50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Three

remus - Try "The Way We Live Now" or "The Eustace Diamonds" if you have had problems engaging with Trollope.

Finished Itlast night (went to bed and then got up again and finished it, because I just couldn't leave it undone). Oh there's so much to love about it. Will review properly when less frantic.

Thanks, all. Need to read again to catch up on all the recs, but from what I remember:

Cornish trilogy - remember this being mentioned several times. Have written it on my 'Go to the library' list.

Miss Pym - nope, I can't get on with it.

Trollope - have tried him several times over the years and always given up. Read 18 pages of The Warden this morning and I can't say I'm dancing with glee at the idea of reading any more yet.

Loved all the cake references and full afternoon tea and so on - it's a pleasure to read these threads and how wonderfully you all write. :) Lots of the writers out there could learn a lot! Will read again later - am trying to multi-task (not terribly well) at the moment...

I could, not Icold

Wilting - oooh! Thank you for reminding me - I have loads of Robertson Davies Icold re-read. I think I'll dig out my Iris Murdoch's too,

about The testament and FilerFerris confusion. I loved the Ferris book but if you're clueless about religion it might be a bit confusing iirc. It's bloody funny though, but is also been a few years since I read it.
I loved the testament too, thought it was lovely but agree about the naughty boy!
Gave up on Tana French the Secret place, that was unreadable. Teenspeak straight out of Catherine Bennett satirising SamCam complete with amazeballs. Not in my me time thanks.
On to Claire Messuds the Emperors children, not sure yet.

It took me ages the other day to figure out what the holy book for Jewish people was called. I felt like a right numpty when it dawned on me. When it comes to religion I'm beyond help.

I'm not religious either, btw.

I'm definitely a bit thick. I'm getting Nathan Filer and Joshua Ferris mixed up.

Your review of Testament really made me laugh fortuna I really liked it when I read it, I thought it was basically about his mother saying "he's not the messiah, he's a naughty boy", but in a sad, frustrated, devastated way.

I have cast aside Half of a Yellow Sun for the moment, but have discovered I am definitely in a reading funk. I got 2 chapters into Captain Corelli's Mandolin before casting that aside and then it took me 3 days to finish a 100 page book.

23. The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin. Shortlisted for the Booker in 2013. Details the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. I should preface this by saying that I am not religious and my knowledge of christianity extends to knowing it was St Pancake's Day yesterday. It came from a random browse in the library and appealed because it was so short. It felt a bit simple, but there was definitely some quality to the writing, I could feel the tension rising as +++ SPOILER +++ the crucifixion came closer, but beyond that I can't really say I got what was meant to be so good about it. The reviews made it out to be some great profound work and that passed me by completely. I'm either too heathen, or a bit thick.

I've moved on to To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris. I loved The Shock of the Fall which I read in December. I'm hoping something a bit lighter in atmosphere will bring me back on track.

I really enjoyed Bone Clocks too but not quite as much as Cloud Atlas, still my favourite David Mitchell.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is 99p on Kindle today. I can recommend it. About Sarah Grimké and the abolishment of slavery in US/emancipation of women.

I don't know where 'beautiful' appeared from; I meant just bonkers

Wow I know I've slowed down when this falls off the threads I'm on list.

Having a bit of a go slow with reading as just returned to work after being signed off for 3 mths. Currently reading Lolita after getting it on the deal and agree with what other people said, its both a compelling and beautifully written book that is disturbing and to somenextent makes me shudder.

Ha ha wilting I enjoyed Bone Clocks very much too, but some bits are utterly beautiful bonkers!

Think I've lost track of my list!

I KNOW I have read the following:

1. The Life Project by Helen Pearson
2. Gone to Ground by Marie Jalowicz Simon
3. The Dreaming Void by Peter F Hamilton
4. Mother of Eden by Chris Beckett;
5. The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson;
6. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson;

new

7. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell; I really enjoyed this. I haven't read David Mitchell in years having bingeing on him years ago. It's classic DM, with multiple characters written in diverse chapters. The narrative arc is simpler than I recall his earlier work. There isn't as much distinction between the different elements or voices, in ways it is probably an easier read and more obviously coherent than say Cloud Atlas. I was a tad disappointed when I realised we were [SPOILER SPOILER] talking blood drinking vampires but it didn't stop me reading The writing is great, witty and sharp. The story ultimately devolves into the required showdown setpiece and then there is an add on [SPOILER SPOILER] which I enjoyed as it focuses on the collapse of civilisation, but which felt like a weird unnecessary wrap up piece, just so we'd know what happened to everyone. Why? A good though, even with reservations, hard to find books this good to be honest, I'd recommend.

I read two more but I need to get back to work will update again later.

wilting I've recommended Robertson Davies to remus before, too, they are brilliant, so will add my voice to yours. I'm due a reread of all of his. Cornish Trilogy my favourite too.

Stokey I agree. Read Corelli first and enjoyed it so looked up his previous. He was the first author I really liked that was alive and could bring out new books! I still can't help reading everything he writes but none have been as good as those three.

Remus Have you read any Robertson Davies? Not available on kindle but you can pick up second hand copies on amazon quite reasonably. I'd recommend The Cornish Trilogy

Hello - feel like I've missed pages of this thread.

The film of A Passage to India is epic, I remembered loving it as a teenager (living in India - it was bound to appeal). Think there was a bit of an E M Forster renaissance around that time, Room With a View film & a Howard's End IIRC? I have a clear memory of gazing into a boy's eyes and quoting "Only Connect" aged about 17 so agree with the teenage girl appeal. Maurice also seemed rather racey at the time.

I've just bought the Louis de B book too Satsuki, though for me he's never bettered his South American trilogy.

on to books:
13. No Present like Time - Steph Swainston. A new island has been discovered outside the fourlands that is a democracy rather than an empire. What happens when the fourlanders swap their steel for gold? Slightly obvious analogy with America here, but still a good read, with more craziness in the world's alternate reality. I would recommend this series to any lovers of weird fantasy - not at all swords and sorcery .

14.Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher. Good read, she's witty and rather poignant.

Do No Harm - Henry Marsh is also 99p

Thanks Satsuki. I have been waiting for Shardlake 2.

From a quick look on Kindle deals - Dark Fire, the second Shardlake, if anyone's been waiting for that.

I've bought the Dust that Falls From Dreams by Louis de Bernieres which I've had wishlisted for a while.