Anything Goes discussion

this challenge you have correspond a book title to the letter. a christmas carol will to the letter C. words A and the does not count to with A and The. :)

I'm in!


A-Afterwards: A Novel
B-Before I Go to Sleep
C-The Coroner
D-Death Comes to Pemberley
E-Every Man for Himself
F-The Franchise Affair
G-A Grave Disturbance
H- The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss
I- Indiana Gothic: A Story of Adultery and Murder in an American Family
J- Jar City
K- Kill Me Once
L- The Likeness
M- Magic Study
N- Never Look Away: A Thriller
O- The Owl Killers
P- Paint Your Dragon
Q- The Queen of Subtleties: A Novel of Anne Boleyn
R- The Replacement
S- The Scarlet Kimono
T- Two of the Deadliest: New Tales of Lust, Greed and Murder from Outstanding Women of Mystery
U- Ultraviolet
V- The Visible World
W - The Way We Live Now
X- In Xanadu: A Quest
Y- You Suck
Z- Zoo Station

So the gauntlet has been thrown down: I accept!
(I'll add as the weeks and months go by...)

A- The Arthur of the Welsh The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature
B- A Brief History of King Arthur
C- The City and the City Read and reviewed
D- The Dark Lord of Derkholm Completed and reviewed.
E- The Early Medieval Church in Wales
F- False Friends Book Two Read and reviewed
G- Great Expectations Completed and reviewed.
H- Hav Completed and reviewed.
I- Invented Knowledge False History Fake Science and Pseudo-religions by Ronald H. Fritze, completed and reviewed.
J-
K-
L-
M- Mixed Magics Read
N- Neverwhere Read and reviewed
O- The Oxford Murders Read and reviewed
P- Pedalo to Venus Read and reviewed
Q-
R- Researching And Writing History A Guide For Local Historians Nearly completed...
S- The Shape Of Water Inspector Montalbano 1 Read and reviewed.
T- Treasure Island Read and reviewed.
U- Uniform Justice Read and reviewed.
V-
W- Wonders of the Universe
X-
Y- Year of the Griffin Completed and reviewed.
Z- Z for Zachariah Read and reviewed

JackieB wrote: "I'm in!"

What, no W?

I'm game! Here goes:

A: At Home: A Short History of Private Life
B: Before I Go to Sleep
C: 84, Charing Cross Road
D: The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm
E: The End of Everything
F: Fahrenheit 451
G:
H: The Handmaid's Tale
I: Interview With the Vampire
J: Jubilee
K:
L: The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life: How to Get More Books in Your Life and More Life from Your Books
M: Moon Over Soho
N: The Night Circus
O: Once Removed
P: Petronella and the Trogot
Q:
R: Rivers of London
S: Slings & Arrows
T: Treasure Island
U: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
V:
W: The Woman in Black
X:
Y:
Z:Zoo Station

Chris wrote: "JackieB wrote: "I'm in!"

What, no W?"

Just put it down to my lousy typing skills. Thanks for pointing it out. Hopefully I would have spotted it eventually.

Have just finished my 4th book of the year - . I really enjoyed the two Ben Aaronovitch books!

Thought The Handmaid's Tale was excellent, but not very impressed with The End of Everything. Very disappointing!

Chris wrote: "So the gauntlet has been thrown down: I accept!
(I'll add as the weeks and months go by...)

A-
B-
C- The Children's Book
D- Datura
E-
F-
G- Great Expectations Completed a..."

Finished Before I Go to Sleep this morning. An excellent book, especially when you consider that it's a debut novel.

Another for the list - the excellent The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.

Finished The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm by Matt Dickinson this morning. An absorbing, non-fiction account of climbing Everest.

Angela wrote: "Finished The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm by Matt Dickinson this morning. An absorbing, non-fiction account of climbing Everest."

Sounds awe-inspiring, though I wonder how it compares to other Everest accounts, which must be legion. I myself am looking forward to reading Colin Thubron's To a Mountain in Tibet, about Mount Kailas in the Himalayas which has never been climbed due to its veneration as the sacred mount at the centre of four rivers (including the Ganges and the Brahmaputra).

Must get round to The Woman in Black and The Handmaid's Tale sometime, though possibly not in the near future (looking at my TBR pile).

Chris wrote: "Angela wrote: "Finished The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm by Matt Dickinson this morning. An absorbing, non-fiction account of climbing Everest..."

I've only read a couple of other Everest books. This one had a different slant, as it was meant to be an account of filming Brian Blessed's summit attempt in 1996 and turned out to be much more than that. Worth reading!

Angela wrote: "Chris wrote: "Angela wrote: "Finished The Death Zone: Climbing Everest Through the Killer Storm by Matt Dickinson this morning. An absorbing, non-fiction account of cl..."

