50 Book Challenge Part Five

remus

That's exactly how I imagined you, too, Remus

Yes, we do get to know each other pretty well on these threads. Case in point, I'm quite enjoying Lovecraft as you thought I would

And I'm on that 6 books thread too (Eleanor Oliphant).

That's just how I imagined you Remus.

I think these threads help us to 'know' each other pretty well. And I look like this, in case you pass me in the street.

Yes re Z. It's v interesting so far.

I know - I was thinking as I was writing it that I wouldn't recognise you if we passed in the street but I'm presuming to know what sort of book you might like Love this thread.

Is it Lost City of Z? I was tempted by that one and have wishlisted for later in the month when I've finished some I've got on the go.

Thanks, Satsuki. Have bought it. I love the fact that you know that, 'illness and death' are right 'up my street'!

I'm really enjoying that Amazon exploration one btw. Has anybody else bought it?

74. The English Girl by Katherine Webb

I wasn't particularly excited about reading it, but I did because I have read and enjoyed all her previous books. I didn't love this, but I did enjoy it more than I thought I would. It's set in Oman, and tells the story of the first woman (Maude) to cross the desert in the early 1900s, and a second woman (Joan) who meets Maude in Oman in the 1950s. I really liked the descriptions of the desert setting.

75. The Durrells of Corfu by Michael Haag

A biography of the Durrell family. It's not just about their time in Corfu - I enjoyed hearing about their childhoods in India (they were all born there). It's not a particularly long book so doesn't go into masses of depth, but if you're interested in finding out more about the family this is a great start and full of photos.

76. My Family & Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

I was inspired to reread this after reading the above book! I have read this several times and still love it (but I seem to remember from earlier discussions on this thread, maybe last year, that others don't feel the same on rereading it).

77. Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell

Second in The Corfu Trilogy. It's been raining heavily all day today so I loved reading the descriptions of sunny Corfu. I love the way Durrell writes - I can really visualise what he's describing.

You may have already guessed that book 78 (started today) is The Garden of the Gods which is the third in the trilogy!!

Re: Lincoln I think it has themes that may be up your street, remus. Illness, death, perceptions of the afterlife, entwined with the lives of historical figures. I've only read the sample but wanted more so have been hoping for it to come down in price.

My The City and the City review is finally bringing me fame and fortune, I see.

Do I want to read Lincoln?

I've just bought Lincoln in the Bardo but it'll be a while before I get round to it, my 'to read' list is rather long.

I've also just discovered the new 'Prime Reading' library, which is great because I don't subscribe to Kindle Unlimited. I've borrowed up to the limit within an hour! The Butterfly Garden is in the Prime library, and I've also picked up The Etymologicon to feed my love of the English language and Trail of Broken Wings.

I'm coming towards the end of my second read through Skulduggery Pleasant: Resurrection since it came out on the 1st, review to follow shortly.

I've read about 1/3 of Lincoln in the Bardo and am transfixed.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience when Saunders was interviewed for a popular literary radio program/podcast and to meet him afterwards. He is as generous, kind, and humane as his prose suggests.

57. The Crow Trap - Ann cleeves
58. Telling Tales - Ann Cleeves
59. Hidden depths* - Ann Cleeves * ** The first three of the Vera series. Really enjoyed them. Well written and engaging. Kept me guessing until the last. Brenda Blethyn's voice is unavoidably in my head at all times but I don't mind that.

Off to look at the Kindle Sale

Thank you whippet I often align with your opinion when we've read the same things so I may swerve it for now as I've plenty to be getting on with

Satsuki in my opinion Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain was dire. I gave it two stars on Goodreads. I would avoid that one if possible! You might love it though...

I love love LOVE George Saunders and his Tenth of December collection of short stories are some of the best I've ever read. However, I do really love short stories and often find them to be much more memorable than novels. Can't wait to get started on Lincoln in the Bardo (when I finish the other zillion books I am reading).

Thanks for heads up on Lincoln in the Bardo. Have just finished a very short Graham Swift Mothering Sunday which was very forgettable and halfway through John Le Carré's Single and Single which I'm enjoying.

One of my reviews made it onto that page too ridiculously flattered

50). Paelofantasy, Marlene Zuk
She starts from the modern myths about how humans are adapted to a caveman lifestyle and so should be eating a Paleo diet, co-sleeping etc. and shows how it's more complicated than that - evolution can happen quickly; we're still evolving; adaptation is a series of fudges that work rather than perfect matches to environment.

I had mixed feelings about this - it was an accessible read, but picking apart comments on lifestyle blogs is shooting fish in a barrel. And "just so" stories about evolution might be culturally useful if they persuade people to eat less processed food and lead less sedentary lives.

I've also done some shopping this morning in the Kindle deals. Also snapped up Lincoln in the Bardo :) Plus The Establishment: And how they get away with it by Owen Jones, The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale and Out of Time by Miranda Sawyer.

Also picked up Lincoln in the Bardo in the kindle sale, sounds interesting!

LOL @ MNHQ sanitizing our reviews

MNHQ quoted: "Into Thin Air is fantastic…just don't read it when on a skiing trip.”

What I actually said: "Into Thin Air is fantastic. Just don't read it when on a skiing trip like me an idiot "

Looks like Mumsnet has been looking at this thread for inspiration:-

www.mumsnet.com/books/what-were-reading