50 Book Challenge 2018 Part Two

I feel like chick lit is one of those descriptors that automatically downgrades the content, like "It can't be chick lit, it's good!" Hence why writers like Nick Hornby avoid it. Total nonsense of course. I think it does need a female protagonist, but I think you could make a good argument that, eg, Juliet Naked was chick lit. I mean, it's about a rock star who falls in love with an ordinary girl. No way would it get broadsheet reviews if it wasn't for Hornby's penis.

Yes remus imagine if I hadn’t liked it? I’d have had to slink off somewhere else I think. I was looking at Savage today on Amazon, but wasn’t sure, I was going to ask here for recommendations for good non-fic companion books, but you’re ahead of me Is there a good bio on FitzRoy? Thought maybe one was mentioned on a previous thread.

Parsons set out to write chick lit with a male gaze he called it “men-lit” (catchy) - he had a couple that were centred on women though I think - Family or something was one. I know because my mum had them, definitely not what my dad would read, so there’s a few shades of grey in it (though not 50) The Rosie Project is a hard one to classify. I would say that leaned toward chick lit subject wise, and surely mainly read by and aimed at women, but male writer and protagonist.

Satsuki
I'm so glad that you loved This Thing of Darkness and that we can remain friends!

How to follow it? THIS is the only answer.

In other news, I'll almost certainly finish with Ralph de Bricassart and co before I fall asleep tonight.

mamapants life is a lifelong learning journey :)

I’m another Scot who loves The Wasp Factory - utterly creepy but quite fascinating.

Nope I think it definitely needs a heroine (and Wikipedia agrees!)
I’ve enjoyed those types of book as well and I know my DP wouldn’t read them, although presumably some men do.

I must admit I've added the wasp factory to my tbr pile on the back of chilijeanies review...

I think I'll also have to try into thin air even though its not a book I'd normally pick giving the love for it on here!

I’m enjoying The Wasp Factory btw. Well maybe ‘enjoying’ is the wrong word, but it’s a compelling read.

Yes agree those Tony Parsons books are chick lit with a male protagonist. Man and Boy was basically Kramer vs Kramer.

Cheminotte, I’m thinking of Man and Boy and One For My Baby. So a male protagonist but themes of relationships etc.

I suspect The Wasp Factory is a bit of a marmite kind of book. I can see why people would like it, but I kept thinking 'What the hell am I reading?!' It may have been the total lack of likeable characters that tipped it over the edge for me.

I think chick lit is written for women, about women but not necessarily by women. What Tony Parsons’ book were you thinking of Tara ?
I don’t think a book about 20 something men would qualify for example.
I think of Cecilia Aherne as a prime chick lit author.

Last week I would not have understood your user name at all piggy in fact all the knowledge I had of Lord of the flies previously was from a Simpson episode, likewise with the tell tale heart.

Adding Good Me Bad Me to my list! Thanks Keith.

Getting started on The Devil In The Flesh tonight. Hope it lives up to its reputation.

I think chick lit can sometimes be written by a man. Examples - Tony Parsons, Keith Stuart.

Thanks everyone for the brilliant contributions to the thread :) I haven't been able to get on here much in the last week or so, and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up.

4. The Dark Circle, Linda Grant

A recommendation from here so thank you to whoever mentioned it on the 2017 thread. It's 1949, and teenage twins from the East End are admitted into a previously exclusive TB sanatorium under the newly formed National Health Service. A wry take on class, social change and the after-effects of the war, and a good rattling story.

5. Good Me, Bad Me, Ali Land

This has been on my TBR since I heard it recommended on Radio 4 last year. It's actually a LOT darker than I had expected. The tension is skilfully controlled, and the book is certainly disturbing, but not in a good way IMHO.

6. My Name is Lucy Barton, Elizabeth Strout

Much reviewed here. Found this very clever. Practically nothing happens beyond trivial conversations between Lucy and her mother (who from their home town has got divorced, and the like) but through that tiny window she shows you a world of emotion.

