50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Three

I'm currently reading Ready Player One. I'm about half way through and although it's a very light, easy read, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
I may go for something a bit chunkier for my next read. I've got Bring up the Bodies waiting on my tbr pile so will probably go for that.

mogloveseggs what about 'My Family and Other Animals' by Gerald Durrell?

Mo - my year seven DD has recently read I am Malala (possibly an edited children's version, but it was from the school library so I can't check), something called Chinese Cinderella about growing up in China, and the Diary of Anne Frank. She finished them all, so presumably found them ok, but if I am honest, there was no raving commentary like when she reads things like the Hunger Games . . .

The first thing that sprang to mind was The Diary of Anne Frank, mogloveseggs, though I'm sure those with pre teens onward will have other suggestions.

So sorry to hear that satsuki - I hope you are getting support, too.

cedar yes, I enjoy reading children's books I didn't get to read as a child - having been brought up in an extremely strict religious household, an awful lot of fiction was forbidden. I still feel a little deliciously guilty reading these!

satsuki
Am still reading but can't find the book that I'd started! So am on with Everyone brave is forgiven now.
dragon I really like the Ben Aaronovitch books too

Wondered if I could ask for some help? Dd is 12 and for her library challenge at school has to read some non fiction but we're struggling to find something suitable. Wondered if anyone knew of anything but not blooming youtubers life stories

That must have come as a shock to you all Satsuki. As you say there is a great deal of understanding now about how to stay healthy with diabetes which is the positive part of it.

I've reread some of my childhood favourites with my daughter. It can be risky because sometimes I really want her to enjoy a book because I know I enjoyed it and sometimes she doesn't like it as much. And sometimes the book doesn't have as much depth to it or is slower than I remember. It is interesting which parts stick in your mind. From 'The Secret Garden' her parents dying at the start didn't make much of an impression on me at the time and it's not surprising because it's dealt with in a few pages. This is not unusual in children's books where often the author gets rid of the parents in order to start the real adventure.

My daughter still enjoys being read to aloud (she's nearly 10) and we've read some books I either didn't tackle or gave up on as a child. For example Treasure Island - I'm not sure she'd have managed to read it all by her self (or perhaps understand it properly). She benefited from having me to explain some of the language some of which is quite obscure. I'm fairly certain I hadn't read it before and enjoyed it. So I'm enjoying reading children's books I didn't read when I was a child

Thanks everyone, how lovely of you all

He is over the worst and starting to get on top of it now. We have experience of it in the wider family and are aware of the potential impact, which made it initially hard to get our heads round. However, we are living in a very fortunate time in terms of the treatment available, so grateful for that and quite optimistic now.

And yes to worthwhile books

What a shock for you and DH, Satsuki. I hope things improve soon

SatsukiKusakabe Wishing you and DH all the best. May your book choices be worth your time!

The concept of a serial killer using Revelation sounds interesting, think I'll add it to my list!

Sorry, hadn't refreshed the thread before I posted. Satsuki There is a rather lovely novel How to be Brave by Louise Beech, about, amongst other things, a mother coming to terms with her daughter's type 1 diabetes diagnosis, so not the same situation as you, but might resonate with you at this time.

I don't particularly want to reread my childhood favourites either Keith . I have my childhood copy of Treasure Island, which I like to sniff from time to time, as it smells wonderful, but have never felt the need to read again.

11. The Hit by David Baldacci This was about shooting people, and CIA types and what makes them tick, but mostly about shooting people. The plot arrived late, but was decent enough when it did. I quite enjoyed the terse language. And short chapters. And short sentences. The body count was a bit too high for my liking, but otherwise a decent easy reading thriller.

Satsuki, I'm sorry about your husband's diagnosis, too. I hope his medical team is able to find (or has already found) the best therapeutic regimen for him asap. Please do take care of yourself, too. 💐

I'm sorry to hear of your DH's diagnosis, Satsuki. I am sure that it has been a shock to everyone in your family, but these days it is possible to manage it and live a normal life. Take it a day at a time

Sorry to hear about your dh, Satsuki.

Must admit The Muse isn't appealing much and The Miniaturist didn't appeal at all. Might give them a miss.

Satsuki - hope that the diagnosis helps your dh/his doctors to be able to manage his symptoms and to feel a lot better

1. The Hanging Tree - Ben Aaranovitch - had a lovely Saturday evening with small people in bed, dh out watching rugby and a glass of wine and Peter Grant (the protagonist of the book) for company. I really enjoyed this tale of a policeman who polices the supernatural in London while having an affair with the spirit of one of London's rivers. It sounds absolutely bonkers, and great literature it ain't, but the book was a brilliant way to spend a cold Saturday evening!

10. The Time Machine - HG Wells - the tale of.a Victorian scientist who travels to the future to discover how evolution has split the human race into two different creatures. While there were parts of the tale where I felt real menace, I found the story too cold and intellectual for it to really resonate with me.

11. Leap In - Alexandra Hemingsley - as summarised upthread, this is mainly a guide to open water swimming but also partly an exploration of how not to be self defined by an inability to have children. I can see why some feel it would have made a better magazine article, but did feel the lure and appeal of the open water came through in the writing.

12. There will be Lies- Nick Lake - a teenage girl discovers that the life she has known with an over protective mother is not all that it seemed. In this journey of discovery, she is helped by a parallel narrative set in the Dreaming, an alternative reality that has been borrowed from Native American culture. Although I found myself turning the pages to see if my initial guesses were correct, I think this would appeal more to a young adult market.

Sorry to hear that Satsuki

Glad you liked the postcard Remus

Satsuki hope things are improving

Hear! Aargh.

Sorry to here that, Satsuki. We have Type 1 diabetes in the Muddler house, so do PM me if you want to ask anything.

Sorry to hear that things have not been great satsuki.

I adored The Miniaturist and really liked The Muse. I haven't yet read The Essex Serpent but am interested to hear people's thoughts.

I am going to go for Ready Player One. It sort of works beside my distopian short stories last read I suppose.

SatsukiKusakabe. Sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

Remus I would disagree that The Muse is better that The Essex Serpent. Enjoyed the Muse when I read it, which was only a few months ago but it hasn't made a lasting impression.

I'd be interested in that too remus, neither The Muse or her other one - The Miniaturist? - have appealed, but maybe I'm dismissing them unfairly.

Well, I've had an awful week, dh has been very ill and has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which was a bit of a shock, but things are on more of an even keel now. Thanks very much to this thread for being a welcome distraction when I couldn't read, but I've managed to finish:

10. Revelation by CJ Sansom

More of the same with Shardlake and Jack Barak. This time they are trying to hunt a serial killer who is using the book of revelation like an instruction manual, and unsuccessfully to stay out of the political machinations surrounding the court of King Henry VIII. I enjoyed this more than Sovereign, an easy read with familiar characters.

I'm moving on to either Ready Player One or Handmaid's Tale next, got about 3 non fics on the go I'm dipping in and out of." as well.

Yup. I think I need a bit of froth after my last two books. Might get myself a wee crime thriller. It shows the state of my life that tomorrow I have two medical appointments 1.5 hours apart and I am actually looking forward to the waiting room sit to do some reading!