50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 3

I Capture the Castle was meant to be up next, but an abortive attempt at settling baby DS in his cot mean that I turned to my kindle instead. A Paperwhite, which I'm still not quite used to. Miss my kindle keyboard. Does anyone find they keep changing the pages accidentally with the Paperwhite? Seems to happen every time I put it down and pick it up, which is quite often.

Anyway, all that blather is meant to explain why instead of Dodie Smith, I've been reading:

36. Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn. When two young girls are found murdered in her home town, damaged reporter Camille returns to her childhood home to write a story on their deaths. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and the ending wasn't anywhere near as crap as Dark Places (I quite liked the ending to Gone Girl, although it could have been handled better). Here the twist was much more sensible/deftly handled, although I did see it coming. It's dark, pretty macabre, and although I quite liked Camille, I found her half-sister Amma deeply, deeply irritating.

Now I need something lighter for a bit, so I will be turning back to I Capture the Castle again.

#11 We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

As recommended by ClashCityRocker and a huge thanks for that.

An engaging and intriguing story that pulls you right in. On the surface everything is normal - hormonal teens, family get togethers, manners and appearances. Several layers exist under that, becoming increasingly sinister. There are the undercurrents of jealousy and entitlement, of racism, manipulation and the reality behind the main character's condition. I found it difficult to put down. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Still one book behind schedule so taking up SouthEastDweller's recommendation of The Children Act by Ian McEwan as a shorter book.

My H is a massive Stephen King fan but he hated Under the Dome. He thought it was just unpleasant rather than creepy horror. It is different from the TV series - apart from the main premise.

Whenever we have a book clear out it just turns out to be an excuse to buy more books - and H is worse than I am!

Clash thank you for the SK recommendation. When I've finished the book I've just started I will give it a go. I am a complete and utter horror wuss though so may be a tad massively scared. That's why I love these threads because I would never have thought to read it.

I agree about Four (ahem).

Just finished 13 which was Red Love: The Story of an East German Family by Maxim Leo. This was an OK read, it is written by an East German journalist and tells the story of his parents, and their experiences in the GDR and the story of his grandparents and their experiences in WW2 and how they shaped their future. It was an interesting read, especially the WW2 parts as I haven't read much about the German experiences of the war. However at under 300 pages it was short and it seemed to lack detail in parts.

I can't decide what to read next!

12. Where D'You Go To Bernadette by Maria Semple - set in Seattle, mum is a recluse, dad works at Microsoft and the daughter Bea is a genius. Very funny novel touching on Seattle life, pushy parents and mental health. A bit different and very enjoyable.

I haven't read Under The Dome, but I have seen the first 2 series of the TV version. Anyone know if this differs wildly from the book?

Ellis - I thought it was shockingly badly written and unbelievably tedious.

Agree re the stupid ending of, 'Under the Dome.' A shame because generally it was a return to form.

Remus you are the first person I have encountered who hates Longbourn as much as I do. Everyone I know who has read it raves about it but it left me cold.

Am very behind on this challenge as my baby DS does not let me keep still long enough to read much but...

Book 12 Signature of all Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

I love this book. Read it twice straight away. It's the story of a young woman who develops her ideas of evolution along the time of Darwin. But it is so much more than that it is a epic story of a woman's life and learning. I loved this book so much I have given copies to friends to get them to read it so I can talk about it with other people!

Book 13 Outlander book 1 by Diana Gibaldon (sp?)
I just finished watching the TV adaptation so thought I would try the book. It's the story of Claire a nurse in 1942 who travels through time and has to survive in 18th C Scotland. It's entertaining enough and easily read though the sex scenes are excruciating! I don't often say it but the tv adaptation is better mainly due to the beautiful Scottish scenery. The book is the first in a series but although this was an fairly enjoyable read I won't bother with any more in the series.

Whippet, how have you managed that?! Do you feel an urge to start? If so, I would recommend It, definately his best IMO.

And I enjoyed the whole divergent trilogy - yes it's YA, but it's good YA and a decent story.

and I have distinctly unwholesome thoughts about Four

Cote - the second book in the Brilliance series is on my Amazon wish list for purchasing when I have read some of the mountain of books I have already bought! I'm looking forward to seeing where he takes the story. I read Lexicon last year; liked it but I felt the whole feel of the book and characters was quite cold, not sure exactly what it was I didn't connect with, maybe I didn't sympathise/identify with the characters as much as I would have liked. And I thought the ending was a bit of a cop out. Much preferred Brilliance!

