UK Book Club discussion

I've been thinking about this for long enough, so have decided to just get on with it! Will be adding books as I go, although have a few ideas about reading matter for 2012 - really looking forward to this:)

A: Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
B: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
C: Private View by Beryl Cook
D: The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm by Matt Dickinson
E: Hannah's Gift by Thomas Eidson
F: Don't Ever Get Old by Daniel Friedman
G: Jubilee by Eliza Graham
H: The Man In The Picture by Susan Hill
I: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
J: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
K: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
L: The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life: How to Get More Books in Your Life and More Life from Your Books by Steve Leveen
M: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
N: The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan
O:
P: Slings & Arrows by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Q:
R: Revelation Was Wrong by Mark Rice
S: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
T: Silver: Acheron by Keira Michelle Telford
U:
V:
W: Shadows Of The Workhouse by Jennifer Worth
X:
Y: Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward? by David Lawrence Young
Z:The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Good luck!

Em wrote: "Good luck!"

Thanks, Em! Happy New Year to you!

and to you too Angela! In fact, you;ve inspired me...

I finished an A-Z earlier this year but I tink I'm going to start another, I'll try to make it all new-to-me authors as it a good way to motivate me to try some new and unusual choices.

Em wrote: "and to you too Angela! In fact, you;ve inspired me...

I finished an A-Z earlier this year but I tink I'm going to start another, I'll try to make it all new-to-me authors as it a good way to mo..."

Motivated me too - will try and do this too for 2012 along with my own bookmark challenge, 80 books and UK challenges. I am sure some will cross over!

Angela wrote: "I've been thinking about this for long enough, so have decided to just get on with it! Will be adding books as I go, although have a few ideas about reading matter for 2012 - really looking forward..."

Have fun Angela :)

There we are: Book number 1 added! I thoroughly enjoyed Rivers of London - the mixture of crime and the supernatural was dealt with in a way I've not come across before. A highly entertaining start to 2012.

Angela wrote: "There we are: Book number 1 added! I thoroughly enjoyed Rivers of London - the mixture of crime and the supernatural was dealt with in a way I've not come across before. A highly ent..."

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch is very good too it's a great sequel.

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Angela wrote: "There we are: Book number 1 added! I thoroughly enjoyed Rivers of London - the mixture of crime and the supernatural was dealt with in a way I've not come across befor..."

I got it out of the library in the week:) Will start it when I've finished Treasure Island, probably later today.

That's the second one! I quite enjoyed Treasure Island - when I tried to read it before, I was 11 years old and in my first term at secondary school. I hated it - couldn't understand the language, thought it was a boys' book etc. It just goes to show how children can be put off literature by the books "offered" at school!

Have just added book number 3 - a very moving and honest account by Julie Elizabeth Powell of the loss of her daughter, Samantha.

Finished a couple of days ago. It was a good read - the second part of Jennifer Worth's trilogy of memoirs about her work as a midwife/nurse in the East End of London. Her anecdotal style is easy to read, but so evocative of the times. A very moving and thought-provoking book.

Is the first one being serialized on BBC at the mo?

Ian wrote: "Is the first one being serialized on BBC at the mo?"

Yes,Ian. I had no idea the BBC was going to dramatise the books. I think the next episode will include an anecdote from the book I've just read.

Have just finished my first Susan Hill ghost story - The Man In The Picture. I really enjoyed the style of the story - it reminded me of older ghostly tales. The story was not particularly complicated, but it was so atmospheric and chilling. A thoroughly good read for me!

I decided to add Beryl Cook's second collection of paintings and comments, as I enjoyed it so much. Private View is a little gem. If you've not come across the work of Beryl Cook, you may like to look into finding out about her. Her style might not be to everyone's taste, but is so full of perceptive wit that it warrants more than just a cursory glance.

Finished Matt Dickinson's book, The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm, this morning. It was an absorbing account of the proposed filmed ascent of Everest by actor, Brian Blessed. However, the book was much more than this. It was an examination of man's desire to push to the limits of endurance; a description of the amazing surroundings of the highest mountain in the world and its environment and ultimately, a study of survival in extreme conditions.

Finished Steve Leveen's book,The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life: How to Get More Books in Your Life and More Life from Your Books the other day. Contained lots of ideas about reading, but not many new ones for me. Steve Leveen is an advocate of audiobooks, which is an area that I haven't explored yet - will have to see what the library has to offer.

