50 Book Challenge 2016 Part Three

45. Riders Jilly Cooper

A reread (for about the tenth time)! I do like her books but prefer the ones that are less horsey. This one is very much of its time, very sexist. Still good fun though.

I'm 800 pages into the 900 pager I Know This Much is True and am so glad I stuck with it after the slow first 200-300 pages. It has been a proper slow burner but I am really looking forward to the last 100 pages!

I'm also reading a PG Wodehouse I haven't read before, bliss .

24. Year of Living Danishly Helen Russell

I enjoyed finding out more about Denmark, and liked seeing it from the point of view of uk expats, but the flippant, journalistic style did get a little wearing and it felt about a 100 pages too long. By the time it got to taxes and finances my interest was stretched, but the general Danish lifestyle stuff was good. It was ok for dipping in and out of, but not one to get engrossed in.

Glad you liked Between Two Thorns, glitter. She's also written a sci-fi novel, Planetfall, which I think I might get with the last bit of my Christmas book token. Hammered sounds good, too.

Currently reading The Dark Forest, the sequel to The Three Body Problem, but not really got into it as yet.

Hah. Remembered why I haven't updated, kept getting interrupted while writing. Divergent, Allegiant & Insurgent were enjoyable enough YA, also read Four which was a short story collection.

However, Between Two Thorns and the following two books which someone recommended earlier were much more absorbing. I liked the world building and character development, and looking forward to the fourth book although tbh you could stop at book three as several plotlines were resolved there.

What else? Started Hammered by Elizabeth Bear - SF series where main character is an ex-soldier in a dystopian future Canada. She was badly injured during service and has experimental prosthetic limbs implanted as a result. It's reasonably pacy and enjoyable. Nice to see a fifty year old woman as main character.

Also read another rec from here, All The Birds In The Sky. I wasn't sure at times whether I was meant to find Laurence really annoying

Think that puts it at 26. Past halfway, according to original goal it should be non-fiction all the way now.

For a second there I got all excited, thinking you are all talking about Daniel Kehlmann, the author of the fantastic book Measuring The World.

Been trying to get through Thinking Fast and Slow for ages Sadik. Every time I get through a bit I think that was useful, glad to know that, but I don't seem to build up momentum with it. So I'm working on picking away at it gradually.

The most recent non-fiction I read was way easier to read. How We Learn, Benedict Carey. Full of counter intuitive things about how we learn most effectively. Some I was familiar with but didn't know there was research backing it up.

Been ages since I updated last. Thanks to whoever suggested reading The Martian before the film. I actually really enjoyed all the detailed working out in the book, so I can watch the film without gritting my teeth at all the stuff they pass over.

Since last update, I also finished the next few books in the Veronica Roth YA series starting with Divergent.

28 Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
A classic analysis of the ways in which human beings make decisions.

Firstly, I felt like this was a very useful book, and I would definitely recommend it to those who haven't read it. Even though I was already reasonably familiar with many of the concepts he writes about, there was still plenty new in the book, and a lot of it is directly applicable to everyday life.

Having said that, I didn't find it a particularly enjoyable read. Compared to, for example, Delusions of Gender (roughly equivalent in 'hardness') I didn't find his writing style pleasing and I definitely had to persevere to finish it. I'm glad I did, though (and the final chapters were much easier to read, which naturally - according to his theories - will bias me in favour of recommending it).

Denmark, Denmark!

23. The Secret Seven Win Through

My ds is really enjoying these. This one didn't have so many good clues and detective work as the last one we read, but it was still a jolly good adventure (sorry it rubs off a bit. I even have different voices for "The Seven"). I had to excise a couple of bits - due to ds's sensitivity and my own squeamishness - where a rather bad sort on whom they are eavesdropping discovers one of them, and gives him 'a good box on the ear', leaving a bruise. I thought I managed to skim over it adequately, but ds still got the gist and was a bit shaken by idea of an adult being casually aggressive towards a child, even though Colin was 'proud of it'. There is a quiz at the back which tests your memory of the story and ds got them all, which is testament to how well these books can still capture a child's imagination, after all this time.

My favourite Pullein-Thompson was 'Prince at Black Pony Inn' I've read it I don't know how many times, but it is languishing in my parents' loft at present. I might fetch it 'for the children' when I next visit!

Still tired and a bit ill and plodding through living Danishly. Interested in what I'm finding out about Denamark, but getting increasingly irritated by and tired of the style.

My reading's slowed up over the last couple of weeks as work's been really busy but have just finished:

15. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante - the third in the Neapolitan Novels quartet. I know My Brilliant Friend had mixed reviews but I enjoyed it and enjoyed this one too. They're definitely slow burners but I like seeing how Elena and Lila's lives develop, against the political backdrop. I have the final one on my Kindle but will read some other stuff first.

Am currently also in the middle of The Tea Planter's Wife but am finding it implausible and the dialogue really badly written. Reading it very slowly as a result. Seriously tempted to abandon it but I get twitchy about unfinished books, so think I will keep plugging away. Am disappointed in it though as I'd thought it would be beautifully written to match the setting! I can't remember who was talking earlier in the thread about matching books to seasons but I do wonder if I'd be enjoying this more if I was reading it in summer...

My favourite 'Jill' book is Jill and the Perfect Pony! I don't think I've read them all, though - I remember the first one and Jill Has Two Ponies - is that the one where she gets Rapide and hates him? And Pony Jobs for Jill when she's older and is trying to make a living riding ponies.

