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Oh boy - first time to enter a discussion and first time to try a challenge - goodie!!

This could take a while as I notice that most of my reads are typically UK/US chosen. But that's the whole point I guess - stretching outside of what is usual...

However, starting predictably with a UK country (as it's what I have on my Kindle and my to read list...)

1. ENGLAND: The light years by Elizabeth Jane Howard

Hi Sarah, good start, I'm making slow, steady progress with this challenge but I love it! I found it's helpful to have a look at what other people have read for various countries - good for inspiration!

Enjoy...

Em wrote: "Hi Sarah, good start, I'm making slow, steady progress with this challenge but I love it! I found it's helpful to have a look at what other people have read for various countries - good for inspir..."

Thanks Em I think it will be one to do over a few years as I am sure I will be distracted by other books and possibly other challenges too. Have had a bit of a look at other people's lists already and there are lots of great ideas - I think the appeal is in finding a new gem and also either revisiting places visited through someone else's eyes or being inspired to want to go somewhere new. Looking forward to it.

Enjoy the trip Sarah. About time we had a Kiwi in the balloon....no ATW trip possible in reality without bumping into one of you lot along the way. Hope you find some good new reads.

Ian wrote: "Enjoy the trip Sarah. About time we had a Kiwi in the balloon....no ATW trip possible in reality without bumping into one of you lot along the way. Hope you find some good new reads."

Thanks Ian - nearing the end of "The light years" which I am enjoying more than I initially thought I would - seemingly quite soapish but the writing and characterisation is really beautiful and I am a bit of a soft touch for history around this time. Looking forward to extending my horizons beyond the UK though...

Great to see another new starter :-)

Thanks Vicki happy journeys to you - it's fun to see where everyone ends up. Might try out the ukcounties challenge too since I will also continue to read books set in the uk.

Finished The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard. A book which really details the time it's set in minute and personal ways. I really enjoyed it after initially struggling with it for the first 40 pages or so - it seemed slow but I think it is consciously written in this way and once I accepted that I could settle down and enjoy the writing.

The thing I most loved about the novel was the way she describes the neverending feeling of summer that you get during childhood - long, steamingly hot, centred around family (mine were anyway) and full of promise and then gradually adds in the growing fear of what is yet to come.

Going to take some time to decide what next - realising that while I used to be fine with having more than one book on the go at a time, I just can't really do that so well any more so am going to read my genre text next, then come back to this.

Good luck with your travels Sarah its good fun and expands your horizons. I saw in the library an interesting NZ book but on looking at reviews which described it as New Zealand's catcher in the rye , called 'the god boy' by Ian Cross, have you heard of it and if so is it worth a read otherwise what would you recommend from NZ, I'm only aware of The Bone people which I've not read! Anyway good travels!!

I've got for my NZ read....sounds gritty and intriguing.

Love the God Boy - read it at school - not really comparable with Catcher in the rye from my recollection - very different feeling and themes - but it's a looooooooooong time since I read both.

The Bone People is very good apparently - very ashamed to say I haven't read it - not read your chosen book either Ian so let me know what you think when you finish. The gang culture in urban areas is definitely a way of life for some Maori and Pacific Island kids - I taught some children who lived in very violent, difficult situations- like most places, NZ has its dark places and situations; it's not all Hobbitville...

Lot of choice there Sarah so unless Graeme Henry brings out a no holds barred autobiography it will be a toss of the coin although do like sound of Ian's thriller!

Andrew, if it's rugby/sport you like then can highly recommend The Book Of Fame by Lloyd Jones - about the 1905 All Black rugby tour of Europe... but also about more than that of course ... not set in NZ of course but still a good read.

A further recommendation along the lines of The God Boy but more recent and I think beautifully written is The 10 PM Question by Kate De Goldi

Thanks Sarah the rugby book sounds good I will try and find it.

I think although will have to ask my welsh dad that was the controversial tour when the all blacks dragged a welsh player back over the try line so a famous welsh win was thwarted! Thanks for the recommendation !!

Yes it was a controversial tour but I think it was the other way around.. ie the only loss that the All Blacks had on that tour was to Wales in controversial circumstances when a try was denied to an NZ player... at least I think that was how it went. Glad to make a recommendation - let me know what you think if you do get around to reading it ;-)

You are prob right Sarah I'll have to read it now definitely.

2. Scotland: Jaggy Splinters by Christopher Brookmyre- most of the stories set in Scotland so feel that it applies.

Think I'm off to Wales next but anything could happen...

3. Wales: The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker. A very unusual book in terms of writing style, I found it compelling and incredibly moving. Gave it 5 stars.

Must be Northern Ireland next then...

4. Italy: A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. Hoping I can rightfully claim this as about 40% of the book is set in Italy - I'm sure someone will let me know if it's not acceptable!

Up to you Sarah....I'm only strict with Bob lol.

I'd count it, if I were you.

Oh goodie! Think this challenge will need all the help it can get as I got all consumed by the genre challenge last month (although I did manage to purposefully read one book for this challenge too). The more I read, the more there is to read...

