So...I have an idea.
Andrew usually responds with 'oh no' and 'how much will it cost me?'
It might end up being 'oh no' but it certainly won't cost him anything.
I like books. I like the UK.
I wonder if I could combine the two and attempt to read my way around the UK?
It'll take me a good long while but I like the idea of reading one fiction book set in each of the UK's 92 historical counties - as listed on the Association of British Counties website.
When I've finished a book, I'll share what I've read here on the blog.
The Full List of Counties
ENGLAND
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Buckinghamshire
Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
Cornwall
Cumberland
Derbyshire
Dorset
Durham
Essex
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Herefordshire
Hertfordshire
Huntingdonshire
Kent
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Northumberland
Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire
Rutland
Shropshire
Somerset
Staffordshire
Suffolk
Surrey
Sussex
Warwickshire
Westmorland
Wiltshire
Worcestershire
Yorkshire
WALES
Anglesey/Sir Fon
Brecknockshire/Sir Frycheiniog
Caernarfonshire/Sir Gaernarfon
Carmarthenshire/Sir Gaerfyrddin
Cardiganshire/Ceredihion
Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych
Flintshire/Sir Fflint
Glamorgan/Morgannwg
Merioneth/Meirionnydd
Monmouthshire/Sir Drefaldwyn
Pembrokeshire/Sir Benfro
Radnorshire/Sir Faesyfed
SCOTLAND
Aberdeenshire
Angur
Ayrshire
Banffshire
Berwickshire
Buteshire
Cromartyshire
Caithness
Clackmannshire
Dumfriesshire
Dunbartonshire
East Lothian
Fife
Inverness-shire
Kincardineshire
Kinross-shire
Lanarkshire
Midlothian
Morayshire
Nairnshire
Orkney
Peeblesshire
Perthshire
Ross-shire
Roxburghshire
Selkirkshire
Shetland
Stirlingshire
Sutherland
West Lothian
Wigtownshire
NORTHERN IRELAND
County Antrim
County Armagh
County Down
County Fermanagh
Londonderry
County Tyrone
If you've got any suggestions of fiction books set in your little corner of this green and pleasant land, then you always drop me a email if you like.
Can it be done? And am I just a bit strange?
We shall see...
Ooh, amazing idea! I will get my thinking cap on. Can recommend Ghost Children by Sue Townsend for Leicestershire (or, if you fancy something less bleak, one her the Adrian Mole novels).
ReplyDeleteJust had a quick look at the synopsis of Ghost Children on Fantastic Fiction - it sounds intriguing! I've never actually read any of Sue Townsend's novels either so that'll be a good one to stick on my list. :-) x
DeleteThis sounds fantastic. Merseyside (not ancient obviously ha) isn't on there but if it was I'd suggest Willy Russell's novel The Wrong Boy :)
ReplyDeleteI think Merseyside comes under Lancashire on the Association of British Counties site so I could put Willy Russell's book on my list for that. Interestingly Blood Brothers is one of my favourite musicals! :-) x
DeleteThis sounds like an excellent idea. I can recommend Peter James' series about Superintendent Roy Grace, which are crime thrillers based in Brighton. Alternatively, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King is set partly in East Sussex - and is a brilliant modern take on what happened to Sherlock Holmes as he grew older. xxx
ReplyDeleteP.S. Or, if you want something quicker to read, Ashdown Forest (the location of Winnie the Pooh's adventures) is in East Sussex :)
DeleteWhen I worked in a library, I used to love the covers of Peter James' novels - all piers and funfairs!
DeleteMy mother in law really likes Peter James so I'll put the first in the series (Dead Simple) on my list and I might end up reading the whole lot! :-) xxx
Oooh I read a fab series of books set in Belfast ages ago - can't for the life of me remember what they're called..... will have a think! Great idea though x
ReplyDeleteI've remembered - The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens (follow up books are The Ballroom on Magnolia Street and The Tavern on Maple Street). Set in Belfast, which is Co.Antrim :) Let me know if you read any of them :) x
ReplyDeleteJust looked at Fantastic Fiction - they sound good! I like the storyline of The Ballroom on Magnolia Street :-) x
DeleteWhere's Bristol? ;) It's not in Somerset or BANES.
ReplyDeleteBTW, for up north...Garnethill by Mina Hill is awesome and set in Glasgow. Fair warning, it does deal with child abuse and psychiatric issues, but it is a stunning read.
I think it should have it's own section, but historically it was in Somerset - that's what the website has it down as :-)
DeleteWill definitely check out Garnethill - sounds interesting!
I really must get on with actually writing a couple of reviews; I've read two books for my challenge already and just haven't found the time to put them online! :-) x
This is a really interesting idea. Perhaps some DH Lawrence (or if you want something slightly more modern, Alan Sillitoe) for Nottinghamshire? I haven't read anything by either of them, though, so can't recommend specific books!
ReplyDeleteAh thanks Charlotte! I'll put that on my list (and I really need to get round to actually writing some book reviews) :-) xx
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