UK Book Club discussion

This looks like a great challenge and I'm looking forward to joining in.

As a starting point I went through my TBR and was surprised that I could find so many books set in different locations - I thought they would all be UK and US!

The White Tiger - India
Like Water for Chocolate - Mexico
Les Misérables - France
Our Man In Havana - Cuba
Let the Right One In - Sweden
Biko - South Africa
The Book Thief - Germany
Falling for Hamlet - Denmark
City of Thieves - Russia
Little Dorrit - UK
American Gods - US
The Pirate's Daughter - Jamaica
Anil's Ghost - Sri Lanka

Welcome to our band of world travellers Emma

Ooo - I have "City of Thieves" and didn't even realize it was set in Russia. Thanks, Emma.

Melki wrote: "Ooo - I have "City of Thieves" and didn't even realize it was set in Russia. Thanks, Emma."

I think I have that one too!

It seems to have taken me ages, but I finally got around to reading one off my list!

If that first book is anything to go by, I am going to love this challenge. I think is probably the best novel I've read this year. The best book I've read in ages, in fact. I loved it and, of course, it completely broke my heart.

I loved The Book Thief as well, I've been religiously lending it out to friends and family ever since I read it for my book group a couple of years ago!

I gave it to my mother-in-law yesterday, telling her she had to read it. I've found it's a hard one to explain as to why it's so good without giving too much away. And telling people it made me bawl my eyes out isn't the best advertising initially, lol.

Our library has just introduced an on-line book group. The Book Thief is the second read. I am no. 4 on the reservation list - so it should come about Christmas! Have heard so many good things about it - sadly I have already been to Germany but will fit it in anyway :).

It's definitely worth the wait. I heard so much good stuff about it too so I was a bit nervous that it wouldn't live up to the hype, but it absolutely did.

Great book, i recommend it to everyone.

I've decided to swap with for my Sweden book as I have to read the latter for a book group next month anyway.

Emma wrote: "It seems to have taken me ages, but I finally got around to reading one off my list!

If that first book is anything to go by, I am going to love this challenge. I think [bookcover:The Book Thief|..."

Not sure can read another book like this after Char GREY . I then saw on tv The Boy In Stripped Pajamas Did anyone else? really powerful film IN my opinion better than Shindlers List

I can see where you are coming from with that. After reading it, I do feel the need for something 'lighter' just because it was such an emotional experience.

I haven't read The Boy in Striped Pyjamas but when I saw the film it was really sad. I didn't think it was more powerful than Schindler's List though - particularly because Schindler's List is a true story.

I couldn't face the film - I thought the book was amazing. Even though you just knew what was going to happen it was absolutely gripping. I have been to Auschwitz twice but have never been able to go past the banner at the entrance.

Emma wrote: "It seems to have taken me ages, but I finally got around to reading one off my list!

If that first book is anything to go by, I am going to love this challenge. I think The Book Thiefis probably the best novel I've read this year...."

I'm reading it right now, only 100 pages in, but really enjoying it so far....

I am also reading The Book Thief, but not very far into it. Popular book

I've read The Book Thief but going to reread it for Germany I think. I thought the film The Boy etc was a bit cliched and predictable.....not in the same league as Schindlers List. Went to Dachau many years ago - not an extermination camp but still chilling.

I agree with Ian, thought Schindlers was a lot better.

I seem drawn to reading about this terrible period in world history - not entirely sure why (but haven't read Schindler's List - yet.

I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas last year, before seeing the film. I enjoyed the film (if that's the right word), but the book was more powerful. I thought the budget constraints started to show when the camp was 'discovered'; it looked too small - just a couple of huts - and didn't convey the scale of the 'final solution'. In spite of this, the ending was very strong and had me in floods - even though I knew it was coming.

The Book Thief reminds me of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, only in that it covers the same period and the main protagonist is a child. The only other similarity is that they are both very good!

I am going to add:

to my list for my (you guessed it) American novel.

American Gods another great book.

I've got the impression from some of the reviews that it's a bit of a Marmite situation with American Gods but it looks really interesting.

Emma....I just finished American Gods yesterday....I thought it was brilliant, and gave it five stars. I'm going to read Anansi Boys soon, as ther is a link between the two books.

Emma wrote: "I've got the impression from some of the reviews that it's a bit of a Marmite situation with American Gods but it looks really interesting."

Definitely a marmite one! I didn't enjoy it!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Definitely a marmite one! I didn't enjoy it!"

Ooh, this will be an interesting one then.

Liz wrote: "I seem drawn to reading about this terrible period in world history - not entirely sure why (but haven't read Schindler's List - yet.

I read [book:The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|399..."

Schindler's Ark was a good book - have they changed the name of the book to match the subsequent film?? The film wa better though, as the film just captures so graphically the everyday, casual brutality of the camps.

I'm also adding:

Amil's Ghost for Sri Lanka.

I was recommended this book ages ago by a work colleague and only just remembered. She said she preferred it to The English Patient. (Which I haven't read or seen the film to)

I loved the film of The English Patient. Beautiful cinematography, charactes with real depth and dimention, and a great story. The I found the book and found it the most difficult and impenetrable thing that I've ever read. The author seems to favour demonstrating his intellect and using clever imagery at the expense of telling the story.

Starfish13 wrote: "I loved the film of The English Patient. Beautiful cinematography, charactes with real depth and dimention, and a great story. The I found the book and found it the most difficult and impenetrabl..."

Bit pretentious then? That's a shame. Fingers crossed Anil's Ghost won't be like that.

Just finished Let the Right One In for Sweden. It was good but not as scary as I thought it was going to be. That said, I'm not sure whether I'll be watching the film as the book was pretty gory and graphic; seeing some of those scenes 'brought to life' might be a bit too much for my stomach to deal with.

Emma wrote: "Just finished Let the Right One In for Sweden. It was good but not as scary as I thought it was going to be. That said, I'm not sure whether I'll be watching the film as the book was ..."

The Swedish version of the film is very good - arthouse sort of film. I'd recommend it as a film. Yet to read the book which I've heard is a bit graphic to say the least.