Book 34
The Green Mummy by Fergus Hume
Another old fashioned who-dunnit, written in about 1908. At its best, this was reminiscent of Wilkie Collins at his most overblown and ridiculous and at its worst it was racist and stupid. Overall I quite enjoyed it though.

16. The Night Rainbow by Claire King. This is a rather lovely story set in rural France and written from the perspective of a 5-year-old girl, Pea, whose mother is struggling with depression after bereavement.

Thanks Muskey - I'm only 21 pages in but am loving The Lost Princess. You are right Alison Weir does really bring the Tudor world to life.

Moving I'm glad I'm not the only pony book fan on here, I rather thought I might be.

The Fidra editions of the Jill books have the original Caney illustrations which I love but, sadly, not the original covers.

I also have the first two of the West Barsetshire pony club series by Josephine Pullein-Thompson. There are quite a few other books on the Fidra list that I'm coveting but I need to rein in my book buying somewhat - so I'm trying to resist.

19. Robison Wells - Variant

YA novel. Foster kid Benson gets a scholarship to a remote boarding school. But when he arrives, it turns out to be more of a prison than a school. Filled with teenagers that no-one's going to be looking for - kids with no families or friends who might notice they've vanished without a word. No adults in the school, video cameras watching the pupils every move, no means of escape or contacting the outside world. No idea of why the "school" has been set up at all.

Benson spends most of the book trying to figure out how to escape, and find out what's going on - dark secrets behind the school etc. I enjoyed reading this.

Natasha- you've made my day! Used to read many such books as a horse-mad girl, remember those titles now you've mentioned them but would never have otherwise! Shall see if I can track them down. Thank s for the reminder 🐴

I really feel a bit shamefaced about books 7 and 8 considering I can't even claim to have read them to/with a child: Jill's Gymkhana and Rosettes for Jill by Ruby Ferguson. They are favourites from childhood and my ultimate comfort reads - I've had some sort of lurgy over the past week and was feeling really awful so naturally turned to pony books.

I started collecting the Fidra editions of the republished 'Jill' series and 'Gymkhana' is the first in the series. They've gone back to the original editions and have restored the bits which were edited out of the paperback editions. They haven't got round to publishing 'Rosettes' yet but I chose that one because it was always my favourite.

Now I'm feeling quite well again I shall be back to reading mostly proper grown up books.

The font on mobile is def the same for me.

Thanks for the Agatha Christie ideas. I've been wanting to read some for a while and as somebody else brought it up I can pinch recommendations!

FiveGoMad

So pleased to hear that you enjoyed March Violets - there are LOTS of Bernie Gunther books now, so you're in for a treat if you work through the series. There's only one that I've disliked.

22. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling. This is the fourth in the HP series. In this book Harry’s name is drawn from the goblet of fire as a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament. It doesn’t take long to figure out that something more sinister is at play and that Harry’s name was put into the tournament by someone who wanted to kill him. Harry has to challenge himself in ways he could not have previously imagined and in the end tragedy strikes as Lord Voldermort finds his way back with the help of some of his supporters. This book also had the first real stirrings of romance between the characters and it was sweet. We listened in the car on the school run and my daughters just loved it. Narrated by Stephen Fry who does an amazing job.

23. Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage – Haruki Murakami. Tsukuru has been left emotionally damaged as a result of being rejected by his group of friends. When he meets a woman he could fall in love with she encourages him to try and get to the root of what happened all those years ago. Tsukuru sets out to uncover his past and ultimately find himself. This was beautifully written and Murakami is very good at describing the mundane and making you connect with very ordinary characters. However, this was not his best for me and while it was beautiful in parts in other parts it was unbelievably dull and at times a bit disturbing.

24. The Elves of Cintra: Book two of the Genesis of Shannara – Terry Brooks. Second book in the series following the adventures of the two Knights of the Word as they go on their respective missions to try and defeat the evil that has overtaken the world. This one features a little more of the elves and the elfstones and the magic around the Elcrys tree. Good entertaining adventure series which doesn’t take itself too seriously. I am looking forward to the last book and the final battle (for now) between good and evil.

I am still listening to Steve Jobs - finding it a bit tedious actually! Next up on the school run is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I have also started listening to Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and narrated by David Suchet - so far I am really enjoying this one.

I am not sure if I will pick up the last Shannara book next or go for something totally different. I have so many unread books on the bookshelves and on my kindle yet I still never know what to go for next !

26. Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel. The second in her trilogy of novels about the career of Thomas Cromwell. This one covers the years 1535 and 1536, ie the year of the rise of Jane Seymour and the fall of and execution of Anne Boleyn. The rise and rise of Thomas Cromwell. I enjoyed it very much, but didn't love it quite as much as Wolf Hall, which I thought superb.

Anyway, on with Spectacles by Sue Perkins - her autobiography, which so far is excellent - clever and very funny.

22. The Curse of the House of Foskett by MRC Kasasian

The second in the tales of the thoroughly arrogant and unpleasant personal detective Sidney Grice and his ward March Middleton. A potential client dies on the floor of Grice's study, and the pair are drawn to investigate the strange world of Final Death Societies, and a family with a cursed history.

These novels have a slightly comic air, and while the main characters are fairly unlikeable, the stories are quite entertaining.

19. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood.

After economic collapse in the near future Stan and Charmaine are living in their car when they find a way out of their situation in the form of an experimental town. It's Margaret Atwood so of course the writing is excellent, but at the same time I got the feeling she didn't really know what to do with her idea. The novel ambles along for a bit until it seems to decide where it's going.