UK Book Club discussion

This is such an interesting idea, that I just have to give it a go.

Starting with books I have already read in 2011:-



1Skippy Dies by Paul Murray..IRELAND
2.Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery CANADA
3.Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada GERMANY
4.Here At the End of the World We Learn to Dance by Lloyd Jones NEW ZEALAND
5.The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif EGYPT
6.Dry Season by Dan Smith BRAZIL
7.Sanctus by Simon Toyne Turkey

More read this year:-


8.The Still Point by Amy Sackville ARCTIC CIRCLE.
9.The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai INDIA.
10.The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by UiDavid Mitchell JAPAN
11.Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. CHINA
12.All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye by Christopher Brookmyre SCOTLAND.
13.Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene PARAGUAY.
14.Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier ENGLAND

15.No and Me by Delphine de Vigan FRANCE.
16.Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer AMERICA.
17.Little Bee by Chris Cleave NIGERIA.
18.The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom NORTHERN IRELAND.
19.Geology of Barbados -- a Brief Account of the Island's Origin and Its Major Geological Features by Hans G. Machel BARBADOS
20. Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene CUBA
21. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey AUSTRALIA
22. Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch MALAYSIA
23. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster ITALY
24. Dark Horizons by Dan Smith INDONESIA
25. Fruit of the Lemon: A Novel by Andrea Levy JAMAICA
26. The Constant Gardener by John le Carré KENYA
27. Music and Silence by Rose Tremain DENMARK
28. The Dominica Story: A History of the Island Lennox
Honychurch DOMINICA
29.Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath ICELAND
30.Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story Of Tibet by Xinran TIBET
31.Aphrodites War by Andrea Busfield CYPRUS
32.The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer HUNGARY
33.Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray BELGIUM
34 Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier HOLLAND
35. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons RUSSIA
36. The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan WALES
37. On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves THE MALDIVES
38. The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje SRI LANKA
39. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill LAOS
40. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón SPAIN
41. The Labyrinth of Osiris by Paul Sussman ISRAEL
42. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer CZECHOSLOVAK IA
43. A Small Death In Lisbon by Robert Wilson PORTUGAL
44. Going Solo by Roald Dahl TANZANIA
45. Orkney by Amy Sackville ORKNEY ISLANDS
46. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie IRAQ
47. Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel by Maria Semple ANTARCTICA

You are doing well!

I hadn't realised how many different countries I had read about until I actually listed them!!

I've just looked at mine - I'm fantasy places, UK or USA!

Blooming 'eck Susan, you're putting us all to shame

Just by chance....I was amazed myself at my literary travels....I've found some good books to fit into the challenge, including a couple that were already on my tbr list.

20. Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene CUBA

Great list, Susan. Have you read any others in the Ian Sansom Mobile Library series?

Yes Melki, I've read the second one, but to be honest, I was very disappointed....not nearly as good as the first.
I'm not sure if I shall read anymore, perhaps if I see the third in the library, I might give the series another try.
Have you read them?

The second was a real let-down. The third was better as it involves Israel and Ted on a road-trip AND Ted doing some flirting with Israel's mother. I have the fourth book, but have not yet read it.

Susan wrote: "20. Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene CUBA"

I was going to do The Old Man and the Sea for Cuba, but now I have a choice. What did you think of it?

But Ian, you love Hemingway! Plus The Old Man and the Sea is what...45 pages?

I did used to fancy Meriel H. I didn't know about the 45pp. My only knowledge is based on the Spencer Tracey film.

Just checked...actually 96 pages. I think Mariel still looks great.

Ian....I liked it,very satirical, interesting characters and of course a great setting. I'm sure you would enjoy it.

21. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. AUSTRALIA

This is such an unusual book, at times very violent, but compelling....a great read.

22. Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch MALAYSIA

I'm not too sure what to say about this book....it was both horrible and brilliant.
I found the subject matter very difficult to read at times, but I'm glad that I persevered and finished it, as ultimately it was very moving.

