50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Six

1. The Muse - Jessie Burton

1. Gone Without a Trace - Mary Torjussen
2. Flesh Wounds - Christopher Brookmyre
3. Phantom: a Harry Hole Thriller - Jo Nesbo
4. Dead Simple (Roy Grace Series) - Peter James
5. All Good Deeds (A Lucy Kendall Thriller) - Stacy Green
6. The Turtle Boy - Kealan Patrick Burke

1. The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

28. Hurrah for Gin - Katie Kirby

Good fun book for reading while you can barely string a coherent thought together and repeatedly refer to your own child by the wrong name.

Brought list with me for new thread.

Sonnet you won't want to read The Second Wife then which is the sequel to The Revenge of the Middle-Aged woman?! I quite liked them - read them years ago.

59. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman I started out finding this irritatingly twee and Ove really annoying, but it grew on me and though it was really predictable and "oh this is so quirky" I was absorbed and thinking it was quite lovely by the end! Which is probably what I was supposed to do
60. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JKRowling I finally read this! It was a fantastic bit of light relief from the new Naomi Klein (excellent but depressing) that I've also got on the go, I enjoyed it, and am tempted to do the kindle unlimited trial to get and binge read the rest of the series.

Welcome back Sonnet. I remember you

I got Lost City Of Z. I also snapped up The Circle and Ben Macintyre's SAS: Rogue Heroes for 99p each. They are Kindle Daily Deals just for today.

big wave to you all...

Ha ha - Susan Hill and the Simon Serraileur series.. I weirdly quite like them but can't really articulate why! The only problem I have is that I can only read them whilst lounging by a pool. I cannot bring myself to read them in everyday life! I suspect I will get through a couple more later this summer

Just finished book 28 - The Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan*
A charity shop find for 50p was my motivating force for picking up this book . The book focuses on the failiue of a marriage of a middle-aged couple. I didn't particularly enjoy it as I found the main character rather a damp squid. I found her too accepting of the situation which not only encompasses losing her husband but her job and her house to the "other woman ". Dull book that add me mattering under my breath!

I stated another charity shop find last night. The Other Hand by Chris Cleave. An old book as shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Novel Award.

Meanwhile I'm growing quite fond of Eleanor as the story trundles on.

Just weakened and bought Lost City of Z. Now I actually need some reading time to get through some of these books

37. Countdown City (The Last Policeman Book 2) by Ben H. Winters.

Second book in this series. The asteroid is getting closer to hitting earth and society starts to disintegrate. Meanwhile to keep his sanity Hank Palace (now no longer employed as a policeman) is helping out an old acquaintance whilst trying to look after his sister. What would you do if the world was ending? Altruistic or all about yourself? Great stuff.

Waves to Sonnet - welcome back! I remember you and your pretty name.. 😊

Not read Oliphant but quite enjoy the Simon Serailler series, although I've only read two so far.

I read Mrs de Winter years ago and thought it was absolutely bloody dreadful. I didn't realise it was by Susan Hill! Also, if she's a friend of Gove, she ain't no friend of mine.

Though apparently looking back at my review I liked HowardsEnd is on The Landing, though I disagreed with much.

Best Had completely forgotten about the Simon 'what's his face' series. I did actually enjoy those. Agree about the Rebecca sequel.

Hi Sonnet, welcome back!

Susan Hill, hmm. I really liked the Simon Serraileur series (although I didn't like him) and I like the play of The Woman In Black (but not the book or the film). I hated the sequel to Rebecca whatever it was called and struggled to read anything else I've tried.

I love the bookshop story. I used to follow her on Twitter but had to let her go because her politics annoyed me ( I like living in a bubble).

Quite enjoyed Lost City of Z. My review should be somewhere in this thread, I think.

HI Sonnet - remember you v fondly!

Satsuki - Oh my word. I thought Susan Hill was just a boringly poor writer, but I see that she is actually even worse. That story is incredible!

I managed three pages of the Oliphant thing.

I do see where you're both coming from, it definitely wasn't perfectly executed by any means, but I appreciated the attempt at a different kind of character.

I think Lost City is in the Monthly Deals so will only be that price for a day or two. I've had it wishlisted but not made up my mind about it for same reason as you. Got a big of a stack going.

