Richard & Judy Book Club books 2005...

[Lady Lazarus]

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE - Audrey Niffenegger

THE AMERICAN BOY - Andrew Taylor

THE PROMISE OF HAPPINESS - Justin Cartwright

FEEL: ROBBIE WILLIAMS - Chris Heath

THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB - Karen Joy Fowler

CLOUD ATLAS - David Mitchell

THE SIXTH LAMENTATION - William Brodrick

MY SISTER'S KEEPER - Jodi Picoult

PERDITA: THE LIFE OF MARY ROBINSON - Paula Byrne

I am not R&J's biggest fan, but I did find their discussions of 2004's books interesting, and I particularly enjoyed Star of The Sea, which I bought on their recommendation (also bought, but haven't yet read, Brick Lane and Starter For Ten). Anyone familiar with any of these books (http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/R/richardandjudy/book_club/book_club.html)? Some of them look quite good... possibly future additions to the Book Group here??! :p

[Deinonychus]

I'm amazed Richard & Judy find the time between interviewing z-list celebs, remarking on evening wear and discussing 'their friends'' sexual problems, frankly...

[Andrea]

The American Boy is just fantastic - gripping from the start, really recommended. Feel by Chris Heath is fascinating - I read it because of a review saying it was the most evocative picture you'd read about modern celebrity, and it was mesmerising reading. And actually young Robbie didn't come out of it too badly either ...

[Starry]

I've read The Time Traveller's Wife and The Jane Austen book Club which were both excellent. I was particularly impressed with The Time Traveller's Wife - I loved the concept and the writing. I'm not much of a fan of 'romance' books, but his one was very well done.

I've also heard very good things about My Sister's Keeper and I hope to read that soon.

I'm not sure about the others yet, but I will be checking them out.

I'm amazed Richard & Judy find the time between interviewing z-list celebs, remarking on evening wear and discussing 'their friends'' sexual problems, frankly...

LOL, I had the same pre-conceived ideas as well, but I think they do a better job of reviewing the books than some high-brow members of eg) "The Book Show"

[Top Cat]

I know people get quite snotty about Richard And Judy and Oprah, but R and J's book club has already led me to more quality fiction than the Booker or Whitbread lists ever have. Star Of The Sea, The Time Traveller's Wife and The American Boy wee all over Vernon God Little, White Teeth and The Life Of Pi from a great height...

[Adrian]

From this year's list I've bought and not yet started The Time Traveller's Wife and The Shadow of the Wind.

I borrowed The American Boy from the library and got only 3/4 of the way through before it was due back. I would have renewed it but somebody had reserved it, but I wasn't particularly bothered that I didn't get to finish it. I was reading it only to see how it ended rather than not being able to put it down.

I'll buy Cloud Atlas soon as it's on special somewhere on the high street just now...

Last year's list was superb: I bought Star of the Sea and a couple of others, and all of them excellent. I also borrowed another 3 or 4 and there wasn't a bad one among them.

From the summer read Liars and Saints and particularly A Gathering Light were pretty good. Want to Play was disappointing.

All in all, I think R & J are doing an excellent job getting people reading. As some teacher said about kids reading only Harry Potter, as long as they're reading something rather than nothing, I'm happy.

[Top Cat]

Good to see you're a fan of Train by Pete Dexter, Chrisq. I had a off-kilter golf book of my own published a few years ago (Nice Jumper) but to get someone writing this well about my favourite game seemed almost too good to be true. Paris Trout by him is pretty great, too.

[Adrian]

Good to see you're a fan of Train by Pete Dexter, Chrisq. I had a off-kilter golf book of my own published a few years ago (Nice Jumper) but to get someone writing this well about my favourite game seemed almost too good to be true. Paris Trout by him is pretty great, too.

I'll continue this in the Train thread I started under North American Fiction (This board won't let me link to the thread itself for some unknown reason).

[Mad Dog and Glory]

I'll continue this in the Train thread I started under North American Fiction (This board won't let me link to the thread itself for some unknown reason).

Are you sure?

http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=693

[Adrian]

Experimenting here with the same URL tag as before (I got an error message before with an invitation to email Bill):

Train (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=693)

Edited to say, strange, works OK now.

[daphne weston]

I couldn't get along with either the Time Traveller's Wife or the Jane Austen book club. The latter I was very disappointed by. It seemed like such a brilliant idea but couldn't get interested in any of the people.

Daphne Weston

[BrumB]

Daphne - I absolutely agree about both books. Not too sure why I found them hard to read. Certainly think with the Jane Austen Bookclub that it may be because it was a good idea and then seemed to become formulaic. I never warmed to the characters.

[Janet]

I too am struggling with the Jane Austen Book Club, which is disappointing as other R & J suggestions have been so good - especially Star of the Sea and Starter for Ten last year, and The American Boy this year.

[Seraphina]

if you're not enjoying the jane austen book club much i'd just suggest you give up and read something more interesting - i found it readable but rather boring. I did finish it but there is no real resolution, nothing much interesting happens, in other words, there's nothing to keep reading for if you're getting no pleasure out of it. there's plenty more good books out there - the time traveller's wife and the shadow of the wind to name two popular ones!
hope this advice helps! :)