What country Susan? Btw - I'm reading The Old Man and the Sea.

Oops....MALAYSIA.

That's a great book Ian....I've been thinking of reading a bit more Hemmingway....must look and see what other locations his books are set in!

23. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster ITALY

I saw this movie a few months ago, and decided then to read the book, so it's fitted in nicely with this challenge.
I enjoyed the movie, but the book is so much better....great settings....interesting characters, and a very satisfying story. Loved it.

Look at you go, Susan! Twenty-three already!

I'm really enjoying this challenge, it adds extra interest to choosing books.

Susan - YOu could read Half a Yellow Sun or Purple Hisbiscus by Chimnanda Ngozi ( can't remember her other name and have lent my books out ) for Nigeria and The Elephant Whisperer for South Africa

Alison....I actually have Half a Yellow Sun....I couldn't get into it the first time, but will definatly try again
The other two books look good, thank you for the ideas.

24.Dark Horizons by Dan Smith INDONESIA

As it's title suggests, this is a dark book,a powerful story, with well developed characters, exploring a very frightening side of the world of backpacking and travelling.
It's a very good book....but just way too violent for my wimpy tastes!

25.Fruit of the Lemon: A Novel by Andrea Levy JAMAICA

This was an enjoyable book about a Jamaican woman, born in England, who returns to Jamaica to search for her roots.

26.The Constant Gardener by John le Carré KENYA

This was also my book for November's Genre Challenge....I thought it was brilliant, and would certainly recommend it.

I liked the movie and I've been wanting to read the book for years now.

I haven't seen the movie yet....the book is well worth reading.

27. Music and Silence by Rose Tremain DENMARK

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and gave it five stars.

28. The Dominica Story: A History of the Island by Lennox Honychurch

A great insight into the History and development of thie beautiful little Island.

29. Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath ICELAND

This was an unusual murder/mystery, combining old Iclandic folklore, with a modern murder investigation.
The author introduced a possible link to The Lord of the Rings, suggesting that J.R.R. Tolkien based his story on a secret Saga in which an ancient ring gave it's wearer power and longevity.
I thought it was a clever idea, but for me it was simply another crime/detective novel, but with an interesting setting....it was ok, but that's all.

30. Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story Of Tibet by Xinran TIBET

I was totally absorbed by this book, it was a real revelation about the lifestyle of Tibetan nomads, and also such a sad story of the selfless love of a woman vainly searching for her lost husband.

I thought it was brilliant too.

Looking forward to this one Susan...we can chat about it then!

I think you'll like it, Shelli, it's a book I'll remember, especially as it's a true story.

31. Aphrodites War by Andrea Busfield CYPRUS

I thought this book was interesting from an historical point of view....I remember when Cyprus was divided, but I wasn't that impressed by the story, although there were some interesting characters.
Not a book I would call a favourite.

Susan wrote: "31. Aphrodites War by Andrea Busfield CYPRUS

I thought this book was interesting from an historical point of view....I remember when Cyprus was divided, but I wasn'..."

I read this last year and enjoyed it, would be a boring world if we all liked the same things.

I agree Lynne....glad you enjoyed it.
Even though this one wasn't a favourite, I think I would read another of her books.

I highly recommend her earlier book Born Under a Million Shadows set in Afghanistan. I have a review here if you want to know a bit more. I didn't enjoy Aphrodite's War anywhere near as much as this one....

Thank you, Packabook, I'll look at that.

32. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer HUNGARY

Absolutely brilliant!!

Susan wrote: "32. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer HUNGARY

Absolutely brilliant!!"
I loved that one too Susan.

33. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray BELGIUM

A Classic, although long, well worth the time it takes to read it with great story lines, and unforgettable characters.

34. Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier 4* HOLLAND

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a fairly simple story, but peopled with interesting characters.
I found a web site that had photographs of many of Vermeer's paintings, which I could look at as they were mentioned in the book.
This made it an even more enjoyable read.

35. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons RUSSIA

36. The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan WALES