The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Task 30.7 - Jonquil’s Task: Dreams are made of this

We didn’t have much money when I was a kid, so my Mom created family traditions that were virtually free. Each December, for the cost of a subway token (twenty cents), we would head into Manhattan to look at the department store windows decorated for the holidays. The themes would vary, but most revolved around cozy home scenes: bears hibernating in quilt-covered beds, Mrs. Claus baking pies, family dinners, a young couple decorating their first Christmas tree, menorahs on mantles, animated puppies pulling on gift box ribbons. Riding home, I would fantasize what it would feel like to live in one of those gorgeous rooms.

Many cities have or had department stores known for their holiday-themed windows, but we will focus on just five cities. Your book’s location must be within the city (not a suburb or the county, etc.).

THIS IS A TWO BOOK TASK.

Book 1: Read a book that takes place (80%) in one of these cities: Chicago, USA; Toronto, Canada; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; or London, England.

Book 2: Read a second book that takes place (80%) in one of the remaining four cities. The city for book 2 cannot be the same as the city for book 1.

REQUIRED: If the settings are not evident on the books' main pages include a reference or quote from the book that establishes the setting when you post.

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You are welcome to peek behind the drapes if you need suggestions: (view spoiler)[

Except the Dying Toronto

Storm Front Chicago

Steelheart Chicago

End Me a Tenor Chicago

Sleeping with Paris Paris

Thief of Shadows London
Lord of Darkness London

(hide spoiler)]

window 2

This thread is now open.

Ok for book 1 Perfect Chemistry set in Chicago

Book 2- set in London- The Cuckoo's Calling

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Ok for book 1 Perfect Chemistry set in Chicago

Book 2- set in London- The Cuckoo's Calling"

Jayme- We're off to a fairly straightforward start; hope you enjoy them,

Jonquil wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Ok for book 1 Perfect Chemistry set in Chicago

Book 2- set in London- The Cuckoo's Calling"

Jayme- We're off to a fairly straightfor..."

Thanks :)

I really like your Christmas memory :)

Can it be a fantasy, dystopian (okay, so that isn't very Christmassy) or alternate history version of the cities in question? For example, Dream London, Dream Paris or Contagion

Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)

Blueberry wrote: "I really like your Christmas memory :)"

Thank you, Blueberry, it's amazing how many of those windows are still clear in my mind.

Trish wrote: "Can it be a fantasy, dystopian (okay, so that isn't very Christmassy) or alternate history version of the cities in question? For example, Dream London, Dream Paris ..."

Trish- only the mention of the city (for 80% of the action) matters, so if it's dystopian or alt-universe Berlin and that's clearly Berlin in Germany in Europe then you're good. The description of your London book states that they're in London as someone is messin' with London, so unless they flee the city for more than 20% of the time real London and woo-woo London will work.
Regarding the holidays, I'm putting Christmas books on hold at the library because I like immersing myself in the various holidays as we move through the year, but face it, by January I'll be looking for tropical beach books.
Your books sound fascinating, I'll be looking forward to your ratings when you're done.

Daphne wrote: "Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)"

Daphne- A helpful Librarian listed Paris, France as the setting for The Black Tower. So that should work.

I'm concerned about Printer's Devil Court. The description states that the doctor lives outside London in the book's present-day. If the book focuses primarily on the time he lived in London, you may be alright, but I would explain the London focus when you post because it may not be clear to the Mods if they haven't recently read the book. There's also a possibility that the book flips between the London past and the not-London present-day so often that the book won't pass the 80% test.

I am planning on Indemnity Only for Chicago. Setting is not noted on GR but protagonist is described as a Chicago PI.

My second book in my plan is Except the Dying, which GR has noted as a Toronto setting.

Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)"

Daphne- A helpful Librarian listed Paris, Fran..."

I did some digging before I set this as reading, and I found an in depth review that confirms the setting is Victorian London: "Set in Hill's favourite setting, Victorian London, a group of medical trainees conspire to raise the dead by performing experiments on corpses in the mortuary." - http://nightingalereviews.blogspot.co...

Would including that link and quote work?