And I sense there is a story to be heard about Bob... ;-)

This is Bob second time typed this as just back from pub and deleted last message. I'm a victim of Ian. But he has redeemed himself this week with advice on Liverpool as going to Grand National. 40% well enough to cover country if master Ian agrees

Sarah. I looked at you reading list far to educated for me. But may I suggest Sebastian Faulks

Thanks for the welcome advice Bob - both re the 40% and the Faulks - am currently cursing as I have a couple of his books sitting in storage back home in NZ for when I ever go back and get around to reading them but may have to give in and "kindle" one instead as I keep hearing how good he is...

Tis the curse of having gathered books up while writing a dissertation in order to enjoy the reading of them when I go to the end, only to then decide to move half way around the world instead...

...and my reading list is decidedly tawdry in parts - what I read when I study in order to balance out my brain makes me glad I own a kindle so no one can see the covers when I'm indulging on the bus... heheheheh!

in my opinion Faulks bit hit and miss but loved Engleby

Have to agree with Bob about Faulks and Engelby.

5. USA : March by Geraldine Brooks. Enjoyed it once I got going with it but it took me a loooooong time.

Sarah wrote: "5. USA : March by Geraldine Brooks. Enjoyed it once I got going with it but it took me a loooooong time."
Oh dear, just starting it!

I've got it to read as well.....also want to read by Thomas Keneally.

Sue wrote: "Sarah wrote: "5. USA : March by Geraldine Brooks. Enjoyed it once I got going with it but it took me a loooooong time."
Oh dear, just starting it!"


I think it was more about where my head has been this month rather than the book itself - mostly I found the first chapter a bit daunting as it begins in the middle of a battle and that's the "hard" end of war stories that I really have little interest in.

It's not a difficult read, although I did find some of the themes distressing but I did enjoy it once I got going. Will be interested to see what you think - I have not got around to posting my review yet (snowed under catching up on stuff) but hope to do it on the weekend.

Woah - a long time since I added to this - but finally finished no. 6 Ireland - Dubliners by James Joyce - partially a re-read as we read some of these stories when I was a wee thing at school; but I had never read the final story, "The Dead" which is generally considered to be the best of the short stories.

I think Joyce is a genius with words, and found the stories both moving and challenging, as well as slightly depressing (but that's sort of to do with the subject matter really...)

No. 7. Germany - Dead Girl Walking by Christopher Brookmyre. It's really set all over the place but I would say the atmosphere of the book is Berlin, and that is where most of the main action actually happens too. So I am counting it.

I really enjoyed this book. A real page turner and I love the way Brookmyre's writing has matured whilst still retaining lots of humour and irreverentness. Cannot wait for the next.

No. 8 Italy Teach Us to Sit Still: A Skeptic's Search for Health and Healingby Tim Parks

Thought provoking non fiction text about the author's search for answers to a health issue which develops into an investigation into the separation of body and mind and how each affects the other. Read over a long period of time (my non fiction bath book :-) it had a lot of resonance for me and my life and I will dip back into it. Parks lives in Italy and the setting played more of a part in the writing than I had expected.

No. 9 Australia The Rosie Project. Set in Melbourne this is an engaging read about how opposites attract.

No. 10 Syria "The Fear of Breathing - stories for the Syrian Revolution. Begun 3 years ago! Finally got up the courage to read the ending of this play. Grim but worth the read.

No.11 France - After To Oreos - Gillian Cross. Children's novel set in the near future which place the central characters in a refugee camp in France, on the run from violence in Britain. Felt scarily possible.

And that should read After Tomorrow!! Can't correct it using my iPad

Kiwi Sarah wrote: "No.11 France - After To Oreos - Gillian Cross. Children's novel set in the near future which place the central characters in a refugee camp in France, on the run from violence in Britain. Felt scar..."

Thought it took the biscuit (sorry).

Hehehe!

I liked the alternative title. Thought Oreos was a place they were going to later.

I could think of worse places to be...

Long time since I posted here - catching up on some reads that I haven't noted on the challenge.

No. 12 Austria - The Third Man by Graham Greene and also The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler. Both set in Vienna, both different perspectives on the war (leading up to and after...); both highly recommended

No. 13 Belgium Summer Before the Dark by Volker Weidermann. Non fiction but reads like a novel, about the Austro/German emigre Jewish writers forced to leave their homelands due to the rise in fascism. Sobering and sad read.

Carrying on the mid-20th century European theme...

No. 14 Poland "Once" and "Then" by Morris Gleizman.

Harrowing, unrelenting and painful - a young teens novel series about a Jewish boy's attempt to stay alive and wholehearted amongst the horror of the Second World War. But funny too... masterful, emotional writing from the young boy's perspective.

I am finding a lot of YA books a good to read, they tend not to waffle and get on with the story.

Some great reads there. Really like the sound of The Tobacconist.

I have really developed a bit of an obsession with the time leading up to WW 2 - just finished Child of all nations by Irma Keun, one of the émigré writers featured in Summer before the dark - a wonderful story of the emigre life told from the perspective of a 9 year old girl - innocent yet with knowledge beyond her years. Too hard to put into this challenge though since as the title suggests, the book roams widely between countries and continents.