Janet

Of our list of 'definites' I've already read 10. I'm going to reread some of them for this challenge but I will probably find/read alternatives for some of them. I've never read any of the Adrian Mole books, so I'm happy to go with that one for Leicestershire.

It certainly is! Well done.

Nope, not Agatha Christie. Another quote: “Why did dogs make one want to cry? There was something so quiet and hopeless about their sympathy. Xxxxxx, knowing something was wrong, as dogs always do. Trunks being packed. Cars being brought to the door. Dogs standing with drooping tails, dejected eyes. Wandering back to their baskets in the hall when the sound of the car dies away.”

Yes, last century - and more than 30 years ago. Yup, British.

No. Aww, Kay. You are still a toast guru! Yes!

I would like to nominate Mist Over Pendle by Robert Neill, just because the Pendle Witch Trials are so famous. For the Isle of Wight, I was going to mention The Trespasser by D H Lawrence - although only part of the book is set there, so maybe that's not enough of a qualification? I realise these nominations probably aren't for the most famous book, but I'm not sure the IoW has a book famously set there - and Day of the Triffids is only partly set there too - and if memory serves, not much of it takes place there. Also, it's already been done as a Reading Circle on here.

No.

I'm not going to be any help with choosing which one we read for Greater Manchester! I've never read Gaskell before (and I didn't watch North and South when it was on TV - well, not the Gaskell one, anyway!). Having just read the synopses I like the sound of both of them, so if Gaskell it is then I really don't mind which it is!

Lol! Sorry, Kat! I enjoyed it. I did it last year too - it has 25 more stations this year!

I just read a bit about it and in the opening pages it states "The border of Radnor and Hereford was said to run right through the middle of the staircase."! I can't come up with any better suggestions for Herefordshire or Greater Manchester. I like the idea of the Gaskell - I think she's probably more famous than Walter Greenwood, and her book is probably more famous than his?

Love on the Dole is a good choice. I will see if I can see anything else. For some reason I thought this was set in Wales! Probably because I picked it up in Swansea in September and noted the name down as a possible future read because I liked the sound of it.

Sorry to get it so quickly - but it's a great book! “Those dripping crumpets, I can see them now. Tiny crisp wedges of toast, and piping-hot, flaky scones. Sandwiches of unknown nature, mysteriously flavoured and quite delectable, and that very special gingerbread. Angel cake, that melted in the mouth, and his rather stodgier companion, bursting with peel and raisins. There was enough food there to keep a starving family for a week.” This is in homage to Kay - who I'm sure will get it pretty quickly!

Oh, that has to be Alice's Adventures in Wonderland!

Oh, you are in for SUCH a treat! Ah I see. I did wonder what I'd said! He certainly ought to be!

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”

Why are you apologising to me? That would instantly I get my vote - I adore Winnie-the-Pooh!

Personally I'd like to go for the Christie - if Wikipedia is to be believed she's the best-selling author of all time so it seems 'right' to have her included. I'd have gone for Mapp and Lucia for East Sussex if I had to choose! Essex - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (which I've read) and Mr Britling Sees It Through by H G Wells (which I haven't read) are both set in Essex. I'm guessing Willoyd will nominate Barnaby Rudge (that's not a dig at you, btw - just I know your love for Dickens ). I don't actually know if Essex is famous for any of those!

Is anyone doing the 'Look for Longer' London station challenge? I did last year's one (I think it was only 75 stations last year) - this year it's back - and there are 100 stations. It's a picture of a town scene - with clickable pictures on it - which relate to London train stations (The Underground, the London Overground stations and the Docklands Light Railway stations). Some of the clues are VERY tenuous! I've been doing it on and off since last night and I've managed 43 so far. Be warned... it's highly addictive! Link to the challenge - Look for Longer

Ooooh, now I'm torn - I really want to read that! Brighton Rock is a good suggestion too.

No guesses? I don't recognise it.

You're not an idiot! It was an easy mistake to make, and no doubt I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't read the book. I don't mind any of the choices above, so unless you need a deciding vote (and I hope you don't!) I won't say which I prefer. Thanks for organising all of this. If Cold Comfort Farm doesn't count, then I'd prefer the Mapp and Lucia book for East Sussex.

Hehe - I think that's a parody of The Murder of Roger Actroyd! It's by Gilbert Adair. We did The Murder of... as a Reading Circle (it was ace!). For me, And Then There Were None is probably the one I think of when I think of Christie. I'm desperate to read Cold Comfort Farm but as far as I can tell it was never specified which county of Sussex it was set in.

Thanks for the info about the Lord Wimsey books, Kay. I'm happy with Cranford for Cheshire. Unless someone can suggest something better? Re: Derbyshire - I was going to suggest Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks as it's set in Eyam. None of the other suggestions really leap out at me, although I did once dine in a hotel called Peveril of the Peak - I didn't realise (until today) that it was named after a book! ETA: The paperback version PotP is quite expensive in book form even second-hand. It's free on Kindle/eReaders for those who have one.

I didn't have any time to read yesterday. I might today, although I keep looking guiltily at the ironing pile...

I haven't read any Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries. I presume they don't need to be read in order?