50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Six

Vanderly just watched the link. So interesting, especially what he had to say about the Reverend!! Thanks so much for sending it on.

Of course, Satsuki. I'll PM you the link.

I'm filing Remus' book away for when I need a frigid diversion.

Book 59
Wild – Cheryl Strayed
This was okay. Some of it was interesting and fairly well written, but lots of it was rather dull and very self-indulgent. I found the drugs and sex stuff boring, and could have lived without so many descriptions of drinking Snapple Lemonade. The best sections were the ones describing her mum dying, the ones about her husband, and the ones on the history of the trail, I thought. The worst were the endless (endless!) descriptions of how much she wanted to shag somebody/anybody, and the waffling about her (silly) name. Overall, this was fine for a 99p emergency buy, but I wouldn't go out of my way to read anything else by her.

Thanks rmc and vanderley for your reviews, I was beginning to feel a bit unsure about Lincoln but hopeful I might like it now! Going to get to it next.

vanderley I missed an opportunity to see George Saunders talk about the book when it was released, and was really disappointed but just couldn't get there. I'd be interested in the talk too once I've read it if you wouldn't mind.

Cheddar there used to be a pub in Hull called The Land of Green Ginger. Never went on it but loved the name. That is definitely going on my to read list!

Have read A Quiet Belief. Must admit it didn't do much for me, but a friend loved it.

Thanks, LadyDepp. I didn't get on with Sarah W, unfortunately, but you certainly don't need to apologise!

Just remembered that I got a lovely copy of this in Oxfam recently. Should hopefully cool me down a bit!

24. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - slightly shocked myself that I hadn't read this before and had no clue whodunnit. Very short and very good. I believe there's a film coming out soon with that gorgeous Russian ballet dancer in. Looking forward to that.

Remus have you read Terra Incognita?, apologies if I've recommended it before and you hated it. I read it on the beach on a hot summer holiday and loved it.

I'm listening to the audiobook of Into Thin Air at the moment, very weird to listen to climbers on Mt. Everest trying to survive in subzero temperatures on the side of a mountain while I am baking in this heat.

I'm also reading a book that has been on my TBR shelf for so long that the pages have discoloured: A Quiet Belief in Angels. So far I'm gripped.

Remus
Vander Loved it! Now got to find something to follow it!

Just read the opening of Bohemians. It did indeed drive me insane!

Crevasses sound perfect right now. Excuse me whilst I come over all Kenneth Williams for a moment.

RMC, I'm really appreciating your analysis of Lincoln. Spot on!

The Icefields begins with a man falling into a glacier's crevasse. When it was boiling here, I imagined that I was that character.

Remus agree to differ Time!
By the way if you are looking at the lesser Bohemians I should warn you that the prose at the beginning might drive you insane!! It's worth sticking with it though.

Of course, but I still think far too much time is spent on silly and very repetitive stuff, at the expense of the actual whole point of the novel!

Remus I see what you mean about Willie not being physically present a lot but his presence and the dilemma it causes is the catalyst for the who novel.

Will look at that book now, thanks. Have got the sample of The Icefields.

Sure, RMC, but there's not an awful lot of Willie either (member excluded), other than him being covered in creepers a lot, or whatever the heck it is!

I share your weird graveyard thing - but I still didn't like all the spirits. Just found them tiring.

Remus - Re next book. Another of my stand out books this year was The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride.
Might be worth a look.

Thanks Vander will look at the link later when all 4 DC's are in bed!
Remus take your point about being more about Lincoln - I expected that too and really wanted it to be the case as my knowledge of Abraham Lincoln is slight to say the least. And as Vander says the title would lead you down this path.
However when you get into the book it becomes obvious that THE Lincoln referred to in the title is Willies not Abraham. He is the one in the Bardo, this limbo of spirits or souls. Abraham is alive, therefore only in the graveyard/ tomb. Only the dead can enter the Bardo.
Also I loved the facts that there were so many spirits. It really brought home the feeling of an extensive and old cemetery. It also gave the book a real dimension. But that's probably just me and my weird graveyard thing!
That's probably all obvious and waffle but as I said I was really entranced by this book.

Thank you.

I can't read Wharton. The Age of Innocence nearly killed me. So very, very dull.

Will have a look at the others.

The Icefields by Thomas Wharton?
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton?
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder?
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon?

Under the Glacier ?

Thanks. Poison sounds good but £££ and doesn't seem to be available on Kindle. Will see if the library can get it in. Don't fancy Lonely Hearts and have gone off short stories.

I think I need something set in a very cold place!

RMC, link sent.

Interesting, Remus, esp. as the title does make him seem to the novel's principle subject.

As for what next: The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum? The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill? Short stories of Mavis Gallant?

Have been thinking about Lincoln some more. I think, for me, it would have been a better book with more Lincoln and fewer ghosties.

Nearly finished Wild - it's okay but not wonderful.

What shall I read next?