Daphne wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)"

Daphne- A helpful Librarian li..."

Basing this on my experience with the Mods, but that should do it. Let's see how long it takes one of them to weigh in (be very, very quiet)...

Bea wrote: "I am planning on Indemnity Only for Chicago. Setting is not noted on GR but protagonist is described as a Chicago PI.

My second book in my plan is Except the Dying, wh..."

Bea- I read Except the Dying and Murdoch stays inside the city limits.

I would personally take a chance on the Chicago book and hope that he doesn't get a case that takes him out of town for more than 20% of the time. Where are those crystal balls when we need them?

Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)"

Daphne- A helpf..."

As you can see, the language we added for verification included "a quote from the book" that establishes the setting.

Fast enough for you?

Jonquil wrote: "Bea wrote: "I am planning on Indemnity Only for Chicago. Setting is not noted on GR but protagonist is described as a Chicago PI.

My second book in my plan is [book:Except the Dying|..."

Since many of the reviews talk about the Chicago setting, I think I will take the chance on it.

Sandy wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)"
..."

Wow, impressive, Sandy, but not a surprise :)

Bea wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Bea wrote: "I am planning on Indemnity Only for Chicago. Setting is not noted on GR but protagonist is described as a Chicago PI.

My second book in my plan is [book:E..."

Enjoy them, Bea!

Sandy wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Daphne wrote: "Would like to verify:

Printer's Devil Court - Fleet Street, London
The Black Tower - Paris

Thanks :)"
..."

Thank you.

Would like to verify

The Edible Woman for toronto

and The Streets of Babylon: A London Mystery London

also would Suite Française work for paris thanks

Marie wrote: "Would like to verify

The Edible Woman for toronto

and The Streets of Babylon: A London Mystery London

also would Suite Française work for paris thanks"

It's good to have choices, Marie, have fun narrowing it to two.

Marie wrote: "
also would Suite Française work for paris thanks"


I've read this and I think MOST of it is in the countryside of France, rather than in Paris ... but it's been several years since I read it, so maybe someone else who has read it more recently can verify.

Book Concierge wrote: "Marie wrote: "
also would Suite Française work for paris thanks"


I've read this and I think MOST of it is in the countryside of France, rather than in Paris ... but it's been several..."

Thanks, BC, perhaps that will simplify Marie's selection of her final two.

Jonquil wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Marie wrote: "
also would Suite Française work for paris thanks"


I've read this and I think MOST of it is in the countryside of France, rather than in Paris ....."


i wondered about this will stick with the other two

Marie wrote: "also would Suite Française work for paris thanks"
..."

It's a great book, Marie, so I hope you find a place for it. ... actually I just realized it has No 'L' in either title or author name, so it would fit task 10.5: Noel!

Hello,

I wanted to confirm the paris setting of this book and the Berlin one of the other one

PARIS:Doctor Who: City of Death
BERLIN: Es geschah an der Mauer / It Happened at the Wall. A history of the fall of 'the wall' in Berlin

thanks :)

Bellagbear wrote: "Hello,

I wanted to confirm the paris setting of this book and the Berlin one of the other one

PARIS:Doctor Who: City of Death
BERLIN: [book:Es geschah an der Mauer / It Happened a..."

Hi, Bellagbear. The Berlin Wall book should be safe, although small pieces of the wall got scattered across the continents as souvenirs, this seems to focus on Berlin; therefore, book 1 selected.

I was worried about the Doctor Who since he seems to pop off in the TARDIS every time a new thought crosses his mind. (If he'd been raised in current-day USA he would certainly have been prescribed ADHD drugs, how unfortunate that would have been.) The reviews seem to indicate that he (hopefully) stays put in Paris. I enjoyed reading the reviews, and would not have if you hadn't asked about this, so thanks for the diversion!

Jonquil wrote: "Bellagbear wrote: "Hello,

I wanted to confirm the paris setting of this book and the Berlin one of the other one

PARIS:Doctor Who: City of Death
BERLIN: [book:Es geschah an der Ma..."

no problem :) I had not read the reviews yet, but now I do have more hope that the book will be good ( I usually am douibtfull about books from tv series, but I got this one as a present). So if I understand correctly both books are allowed?

