The Times/Waterstones Christmas Quiz

[Mountainjoe]

All help appreciated.

I've worked out the bulk of the questions 11 to 44 but having problems with the first 10. Still googling! But can anyone assist, please? I will help on others if I can. Thanks.

Pasted from Times website:

It's been a year of strange coincidences and common themes. Identify the ten pairs of books described below, which each have something in common, and ALL EXCEPT ONE of which were published this year:

1 In the year that Tony Blair stepped down, two novelists, both known at least partly as journalists, examined his career, one looking back, one forward.

2 The title of a book in question 1 gives you a clue to these two linked titles, from different genres, which both featured the final appearances of long-running characters.

3 Another real-life character took the lead in two novels. Think of mobile libraries and St Lucia.

4 Two more linked by title. In one a mountain-man explored Britain, in the other a woman explored the outer world and her inner self.

5 These two novels, by previous Booker prizewinners, had climaxes set on beaches in southern England.

6 These two very different novels both featured the Caribbean voodoo-Catholic gods known as orishas or yoruba.

7 These two novels, from either side of the Atlantic, were inspired by a 14th-century storytelling classic.

8 These two novels (one Booker- longlisted) featured Eastern European settings and classical music: in one a musician struggles for success, in the other a British composer has an ill-advised affair.

9 In these two books immigrants from behind the former Iron Curtain came to Britain. Clues: strawberries and asparagus.

10 And finally name the two books that connect England's 2005 Ashes triumph to the lead character in Todd Haynes's new film.

[tautau]

Question 7 I make:
Ten days in the hills : Jane Smiley (US)
The Spa Decameron : Fay Weldon.

I'd appreciate any leads on the book jackets as apart from the trees and the boat, i am stumped.

Regards tautau

[cheaton]

Q1 one is probably Alastair Campell's book.

Q5 one is On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

Booker long list site http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/stories/ 64

!9 this is Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka (at least one is)

Good luck! Sorry haven't got time to give fuller answers...

[cheaton]

Sorry mountainjoe - i didn't mean I wouldn't give you my answers but knew these off the top of my head - would be happy to do a bit more research if I have time later!! It is almost midnight :-)

[cheaton]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blairs-Britain-1997-20 07-Anthony-Seldon/dp/0521709466 is another of the books about Blair maybe?

Q3 is HM The Queen (as read in An Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett) and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autobiography-Queen-Em ma-Tennant/dp/1905147880

[cheaton]

an idea for Q10 - Film character is Bob Dylan. Bob Willis is a fan and added Dylan to his name by deed poll. But can't get the books at the moment. Will come back to you if I can.

[Mountainjoe]

Thanks all. Great help. It's one of those quizzes to chisel away at. I'm a bit further ahead now thanks to you and some googling/amazon.co.uk etc.

Best wishes.

[Bromsgrove]

I think one of the books for 2 is Exit Music by Ian Rankin-Rebus' final case
I agree with the answer given to 9. I think the other book is one by Rose Tremain, sorry I can't remember the title!

[Pentagon]

Hi everyone,
I'm having a go at this quiz. I still have several gaps and would appreciate any help you can offer on the birds and sun in the book covers section.
Thanks
Pentagon