UK Book Club discussion

The A - Z Author Challenge is a challenge where you read 26 different books by different authors whose last names begin with each letter of the alphabet. For example, for A you could read a book by Virginia Andrews, for B a book by Judy Blume, and so on, all the way to Z.
Rules:
1. Do not include books you read before starting the challenge
2. The challenge letter must be the same as the first letter of the author's last name.
3. Post which book you read for which letter in the correct discussion topic in the A - Z Author Challenge and say whether you enjoyed reading it or not.
4. Books don't have to be read in A - Z author but can be if you want.

There is no rush to finish the challenge, just read at a pace you enjoy. It is a good way to encourage yourself to try out new authors, or at least vary the authors whose books you read.
If you get stuck for ideas, there is a group bookshelf (Here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...) with a suggestion of books, which will be the top book for each Author letter taken from Amazon UK.

If you have any questions, post them here.

It's the authors name rather than the book name

This is an interesting idea and one I might just take. It's so easy to stick with what you know and this could take me out of my comfort zone. Could take some time though. Even at a book each week it would be 6 month!!

Yeah, it is quite a long challenge, but I think it's worth it as it encourages people to try new authors :)

This is a great idea, I will go through my 2009 book list and see which letters I have read so far!

I am going to have a go at this challenge starting with the book I am now reading.I will probably work through my TBR pile as usual and purposely look for authors with missing letters towards the end.

That's what I'm doing at the moment, will have to buy/borrow some for the more obscure letters though!

I've got a question, what if a book is written by more than one author, do you use the surname of the first author listed or do you use whichever helps with the challenge?

I think you can probably cheat with that one and go for whichever you need! :)

Awesome, in that case I'm working on my T ;-)

Haha, great! :D

Funny. I do this challenge anyway as my OCD's only allow me to rent books from the library in alphabetical order. I am on P-R-S now (I take 3 books each time)

Just joined this group and as I am currently reading a Kate Atkinson I thought it would be a great way to start the A-Z challenge. I am going to try to do it in alphabetical order and I have most of the letters on my Goodreads to-read list already.

I started this challenge on readitswapit forums and it is a fantastic way of getting through you books that have been sitting on your shelves for a while and also getting to know new authors. I am down to P now.

Is there a time limit for this one?

I don't think so, I back-dated mine to January but just seems that I'm reading authors who begin with the same initial all the time! Is going to take me a while to finish anyhow...

Think I'll back date mine to January too. I'll be able to incorporate this with another challenge I'm reading my way through.

This is a great idea, as many people have already said, but I just had to reiterate. :P Good luck to everyone going for this challenge!

Oh my god! Not enough hours in the day for all these books :)

Zoe wrote: "The A - Z Author Challenge is a challenge where you read 26 different books by different authors whose last names begin with each letter of the alphabet. For example, for A you could read a book by..."

Is this something that new members can start now?
I would quite like to do this challenge, but am wondering if I am too late.

Hi Susan, please start a list now if you'd like to - not too late at all! Anyone can join in and complete the challenge at their own pace. It's going to take me a while to finish but once I have I may even start again - it's such a good incentive to try out new writers.

Thanks Em, I've already started a list,, using a few of the books that have been sitting in my bookcase unread and neglected, and a few that I have downloaded for free onto my I pad.
Like you, I think it will be great to try out completely new authors.

I've been working through an alternative A-Z challenge- on titles of books.

Allan wrote: "I've been working through an alternative A-Z challenge- on titles of books."

Now that sounds interesting too, might do that myself, as I have loads of books to read! May give me incentive to get through them.

Are you going to list them on this section for us to see what you have read?

I might have to give this a go too!

Lynne wrote: "Allan wrote: "I've been working through an alternative A-Z challenge- on titles of books."

Now that sounds interesting too, might do that myself, as I have loads of books to read! May give me i..."

that likes fun lynne! I think I could do A-Z change-on titles of book just on my james pattersons books lol!

I think I am giving this one a go! That sounds pretty good idea to try different authors...

well, I'm still finding that nearly all author's surnames start with 'C'. Think I've covered 6 letters out of 13 books!

Well I was going to read The Book Thief next but the print is tiny. Wondering whether I can justify buying it again on my kindle.

I know not everyone feels the same as me but I really did love The Book Thief and it's one of the few books my book group all agreed on! I'd say it's worth buying for the kindle if you don't fancy the little print.

I really loved The Book Thief as well - go for it Helen....one way or another

Same from me, amazing book.

Helen wrote: "Well I was going to read The Book Thief next but the print is tiny. Wondering whether I can justify buying it again on my kindle."

I have a hard copy and also an audio version which is really lovely to listen to.

Guess, I'll end up spending!

I love this idea. Don't forget to read some Indie authors to. That way you will save a little money and put a little in the pockets of authors who will be very glad you read them!

Merlin wrote: "On behalf of all Indie's Everywhere Bless you Editio.

Who knows they might find some great bargains and actually end up enjoying what they find !"

No Problem Merlin, your right I am sure they will find a gem. Since I own a web site about supporting self-published authors, I am always there to remind people not to forget about the Indie authors.

Reading Frankenstein on my kindle. My version says it's by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, so can I have it as a W?

I have recently started my list and was thinking I might try and do some of the harder letters first. Searched for a way of finding authors with last names beginning with Z for example. Came across this site http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_webs...
which I thought might be helpful for others. Lists author websites so might not be comprehensive but could be a good start.

Thanks Ellie

Hi can i join in this challenge too please

Absolutely!

Hi, I have only just joined and I love the sound of this challenge. I will start with the one I am reading now as I only started it on Wednesday so my first letter will be R - New York by Edward Rutherfurd but will then go back to start at A. Should be really interesting!

I like the idea as well and will start with the books I'm reading now.

although i joined in the challenge in dec i really haven't had time to do so, but i will start from tonight - where so i put what i am reading

Open up a new thread Lorraine - click on A - Z Author Challenge at top of page, then click on New Topic to set up your own dedicated thread. Call it summit like "Lorraine's A to Z 2012" or whatever suits it best.

Thanks for that Ian, have done that now

Ian i set up a new thread but i seem to have lost it lol as i can't see it now

Panic over i have found it lol

Afternoon drinking has that effect on me as well lol

that's why i couldn't find it, i was sober lol