50 Book Challenge 2013 -The Sequel!

Middlesex is a fantastic book and 1984 is one of my favourite books clevercircus. I also hate abandoning books but I did give up recently on the hundred year old man who climbed out the window one by Jonas Jonasson. Struggled to get through it several times.

Bit late in the day to join but from looking at my kindle I've only read 13 books this year. Had a baby at the end of 2012 so reading time has somewhat diminished. Managed to read three this week (The midwife's confession, The secret of Crickley Hall and The time machine) so I'm up for the challenge of 50 by the end of the year.

Can't believe I'd never read The Time Machine before. Loved it.

Nor sure what to read next. Will have a look.through some of your lists to inspire me.

40. Without Fail - Lee Child
41. The Persuader - Lee Child
42. Unseen - Karin Slaughter
43. Another Man's Poison - Ann Cleeves
44. NOD - Adrian Barnes
45. Waiting for Wednesday - Nicci French
46. Wild Cards - George RR Martin

My Kindle BROKE on holiday. It was hell.

Updated list:

1. Coraline - Neil Gaiman
2. Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
3. Them: Adventures with Extremists - Jon Ronson
4. The Stepford Wives - Ira Levin
5. Sabra Zoo - Mischa Hiller
6. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
7. 1984 - George Orwell
8. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War - Max Brooks
9. Metro 2033 - Dmitri Glukhovsky - really enjoyed this one, and the last few pages took my breath away!

Currently reading:
10. The Smoke Jumper - Nicholas Evans - this one will have to wait, as I don't actually have it at home, but, to be honest, I'm only reading it cause I don't like abandoning books half-way through, I'm not enjoying it at all... Only about 30 pages to go...
11. A Greyhound of a Girl - Roddy Doyle - I'm just about to start this one and really looking forward to reading it, I love a bit of Roddy Doyle :)

56. Hope- A Tragedy, by Shalom Auslander is next though.

Hmm, I found The Marriage Plot pretty annoying, now that I've finished it. Madeleine was rather passive, the 'wrong' suitor condemned by Eugenides for his mental illness as though it were a moral failing, and the 'right' one was a disturbingly misogynistic dick who whined all the way through about being friend-zoned. The meta-ending didn't fix these flaws or do anything different with 'the marriage plot' of literature, which was obviously his aim.

The language was striking though, and I will try Middlesex.

Wednesday - If you loved Atonement, I think I can safely say that you should read Sweet Tooth.

Middlesex is very good. I haven't read any of his other books but finished that book thinking that the author is quite brilliant.

27. we need to talk about Kevin. This isn't my kind of book at all but I stuck with it and found myself really caring about the characters. At one point I even cried, my 3yo came and cuddled me so I wouldn't be so sad.

Moving on to 28. Kiss and Hell - Dakota Cassidy. I felt like I needed some lightweight fluffy paranormal romance after Kevin. I'm already about halfway through, it's so quick and easy to read.

Gah, I feel too guilty. I have to finish it. Sigh.

done self-absorbed literary lovelorn types better and with humour.

I think I'll jump ship. Middlesex is supposed to be better.

Hmm, I'm halfway through, and I just don't think I care enough about the existential angst of rich college students and the snoozefest that is discussing Derrida. David Lodge has d

54. Road Closed, by Leigh Russell- crap, formulaic detective fiction. One star.

I'm giving the dross a break now, and trying 55. The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides- it's been sitting on my kindle for over twelve months, and I'm trying to resist the lure of drivel Daily Deals. Ten per cent in, and enjoying it so far.

53. The Man Who Forgot His Wife, by John O'Farrell.

A bit of light relief- dick lit really. But very entertaining.

36 The Memory Garden by Rachel Hore - well I gave up on it when I felt at p131 I really didn't care what happened to the charactesr!
37 The Captain's Daughter by Leah Fleming - surprised how much I enjoyed this and was emotionally engaged with the main characters. I will definitely try her other novels.
38 Strong Woman by Karren Brady - some great advice and interesting experiences. Recommend to anyone trying to juggle family life and work/career.

Now struggling to find something that grabs me emotionally!

Cote I have ' Sweet Tooth' on my to read shelf! It might have to be my next book.

The only other Ian McEwan I've read is "Atonement', which I loved!

28. The Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes. Enjoyable enough as a look back on life and how we construct memories of our past. Rather a portentous build-up with the denouement being a bit of a damp squib, but life can be like that...

Currently on (29) The Shelbourne Ultimatum, by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly. I don't think this series is well-known outside Ireland or whether it's readily accessible it is to non-Irish people (you've got to untangle the narrator's accent and slang and inside jokes), but it's hilarious and unexpectedly touching and the best portrait of post-Celtic Tiger Dublin that has yet been done.

24. Sweet Tooth - Ian Mc Ewan

I really liked this book. In some ways, it is similar to Atonement but the story is more interesting. I enjoyed the details about the period and stories-within-the-story.

52. Apple Tree Lane, by Louise Doughty. Fantastic and beautifully-written courtroom drama which examines what happens when a woman transgresses expectations. Wonderful.

25. Jane's Fame, Claire Harman (a re-read. About the fluctuations in Jane Austen's posthumous reputation - very interesting)

26. The Young Visiters, by Daisy Ashford. Loved this - written in 1890 when she was 9. It had me laughing out loud. Wonderfully quotable.

Currently on 27) Horace and Me, by Harry Eyres. I'm not sure how to describe this, part-memoir, part-meditation on the Roman poet Horace (of "carpe diem" fame). It's really lovely, a reminder of how to live well, to revel in wine and friendship, to taste the moment rather than to seize it. Pure pleasure.

Finished book 28 "Saving Agnes" by Rachel Cusk. It was okay but I found out hard to read in places because off the excessively flowery language and the fact that nothing really seemed to happen.

Moving on to book 29: "The Hundred Year Old Man", which I've heard mixed reviews about so I'm looking forward to reading.

28. The Island - Victoria Hislop. It wasn't badly written and I know some of the places in Crete, but the plot was a bit clunky and obvious.

Book no. 63 Enduring Love by Ian McEwan.