50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 4

wilting - Winston Churchill biography sounds interesting. I might check it out after the Genghis Khan book

southeast how are you enjoying the Go-Between? I haven't read it for years, but it made a big impact on me at the time.

wilting Not yet, I'm taking the opportunity to read all the books on my bedside table first, as I know they'll be relegated to the end of the list when I get a new kindle!

Remus and Cote, I remember reading in an article that 8% of Asian men (which equates to 0.5% of the men in the world) are direct descendants of Ghengis Khan. Extraordinary!

33. The Children Act by Ian McEwan. This follows a brief period (a few months) in the life of a fictional judge specialising in family law (the book's name refers to the 1989 Act concerning children's welfare) - the cases she is undertaking and her personal life. I thought this was excellent - well-written with interesting characters and a well-constructed plot. My favourite McEwan since Atonement.

Today has not been conducive to reading thus far, so am only about 16% into Genghis. Still enjoying it though - a period of history I know virtually nothing about.

28. Winston S Churchill; Youth 1874 - 1900 by Randolph Churchill; I enjoyed this, not sure why it took me so long to get through it. Latter half was a bit dull as I am not that interested in long forgotten (to me anyway) wars in India or South Africa though the account of his escape from a Boer prisoner of War camp was interesting. V v driven young man, v focused, amazing what he had achieved by 26 when this comes to an end. V readable book also, was a bit afraid it would be too dense or overwrought but no, very clearly and engagingly written.

That said, I have just realised it is part of an 8 volume series and not sure I am up for that. Will have to seek out a more concise biography. IUf anyone can recommend a ONE volume biography focusing on the 2nd WW I'd be v pleased

Tumble did you get your kindle sorted? I can commiserate, I lost mine last Feb and took me a month to get myself another one.

The Genghis Khan book looks vg and have purchased , feel like something light next though so might try Driving Over Lemons which I picked up last week cheaply.

I couldn't read Bad Science Chillie, but I loved his Bad Pharma. You should definitely try it!

biblio I'm still enjoying it at 37%. Who needs Game Of Thrones when you have this true story of people & tribes that have actually existed? Still about it all.

Sorry, my bit about Nina Stibbe doesn't make sense - I meant, I didn't like her earlier book, Love Nina. Thought Man at the Helm was really enjoyable.

Have ordered the Genghis Khan book from the library - must be special to unite Cote and Remus!

78. Reasons to Stay Alive, Matt Haig. About his depression and how he copes with it. A bit like an extended article, if I'm being critical, but I also found it enlightening. I haven't (touch wood) experienced anything like the total collapse he describes - I understand better how it can be so crippling, and how different it is to my occasional fit of the glooms.

79. Man at the Helm, Nina Stibbe. I was a bit dubious about this, as I didn't enjoy the whole "provincial naive encounters urban literary sophisticates" vibe. But I thought this was great. Children trying to fix their divorced mother's situation - funny and poignant, and the whole naive voice really worked in this setting.

46. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Capote's book on the senseless murder of the Clutter family in Kansas in the 50s is really very good. His writing is beautiful and takes this above the usual true life miser story. He does a great job of describing the family, the aftermath for people who knew them, the hunt for the killers and the killers own story.

Moving onto an icod recommended book about Jimmy Saville called In Plain Sight

I loved AGIR southeast and it led me directly to read Inferno which is amazing. Also annoyed by the ending - it felt a bit Dallas.

51. Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Looking at the dubious claims of various industries, including detoxes, nutrionists, pushers of various 'miracle cures', Gillian McKeith, Patrick Holford, and also the media for their ridiculously bad science reporting and their role in the likes of the MMR hoax. Very interesting and entertaining read.

18. Falling in love by Donna Leon

Latest in series of Venetian detective Guido Brunetti. A visiting opera singer has a stalker. Well written and life in Venice portrayed well, but the plots are rather far fetched, and seem quite dated.

Need to make a serious effort to have any hope of achieving fifty books!

I would call it a cross between Brave New World and Lord Of The Flies.

Ah cote t'was you!

I've just ordered it from the library. I've decided it's not YA. Sort of The Hunger Games meets The Oddessy.

Faints.

Remus - I'm 30% into Genghis Khan and really enjoying it, too. I think we may have found another one of those elusive rare birds - a book we both like

TheWordFactory - You are very welcome I thought Golden Son (book #2) was good, too.

All the lovely weather is perfect for reading in the shade so getting through a lot !

Been reading no 57 on & off for a few weeks :
Judith O'Reilly A Year of Doing Good

Really wasn't sure if I'd like this as I thought it might be a bit twee : the author attempts to do a good deed everyday from taking her neighbour to the hospital , to picking up litter

I actually really enjoyed it - the good deeds are intertwined with everyday stories of what happens on the school run etc as well as exploring what it means to 'do good' & why we feel the need

A good holiday read as you can dip in & out without worrying about forgetting the plot

Book 26 Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

I'd like to thank whoever it was that recommended this.

Absolutely brilliant. Great world building ( including consistent internal logic and language). A brilliant first person narrative. Fascinating plot.

Can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

I didn't like, 'Fingersmith' at all. Thought the 'Stranger' one was okay,but not great. Detested, 'Nightwatch' and won't be reading any more of hers.

I'm enjoying Genghis, Cote, but only about 12% in so far.

Ah good Duchess, let's see what we think of Fingersmith then! I have got The Paying Guests on my reading pile but worried as I had read mixed reviews of it so thought I would start with Fingersmith first as I have read far more good reviews for this than bad.