel.

What is confusing about road signs is when you cross from east Wales into west Wales and suddenly you are looking for the English being written on top and now its on bottom. Course if you drive through the Irish Gaeltacht there is no English allowed on signs at all.

Yep, master your double l's and the ch, and your laughing (another mystifying English pronunciation!)

I Let You Go was set mostly in Swansea. Good thriller.

Mercia wrote: "It's not unpronounceable Welsh has very strict rules and once you know them its easier to work out how to pronounce a new to you Welsh word than an English one. I'm not aware of Welsh having the eq..."
Welsh is a lovely sounding language (when pronounced properly) and one day I want to make a serious effort to learn it but my son's mother-tongue doesn't even involve the Latin alphabet so even though he is bi-lingual in English just dealing visually with all those consonants is a challenge especially when he is trying to read them fast enough to help us navigate.

Welsh is a beautiful almost poetic language that I have great admiration for but I'm ashamed to say that after almost a lifetime, I hardly know a sentence. I do know how to pronounce some lovely words like EGLWYSWRW but a visitor might be challenged by it. When you get it right it floats off the tongue like an angel.