UK Book Club discussion

1.Alabama
2.Alaska - The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
3.Arizona - Drive by James Sallis
4.Arkansas - True Grit by Charles Portis
5.California - Palo Alto by James Franco
6.Colorado - The Stand by Stephen King
7.Connecticut
8.Delaware - Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
9.Florida - Black Out by Lisa Unger
10.Georgia
11.Hawaii - The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
12.Idaho
13.Illinois - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
14.Indiana - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
15.Iowa
16.Kansas
17.Kentucky
18.Louisiana - Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
19.Maine
20.Maryland
21.Massachusetts - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
22.Michigan - The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
23.Minnesota - Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
24.Mississippi - Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
25.Missouri - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
26.Montana
27.Nebraska
28.Nevada
29.New Hampshire - Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
30.New Jersey - Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
31.New Mexico - Solar by Ian McEwan
32.New York - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
33.North Carolina - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
34.North Dakota
35.Ohio
36.Oklahoma
37.Oregon - The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
38.Pennsylvania - The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
39.Rhode Island
40.South Carolina
41.South Dakota
42.Tennessee - A Secret Rage by Charlaine Harris
43.Texas - Small Steps by Louis Sachar
44.Utah
45.Vermont
46.Virginia
47.Washington - Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
48.West Virginia
49.Wisconsin - American Gods by Neil Gaiman
50.Wyoming - Close Range by Annie Proulx

and the bonus....not to be confused with no 47 above

51. Washington DC - What it Was by George Pelecanos

I could be some time...

A few pages left of Four to Score by Janet Evanovich which will count for New Jersey. Problem being I am having such a lot of fun reading this series I can imagine myself spending quite a bit of time in New Jersey and not really making in roads else where.

Em wrote: "I could be some time...

A few pages left of Four to Score by Janet Evanovich which will count for New Jersey. Problem being I am having such a lot of fun reading this ..."

They are fun aren't they I have read to number 8 so far. I just love Grandma Mazzer. I listened to the first 8 on audio Loralli King read them and she is brilliant to listen to.

Good to know they are set in Juuurzee as pronounced in The Sopranos.

Yes, if you're in need or a New Jersey, I'd recommend these books. It's a bit embarassing if I'm reading in public because they do make me laugh out loud, it's not all that lady-like to splutter your skinny latte in Costa Coffee...

Em wrote: "Yes, if you're in need or a New Jersey, I'd recommend these books. It's a bit embarassing if I'm reading in public because they do make me laugh out loud, it's not all that lady-like to splutter y..."

Oh I am very good at that too!

Em wrote: "I could be some time...

A few pages left of Four to Score by Janet Evanovich which will count for New Jersey. Problem being I am having such a lot of fun reading this ..."

I have read through #17 Em...some of them at the end aren't as good...but I haven't read the latest one yet. I hope the author freshens it up a bit!!

I only discovered them about a year ago and I am enjoying them so far but with such a long series, there's a good chance of them becoming forumulaic.

US States

Well technically, I have been to New Jersey twice and I've counted North Carolina as over halfway through reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks but oh boy, I do have a long way left to go...

The library have got Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer for me to collect next week. That means I can make further in-roads to the USA and add New York - I must head away from the East coast at some point though.

I've finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer which is based in New York and the city features heavily in this very affecting story which follows the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on one very unusual 9 year old boy. The sub plot is equally compelling, narrated by his grandparents who reflect on their history, the impact of war upon their young lives in Dresden and their subsequent lives together and apart.

Making further in-roads to the USA at the moment, reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath which I will count for Massachusetts (although some of the story takes place in New York and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson which is based in New Hampshire.

Just stumbled on this...interesting!

Wondering how easy versus hard some of the states will be. Maine for Stephen King and California and Oregon for Dean Koontz, but what about more obscure places like Rhode Island and Michigan?

Good luck with it anyway!

And I love the Janet Evanovich thread. I'm up to book fourteen! And you're right Em...I think they do become formulaic after a while...

Hi Tony, so far, I've just been reading books that I already own or were on my to-read and coincidentally could tick of a state but I can imagine it becoming trickier... Thaks for the suggestions, Dean Koontz is a writer I've yet to discover so this could be a good reason to try him.

