50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 4

#22 White Oleander by Janet Fitch

No idea why I read this book - I can only think someone on this thread recommended it? If so, I cannot thank you enough.

Absolutely gripping, absorbing and draining. It tells the story of the relationship between a daughter and narcissistic mother. The mother goes to jail for the murder of a boyfriend who jilts her and the daughter Astrid spends her later childhood and adolescence in a number of foster homes.

You journey through these experiences with her, and get some deep insight into how these experiences shape and influence her character and outlook. I will definitely seek out more Janet Fitch but need something a bit lighter now.

I've got Alan Bennet's The Uncommon Reader lined up next on the kindle. I think that was a recommendation from Southeastdweller or DuchessofMalfi ?

Listening to Stephen Fry's Chronicles which I got as a deal on Audible. He seems to have produced a lot of autobiographies? Quite entertaining.

23. Stephen King - Doctor Sleep

A worthy sequel to The Shining. Danny is all grown up and after struggling with alcoholism, working in a hospice, when he meets a little girl, Abra, with the biggest shining he's ever seen. But her shining has attracted the attention of a group of psychic "vampires" called the True Knot who feed off the psychic energy of children with the shining....

I really enjoyed reading this. I think it's definitely one of his better books and well worth a read for anyone who liked The Shining.

42. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie

Jane Marple is sent to stay with an old schoolfriend, Carrie Louise, to see whether there is reason for the unease that Carrie Louise's sister felt on her own visit. She finds a country house, 200 juvenile delinquents, and an oddly composed family, but finds it hard to identify why she feels something is wrong. Then Carrie Louise's husband is threatened and shot at by one of the inmates, and shortly afterwards her step son is found shot dead.

62. The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel - 4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this dark, rather disturbing collection of short stories. They are all a little off kilter, a bit twisted, but still managed to raise a few smiles.

I bought The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared for £2.55. It looks like a nice light listen. I really enjoyed Dissolution too so I have downloaded the next book in the series to listen to while I paint the living room tomorrow. I'll let you know how I find it.

I just got an email from Audible about this too, Rugby :) Managed to have a look at the first hour's sale, didn't fancy anything, but am off to have a look again. Will dip in and out during the afternoon as and when I can - feel sure there will be something interesting.

Currently enjoying Dissolution by C J Sansom. If that crops up in the sale, I recommend it.

Audible.co.uk is 10 years old! To celebrate, this page will update with a new sale every hour between now and 11pm.

Full sale schedule:

1pm: Books on the Big Screen
2pm: Timeless Classics
3pm: Star Narrators
4pm: Life-changing Listens
5pm: Epic Sci-Fi & Fantasy
6pm: Crime & Thrillers to Die For
7pm: Fiction Blockbusters
8pm: Award Winners
9pm: All-time Best Sellers
10pm: Customer Favourites

Hi all, things have been crazy at work so I haven't been on lately but I just wanted to let any audible fans know that there is a sale on today between 1 and 11pm. There is a different genre/type of book on sale each hour so I think you have to keep checking all day. FRom 1-2pm it is films that have been made into films. Lots of books for £2-3. It wasn't well advertised so just thought I'd point it out in case you had missed it - sorry if it has already been mentioned, I've just skimmed through the thread.

My copy of the Anne Tyler is taking forever to arrive from the library. My county library service is a poor one unfortunately, but I still use them as much as possible. I am also waiting for The Buried Giant. I have been waiting for ages come on Warwickshire Library Service

I have a soft spot for Ann Tyler and I have found two of her novels very memorable: Breathing Lessons and Saint Maybe. I really would recommend those two if you haven't read them Rosehip and Joyless.

I whizzed through book #26 Elizabeth is Missing, and think I was skim reading parts of it. Thought it was okay, poignant in places but I guessed the plot pretty early on. It's been reviewed many times before so I won't go into further details.

Very nearly finished book #25 The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin which is very good. Crime novel featuring DI Malcolm Fox from the complaints dept investigating three officers at a small constabulary in Fife. The investigation goes off at a tangent to a mystery in the 80's involving the police, MI5, politicians etc. enjoyable so far.

On to my next read, I've got 2 audible credits and think will order Finders Keepers (enjoyed Mr Mercedes a lit), and possibly one of the Susan Hill books featuring Simon Serrailler.

I'm a Maggie O'Farrell fan too. I liked Esme Lennox, but my favourites are After You'd Gone and The Hand That First Held Mine. I found Instructions for a Heatwave disappointing though.

Lammy driving? Woohoo! That is wonderful progress & yes, it was great to get an unexpected book in the post, made it feel like a present somehow.

Duchess always good to have stuff ruled out & thank you for the Assasination of MT recommendation - I like the sound of it, so on the TBR it goes!

Am doing fine myself medically - had a brief back blip but on the road to normality again and now need to get on with a regular walking & pilates routine. Oh & lose all that extra weight ...

Rosehip your review of Ann Tyler's latest has struck a chord with me. I've read one of two of hers and have always found it hard to put my feelings into words. You're spot on with "ultimately it wasn't very memorable". That's it, her books don't stay with me as - say - Maggie O'Farrell's do.

