UK Book Club discussion

OK - so far this year: (Though I'm sure I've forgotten some!)
1. Pakistan - A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif - Review
2. Jamaica - The Long Song by Andrea Levy - Review
3. India - The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall - Author Interview
4. Ireland - The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry - Review
5. England - Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig - Review
6. Iran - The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer and The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther - Review
7. Bangladesh - A Golden Age and The Good Muslim: A Novel by Tahmima Anam Review
8. Australia - The Slap by Christos Tsiolkos
9. France - L'Auberge by Julia Stagg
10. Russia - The Siege: A Novel and The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore Review
11. Italy - Last Train from Liguria by Christine Dwyer Hickey
12. Sri Lanka - Bone China by Roma Tearne
13.Thailand - Cross Currents by John Shors Review and Interview with author
14. Morocco - The Last Friend: A Novel by Tahar Ben Jelloun
15. USA - Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
16. Portugal - A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson
17. Spain - Guernica: A Novel by Dave Boling
18. Poland - The Warsaw Anagrams: A Novel by Richard Zimler
19. Austria - Mozart's Last Aria by Matt Rees
20. Western Sahara - See How Much I Love You
21. Algeria - What the Day Owes the Night
22. Rwanda - Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron Review
23. Afghanistan - The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri. N. Murari
24. Croatia - April Fool's Day by Josip Novakovich Review

Did you enjoy Bone China? I have read The Swimmer and Brixton Beach and really enjoyed both. Would like to hear her at a book festival/book talk as she describes locations so well - and the two I read are so different.

I was a bit so-so about Bone China. What is important to me in the books I read is that I get a good sense of place and the history of the events going on at the time - and there just wasn't quite enough of that for me in this one. A good story though.

Any suggestions for Denmark, I've read Miss Smillia's, currently watching the Danish version of The Killing on BBC4, brilliant.

Hi Deanne - Here's some that come highly recommended...


In the Company of Angels: A Novel by Thomas Kennedy
Music & Silence by Rose Tremain
To Siberia by Per Petterson
They all look very tempting!
Suzi

I have never been disappointed by anything of Rose Tremain - not read Music and Silence. Sadly I have already visited Denmark - perhaps if I get to go round again!

Ordered The Year of the Hare by Paasilima, just found out it's set in Finland.

Just started The Siege for my Russian novel. Thanks for the recommendation Suzi.

As for Denmark Deanne - plenty of crime fiction authors if you fancy a bit more scandi noir post Jo Nesbo

Jussi Adler-Olsen
Mikkel Birkegaard
Anders Boelsen
T.G. Boje
Leif Davidsen
Sissel-Jo Gazan
Jens Christian Grondahl
Peter Hoeg
Christian Jungersen
Lene Kaaberbol
Michel Larsen
Bo Tao Michaelis
Torben Nielsen

Ian wrote: "Just started The Siege for my Russian novel. Thanks for the recommendation Suzi.

As for Denmark Deanne - plenty of crime fiction authors if you fancy a bit more scandi noir post Jo Nesbo

Juss..."
I read jasper kent's vampire series for russia

Didn't realise you were joining this challengE Stephen

Ian wrote: "Didn't realise you were joining this challengE Stephen"

well would have to go through all what I read in 2011 to see what countries the books were based mainly in before I commit to the challenge lol just a shame maybe didnt do it at the start of the year lol

Ian
Been watching The Killing, the Danish version and would love to read the book if there is one, there is a name in the credits Soren Sveistrup, but Goodreads comes up with Sons of Entropy.

Deanne - I'm pretty sure it was just written for TV. Series 2 is due to be shown on the BBC in the Autumn and there is a 3rd series currently being made.

Ian
2 more series, as long as they keep up the quality, tried to watch the American version. Think it could be summed up in one word, Pants!.

Stephen wrote: "I read jasper kent's vampire series for russia..."

Talking of Russian vampires, how about Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko? (It was sucessfully made into a film in 2004) Anyone read it? It's on my 'to read' at the mo...

Deanne wrote: "Ian
2 more series, as long as they keep up the quality, tried to watch the American version. Think it could be summed up in one word, Pants!."

Just noticed that BBC4 are showing the first series of Spiral again from Saturday. I only saw the recent series 3, so hopefully they'll be showing series 2 as well.

Read Nightwatch about 3 years ago and always meant to get my hands on the sequels.

Forgot to add these to my list from a few months ago...
16. Portugal - A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson and
17. Spain - Guernica: A Novel by Dave Boling
and a couple of newly finished ones
18. Portugal (correction - Poland) - The Warsaw Anagrams: A Novel by Richard Zimler and
19. Austria - Mozart's Last Aria by Matt Rees

Packabook wrote: "Forgot to add these to my list from a few months ago...
16. Portugal - A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson and
17. Spain - Guernica: A Novel by Dave Boling
and a c..."

Sorry! That should have been Poland for The Warsaw Anagrams!

What's Guernica like? I've picked it up a couple of times when browsing in the bookshop, but not too sure about it.

I thought it was great. I like novels that give me a good look at the story behind an historical event, and this book certainly does that. I also learnt lots about Basque culture. I wouldn't say the writing is the best I've ever come across, but the story is very engaging...

I read this sometime last year and found it really moving. A couple of days I went to Southampton and saw the blue plaques - almost cried!

Wow Sue - I didn't realise you could do that. Where are the plaques?

You can read more about their arrival here http://www.basquechildren.org/node/5 I think the plaque was outside the art gallery. I can't find any reference but googling basque Southampton brings up lots of information.

Sue wrote: "You can read more about their arrival here http://www.basquechildren.org/node/5 I think the plaque was outside the art gallery. I can't find any reference but googling basque Southampton brings u..."

That's brilliant - thank you!

Have just read See How Much I Love You set in Western Sahara. Ian - can we consider this a separate country from Morocco, given most of the rest of the world sees it as a 'Disputed Territory' and the Saharawis themselves consider it as their own country, occupied by their Moroccans? I tell you, this colonialism makes borders tricky things!

Go on Suzi, you can have it. Sort of falls into the Palestine/Tibet category.

Have recently finished What the Day Owes the Night by Yasmina Khadra for Algeria. Reviews are mixed on it, but I enjoyed it. Certainly gives you a good picture of life during the war of Independence in the 1950s and 60s...

Just added

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron - it's about an Olympic hopeful in Rwanda in the 80s and 90s. As you can imagine, he had a few obstacles to face. Here's my review if you'd like to read a little more. http://packabook.co.uk/blog/881

My two latest...

23. Afghanistan - The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri. N. Murari - not the best book I've read set in Afghanistan, but an interesting concept and certainly gives you an indication of the constant stress people had to endure under Taliban rule.


24. Croatia - April Fool's Day by Josip Novakovich. I highly recommend this one! I found it desperately funny and is one of the very few books available in English set in Croatia. I have written a full review here

Have added the Croatia one to my tbr list - thanks for the tip Suzi.