Bellagbear wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Bellagbear wrote: "Hello,

I wanted to confirm the paris setting of this book and the Berlin one of the other one

PARIS:Doctor Who: City of Death
BERLIN: [book:Es g..."

The goodreads pages both seem to indicate that 80% of the action happens within the cities, so unless you get a surprise while you're reading, you should be safe.

Jonquil wrote: "Bellagbear wrote: "Jonquil wrote: "Bellagbear wrote: "Hello,

I wanted to confirm the paris setting of this book and the Berlin one of the other one

PARIS:Doctor Who: City of Death..."

cool thanks :)

For anyone who wants some inspiration for Paris...
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/books/feat...

Trish wrote: "For anyone who wants some inspiration for Paris...
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/books/feat..."

Thanks, Trish!

I'm planning to read Mrs. Dalloway for London and O Perfume: A História de um Assassino for Paris. In both cases, the cities in question are the only ones listed on the GR main page.
Would it be okay?

Amanda wrote: "I'm planning to read Mrs. Dalloway for London and O Perfume: A História de um Assassino for Paris. In both cases, the cities in question are the only ones listed on t..."

Amanda- The reviews also seem to indicate that the majority of the action occurs within the city limits of London and Paris respectively, so you should be set. I hope you enjoy them.

Dialogues of a Crime is there enough in the description to include this as Chicago without adding any more infer from book

Marie wrote: "Dialogues of a Crime is there enough in the description to include this as Chicago without adding any more infer from book"

I'm as uncertain as you, Marie. The college could be outside Chicago, the prison could be outside Chicago, the car dealership could be outside Chicago, the Chicago cop may live or conduct his investigation outside Chicago. We're both just guessing whether they're within the city limits for 80% of the action. I just finished a book that was listed as Chicago-based and the MC spent most of her time in other places. If you decide to take a chance and read the book, it would be great if you let us know if the book qualifies. Good luck.

Jonquil wrote: "Marie wrote: "Dialogues of a Crime is there enough in the description to include this as Chicago without adding any more infer from book"

I'm as uncertain as you, Marie. The colleg..."

thanks Jonquil I had already started it but as i got through feel the action is not definitively enough in chicago.

This is the 4thb book i have now read that is not in the city it suggests for enough of the time

Please could i have A Christmas Carol approved for London

references from book

Page 14 …of what is called fancy about him as any man in the City of London, e…
Page 50 …sometimes, and talked sometimes, and lived in London, and…


The story begins on a cold and bleak Christmas Eve in London, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Chris...

Marie wrote: "Please could i have A Christmas Carol approved for London

references from book

Page 14 …of what is called fancy about him as any man in the City of London, e…
Page 50 …sometimes, and..."

I have read this one, they stay in London. You're safe

Jonquil wrote: "Marie wrote: "Please could i have A Christmas Carol approved for London

references from book

Page 14 …of what is called fancy about him as any man in the City of London, e…
Page 50 …..."

thank you so much

Would The Other Boleyn Girl work for set in London?

Bianca wrote: "Would The Other Boleyn Girl work for set in London?"

Bianca- Wikipedia confirms Henry VIII's court and palace were inside London's city limits. Enjoy!

Thanks!

Will Every Frenchman Has One work for Paris?

Danielle wrote: "Will Every Frenchman Has One work for Paris?"

Danielle- we're both guessing, but the reviews seem to indicate that she remained in Paris rather than buying a home in the French countryside or returning to the US at some point with her children. I'd take the plunge.

Jonquil wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Will Every Frenchman Has One work for Paris?"

Danielle- we're both guessing, but the reviews seem to indicate that she remained in Paris rather than buying a home ..."

Thanks! She's still in Paris, to this day. :-)

I was wondering if Steelheart would work. It takes place in post-apocalypse Chicago. Here is a reference: "The story is told through the perspective of David, an orphaned teenager living in Newcago (formerly known as Chicago)." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rec...

Thank you!