7. Exit West, Mohsin Hamid

Also much reviewed. A few people recently have said they didn't like this one, but I did. It's a book about refugees, with a magic realism element (don't let this put you off if you don't normally like that sort of thing - it's not overdone and serves as both metaphor and useful plot shortcut). Genuinely frightening to see, through the POV of the two main characters, how quickly comfortable modern lives can fall apart in times of war.

8. We Should All Be Feminists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is either a transcript or a re-writing of a TED talk given by Adichie in 2012. Her take on why feminism matters, illustrated by numerous anecdotes. I found the informal style a bit annoying (it reminded of the stories you get from politicians ( "I have a friend who {insert perfect case study of point being made}" ) but would be a good introduction to feminist ideas for someone unsure about the term and why it is important.

7. Breadline Britain by Stewart lansley and Joanna Mack. This is very academic and a lot like the stuff I'd have read for my sociology degree so it might be a bit to dry compared to normal non-fiction but this was incredible, I pretty much read it in a sitting. Stark and unsettling but important and well read. Really enjoyed.

Random musing inspired by Chessie's question - is chick lit light literature aimed at women, or is it light literature written by women? I always assumed the former, although now I can't think of an example written by a man.

I have read very little due to moving house at the weekend. I have just spent the best part of 2 hours catching up on this thread and noted down 5 books reviewed here that I want to read! Payday required first, though.

11. Rose in Bloom, LM Alcott. Came across this while unpacking and have been reading it in snatches in between highly stressful RL fuckery going on. I am torn - I do like the portrayal of Charlie and the characterisation of Mac, who is by far and away my favourite person in the series, but does Rose have to be such a prig all the time? Why is LM Alcott so down on parties and frivolity? What precisely is wrong with going out and dancing til dawn? The teetotaller bits I can understand - there was a huge teetotal movement in America at the time leading up to Prohibition - but I don't see why Rose shouldn't dance the German at parties. I also snurked slightly when she says her life is harder than Phebe's because Phebe can work and has a talent but poor poor Rose is all rich and pretty and beloved and no one believes her when she wants to be a philanthropist.

14. All She Wants by Jonathan Harvey

I really liked this. Not sure if you can describe something as chick lit if it’s written by a man, but if it is it’s a good example. The writing style is light and funny, and I liked the heroine. The story follows Jodie through various relationships and her going to drama school and subsequently becoming a soap actress. It’s not great literature but light and fun and I was keen to get to the end to find out what happened.

5. The Reproductive System by John Sladek

1960’s science fiction. A toy manufacturer decides to go into military research after their dolls stop selling. They succeed in creating self replicating machines, and the whole thing soon spins out of control.

A short book that’s aiming at being humorous. It didn’t really work for me though. Too much suspension of disbelief required. And the ending felt unconvincing.

Holding by Graham Norton

My book club's current choice.

Ireland. A very fat policeman investigates the discovery of a body on a farm. Middle aged women with secrets, regrets and unfulfilled lives are interviewed. A thoroughly gratuitous rape is shoehorned in and the mystery is finally solved.
Quite the most boring book I have read in quite some time. So boring in fact that despite finishing it only last night I just had to get up to find the damned thing to remind myself what it was called. Norton has some skill for writing, it’s not utter shite, but there was really so very little plot, character development or interesting nuanced writing that I rather wonder why he bothered (oh wait, £££ maybe?).
Am getting heartily fed up of authors using sexual assault only as some sort of excitement/tension generator in their stories. It’s so lazy, and often completely unnecessary.

Next up Robinson Crusoe.

That was a cracking review by the way Satsuki! It's such a great book.
I am trying to persuade DH to read it but he refuses fool

So many interesting sounding books above- will definitely look for TTOD.

12. Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh. Murder set in NZ this time, satisfactorily solves by Alleyn- I didn’t really engage with the characters in this and wouldn’t recommend unless you are going for the full set.