Rosehip and Joyless - I enjoyed the Maggie O'Farrell novel so much I am thinking of returning to her previous novels. I read After You'd Gone when it was published but I think now I have a new appreciation for her writing style. Or her writing style fits where I currently am as a reader. I'm don't usually reread but I enjoyed The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox so much, I am going to rediscover this author.

41. The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side by Agathat Christie

Film star Marina Gregg has bought Gossington Hall in St Mary Mead, and as she settles into her life in the English countryside throws open the grounds of the house for a fete for St John's Ambulance. But one of the guests dies suddenly and is discovered to have been poisoned. Miss Marple's friend Dolly Bantry had seen a look on Marina's face as she was talking to the future murder victim which Dolly described to Miss Marple as being like the Lady of Shallott when the doom came upon her. But whose doom was Marina Gregg seeing?

Galaxy - Maggie O'Farrell is brilliant - after you'd gone is my book to read in my happiest and saddest moments

A spool of blue thread by Ann Tyler

Haven't read this author before, but keep reading amazing reviews of her work. A domestic saga - the parents are getting old and frail, and the children rally round whilst reminiscing about past events. There are four parts, with the first being by far the largest. I was less keen on the smaller sections, which were more like short stories. I enjoyed it, but ultimately it wasn't very memorable.

Library copy of girl on the train finally arrived, but so far finding it a bit silly

I've fond memories of reading Watermelon & Lucy Sullivan is getting married in my single days
I loved her along with Freya North & Jill Mansell

Me!
I love Marian Keyes, have been a fan since her first book Rachel's Holiday I think it was ?
Love her later stuff too

Duchess: All is good with me now thanks, starting to build up back strength again by walking and going to the pool. One more month and should be fit for work again! Glad nothing bad showed up for you! It is such a worry waiting on results!

Anyone looking forward to the Marian Keyes web chat tomorrow?

Joyless - last week's ultrasound didn't show up anything bad, which I'm very pleased about. I did think my GP sent me for that as a ruling things out measure rather than looking for something specific, so am relieved.

Hope all is still going ok with you? And Lammy?

Still enjoying The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher. That's a sentence I never thought I'd hear myself say :o But it is good - the stories are deliciously dark, a bit twisted and off-kilter. Just what I fancied right now.

Oh and thanks for the tip-off about Stone Mattress, Cote. I've never tried Margaret Atwood before. Am enjoying short stories atm.

Hi Joyless: Isn't it great to get a surprise free book
Hope your own health issues are going well for you?
I started driving today!!!!! It is great to have that freedom again after not being able to since the end of February!
I like your review of Koomson's book above, I've read some of hers and they are decent enough for light reading.

Duchess any joy with your most recent hospital visit?
Esio & Provencal I've added that Blake Morrison to be TBR pile, thanks.
Galaxy I just loved Maggie O'Farrell's "Esme Lennox" too - a really beautifully written book on a tough subject.

Current read is a real piece of trash ... hey ho, it won't take long, then back to something good. I just need to choose ...

Oh, I got a book from Mumsnet too, but mine was as part of a prize for a photo competition I entered. Here's my review of it:

Book 30: That Girl from Nowhere by Dorothy Koomson. My first comment is that the cover page seemed a bit fence-sitting. Is the model in the picture actually black, or is she mixed-race, or even just very tanned. The main character is black and the whole book is about her identity; as the author I wouldn't be content with that image.

The story is about Clem who is black and adopted by a white couple. Her mother has a problem with acknowledging the obvious physical differences, whilst her father does not. He takes Clem to a black hairdresser and learns how to do her hair, he talks to her about their differences. He is a huge figure in Clem's life. But he dies, then "something" happens that causes Clem to leave her (secret) husband and her mother imposes herself upon Clem when she tries to relocate across the country to start anew. Clem meets her birth family via a series of coincidences and things get a bit screwed up when her grandmother asks Clem to help her die. Drawbacks with it were that I felt the ending tied things up a bit too neatly with some of it lacking reality. All the male characters were ciphers except for Clem's Dad who certainly came alive on the page. Ms Koomson clearly is more comfortable with female characters. Overall, a decent enough sorbet read.

It's a while since I've posted and I'm not quite sure where I was up to.
22. The Allotment Diaries by May Sexton. Mixture of a diary with tips about growing vegetables and recipes too. Enjoyed it as I have an allotment so it was all very relevant.
23. Death of a Glutton by M C Beaton
This was a light read about a woman murdered while on a singles weekend. Lots of suspects, nice twist, undemanding which was what I needed.
24. I needed an easy read because I was also reading Maiden Castle by John Cooper Powys. This was a book club read - it was turgid and had a ridiculous plot. Gave up (which I almost never do) but still counting it because of the effort I put in.
25. A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor. She was a writer in the 1940s and 1950s. This one is set in a run down post war seaside town where the local doctor has an affair with his wife's best friend. I really enjoyed this one - it has some brilliant descriptions.
26. The Flemish House by Georges Simenon. An Inspector Maigret novel. The first one I've read. He is asked to investigate the disappearance of a woman by the family who are suspected of killing her. Slightly weird ending but good.

Bugrit: I was delighted and it looks like a decent story!