50 Book Challenge 2018 Part Two

16. The Trouble With Goats And Sheep by Joanna Cannon

Liked it, didn’t love it. It’s set in the heatwave of 1976, and it’s about two ten-year-olds investigating the disappearance of a woman on their street. Through flashbacks to the events of 9 years ago, you supposedly find out why she disappeared. However, you actually find out everyone else’s secrets and I’m still none the wiser why she disappeared.

The Blackwater Lightship is now on my wish list, thanks Indigosalt; sounds like the sort of thing I would enjoy.

I think I read Survivor Type. I certainly remember what he ate

Survivor Type = so good!

13. The Unbroken Line of the Moon by Johanne Hildebrandt This is the first part of a series (two released at the moment but am assuming there will be more) This is part historical fiction part fantasy. Based in 10th century nordic lands. This is centred on a young chieftains daughter being sent as a peace bride and the ongoing battles. Weaved in is Norse Mythology and Gods. This was pretty good and I will no doubt read the next one in the series. I don't have kindle unlimited but they are currently free on there.

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is the sort of title I find off putting so will wait for the first reviews to appear on here!

I was curious to read the Stephen King short story Survivor Type after ClashCityRocker described as possibly the best short story ever written. (Its available online as a pdf for some reason has a few typos but basically all present and correct.)
Woah that's a story I can't 'unsee' now! The plot summary is as follows: "Survivor Type" is written as the diary of a disgraced surgeon, Richard Pine (nee Richard Pinzetti), who, while attempting to smuggle a large amount of heroin on a cruise ship, finds himself marooned on a tiny island in the Pacific with very limited supplies and no food. A self-proclaimed "survivor" type, his diary entries documenting his day-to-day activities become more and more disjointed and raving, revealing his slow mental decay and eventual insanity caused by starvation, isolation, and drug use.
This is a masterclass in how to write a compelling short story but even King himself says of it "As far as short stories are concerned, I like the grisly ones the best. However, the story 'Survivor Type' goes a little bit too far, even for me." Not for the faint hearted!

I liked Essex Serpent, but didn’t love it. I came to it late though so again was probably influenced by the marketing and expected more than I got.

I loved The Essex Serpent - knew nothing about it other than that it was being heavily promoted, and it was very pretty. If it hadn't have cost pennies on Kindle, I'd have probably just ignored it. So glad I didn't.

Scribbly that sounds promising

Toomuch I started The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock today as my new audible book. Great joy to hear Juliet Stevenson narrating as she is my absolute favourite narrator.
Am only an hour in (listened while doing the RSPB birdwatch) but so far so good, very Sarah Waters in tone.

(1) Witch is When Life Got Complicated by Adele Abbott
(2) Witch is Where It All Began by Adele Abbott
(3) Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller
(4) Die Last by Tony Parsons
(5) Restaurant Babylon by Imogen Edwards Jones
(6) The Sugar Men by Ray Kingfisher
(7) The Hospital by Barbara O'Hare
(8) Fade Out by Rachel Caine
(9) Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim
(10) Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
(11) Would You Like Some Magic With That by Annie Salisbury
(12) The Ride Delegate by Annie Salisbury
(13) The Magdalen Laundries by Lisa Michelle Odgaard
(14) Just What Kind of Mother Are You by Paula Daly

Read this after seeing it mentioned a few times on here. The blurb reminded me a bit of a Jodi Picoult. It was a good read and I never actually seen the ending coming.

I agree about the Essex Serpent Satsuki. I really enjoyed it too. I treated myself to The Mermaid and Mrs Handock with my Xmas vouchers yesterday, hoping it will be similar.

I have just started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Loving it! Seem to be catching up with a lot of stuff at the moment.

I am reading Mariana and completely loving it, an absolute gem so far. So witty and accurately observed, and full of great period detail.

Agree Satsuki. I came late to the party with The Essex Serpent and this made it hard to judge it on its own merits.

Yes remus agree.

Am finding myself increasingly bored by The Nix but am at 65% so feel I might as well slog on now. Finding the student Faye stuff much, much poorer than the young boys stuff.

I think Into Thin Air would definite be worth a reread - as I finished it I thought I’d like to go back and pay more attention to the earlier parts where he sets out the roles everyone played in the events, and their backgrounds.

So funny about Essex Serpent. It seems the hype around it led a lot of people to have different expectations of it. I really loved it, thought it interesting and beautifully written, but knew nothing of it when I read it so it was a pleasant discovery and it is the sort of thing I like anyway. I think marketing sometimes leads you to pick up something that wouldn’t usually be your cup of tea and then you wonder what the fuss is about, happened to me with Gone Girl.

Sadik have added The Antidote to my wishlist - am trying to read more non-fiction in 2018 and this sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks!

Lady Macnet I felt the same about The Essex Serpent. It wasn't awful, but probably one of the most disappointing books I read last year, in part because it was so excessively hyped.

7. The Blackwater Lightship: Colm Toibin
I'm ashamed to say I've had this on my shelf for years, as I just didn't fancy it, and only picked it up after a disappointing trip to the library left me book-less.

Helen, her Mother and Grandmother are forced to spend time together in her Grandmother's remote cliff top home in Ireland at the request of Helen's dying brother. Helen has been no- contact with her Mother, who she finds cold and emotionally unavailable, for a number of years; during their estrangement Helen has established a happy marriage and has two young boys. Helen's relationship with her Grandmother is strained by past events related to her Father's death when Helen was a young child.

This was easy to read as it was so well written and perceptive. The characters were very believable humans, flawed and real. Even though the subject matter was painful and sad, there were moments of black humour which meant it wasn't a depressing read. I particularly liked the way that Helen re-evaluates the relationship she has had with her Mother after having children herself. I think this is something every parent can identify with.

I finished The Essex Serpent at last. Really disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it as I had high expectations of a book with such a beautiful front cover! I found it difficult to get into with a lot of irritating characters to keep track of. On the other hand Midwinter Break was great. Now I’m starting Brazaville Beach by William Boyd.

1 Everything I Never Told You Celeste Ng
2 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman
3 Women and Power Mary Beard
4 Where’d You Go Bernadette Maria Semple
5 This is Going to Hurt Adam Kay
6 The Essex Serpent
7 Midwinter Break Bernard MacLaverty

Have added Touching the Void (and This Thing of Darkness) to my TBR list :) Not sure whether to have another go at Mervyn King and risk my blood pressure or start something else.