Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, or Spades? Quiz

Answer: Poker

He has to leave Vegas in a hurry, and ends up working in an African mine to raise more capital. The second half of the book tells of his adventures in Africa, and a mysterious bird. Want to know more? Read the book!

Courtenay was born in South Africa, but migrated to Australia when he was in his 20s. He died in Canberra, aged 79.

Answer: Mahjong

After Amy Tan's father died she discovered that her mother had left three daughters behind in China and the book is loosely based on this fact. The book starts in WW2 with Suyuan Woo (deceased), the founder of the club, having left China and migrated to America. Suyuan's daughter, Jing-Mei, joins the other three mothers; they continue with the Joy Luck Club and tell their stories.

The book is set out like a game of mahjong, set in four parts, each part having four sections, giving 16 chapters.

Answer: Carson McCullers

Cullen McCullers was born Lula Carson Smith in 1917 in Columbus, Georgia. She was an accomplished author and playwright. (This book was her debut novel). She was married to Reeves McCullers between 1937-1941. She always struggled with her health, suffering from depression and strokes from a very early age. She died in 1967, aged only 50.

Answer: London

Colin MacInnes wrote a series of books about another side of London, the first being 'City of Spades' (1957), followed by 'Absolute Beginners' in 1959 and finally 'Mr Love & Justice' (1960). Collectively known as the 'London Trilogy', the books' themes depicted London immigrant (particularly black) culture during the 1950s.

Answer: Wilbur Smith

Wilbur Smith has written many, many novels over the years, with one common theme- Africa. 'The Diamond Hunters' was one of his earlier works, released in 1971.

Benedict's sister, Tracey, had to make a decision between the two men, and chose Johnny. Benedict tries to defeat them both, but it all ends in the Namib Desert. A terrific book, and well worth a read.

Steve Biko was a victim of South Africa's apartheid policy, dying in police custody in 1977. His story was told in the Donald Woods book 'Cry Freedom', published in 1978. Tolkien is well known for 'The Lord of the Rings' books, and Lyall Watson wrote a very interesting book called 'Supernature'.

Answer: The Maltese Falcon

Joe Gores' 'Spade and Archer' released in 2009, expands on the characters in 'The Maltese Falcon'. Hammett's daughter asked Gores to undertake the project as his obsession with Hammett was included in all his previous works, coupled with the fact that he had also been a private investigator.

Answer: Stephen King

The stories in the book are 'Low Men in Yellow Coats', 'Hearts In Atlantis', 'Blind Willie', 'Why We're in Vietnam' and 'Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling'. The title of the collection, and the second book, refer to the ongoing character, Bobby Garfield, and his addiction to the game of hearts.

Answer: Russia

Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski was born in Imperial Russia in 1857 but always considered himself a Pole. He was granted British citizenship when he was 29. 'The Heart of Darkness' was a sometimes controversial novel with themes of racism, colonialism and imperialism. It was voted Number 67 on the Greatest English Language Novels of the 20th Century by Modern Library.

Answer: Tiffany Case

This was the fourth book in the Bond Series (it was the seventh movie). In this novel, Tiffany Case is described as the first developed female character in the Bond novels, and Bond falls in love with her, which had not happened since Vesper Lynd in 'Casino Royale', the first Bond book in 1953. Jill St John played Tiffany Case in the equivalent movie. Honeychile Ryder is from 'Dr No' (1958).

Answer: Receiving letters from Cynthia Swann after her suicide

Four friends from Middlebury College graduate in 1969 where Cynthia, Annie, Brenda and Elise promise each other they will remain friends for life. Of course this didn't happen and they were only reunited at Cynthia's funeral. Before Cynthia died she sent letters to the other three.

After receiving the letters they form 'The First Wives Club' and set about revenge on their husbands, by making them finance the Cynthia Swann Griffin Crisis Center for Women.