Lush Library discussion

Name a book starting with the next letter of the Alphabet - if possible make it a book you've read and write a wee blurb ;)

A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby
I read a lot of Nick Hornby when I was in HK and even though this book has a bit of a dark theme it is quite uplifting.

Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh.

I own three copies of this book and the DVD of the 2008 adaptation.

Set from 1923 and the second world war, Charles Ryder is a student at Oxford from a comfortable but not particularly loving background. In his first term meets and becomes very close friends with the eccentric and aristocratic Sebastian Flyte. The book is about Charles' time with and around the Flyte family through the years and the effect they have upon him and his life.

Company of liars - Karen Maitland

Set in 1348 it's the story of a group of travellers drawn together as they try to avoid the plague whilst crossing England. It's a medieval, supernatural thriller - I really enjoyed it.

Down Under - Bill Bryson.

Bill Bryson travels the width and breadth of Australia and this is the resulting travel log. Very amusing and informative.

Empress Orchid - Anchee Min
Historical fiction written in the first person about a girl who becomes a concubine and lives in the forbidden city. This book was difficult to put down and is an interesting account of the old ways of China.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.
Tale of two Victorian girls with a strangely linked past, growing up in very different circumstances.
More twists in a book than I've ever read before, the story completely turned on it's head more than once. An amazing suspense/erotic drama.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

A classic tale of a young orphan,Pip, who meets a variety of strange and challenging people. The tale follows Pip through his life to adulthood and how his circumstances change.

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

One of my favourite discworld novels and my second favourite christmas novel (after Christmas Carol of course). A brilliant story where the Hogfather (i.e. Santa) goes missing and Death has to take his place. It is hilarious.

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
A true crime story that chills. How a lovely family is murdered in such a senseless way and a look into the minds of the murderers. This is in my top 5 books!

I know why the caged bird sings.
The first of a five book autobiograohy by Maya Angelou telling of her childhood in Arkansas in the 30's

Just So stories - a series of fanciful tales for children written by Rudyard Kipling.

Kidnapped - classic by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite (assuming we're not counting The as a word, because it never counts really)

"As the clock chimes the turn of the twentieth century, Lilly Nelly Aphrodite takes her first breath. The illegitimate, orphaned daughter of a cabaret performer, she finds early refuge at a Berlin Catholic orphanage. From there follows a lifetime of reinventions, from orphan to maid, war bride, tingle-tangle nightclub girl, and script typist. Her eventual transformation into one of Germany’s leading silent-film stars, and a partner in a remarkable romance that crosses decades and continents, could ultimately cost her everything she has worked for."

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden.

The story of a young Japanese girl, Sayuri and her life becoming a geisha. It has been criticised for inaccuracy but if you read it as a work of fiction, it's an enjoyable book.

Notes from a Big Country - Bill Bryson.

Bryson moves back to the USA after living for the last 20 years in England. He writes articles for the Times (I think it was the Times anyway) about getting used to his native land again. This book is made up of all of the articles brought together. Absolutely hilarious, I think it's my favorite book.

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

This is one of my favourite books ever, a beautifully written story of 2 ranch hands who dream of owning their own ranch and how their plans go tragicallly wrong.

The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingslover.
Bought on Ko Phi Phi this was way to heavy (in every sense) a book to read there. Beautifully written story of a minister and his family who move from the U.S. to the Congo.
(I was going to put Of mice and men - such a touching book.)

The Queen and I - Sue Townsend

What would happen if a socialist government was elected and ousted the royal family? Set after the election of 1992 when Diana and Charles were still married and Prince William and Harry were little. The whole royal family are moved from their various palaces and now live on a housing estate as normal citizens in the new republic.

The Return by Victoria Hislop
(how do I get the linky thing to the book?)

A very brief synopsis - woman visiting Granada learns about the history of the Spanish civil war through the story of a family living at the time.

Stardust - Neil Gaiman
(at the top of the box to type your post it says add book/author, click that and type in the title)

A young man from the village of Wall ventures into the land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star. The book that inspired the film, read the book, it's better.

Two Caravans - Monica Lewynka
(thank you)

The story of (mainly Eastern European) farm workers. At times it seems to fall back on stereotypes but is also very funny in places whilst highlighting the awful conditions many migrant workers face.

Ulysses - James Joyce.

Set in Dublin. It covers a 24 hours period in the city , specifically thursday 16th of June 1904.

Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackery.
A classic published in 1847 . It satarises early 19th society.

Wyrd Sisters
Witches Abroad

I couldn't decide which one to pick - both Terry Pratchett and both contain Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat and are therefore brilliant.

Ok I cheated and added a book I've not only not read but never even heard of before!
Apparently it's about Marco Polo

Your heart belongs to me - Dean Koontz. A thriller centred round a heart transplant patient who is targeted by a violent stalker. I like a lot of Dean Koontz books but I think his quality's a bit patchy and this isn't one of his best (the only Y I could think of though).

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintainance - Rober M Persig.

Written in the 1970's , a story which involves a long motor cycle trip and explores life, ideas and expresses ideas on how best to live life.

Last message was by deleted member? what?! lol

I expect it just means someone who's left the group as I don't think we've deleted anyone. Actually we did delete one person who had ended up here by mistake, but I don't think it was him?

I thought that be the case, but I would think they'd just stop visiting rather than actually leaving the group... Guess it's just me that does that hehe x

Give me an 'A'

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

morgaine_cat wrote: "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents"

Nice one - give us more. Have you read it? Thoughts?

oops, sorry, I missed out that bit, didn't I? silly me.

yes, I read it, and I really enjoyed it, it was very funny. I can't remember the plot too well, it's been a few years, but it's a discworld novel, albeit more of a YA one. and Pratchett is always great, innit.

The Beach - Alex Garland

I read this when I lived in Asia and it really gripped me - it's the plausibility that is so chilling. I'll reread it at some point because it really is that good.

Crome Yellow, Aldous Huxley. I love this book, it is a satire about a young poet (Denis Stone) in the 1920s, when he goes to stay at Crome with a varied range of characters. I would definitely recommend this book, I find it a nice, short book and quite easy to read.