Oh yes! I remember the Brian Blessed docs, where he attempted (though sadly failed) to climb Everest in Mallory's climbing garb (well, perhaps not the same pants, or even the same gear, but something similar) and, I think, without oxygen.

Mostly remember the pain and the agony, the views, his trademark laugh and an embarrassing sequence where he sings The Volga Boatmen song ("Yoho, heave-ho!") to some bemused Russian climbers.

Have added a couple more books that fit in alphabetically, a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and all I aim to review.

I see that you have several Diana Wynne Jones books on your list, Chris. My daughter is a keen reader and collector of her books.

Angela wrote: "I see that you have several Diana Wynne Jones books on your list, Chris. My daughter is a keen reader and collector of her books."

I used to live in Bristol, her home town, but it wasn't till after I'd moved to Wales that a correspondent recommended her to me, and I've been hooked ever since. Sad to hear about her recent death, though.

There we are - another one added! was quite an interesting read - it didn't say much that I hadn't already thought about, although was a firm supporter of audio books. I haven't ventured along those paths yet.

Bridgette wrote: "this challenge you have correspond a vook title to the letter. a christmas carol will to the letter C. words A and the does not count to with A and The. :)"

Only just realised that I visited the concept of this alphabetical challenge in a book synopsis for the Library of Unwritten Books ("a collection of possible books": http://www.unwritten.org.uk/about.html) a few years ago. I just love the conceit of potential books not yet written but which are included in a library: it's very much in the tradition of Jorge Luis Borges.

If anyone's interested, my synopsis is listed as e006 (here: http://www.unwritten.org.uk/elibrary....) with a quote from Othello inspiring the title. The premise is more than a bit pretentious but at the time I had hopes of developing it into an Umberto Eco inspired tale; not sure if I'd bother now. Still, I'm glad part of my personal challenge is to review all the titles by the end of the year.

I guess I shall start with 2012...

A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G: Graceling
H: Hex Hall
I:
J: Just Listen
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P: Pirate Latitudes
Q:
R:
S: Stargirl
T:
U:
V: Valley of Strength for school and Vampire Academy
W: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz I guess that belongs here, right?
X:
Y:
Z:

♣Ðᾰƞƞᾰ♥ wrote: "I guess I shall start with 2012...

W: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz I guess that belongs here, right?"

Yes, on two counts! Well done for accepting the challenge!

A:
B:
C:
D:Dead and Gone
E:Empress
F:Fifty Shades of Grey
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W: Warbreaker
X:
Y:
Z:Zombie Apocalypse!

Bridgette wrote:
"E:Empress
W: Warbreaker
Z:"

Bridgette, tsk tsk! Where are all your revision textbooks?

i will be adding them in a bit.

Chris wrote: "♣Ðᾰƞƞᾰ♥ wrote: "I guess I shall start with 2012...

W: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz I guess that belongs here, right?"

Yes, on two counts! Well done for accepting the challenge!"

Thank you. I hope I'd be able to put up with it and read all those books :)

I've just added The Night Circus to my list. Finished it this afternoon.I loved it!

Finished this afternoon, so that fills the "F" space. I haven't reviewed it yet - need to sort my thoughts out about it - but have put a comment on the Quarterly Classic thread.

Bridgette wrote: "i will be adding them in a bit."

I don't seem to have a 'Like' tab to click on but if I did...

At last, I've read a book that starts with a different letter!
My "O" book is by K.B. Walker. It was an absorbing novel about abuse, self-abuse and being judgemental. Sounds grim, but was a good read.

Just realised that I could add Interview With the Vampire to my list! Glad I've read it at last; very dark and atmospheric, but quite fascinating I thought.

glad you enjoyed interview with the vampire i also enjoyed it when i read it in a few of my frees at school. :)

Bridgette wrote: "glad you enjoyed interview with the vampire i also enjoyed it when i read it in a few of my frees at school. :)"

I thought it was quite a change from the more modern vampire novels...interesting!

I'm in, for one thing it will make me read The Technologists which I am currently struggling with.

A - Alan Turing: The Enigma - finished 30/06/12
B - Bible of the Dead - finished 30/06/12
C - The Case for God - finished 02/07/12
D - The Devil Will Come - finished 01/07/12
E - The Emperor's Tomb - finished 23/06/12
F - The Forbidden Temple - finished 08/07/12
G - Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love - finished 21/06/12
H - Hypothermia - finished 06/07/12
I - Immortal - finished 02/07/12
J - The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery That Will Change History Forever - finished 10/06/12
K - The Key - finished 13/07/12
L - Lennox - finished 21/06/12
M - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - finished 27/06/12
N - The Nosferatu Scroll - finished 03/07/12
O - One Good Turn - finished 13/06/12
P - Papal Decree - finished 13/07/12
Q - The Queen's Governess - finished 05/07/12
R - The Redemption of Alexander Seaton - finished 12/06/12
S - The Sacred Sword - finished 01/07/12
T - The Technologists - finished 8/6/12
U - Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder - finished 20/06/12
V - The Valkyrie Song
W - Worm: The First Digital World War - finished 25/06/12
X -
Y - The Yellow Cross: The Story Of The Last Cathars, 1290 1329 - finished 22/08/12
Z - Zoo Station - finished 05/07/12

Karen wrote: "I'm in, for one thing it will make me read The Technologists which I am currently struggling with.