Just seen The Lost City of Z is 99p on kindle. Has anyone read it? It sounds interesting but rather mixed reviews, and I try to avoid piling up unread kindle buys (currently got Children of Time on the go).

Mmm - yes I can see that. She did make me smile when describing others who she perceived to struggle socially ie the Social Worker

I thought her obsessive interests, slightly old fashioned vocabulary and strict adherence to routines hinted at autism, so I didn't have trouble accepting that life was a continuous effort to understand and adapt for her, rather than something she just needed to "crack".

If it doesn't come naturally it is always hard work, particularly if you don't realise it's you and not them. She thinks everybody else has social difficulties because her standards are so rigid!

Thank you!
Interesting reading your feelings towards Eleanor. I am listening to it on Audible and never gel as well with the story listening as I do when reading. I am about half way through. I am having difficulty "believing" in Eleanor and whilst her commentary on modern life does make me smile I am struggling to believe that after ten years in the accounts department of a graphic design agency in Glasgow and a reader of the Telegraph how can she not have some handle on the world?

I am assuming that the "Dark Circle" talked about and the one reviewed by Vistaverde on the previous page is not the Dark Circle by Linda Grant but another of a similar title? – quite intrigued to read it.
Thank you to whoever mention Adrift by Helen Babbs. I really want to read that although cannot justify £8.54 at the moment
One of the things I have also been doing this year is clearing up the books sitting on my kindle and my “to read” bookshelf.

Oh yes I understand, I'm just pondering similarly why I had a positive reaction I could take it or leave it half way through but it did get me emotionally at the end.

Hello again sonnet, nice to have you back, you've not been forgotten

Hi Sonnet, welcome back! Of course I remember you.

Thanks southeast - I'm not alone then...

39. Autism Life Skills by Chantal Sicile-Kira

Subtitled 10 Essential Abilities Your Child With Autism Needs to Learn.

Advice for how to help children develop life skills.

Hello all – not sure if I would be remembered but I was on the threads in 2014, 2015 and the early part of 2016. I popped into the first one of 2017 but didn’t post anymore. A roller coaster of a year for me has resulted in my interests being bottom of the pile. I have been following this thread for the past month but didn’t want to contribute until I could collect my thoughts together and try and remember what books I have read
So, from memory and my kindle here goes:
The Loney – Andrew Michael Hurley
The Essex Serpent – Sarah Perry
The Muse – Jessie Burton
How To Measure a Cow – Margaret Forster
The New Mrs Clifton – Elizabeth Buchan
I Capture The Castle – Dodie Smith
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Little Black Lies – Sharon Bolton
The Dark Circle – Linda Grant
The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters – Nadiya Hussain
The Gusta Sonata – Rose Tremain
The Road Home – Rose Tramain
Sacred Country – Rose Tremain
Blue eyed Boy – Joanne Harris
Different Class – Joanne Harris
The Loving Husband – Cristabel Kent
Don’t Turn Around – Caroline Mitchell
The wine of Angels – Phil Rickman (a re-read)
Midwinter of the Spirit – Phil Rickman (a re-read)
A Crown of Lights – Phil Rickman (a re-read)
The Cure of Souls – Phil Rickman (a re-read)
Long Summer Day – Delderfield
Magpie Murders – Anthony Horowitz
The Janus Stone – Elly Griffiths
The Keeper of Lost Things – Ruth Hogan
Darkside – Belinda Bauer
The Good Girl – Fiona Neil
I know some are missing as bits of them are floating on the periphery of my memory but if they’ve made it to the charity shop and don’t live on in my memory then they are not worth a place on the list

No real stand outs so far but I live in hope!

I am currently reading: The Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan and listening to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
If you don’t mind I’d love to join in again – missed the banter and book recommendations….

I do see your point and I can see why the book appeals to many as a bittersweet story. My response was a visceral one that I'm trying to intellectualise, but ultimately I'm not totally sure why I had such a negative reaction to it.

I know I brought up Adrian Mole but I meant only in the lack of self awareness of the narrative. I didn't read it as a social comedy - I felt very sad for her all the way through as it was obvious she struggled in many ways and had and found humour in it as there is humour in life despite unhappiness.

I'm not sure about the overweight thing. I don't think being thin and ostensibly attractive oils the wheels socially necessarily. they are different things. Her scarring isn't what separates her, it's her inability to fit in and show interest in others.