50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Two

Glad you liked the Grayson Perry,' Gettingthere A Remus rec originally but I loved it too.

11 End of The World Running Club - Adrian J Walker Frankly dire post apocalyptic schlock.
Man gets separated from his family after the UK gets hit by asteroids and has to travel from Edinburgh to Cornwall to catch up with them. The main character is completely unpleasant, every post apocalyptic cliche you can think of is thrown in and he doesn't even do much running.
Made Station 11 seem positively sophisticated.

1. American Gods by Neil Gaiman I enjoyed this fantasy novel, my first Gaiman read, but wouldn't say I loved it. Some parts were very long winded and I would have probably got more out of it if I had more background knowledge of the mythology (rather than googling a lot!).

So - have had a good couple of days reading after getting stuck (and not finishing) Gilead.

1 And then there were none - Agatha Christie
2 Watership Down - Richard Adams
3 Lila - Marilynne Robinson

4 Playing to the Gallery Grayson Perry
A recommendation picked up here which I loved. A guide to contemporary art with some down to earth explanations for why things are as they are in the 'art world'. It made me read around the references to find out more - it was really absorbing and I have recommended it on to friends and family.

1. A Place called Winter Patrick Gale. I loved this too - the moving story of self discovery, relationships in all their variations, social pressure - a love story on several different levels. A story too of resilience, making mistakes and living with the consequences - and of pure hard work. I enjoyed the lyrical descriptions and the exploration and tension as 'forbidden' relationships developed. (Trying not to give spoilers!)

6 Carol Patricia Highsmith. I read this straight after A Place called Winter....a contrasting approach but addressing some similar issues. Some reviews call this one dated and maybe its about remembering the era, the context and social attitudes that caused PH to write it under a pseudonym - it was one of the first LGBT novels written. It handles the subject with sensitivity and builds tension well. As I got nearer to the end I thought there might be a cop out - but no! I've got the film lined up to watch too - as it passed me by completely when it was released!!

Both of these were well written and didnt shirk addressing issues - and made me glad we live in a more open minded world - even if there is a way to go still if we are truly to be a society where D&I are stitched in.

My tbr list has tripled since I started reading this thread....off to find something new and exciting .....Maybe Lying in Wait....

3. Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott
Second book in the Little Women series and I loved it just as I did the first. I had that rare feeling of looking forward to re-reading this book before I had even finished it - I feel like I would notice different details of setting, character and, in particular, language if I read it again already knowing the plot.
Not much reading time over the next couple of weeks so will just be dipping in and out of Hurrah for Gin and finishing of Davina's audiobook until busy spell at work has past.

1 Closer than you think by Karen Rose
2 The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
3 Watch your back by Karen Rose
4 Poison Study by Maria V Snyder
5 I can see You by Karen Rose
6 Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose
I did warn everyone that my choices would be odd. Thoroughly enjoyed all of these

8. The Edge of the World - Michael Pye
A history book with the focus on the people and places around the North Sea. It was organised thematically with chapters devoted to different areas such as Law and Plague.

I really wanted to love this book - it focused on an area I'm interested in and a period of history I love. The first couple of chapters were good and I was keen to read more. Then something happened...and the rest of it began to feel like a slog. There were a few good chapters but on the whole I found it promised much but didn't deliver.
For me, it jumped about too much to different periods of history and the approach felt a bit scattered rather having a tight focus. Disappointing.

I gave up in The End of the World Running Club Best! Listened on Audible and it was even worse than reading it!

RMC, 12 yrs a slave is good, and also surprisingly easy t read, I would reccomrnd.

Evening all.

1. Novella called The Turtle Boy by Kealan Patrick Burke. Sort of horror/ghost story about a disfigured bot whose sudden appearance next to a pond sparks fear and suspicion amongst the locals resulting in tragic circumstances. Nice wee page turner which is followed by the first chapter of the book it precedes. Free on kindle so worth getting if you are looking for a little book snack.

10. A Cotswold Killing - Rebecca Tope

Wet murder mystery set in the Cotswolds. House sitter turns detective when two farmers are murdered in the grounds of the house she is looking after. Gently annoying. I should only count this as half a book really as I read the other half last year.

Now reading The End Of The Workd Running Club which so far is a pile of mysoginistic, predictable post-apocalyptic drivel.