I may have to employ Good Reads and Google to find books based in a certain place that I also want to read.

I guess I'll continue to read the Stephanie Plum series for as long as I'm enjoying them, becoming formulaic might not be a problem (provided I like the formula!)

Does the book have to just cover one state? Could you have a road trip book which covered several?

I'm taking it as one book, one state but since a lot of books might cover more than one I'll probably pick the one that features most. I guess it's open to interpretation. Thanks for the recommendation by the way - I'll see if the library has it!

Managed to escape the East coast at last! Solar by Ian McEwan begins in the UK, detours to the Arctic but winds up in New Mexico for the last third or so.

I was thinking of this the other day. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail takes in a few in the East coast...but it likes you might have them already...

I probably have but I think I'll probably read it anyway, I usually enjoy Bill Bryson and I haven't read this one yet.

That was my wife's least favourite of Bryson's books.. at least of the ones she's read. Will be interested to see what you think of it..

I've made it a little bit further now - have read The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt for Oregon and the majority of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater which is set in Minnesota.

I've just finished The Stand which has mulitple locations across the USA but the majority centres on Boulder, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm going for Colorado on this one.

Looking for Alaska by John Green takes place in Florida and Alabama! :) I was trying to think of more for you, but I just realized, most of my books take place in other countries!

Thanks Emily, some locations are more difficult than others - any suggestions are very welcome!

For California I've read Palo Alto by James Franco - it's a collection of short stories about teens who mainly seem to be drunk, high (or both?!) Either self-destructive, or simply destructive, these aren't characters I warm to!

Is #47 Washington DC or Washington State?

47 is Washington State, bonus no 51 is DC!

How about



...takes place in West Virginia and Maryland?

Tony wrote: "How about



...takes place in West Virginia and Maryland?"

Link didn't paste, Silence of the Lambs:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...

Good suggestion, I've picked up this book more times than I can count but I always put it back - not that I don't think it'll be good, truth is I'm a bit scared!

I think the prequel Red Dragon is scarier, actually. Lot more gruesome. SotL is more psychological horror.

I had a thought for something different for you yesterday: The climax of



...is set in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Em wrote: "For California I've read Palo Alto by James Franco - it's a collection of short stories about teens who mainly seem to be drunk, high (or both?!) Either self-destructive, or simply destructive, the..."

Sounds like he's trying to be the next Brett Easton Ellis?

Yes Liz, a bit like that but not so good - also reminded me of Jack Kerouac (which from me, isn't really a complement!)

I'm about to start A Secret Rage by Charlaine Harris, set in Tennesee.

A Secret Rage was pretty good, I admit I didn't exactly have high expectations but thought it would be an easy read for the commute this week. It's a straight, crime novel with no supernatural twists and I thought it was an engaging, gripping story.

I'm adding The Paris Wife by Paula McLain for Illinois. It's a novel with dual locations, the first section where Hadley and Ernest meet is in Chicago, then after a whirlwind courtship they marry and move to Paris.

Ian may shoot me down in flames here, but I've just read The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick and although the lead character is technically living in New Jersey, the central focus for much of the action concerns the Philadelphia Eagles, many key events take place in Philadelphia and I felt that city was more intrinsic to the plot than anywhere else so I was inclined to count this one for Pensylvania.

Not to mention, I already have a book for New Jersey!

New Map!



>

Most of the North East coast AND West coast, cool!

Em wrote: "Ian may shoot me down in flames here, but I've just read The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick and although the lead character is technically..."

As long as you can still sleep at night Em.

I expect I'll cope!

by Gillian Flynn is set in Missouri.

Find a Nebraska, Kansas or Oklahoma, Em and you'll have successfully linked East and West. :0)

Good spot Bill. There's 2 short and reputedly classic US novels that would do this for you Em. for Nebraska or for Oklahoma. I did for Kansas which was really good.

Another idea for Nebraska is . It is set in Omaha. I'm reading it right now and enjoying it quite a bit.

Thanks for the suggestions, couple are on my to read list, just a matter if finding time to. Teas them!

The Outsiders is a great story, Em.