50 Book Challenge 2013 -The Sequel!

43. This thing of Darkness - Harry Thompson. I found this really difficult to put down. It covers the opposing views of science and religion (and the changing views of both too), from the perspective of Robert Fitzroy and Charles Darwin. Much coverage of their voyage on the Beagle, and experiences in Tierra del Fuego. Highly recommend this!

44. Family Secrets - Deborah Cohen. Examines approaches to family 'shame' over the previous century - attitudes to disability, mental illness, homosexuality, the family as a unit. Thought-provoking is an understatement.

19. Snow Blind - PJ Tracy
20. Room - Emma Donaghue

32. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin/Nicola Kraus

44. Under Another Sky, Charlotte Higgins. Loved this. Non-fiction - she and her boyfriend visit various Roman sites around the UK, and she talks about the different ways that this period has been seen. For example, perspectives have shifted between generations that were colonisers and proud of the mighty Empire and the post-colonial commentators who identify with the oppressed Britons. It's done with a really light touch. I love history, archaeology and travel, so this is exactly to my taste.

Have started in on Agatha Christie's Cards on the Table (45). Rather startled to read that the victim is the kind of damned Dago that every healthy Englishman longs to kick. Amazing the changes in social attitudes in a couple of generations.

A Casual Vacancy starts with the sudden death of a parish councillor - the first part explores the reactions from various characters, then follows them towards an election. The interesting structure which I liked was how JK Rowling showed the different perspectives from characters in a relationship and so you had various sides to a story. I think she handled multiple character perspectives very well. Not for everyone I realise, but I liked that a lot. I also thought she adapted the dialogue from different characters very well. The characters of the social worker, guidance counsellor and Krystal linked very effectively going from behaviour and attitude in a professional setting then a private setting. The ending is very emotional, certainly has affected me.

Could you tell me more about Casual Vacancy, GalaxyMum? Sounds interesting

I haven't started the John Le Carre and a friend came over with Americanah for me to borrow so that is now going to be 33....so excited, thought id have to wait to Christmas for someone to buy it for me!

53. Mutton - India Knight. Funny enough, no real plot to speak of. 54.Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Not as good as the TV series strangely enough.

Book 46 was The Beach Hut by Veronica Henry - easy holiday read on kindle that I could pick up on days out with DD!
Book 47 The Casual Vacancy - I was surprised how much I loved this book. I was in awe of her structure and characters interlinking. I would give it 5 stars. Not everyone's taste but having experienced village politics and worked with young people similar to Krystal, it felt very raw.

Now reading book 48 Apple Tree Yard. Thanks for the recommendations for this book.

32. The curious case of Benjamin Button and other tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald

If I am honest, I just ploughed on. Button was for book club but I read the others do I could count the book. Following on from Gatsby it seems I just don't like Fitzgerald really. I enjoyed a couple of the short stories but otherwise was a but meh about them.

Uni is starting in October and I have an immense amount if reading to get through so not sure how/if I will get to 50 as just starting back to work too. Luckily I e of my modules is literature based so I will be able to count those.

Next though is A sport and a past time by James Salter for book club too - which is 194 pages and book club is tomorrow!

I need to visit that bookshop!!

Book 43 "Iris and Ruby", I thought was brilliant. Really enjoyed it.

Not yet decided on 44.

31. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, recommended up thread. Wow. An amazing book about an incredible expedition (Scott in the Antarctic).

32. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. I really enjoyed this.

Love the sound of that bookshop too!

Bookshop sounds wonderful. Sigh for that climate also.

76 - The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan. Absolutely amazingly brilliant. Loved it.

Would love to come home and open on similar. Though the outdoorsy aspect might have to be rethought.

That bookshop sounds amazing, sadly it's a bit too far to get to

Sadly it's in California (well, not that sad for me, only a 2hour drive away from home). It's outdoors and has such a huge range and variety, comfortable chairs in the shade everywhere, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff, excellently laid out and a "house" in the middle where they've done up a fake kitchen to house the cookery books, a library for military history, a nursery for children's books. Heaven. And around the outside are hundreds of books for 50cents each with an honesty box for when they're shut.

Welcome! And jealous to hear of the most amazing bookshop in the world! If it's in dollars, I assume it's nowhere near me...

Can I very belatedly join please? Have two DC under 4 so my reading has been pitiful but been so inspired and motivated by this thread, going to count up all books this year for interest and join in for the rest of the year as I've just visited the most amazing bookshop in the world and came home with 13 books for $8.....

In no particular order:

1. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime - Mark Haddon
2. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksander Solzhenitsyn
3. Sexing the Cherry - Jeanette Winterson
4. The Islamist - Ed Husain
5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid
6. The Painted Veil - Somerset Maughn
7. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan
8. How to be a Woman - Cairlin Moran
9. Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald

About to start Call for the Dead - John Le Carre. That's awesome! Way more than I thought! I won't include plays because I read tons and they only take an hour but if I'm allowed to read "proper" children's books with DS over the course of at leat a week or two, then:

24. Esio Trot - Roald Dahl
25. George's Marvellous Medicine - RD
26. The Twits - RD
27. James and the Giant Peach - RD
28. Fantastic Mr Fox - RD
29. The Magic finger - RD
30. the Giraffe The Pelly and Me - RD
31. Mr Stink - David Walliams

Now reading Peter Pan - J. M. Barrie

Book 41: Jodi Taylor "Just One Damn Thing After Another" - a kindle freebie but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's quite a light read, flyby in places with an interesting concept. I'd definitely read more by her.

Book 42 was another kindle freebie: Shelley Adina "Lady of Devices: A steampunk adventure". Not at all what I expected, but another enjoyable read.

Started 43 which is Rosie Thomas "Iris and Ruby" which I've had on my kindle for a really long time.

I know - I have Rosemary's Baby waiting for when I manage to finish neverending Anna bloody Karenina

Thanks cote I've just downloaded it, there are 4 Ira Levin books in Amazon's summer sale at 99p each.

greenhill - If you haven't read it, I would recommend Ira Levin's The Boys From Brazil.

36. The Light Between Oceans. Gobsmackingly good.

75 - Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Didn't even realize that was the same author! Yes, please do say if it's good.

You're getting in early with your Christmas reads!