Every, Diva I have no specialist knowledge about horse chestnuts but I had just finished reading a book about the Tradescants who introduced them to England in King James I reign reign (IIRC) when I read the Follett.

6. The Heart Goes Last - Margaret Atwood. Not easy to review this one! A much more light hearted take on dystopia than The Handmaids Tale. Dark humour throughout which made me me smile but not laugh out loud. Throws up some interesting questions on free will and constraint. As with other really effective dystopian novels it's blends our reality with 'the other world' which makes it all that bit more chilling. I have to say reading this during the Inauguration Weekend and the whole 'alternative facts' fiasco press conference was a bit near the knuckle! Would make a good book club book and probably be better on a second reading.
Not sure what to read next- have The Essex Serpent, The Bolter and Twelve Years a slave all winking at me

satsuki I missed your welcome before sorry. Nice to meet you

EmGee I recommend Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, I think it is the best book I read last year. I'm really gripped by The Miniaturist and I expect to have read the first half before lights out tonight!

Hi words Yes you can write about abandoned books and what made you jettison them, but they don't count towards your total.

When you've finished a book just write a short review with a bit of detail as to what it's about and why you liked/disliked it. Doesn't have to be much, but helps bump things up or off the tbr pile and prompts more discussion.

I agree about Kate Atkinson's prose

Ooh can I join?
What is done about books started and abandoned?
I gave up on The Miniaturist. Despite rave reviews, I thought it over written , implausible , try too hard and dull!
Having hugely enjoyed kate atkinson's god in ruins and life after life, at the end of last year, I've picked up her earlier case histories and loving it . Hugely accomplished and beautifully subtle writer.
Sorry re lack of caps . On phone.

OK.

1. Brave new world Huxley. Unsettling and I found the first couple of chapters hard going but after that it was a good read.

Just finished *You Can't Hide The sun" (John McCarthy). It is a very saddening account of the Jewish treatment of Palestinian-Arabs in Israel. It has shocked me how a nation which has suffered so much from prejudice and brutality can inflict similar brutalities on another race. Unbelievable, but true.

Have felt the need for something a bit lighter so have started "The Broker" (John Grisham). I like Grisham's books as they are an easy and usually enjoyable read.

Historian

I found the Evgenia Ginzberg book even better than Ivan Denisovitch. She wrote a second one "Within the Whirlwind" which I also found very fascinating.

It is many years since I read these two books, but to my mind what gave Ginzberg's books the edge was that they are biographical, while Solzhenitsyn's book is a novel (albeit one informed by his personal experiences). However they are all worth reading.

To whoever said they might read Jamaica Inn, DO!! It has been one of my favourite books ever since my dad took away all my pony/gymkhana books that I read/reread/rereread ad infinitum when I was 12, and said 'Here's a good book to get you started on some 'proper' reading'.

1. Whizzed through After You by JoJo Moyes as a friend lent it to me. Not as bad as the reviews suggested and I wasn't expecting much but evenso after I finished it, felt it was time to get my teeth stuck into something with a bit more grit:

1. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Picked this up at a book sale as have been meaning to read her for years. Enjoying it a lot - fascinating story and a pleasure to read.

1. The Lost and the Found - Cat Clarke

I'm also currently reading Neurotribes and A Clash of Kings.

Hi songbird!
OK am aiming for a full book this afternoon (am a fast reader when I get going). Will report back later.

Best Diva

Ooooo I had no idea, but ooo exactly the sort of thing that I get rage about.

6) Do Not Pass Go, Tim Moore

A travel book - writer visits the London streets immortalised in Monopoly. This was a bit of a trudge, in every sense, and I'm not entirely sure why I finished it. It's all a bit contrived and un-atmospheric - what can you say about a shopping street full of chain stores? His comedy is based on mock pomposity, which is sometimes amusing but can be a bit wearing when repeated over and over.

7) Brontesaurus, John Sutherland
Enjoyed this - mini-essays about the Bronte family, hopping about between litcrit and biography. None of it is new, but because the pieces are short, they don't outstay their welcome.

Forgot my update!

10. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

Number 2 in the Jackson Brodie series. Listened to this on audiobook after reading it a few years ago. This is probably my least favourite of the series, but I still really enjoyed it! The narrator was very good at doing all the different accents.

Now onto When Will There Be Good News on audio and Jane Eyre as an actual book.