Adding to the SK love. I read It and The Stand in my early teens - probably due a re-read but I don't want to spoil my memories, I loved them that much. I recently read Dr Sleep, which I really enjoyed but I HATED Mr Mercedes with a passion. I though it was nasty and violent with a ridiculous story. The Dome I liked but thought the ending was very very silly.

I have never read a Stephen King book in my life

However, I have just finished:

25. The Colossus - Sylvia Plath
    An unsettling, but at times a very evocative collection of poems here. I believe this is early Plath. A lot are set roundabout the coast (New England?) and there are some beautiful descriptions of the natural world, as well as some disturbing ones, such as the poem Mushrooms, which genuinely made me feel a bit odd.

26. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
    This is the second book in the YA Divergent trilogy. I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed this and found it a bit of a page-turner despite its simple YA first person narration style. I like reading YA fiction because it reminds me what it was like to read books when I was younger and also because I can then discuss them with my DD who is 13 and watch the films of them and have some idea of what is happening

I really enjoyed Jill Mansell - three amazing things about you

It is very readable about three women & their love lives but it keeps you guessing all the way through & the characters are very relatable to

My SK books have survived the cull apart from the duplicates, which DH was a bit as to why I had them anyway - most of them were gifts of books I already had.

Tbf I do the bulk of my reading on the kindle nowadays, and only really read paperbacks in the bath which means they get wet and swell up to twice the size

We cull pretty ruthlessly nowadays. Only really hang onto cookery books, non fiction and Stephen King! :) Don't tend to keep fiction, unless it's classics we know we'll re-read.

My horrible horrible 'd' h has made me sort and slim down my book collection

Now they all fit on to the shelves and everything

On the plus side, we can actually get into the spare room now...

I've been fairly ruthless and chucked out quite a lot (well, they'll be going to a book bank) and I just KNOW that next week I'll fancy rereading something I've chucked, even if I've not even thought about it for the past ten years...

Wilting - I'm afraid I absolutely detested, 'Longourne.' I do hope that you get more out of it than I did.

Just got, 'Burmese Days' and A Short Introduction to the Norman Conquest in a charity shop - looking forward to both of those.

I loved the Stand. Still read it occasionally. Have no criticism to make of it whatsoever ...

otherwise have finished

16 Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke; beautifully clear vivid writing, the real character is the mysterious spacecraft, everything is focussed on that. Perhaps somewhat idealised views of what humanity can achieved in terms of working together but that tended to be a theme back in the day so I'll forgive him . Well worth reading if you like sci fi at all, a very solid grounded feel to it.

17 The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett. Think the thread went through a bit of an AB phase a while back and I bought this. Didn't realise it was so short. Well written and enjoyable, about a couple that come home to find their house cleared of absolutely everything and it becomes a narrative of their marriage and attitude to life.

Now onto Longbourne by Jo Baker...

I liked The Stand a lot. But I did feel the ending was a little bit contrived.

I'm part way through Doctor Sleep (in between library books) and enjoying that.

I must admit to be thoroughly pissed off at the fate of Nick andros.

I think stephen king admitted later that he'd started off with too many characters so had to kill a load off.

Oh those characters and their conclusions - howl. :(

Yeah I understand the love for The Stand, I just feel like committee minutes rarely make compelling fiction ;) and without giving anything away, felt like at least three key (and very interesting) characters had poor, almost throwaway story conclusions.

Love, 'The Stand' - it's probably in my top ten books ever (provided I can count the entire Dark Tower series and entire Harry Potter series as one, anyway!). :)

Two to add

17. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
    
    Loved this - very clever and extremely well written. I could have at many points completely lost the plot over what the hell was going on but the author just about about kept me from losing it. Not one for ppl that like everything tied up at the end but I loved it.

18. The Secret River by Kate Grenville
    Brilliant concept (convicts in Australia come across the Aborigines and the conflicts that arise) but it was one of those books where although a lot happened in terms of plot, the characters were very underdeveloped. Shame.