Bibliomania - I have had a serious falling out with Judith Flanders, having liked her previously. I've come to the conclusion that she's not a terribly good writer, and that some of her research is a bit questionable too. A shame, as hers are just the sort of books I usually love.

No 40
love Anthony by Lisa Genova

Loved this book , here's a bit about it :-

I’m always hearing about how my brain doesn’t work right…But it doesn’t feel broken to me.

In an insightful, deeply human story reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Daniel Isn’t Talking, and The Reason I Jump, New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova offers a unique perspective in fiction—the extraordinary voice of Anthony, a nonverbal boy with autism. Anthony reveals a neurologically plausible peek inside the mind of autism, why he hates pronouns, why he loves swinging and the number three, how he experiences routine, joy, and love. And it is the voice of this voiceless boy that guides two women in this powerfully unforgettable story to discover the universal truths that connect us all.

47. Life in a Cold Climate: Nancy Mitford biography by Laura Thompson. Really liked this - perfect match of subject and biographer. Her tone sounds just right. She really seemed to like and appreciate Nancy, which not everyone does. I've read a fair amount about the Mitfords, so the outlines of the story aren't new, but it was well told. I particularly liked the description of Nancy's poorly-chosen husband.

48. The Making of Home, Judith Flanders. History of ideas about home and the houses and contents we live with. I've previously found Judith Flanders a bit indigestible as a historian -felt like she was firing vast amounts of data at me, without letting the story breathe, but I found this more approachable. All those paintings of Dutch interiors - it makes absolute sense as she shows that they bore the same relation to real homes as the fancy lifestyle mags that we read today.

Thanks wilting and Cote - the consensus for Shantaram is positive!

I enjoyed Shantaram, although it is a bit superficial and definitely fiction (supposedly based on the author's life but details are significantly embellished, apparently).

Oh I really enjoyed it whippet though it's been a good while since I read it. Def worth a chance if you're tempted at all

Hi tumble, no I haven't read that either. Another for the list! Maybe I will go for Shantaram then...

I enjoyed Shantaram, and it is interesting enough that it doesn't feel over-long. Have you read Papillon by Henri Charriere? They are similar IMO.

Is anyone able to tell me if Shantaram is worth reading? It's price dropped on Kindle, not massively, but I am tempted. It's mega long though so I would like to know if it's worth it!

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is £3.30 today, down a good bit from recent price level :) can't decide whether to buy it or not, not sure I want to read it really...

Finished the martian! It seriously lacks any emotional depth whatsoever, you don't get any sense of what surely is intense isolation, the horror of abandonment in a totally hostile environment, or even much sense of the landscape. It's all v gung ho, I've an idea, yay! ( yay features a lot in this guy's vocabulary) I also felt the actual plot was a bit far fetched. That said I did read it all and enjoyed it in parts, have to admit the science was mostly over my head and I don't care enough to try particularly hard to understand it. I tend to take the science in my books at face value unless truly incredible .

Now onto H is for Hawk...

27. Old Man's War - John Scalzi

I'm going through a bit of a sci-fi phase and snapped this up when it dropped to £0.99 on the Kindle (it's still at that prize). Scalzi is one of the rising stars of the genre but this book is not his best, although it is pretty interesting - it is about transhumanism - quite "modern" although written in a Heinlein-ish style.

35. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life - Anne Lamott

This book is actually about how to be a writer and what it inovles, explained in a very personal, chatty and conversational way by the American author Anne Lamott. It's a sweet and low-key book and I didn't always agree with everything she said but having read so many books recently I thought it was time I thought about the process of actually writing books and what an author has to go through.

Already loving love Anthony & only two chapters in !

Some many typos apologies

Books 18 & 19 are the next two in the Outlander series.

I said up thread I wasn't going to bother reading on but was convinced on another thread to try the next two. They are entertains reads and I preferred the second book. I will not read any more in the series though as at the end of the third book the characters actions were starting to seem forced as plot points. Overall the easy to read and enjoyable.

No idea what to read next. I have Game of Thrones on the shelf but think j need a shorter read before I tackle that.

20 – Strength in Strangers – A True Story of Heartbreak Hope and Courage by Lauren Britton
Lauren’s husband Andrew suffered a near fatal heart attack caused by a virus, while on honeymoon on a remote island. He went on to suffer five more heart attacks and it was several months before he was well enough to be flown back to the UK.
21 - Her Ladyships Girl. A Maid Life in London by Anwyn Moyle
Interesting book about Anwyn Moyles life, covering not only her life in service, but her violent marriage and the business that she set up to support herself and her children.
22 - To Romania with Love – Tessa Dunlop
Quite a curious book, another true story but not very interesting.