A - Assassin
B - Bible of the Dead
C - The Case for God
D - The Devil Will Come
E - The Emperor's..."

Impressive list, Karen!

Another added! I finished At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed it - full of interesting snippets of social history, written in Bill Bryson's easy-going, humourous style.

Finished 84, Charing Cross Road this morning and put it down as my "C" read. A very short collection of letters, written in the 50s and 60s, between Helene Hanff and the people (mostly Frank Doel) who worked at a bookshop in Charing Cross Road. I loved it - humourous, poignant - well worth reading, all you book lovers!

Angela wrote: "Finished 84, Charing Cross Road this morning and put it down as my "C" read. A very short collection of letters, written in the 50s and 60s, between Helene Hanff and the people (mostly Frank Doel) ..."

Will look out for it, thanks!

Chris wrote: "Angela wrote: "Finished 84, Charing Cross Road this morning and put it down as my "C" read. A very short collection of letters, written in the 50s and 60s, between Helene Hanff and the people (most..."

I expect you could finish it in one sitting, but well worth reading, in my opinion.

I'm in. These are what I've read this year.

A - Aunt Dimity's Death
B - Before I Go To Sleep
C - Comfort Food
D - Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
E - Escape
F - Fracture
G - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
H - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)
I - I am Number 4
J - James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing (James Potter, #1)
K - Kate: The Making of a Princess
L - Little Women
M - The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot, #1)
N - Navy Wife (Navy #1)
O - Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
P - Parker Pyne Investigates
Q - The Quickie
R - The Rook
S - The Seventh Seal
T - Titanic
U - Unexpected Guest
V - Virals
W - The World of Downton Abbey
X - Xombies: Apocalypse Blues
Y - You've been warned
Z - Zombie Fallout

FINISHED!!!

Now reading 11/22/63

Just finished my J book - Jubilee. A bit disappointed, although the mystery was quite good. Just didn't much like the style it was written in - too many time phases for my liking.

Just found Z for Zachariah in a secondhand shop, so I've got my Z title!

Just added two more to my list - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Zoo Station. Both very good!

Yay! I finished. Although I'm not the first to complete it, I'm still doing a happy dance.

Well done Jackie:)
I've come to bit of a stand still - three books properly on the go, but very slow reading for me. Too many distractions:(

Congrats, Jackie!

So, for me a handful of books to finish and review, and just a few more titles to find: J, K, Q and X, with the last quarter of the year to go! Onwards and upwards!

A- The Arthur of the Welsh The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature
B- A Brief History of King Arthur
C- The City and the City Read and reviewed
D- The Dark Lord of Derkholm Completed and reviewed.
E- The Early Medieval Church in Wales
F- False Friends Book Two Read and reviewed
G- Great Expectations Completed and reviewed.
H- Hav Completed and reviewed
I- Invented Knowledge False History Fake Science and Pseudo-religions by Ronald H. Fritze, completed and reviewed
J- The Jewel Seed Read but not yet reviewed
K- Kingdoms of the Wall Read, not yet reviewed
L- The Lord of the Rings The Films the Books the Radio Series by Jim Smith, J. Clive Matthews, read and reviewed.
M- Mixed Magics Read
N- Neverwhere Read and reviewed
O- The Oxford Murders Read and reviewed
P- Pedalo to Venus Read and reviewed
Q- A Question of Belief Read but not yet reviewed
R- Researching And Writing History A Guide For Local Historians Nearly completed...
S- The Shape Of Water Inspector Montalbano 1 Read and reviewed.
T- Treasure Island Read and reviewed.
U- Uniform Justice Read and reviewed.
V- Von Bek Tale of the Eternal Champion 1 by Michael Moorcock, reading...
W- Wonders of the Universe Stalled on this at the moment...
X- ??????????
Y- Year of the Griffin Completed and reviewed.
Z- Z for Zachariah Read and reviewed

I checked through my books and I can fill it up till XYZ. Guess what I will be looking at next time I'm at the bookstore. What a fun idea.

Have just finished my "P" book - "Petronella and the Trogot". It's classed as a Young Adult book, but is wrongly classified, I think. I have to say, it's one of the worst books I've ever read!

Well, it's nearly the end of 2012, and I've got a fair way with my list (except for X), though sadly I'm unlikely to finish five in time: they're mainly non-fiction and chapters can be read non-sequentially, so that's by excuse for having dipped into most but not being able to tick them off. Pleased I've reviewed sixteen of them though, two-thirds!