UK Book Club discussion

Looking forward to joining in this challenge. Off to look at what I've read so far this year to see what I can add.

Well out of the 68 books I've read this year I've only found 5 that aren't set in either UK/USA

1. The Beach Hutby Veronica Henry- UK
2.The Perfect Lieby Emily Barr Venice, Italy
3.Hothouse Flower by Lucinda Riley- Thailand
4.Living la Vida Loca by Belinda Jones- Argentina
5.Buried Alive by Jack Kerley- USA
6.The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique
Roffey- Trinidad
7.The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver- Mexico
8.The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson- Jamaica
9.Island Daze by Maxine Barry- Barbados
10.Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard- Costa Rica
11.The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht- Croatia
12. Deadly Safari by Karin McQuillan - Kenya
13. The First Wife by Emily Barr- Spain
14. Cuban Heels by Emily Barr- Cuba
15. The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper- Canada
16. The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani - France
17. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - Afghanistan
18. The Sound of Butterflies by Rachael King- Brazil
19. The Thread by Victoria Hislop- Greece
20. The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli- Vietnam
21. The Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingsolver- Congo(DRC)

Some great books there Sam...will be investigating the ones I don't know

Thanks Ian.
I've spent a lot of time over the weekend looking at books set in other countries & been making a list of books I'd like to read. Should certainly broaden my reading & get me away from reading too much crime.

No such thing as reading too much crime - quite good fun finding crime thrillers set in different countries

I've read a few crime thrillers set in different countries. I mainly read US crime though for some reason I struggle with stuff set in the UK

Merlin wrote: "Please can I ask you to take a look at mine, even try the first chapters see if I can tempt you back to stories set this side of the pond.

Check out my profile page all the links are there, so..."

Hi Merlin
I will certainly give the first one a go at some point. Got a lot to read in October for book groups etc but I'll get to it at some point

I've just finished The Pirate's Daughterfor Jamaica. I found it a really great read.

Sam wrote: "I've just finished The Pirate's Daughterfor Jamaica. I found it a really great read."

I think I'm going to add that one to my list. :)

Emma wrote: "Sam wrote: "I've just finished The Pirate's Daughterfor Jamaica. I found it a really great read."

I think I'm going to add that one to my list. :)"

It was a bit of an eye opener into the life of Errol Flynn

Sam wrote: "Emma wrote: "Sam wrote: "I've just finished The Pirate's Daughterfor Jamaica. I found it a really great read."

I think I'm going to add that one to my list. :)"

It was a bit of an ..."

I can't say I know much about him, apart from that I saw his Robin Hood when I was really little and loved it. It will be interesting to find out a bit more about him.

Sam wrote: "I've just finished The Pirate's Daughterfor Jamaica. I found it a really great read."

Think I have that somewhere on my bookcase!

I've just finished for Barbados. Not a mindblowing masterpiece but a reasonably enjoyable read.

Just read for Costa Rica. Normally I quite like Linda Howard stuff but this was verging a little too much on the Mills & Boon side for me

Hi Sam
saw your comment re crime set in uk

Have you tried Robert Goddard? they are all different bit historical a bit supernatural may be worth a go

Thanks Robert. No I've not tried him. We've got lots of his books in the library. Can you recommend a good one to start with?

Sam wrote: "Thanks Robert. No I've not tried him. We've got lots of his books in the library. Can you recommend a good one to start with?"

I recently read Set in Stone by Robert Goddard recommended by Bob and I loved it.

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Sam wrote: "Thanks Robert. No I've not tried him. We've got lots of his books in the library. Can you recommend a good one to start with?"

I recently read Set in Stone by [author:R..."

Lynne glad you enjoyed it and prob a good place to start
I have read 4 0r 5 now and visited Italy and Holland with him for challenge.
I read Past Caring for Portugal which is set in Madeira (Ian said does not count in own right)I liked it as hero not that likable and a good twist at end
Well worth a read for new author and to get a country
Please call me Bob only Lynne and my mum call me Robert when in trouble

I've just finished The Tiger's Wife for Croatia. I really struggled with this one, it was really beautifully written but the plot never seemed to pick up. Off to read a good thriller now

Sam wrote: "I've just finished The Tiger's Wife for Croatia. I really struggled with this one, it was really beautifully written but the plot never seemed to pick up. Off to read a good thriller..."
What thriller you going for?

Well I've just read Breaking Silence in less than 24 hours & I am now halfway through The Bone House. Both are set in the US so won't count towards this challenge but I needed something I knew would be quick reads after taking so long to read The Tiger's Wife. The do count towards another challenge I am doing though

Did same with fredrick Forsyth book

The Snow drop is good so far for a prize book
worth a read if you need Russia

Robert wrote: "Did same with fredrick Forsyth book

The Snow drop is good so far for a prize book
worth a read if you need Russia"

I have Snow Drop sitting on my IPad so I dare say I will read it in the next couple of weeks.

I've just finished which is set in Kenya

I read in one sitting last night for Spain. The book is set between England, New Zealand & Barcelona

Sam wrote: "I read in one sitting last night for Spain. The book is set between England, New Zealand & Barcelona"
One sitting not done that in ages

Just finished another Emily Barr book for Cuba. I really enjoy her as an author, a nice balance between a chick-lit and a mystery

I've just finished for Canada. The perfect book for Halloween weekend. I can't remember the last time a book unnerved me so much.

Oh I like the look of that one - not been to Canada yet. Is it a stand alone or part of a series?

It's stand alone, Sue. Worth a read if you need Canada & love crime fiction

Thanks Sam - will make a change from Scandi-crime!

The Alchemist's Secret just finished for France. Worth reading if you like books like the Da Vinci Code. I think I may have actually preferred it to the Da Vinci Code

I've just finished The Kite Runner for Afghanistan. An amazing book & a 5 star read for me

I loved that book too Sam!

I've just finished The Sound of Butterfliesfor Brazil. A little dark at times but a good read all the same

I've just finished The Sound of Butterfliesfor Brazil. A little dark at times but a good read all the same Sam

I have heard good things about that one Sam. I have only ventured as far as Mexico and read very little from South America generally so may try this one when the tbr pile shrinks a little!

It's worth a read if you need Brazil. When I read some of the reviews I was expecting it to be really dark & shocking but where I read a lot of crime I didn't find it shocking at all.

I've just finished & for Vietnam & Greece. Both were 5 star reads for me.

A lucky run - 2 5*s on the trot! They both look good and haven't been to Vietnam or Greece yet so I think Ill have to add them to the list. My mother in law usually has Victoria Hislop - I borrowed The Island from her so when we're visiting this Xmas I think I'll take a peak at her bookshelves!

I know I was very happy to read 2 such great & different books back to back. I'm going to read a couple of crime books next whilst I decide which country to visit next.

I am on the waitlist at the library for The Island. Your Vietnam choice looks good too.

Always like a good Vietnam novel, so just bought it. Already been to Vietnam on my trip but always nice to go back.

I've never read anything on Vietnam before but after that book I will be looking for more.

Just finished The Poisonwood Bible for the Congo. I really enjoyed this even if it was over 600 pages.

Sam wrote: "Just finished The Poisonwood Bible for the Congo. I really enjoyed this even if it was over 600 pages."
It took me ages too Sam. I had a dip about 500 pages in then enjoyed it again.

It's taken me about a week Sue which is unusual for me. I think I must have had the same dip but it was worth the 600 pages in the end although she probably could have finished it in less