50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 3

Thanks, Biblio. Will add that to my list and check out what tense it's in!
Have read, 'Lady Audley' - tis okay but not a patch on Wilkie at his best! If you enjoy such stuff though, you will probably like, 'The Leavenworth Case' which I reviewed down-thread.

Book 54
'The Nottinghill Mystery' by Charles Felix (pseudonym)
Reputed to be the first detective novel, and certainly one of the earliest (it predates, 'The Moonstone' for example) it actually feels fairly modern in places. It's built up of lots of texts, excerpts, extracts, medical records etc, which are then all tied up at the end.

It's obvious very early on 'who-dunnit' and the novel essentially is designed to present all the pieces of the jigsaw, and prove it. I enjoyed it, although it did get rather repetitive in places. It kept me going on my commute for a few days, anyway!

Funnily I couldn't less about baseball but really enjoyed The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. I also intend to read Moneyball at some point. I also enjoyed the Bill Bryson book.

biblio i read The Trip to Echo Springs a while ago but remember quite enjoying it. Probably helps that I do like some of the authors she mentions.

I'll get my coat...

No intention here of reading anything about baseball, by Bill Bryson or anyone else.

Remus, the Lucy Worsley book was A Very British Murder. I can't remeber if it used the present tense or not. I feel affectionately towards it, but not least because it pointed me towards Lady Audley's Secret, which was a delightand definitely recommended for Wilkie Collins fans.

51. The Trip to Echo Springs: Why Writers Drink, Olivia Laing. English writer mooches around the US, brooding about six great American male writers and why they boozed so much. Dull, dull, dull. It doesn't help that I don't like great American male writers, and liked her little lot even less by time she'd described their lives. Not recommended.

Book 18

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare.

This is the second book in the YA Mortal Instruments series which I listened to with my 15 year old son.

Where the first book built a wonderfully vivid world and introduced some sexy characters, this follow up is a bit meh. Same old , same old.

Not terrible but if it were up to me I probably wouldn't bother with book three.

I enjoyed BTSATM but much preferred Life After Life. Haven't read any of the others but do have Emotionally Weird downloaded as the main character has my daughter's name which is v unusual so I tend to buy things when I find it anywhere.

Currently reading The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cockburn. It is scary shit.

I still have the last 20 pages or so of life after life to read, have been meaning to read them for a year now or is it two?

Another one who AFAIK has only read one KA book. I might give human croquet a bash.

Although I am off on a charity shop spree next week even though dh has made me thin down my library for some good holiday reads so shall see what that throws up.

I really loved Behind the Scenes at the museum when it came out. Thought it had some real comic and tragic moments in it (all the men disappearing to watch the football during a wedding reception which coincides with England winning the World Cup sticks in my mind). Struggled with the next two Kate Atkinson books and then decided I didn't like her. Enjoyed the Jackson Brodie ones although think that some of the plot points are unlikely. Enjoyed Life After Life a lot.

I read Bill Bryson's 1926 last summer and enjoyed it but did skip some of the baseball stuff.

The stuff about Charles Lindbergh was great, but interwoven with v tedious baseball stuff.

Oh I didn't even attempt that!

Am a huge Bill Bryson fan, but found the baseball stuff rather wearing.

Life after life is actually the only KA book I've ever read! The others didn't appeal really.

Loved Bill Bryson's travel books (mostly), found the others a bit hit and miss.

Oooooh to new SK, but I think that, 'Revival' was proof positive that he's churning them out too quickly.

I will never forgive Kate Atkinson for the seething pile of rubbish that was, 'Human Croquet' although I did quite enjoy, 'Behind the Scenes' when it came out. I read a couple of the Brodie ones, but found them too reliant on clumsy coincidences, and lacking in subtlety or sophistication - did like Brodie as a character though.

I liked life after life although the ending was a bit silly.

New Stephen King book out next month - 'Finders Keepers'. Looking at the synopsis, it doesn't sound great but no doubt hope will triumph over doubt and I shall give it a whirl. Wasn't too enamoured with Revival though.

I think he's got a new short story collection coming out soon.

I must read more of Bill Bryson, I've only read Notes From A Small Island but really enjoyed it at the time.

I have vowed never to read another Kate A book.

Biblio Can you remember the name of the Lucy W one you mentioned? However, if her books are like she speaks (ie talking about events in the past in present tense), I don't want to read it! :)

No 41

Lucy Diamond Over You

Read this really quick , is a light holiday read but was quite miserable ( main character gets cheated on )

Here's a synopsis

Josie, Nell and Lisa go back a long way - they were flatmates and best mates in their 20s when life was one long party. Five years later things are now different, but a reunion weekend

I really enjoyed Life After Life but I know views on it were mixed.

I loved Alex and didn't really mind how graphic it was. The first one in the trilogy (Irene) is even more graphic, but still a fantastic book. Camille is by far the least gruesome of the three.

Hope you enjoy it, esio!

Doubt I'll read the sequel to Life after Life, but speaking of anticipation, I can't wait for Bill Bryson's book, due out in Oct, The Road to Little Dribbling, where he revisits Notes from a Small Island.

Duchess life after life is one of my favourite books as is a room with a view, lived the movie too.

Really looking forward to a god in ruins.

Provençal, I read Alex but while I found it utterly gripping and excellent thriller, I also found it a bit too graphic and couldn't face the others. Is Camille similar?

Bibliomania
Thanks for the recommendation I'm going to read Linda Grant's book

Duchess also on my watch list. Looking forwards to it.

Also loved Oranges but must be 20 years since I read it.

Biblio - I started reading Oranges this morning. Love it so far. She has a good sense of humour.

Provencal - the new one is on my watch list. A God in Ruins about Ursula's brother Teddy. Wonder if this is the same format.