50 Book Challenge 2013 -The Sequel!

I reckon War and Peace gets anyone a special dispensation!

It sounds like This Thing Of Darkness, the story of Charles Darwin's long voyage on the survey brig The Beagle captained by Robert FitzRoy, where he developed his theory of evolution. Not just that, their voyage also involves the story of bringing to the UK three "savages" from Terra del Fuego including Jeremy Button, FitzRoy becoming the 2nd governor of New Zealand, and later pioneering meteorology (against some ridicule at the time) and making weather forecast a reality.

Brilliant book, I heartily recommend it.

Cote I read the second book first, but it was a complete story too, if that makes sense. Just that if you read them in order, there is more of a proper chronological link. I liked how the scientists/philosophers were 'realised' and made human, rather than being abstract names.
I actually have the final book on order now.

I've just started 39. The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory. This fits nicely in with what I have been reading earlier in the year, as it covers the reign of Edward IV and subsequent ascension of Richard III. Only about 30 pages in, but loving it.

MrsCosmo - That book looks right up my street. Thank you for the recommendation.

Have just finished no 37, the new Lionel Shriver one, and have embarked on 38, the JK Rowling pseudonymous one. That should put me on course for 50 by the end of the year. However, I am planning to read War and Peace next (bought a second hand copy last December, and have been waiting for the right moment) and I think this will take me several weeks and take me off track. Do I get special dispensation? Maybe W&P could count as four books.

38. The Sky's Dark Labyrinth - Stuart Clarke. This is the FIRST in a trilogy (I read the second book a little while ago, not realising). It basically outlines how astrology morphed into astronomy as an accepted theory, underlaid with the struggle between different religious factions, and 'accepted belief' of science. Extremely compelling.

40. The Coroner - M R Hall. I read this until 1.30 this morning as I couldn't put it down.

Book 41 The Mournful wedding - Carola Dunn

My kindle broke but luckily they sent me a new one this morning so Carry on reading

30. The murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Thoroughly enjoyed this romp in the English countryside.

Next up is:

One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich.

Have been meaning to name change for ages from the really boring NicknameTaken, so have finally taken the plunge, with a name selected in honour of this thread!

Finally finished The Letters of Jane Austen. I enjoyed them, but they unfailingly put me to sleep within 20 minutes or so.

Also read:
38) The English, Matt Rudd. Mildly amusing but shallow as a puddle.

39. The Deeds of the Disturber, Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody, Victorian feminist, archaeologist, Egyptologist, devoted wife and solver of crimes, often in Egypt but this one was set in London. Always good fun, although I think the author is American and her "voice" doesn't always ring true).

I have a stack of tempting crime but feel I need to get on with Is That a Fish in Your Ear? The Amazing Adventure of Translation, by David Bellos. He teaches at Princeton, and I feel like I'm sitting in a seminar. I mean that in a positive sense - it's engaging and amusing and authoritative. But the crime is still alluring...

Finished book 33 "The Sealed Letter". I really enjoyed it.

Book 34 is a dossier by Michael Volpe on the prevalence of PTSD in whistle-blowers looking at a number of high profile cases. Not to everyone's taste, but I find things like these fascinating, particularly as I have/do suffer from symptoms of ptsd myself (although not linked to whistle-blowing)

28. one moment one morning - sarah rayner, has litterally just been finished. nothing really exciting happens but i enjoyed it and its nicely written.

29. never look away - lindwood barclay. read the first chapter a few weeks ago while waiting for dh to finish his book browsing and was hooked. brought it at the weekend so im being naughty putting at the top of the pile and reading it now

highlandcoo I enjoyed Stoner - it reminded me a lot of Alice Munro's short stories, simple, clear language but with such depth of characterisation. What will stay with me is the description of his relationship with his corrosive wife, Edith. A briliant portrayal of a dysfunctional marriage.
It's a quiet, understated novel dealing with Stoner's quiet, understated life, but Stoner is a hugely sympathetic character.

37. The Ocean at the end of the lane - Neil Gaiman

29. Millstone by Margaret Drabble, recommended on another thread. I like her books (but haven't read any for years) and I really enjoyed this one.

23. Dear Lumpy... Letters to a Disobedient Daughter by Roger and Louise Mortimer. Following on from Dear Lupin, very enjoyable.
24. Petite Mort by Beatrice Hitchman. Won't be rushing to recommend this, easy beach read.

I think I am now getting behind if I am going to make it to 50, suppose that I should choose some slim volumes for a while to catch up!

39. Big Brother - Lionel Shriver. Quite depressing and polemical, with some really well made points.

40 Die Laughing - Carola Dunn

What was Stoner like, novel? Daunts in Marylebone High St has a huge display of the novel in its window and I was quite intrigued.
Seems to be one of these books that becomes a success by word of mouth, long after being first published.

1. The Testament of Gideon Mack - James Robertson
2. The Lotus Eaters - Tatjani Soli
3. The Panopticon - Jenni Fagan
4. The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
5. The Great Gatsby
6. Life after Life - Kate Atkinson
7. Stoner - John Williams
8. The Land Lay Still - James Robertson

Really enjoying reading again. It makes me more thoughtful / mindful of the quality of relationships and conscious of how precious time is.

Finished book 32 "The Prince of the Icemark". It was a good read. Nothing amazing, but a good prequel to the series.

Book 33 is Emma Donoghue's "The Sealed Letter". Had this one sitting on my kindle for a long time!!

39 Mistletoe and Murder - Carola Dunn

Book 68 - The End of Your Life Bookclub by Will Schwalbe. I loved this book, even though it is upsetting.

31. Martian Time-Slip - Philip K Dick
32. The Witches - Roald Dahl
33. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
34. The Worst Journey In The World - Apsley Cherry-Garrard
35. James And The Giant Peach - Roald Dahl
36. The Children's Hospital - Chris Adrian
37. Ring Of Bright Water - Gavin Maxwell. A reread of a classic nature book which I've loved since I was very young.