23 – The Chessmen – Peter May
The third book in the Lewis trilogy. These are really well written thrillers set in the Shetland Isles. Provide a really interesting insight into life lived within a small, claustrophobic community.
24 – My Sisters Keeper – Jodi Picoult
The film was on TV over Easter and I remember that I had an unread copy of the book. The book, especially the ending, is different to the film. Anna Fitzgerald’s older sister Kate suffers from a rare form of cancer. Anna was a designer baby, her embryo was specifically selected so that she could save Kate’s life. At first it is successful, but then the cancer continues to return and Anna has to undergo more and more invasive treatments to provide blood, bone marrow etc., to save Kate's life. The book starts at the point where Anna has been asked to donate a kidney.
25 – Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins
Has been reviewed many times already. I really enjoyed the book.
26 – The Wreckage – Michael Robotham
I have read several of Michael Robotham’s books and have enjoyed them all. Although I did not enjoy this one as much as the ones I have previously read. I think this was due to there being two story lines, one set in Iraq and the other in London and you can’t see the connection until quite a way into the book. The story was quite complex and confusing with many different characters.

dragintrainer - I have also just finished The Invention of Wings. Agree in some parts it is a very harrowing but it is a brilliant read. probably one of the best books I have read

Dragontrainer glad you liked The Gospel According to Drew Barrymore! Perfect review

Atticus Another one who loved L-Shaped Room here. Many moons since I read it, and I'm now wondering whether it is worth a re-visit.

20. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon. Second in a series where an other worldly race has taken over Europe but whose existence is largely unknown to humans at large. Under this race's instigation, all people with a known clairvoyant power are hunted down. I really enjoyed the first in the series, but found this tedious, unrealistic (even given its subject matter) and somehow immature.

#21. Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd. Life told from the perspective of a slave and the girl to whom the slave is given as a birthday present. I found it very engaging and vivid, though harrowing in places. I would thoroughly recommend it.

#22. The Stranger - Harlan Coben - a stranger goes up to people and reveals the secrets they or a loved one have been keeping. Readable but forgettable nonsense.

#23. The Gospel According to Drew Barrymore - Pippa Godwin - took inspiration from a previous post, so won't duplicate with a summary. Perfect for a brainless and relaxing soak in the bath, particularly if, like me, the 80s were your formative years. Any book where hubba bubba chewing gum is used as part of the plot has to be a vote winner for me!

Finished Inside The O'Briens

Was fantastic

Now going to read Love Anthony by Genova for number 40

31. The Ionian Mission by Patrick O'Brian

Jack Aubrey, now a senior Captain, is sent out to reinforce the squadron blockading Toulon, in command of a ship better suited to the Atlantic than the Mediterranean. It's hard, dull work waiting for the French to break out, enlivened only by the occasional foray on a mission for the Admiral and supporting the intelligence work of Jack's long-time ship's doctor Stephen Maturin. But a sudden turn of events sends Jack and his crew off on a mission to the Greek Islands, where Jack's skills of seamanship once again come into their own.

I haven't read any O'Brian for a while, and have just realised I've gone out of order and missed The Surgeon's Mate, but he does write a cracking naval action. Not being a sailor myself the technical niceties, of which there are a lot, can pass me by, but this is definitely adventure on the high seas and it's a good read. Aubrey is so clearly based on Admiral Lord Cochrane that while he comes across as a very much larger than life figure none of his exploits are really beyond the bounds of possibility.

15 Suite Franchise was very intense and included fascinating snapshots of characters. As unfinished it still gave me satisfaction but I did want to follow the whole epic. I liked the interwoven stories through the two parts and would certainly have read the final three if the author had survived.
16 Atonement by Ian McEwan. I loved the ambiguity of the narrative and the comparisons with DH Lawrence and EM Forster. I was immersed in the miniature world of Briony, and the raw descriptions of Dunkirk and war nursing.
Now reading Poldark to satisfy by Aidan Turner obsession! It is full of historical detail which I enjoy and I obviously like the main character!

It's really growing on me tbh
Been reading all day !
What is that one called ? Is it Love Anthony ? I've got it on my pile from the library - she likes her deep subject matter doesn't she?!