Finished Moloka'i by Alan Brennert this morning. I found the book hard going at times - a very "worthy" book! The author obviously felt passionate about his need to inform his readers of the how Hansen's disease (leprosy) sufferers lived and were treated during the 20th century in Hawaii.Unfortunately, some of the characters lacked depth,especially, in my opinion, Rachel the main character. As I said - a worthy book, but not a totally absorbing read for me.

I finished The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern today. I thought it was a wonderful book - it was so magical. Erin Morgenstern's descriptions were quite precise, but created such clear pictures in my head. I liked the main characters, Celia and Marco - in fact the book was full of interesting characters.

Angela wrote: "I finished The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern today. I thought it was a wonderful book - it was so magical. Erin Morgenstern's descriptions were q..."

I started this last night as my local library got it for me. Only on page 70 but really enjoying it so far.

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Angela wrote: "I finished The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern today. I thought it was a wonderful book - it was so magical. Erin Morgenstern's desc..."

Oh, I hope you continue to enjoy it, Lynne. I just loved the whole experience!

I seem to be reading books with the same letter at the start of the author's name at the moment, but have another to add, at last! I finished by Mark Rice yesterday. It was a short story about the end of the world, brought about when a favourite Scottish alcoholic beverage turned to vinegar! Mark Rice is Scottish and his dialogue is great. Pretty gruesome - it reminded me of the film "Shaun of the Dead" - but I found it most entertaining!

Just finished Jubilee by Eliza Graham. Although the idea was good, I was a bit disappointed with the chopping and changing of the time period. So many different time frames were used, that I ended up feeling a bit confused.

I seem to be reading lots of books that I can't add to this challenge. There are two I'm in the process of reading that I will be able to add, but think I'll have to actively look for a few more.

Glad to be able to add another one - Hannah's Gift by Thomas Eidson.Really enjoyed this one - Thomas Eidson writes well and has created some great characters in this book. Very unusual story line!

I finished The Secret Life of Bees this morning and enjoyed it immensely.

Angela wrote: "I finished The Secret Life of Bees this morning and enjoyed it immensely."

I found the DVD of this in Morrisons the other day. I haven't watched it yet though, I will get round to it this week.

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Angela wrote: "I finished The Secret Life of Bees this morning and enjoyed it immensely."

I found the DVD of this in Morrisons the other day. I haven't watched it yet though, I will get round to i..."

One of my friends saw my Goodreads post on facebook and we're going to do a swap - I'm borrowing the DVD and she's having the book!

Just added Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to the list. It was a real gem of a book!

At last, another letter! F this time - Daniel Friedman's novel Don't Ever Get Old. It was an entertaining mystery, with an 88 year old protagonist!

You r choices look great Angela, I have put the Daniel Freedman on my to read list as it looks intriguing, our reading group are doing Harolr Fry in the new year and I'm looking forward to it , Secret life of bees I read a few years ago and loved as did my wife ( must watch DVD ) , we read small hand for r group last dec and it was creepy so shall try the Susan hill you have down . Am especially interested in Beryl Cook book , one of those painters that I see and chuckle but never gone any further but the book sounds good ! Sorry bit rambling!

Andrew wrote: "You r choices look great Angela, I have put the Daniel Freedman on my to read list as it looks intriguing, our reading group are doing Harolr Fry in the new year and I'm looking forward to it , Sec..."

Thank you for your comments. Andrew. I've really enjoyed most of these books. I love the Susan Hill ghost stories - they are so subtle in their creepiness and I enjoy her style. We bought a Beryl Cook print years ago and have liked her work ever since. We were lucky to pick up the book for just a few pounds in a charity shop - what a find!

Well, it's a long time since I added anything here. There are only 9 to go, so have decided to continue into 2013. Really must make an effort to look for I, N, O, Q, U, V, X, Y and Z!!

Oh good! I've just realised I'm reading an "I" author - Eowyn Ivey.

Ridiculously please with myself that I can, at last, add another book to the list - The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. I loved this book!
Now, I do need to seriously delve into my rather large collection of books to find the last 8 authors.

There's going to be an "O" coming up soon! Going to read by George Orwell.

Didn't manage the Orwell, but have been able to add The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan and Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward? byDavid Lawrence Young. Enjoyed the first and found the second very interesting. Will soon have a Z - about two thirds through The Book Thief.

So glad to be able to add another one - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Now, I need to find books for O Q U V and X