50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Three

9 - One Day - David Nicholls - I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the idea of each chapter focusing on a different date and the 90's nostalgia but I found the plot uninspiring and unoriginal.

Currently reading The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair - Joel Dicker.

Cote, yes I have and that is exactly what I thought while I was reading it. It was a pale imitation though - the language and depth just wasn't there. It is JS and Mr N 'lite'.

boldly - Have you read Jonathan Stange and Mr Norrell? That book sounds like a JS & Mr N wannabe.

14. The Midnight Queen - Sylvia Hunter
Fantasy novel set in an alternative world where magic exists and men attend Oxford to learn how to be a mage. The society was reminiscent of the Georgian period - I think in some ways the author was aiming for a 'magical Austen' vibe. The style of writing attempts to sound old fashioned although it doesn't always work.

It was enjoyable enough as a story- plots against the King, a missing princess and romance- but nothing particularly groundbreaking. Worth a try though if you want a fast-paced read which takes you out of the mundane.

The Making of a Marchioness? Miss Pym Disposes? To Say Nothing of the Dog? (MoaM is sticky gooey cake, with a fair amount of treacle. Miss Pym is more in the line of a Madeira cake. To Say Nothing is an entire afternoon tea served by a butler with a complex backstory, eaten with a mad great-aunt and interrupted by a feral tom-cat who's about to change the entire course of recorded history. I love it to bits, but it is completely, unashamedly bonkers.)

Remus, Howabout some Dave Eggers? I think I remember you recommended him to me maybe two or three years ago! If you haven't read all of his then that might be a goer. Not hot chocolatey though. For cake style reading how about The Black Tulip by Dumas. Such fun.

Actually, Remus, have you read The Blood Doctor? Not sure if you like Barbara Vine but there is some historical medical stuff in it.

Did you ever read Where'd You Go Bernadette? remus? It is very light, it's in a modern epistolary style and quite funny. I found it entertaining but not insubstantial or cliched.

I have never read a book that has been translated. That's next on my agenda I think.

I've been trying listening to Timothy West reading The Prime Minister, but I'm finding it just too sloooow (and I usually love audiobooks).

Have you read much Trollope, Remus - I'd say if you like him generally, you'll like The Warden, if you don't, you won't! (Having said that I do prefer the Palliser novels, but I'm not really a Trollope fan, and just read them for the politics and because my mother would disown me otherwise.)

I've just discovered them as background to exercise and walking and times when I can't read. I can't really listen on the tube for instance - it's too slow - but it's great when I'm doing something else that prohibits reading anything (phone, Mumsnet, news, book...)

I can't listen to books. Can't even cope with listening to the radio, unless it's only music with minimal DJ intervention. Am too impatient.

Let you off Sunset

Madding Crowd is one I haven't read actually, only read 3. I do like some of his poetry, too.

Re The Warden, I just meant in the sense that most things are easier to listen to than to read - though it's frustrating when you get to key plot points and you can't speed read and are bound by the speed of the narrator.

Plus - thank you for the recommendation for Asta's Book.

Bestis

11 Curtain Poirot's last case by Agatha Christie. Not her best and I doubt I would reread this

Under a Pole Star is on my list (although I didn't like Wolves) but too expensive. Will wait until it drops on Kindle, or comes into the library.

I liked Far From The Madding Crowd but failed to read anything else by Hardy. I do like some of his poetry though.

I LOVE The Blood Doctor Happy. It's one of my regular re-reads along with Asta's Book. Love nearly all Barbara Vine.

Yes maybe - I hadn't read as much set in other cultures then so found it quite fascinating at that point, but when I went back to it it was all a lot clunkier than I remembered and there was a lot of tedious exposition disproportionate to plot.

I have to say I have always hated Thomas Hardy Jude was ok, but who wants to read that more than once

What about Under a Pole Star by Stef Penney Remus? Not read it but IIRC The Tenderness of Wolves Was quite good. Though it's an eye watering price on Kindleat the moment.

Have been reading two and listening to a third and yesterday finished "The Edge of the Orchard" by Tracey Chevalier (audio) - I didn't think I was gong to enjoy it, but I did,

Also "Mrs Rosie and the Priest" (Giovanni Boccaccio) - one of the "Penguin 80's" - short books by classic writers - also enjoyed this - very mildly "saucy" for want of a better term.

And "The Blood Doctor" (Barbara Vine) - a re-read. Read it about five years ago and enjoyed it, and enjoyed it this time too. The narrator is a PITA (IMHO ) but I really enjoyed the story. I can remember that when I first read to I guessed the denouement, but I didn't mind as I felt very clever!

I found it an excellent novel - really enjoyed it.

These are numbers 35. 36 and 37 - this includes 9 audiobooks which (like a previous poster) I feel are cheating slightly, as I can do other stuff at the same time (which I can't while I'm reading, except for knitting, which is zen).

Am part way through "A Dangerous Inheritance" (Alison Weir) which I'd hoped to finish by now but may abandon. I will give it two more chapters! Have started "Number9 Dream" (David Mitchell) on audio. It's. . . . . . . . . . . weird . . . . . .

It's definitely lighter to listen to than to read!

If you are talking about "The Warden" - NOOOOOOOO! It is a wonderful book and a joy to read!

If "Nutshell" - Have to agree. I have read it and listened to it, and I preferred it on audio.