50 Book Challenge 2018 Part Two

Have however bought Skellig (for the DC...) but have resisted This thing of darkness so far...

Really pleased to hear that Jonathan Strange is a good read - got given a copy as a present and it was NOT on my reading Wishlist.

3. Mount! - Jilly Cooper

Rupert Campbell-Black is back and the race is on for Leading Sire and Leading Trainer titles. A little revenge and romance is also thrown in.

Upthread I was advised to give up and try a different Jilly Cooper as my first but it was a library Christmas surprise book and I felt a need to keep going. It was alright but it felt like a slog to finish it and like nothing much spectacular happened. I may just be too accustomed to people being murdered in my books though

Oops, copying over from the popsugar challenge board on good reads, meant to delete the incomplete bit at the end!

1. Finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine on audiobook. I really enjoyed this, though there’s a bit at the end that I think was meant to be a ‘twist’ that could be seen a mile off, still enjoyed getting there though. I also found myself slightly disappointed as the backstory unfolded, in a way I’d almost rather it had been about a lonely, depressed character who had more common/ pedestrian reasons for that rather than this very dramatic and horrifying picture that emerges, but that’s not to say I didn’t find the book well written and quite moving in parts. I’ll use this for a book recommended by a celebrity book club - it was included in

Scribbly, I didn't get on with the The Ladies of Grace Adieu - not sure why...it just didn't grab me the same way.

I've finished deal breaker Harlan Coben. A man is investigating the disapearence of his exs sister, whos photo has just been printed in the adds in a porn magazine. It was good, the ending tied it all up well. But I seemed to be reading it for ages.

Starting number 13, backwards Rob Grant. The 3rd eed dwarf book, I haven't read this one before.

1. Britt-Marie was here by Fredrik Backman

I haven't yet, but I've heard it's good? Is it worth watching?

Should be 'wasn't' engaged Not was!

Iris I felt pretty much the same about Exit West. It lacked depth for me and I was engaged by either of the main characters. For that reason it feel flat. Didn't think it deserved its place on the ManBooker list- can't remember whether it was short listed .

clash did you watch the series?
Its a great book, I could probably do with a reread at some point, you can miss do much on a first reading.

Can't go wrong for a quid-odd in any event!

Still on with American gods. Can't believe how much more I'm enjoying it this time round.

1. The Witch Finders Sister by Beth Underdown was an OK read. Plenty to keep you interested but nothing special.

Ah thanks - I'll look it up anyway as I'm after something new. Just wondered with last name being Hill and then mentioning SK

Just finished Exit West - Mohsin Hamid
This is my book 4. Not sure what I think really. Enjoyed it but found his style of writing to go on a but but not really say anything half the time. Feel decidedly meh about it.
I bet it's been done to death on here but would love opinions of anyone who has read it. I feel it could have done more.

The Nix had a lot of influences in it - bit of a typical first novel in that way. It’s only around a pound on Kindle at the moment and a long but easy read so worth a punt.

No not related but saw a tweet where King said he enjoyed it. I thought he drew different characters and the comedy from that rather well, but just it felt a bit “baggy” overall.

No relation, I don’t think. Please don’t all think The Nix is Stephen King in disguise! It’s a very different style and concept. But one of the reasons I love King (and I really do) is that way he has of getting you right in the gut when he captures loneliness or fear or bewilderment. And that’s what I got from The Nix; plus a lot of other stuff which wasn’t at all sad or emotionally engaging. It is a great read, I think.

I did have some time off at the start of the year, so got lots read. Have slowed down since. One Day In the Life is fantastic - I’m trying to read one classic book I feel i should read but don’t really want to each month and that was the first. So it was a happy surprise.
Lincoln In the Bardo was an audiobook which was a mistake - it really needs to be read, I think, as the structure is hard to follow when read aloud. But I can see why it’s been so popular. And the Claire Tomalin is a lovely story of London literary life - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Is Nathan Hill Stephen King's son then?

Or no relation?

Just asking because I've read and for the most part enjoyed Joe Hill
(apart from the fireman - he can't do catastrophic events like his dad!)

I think I'll take a look at nix. On think SK does brilliantly is childhood I think.

PepeLePew what did you think of the other ones you read? (Still can't believe people have already read 7 books this year. I feel incredibly proud to have read three and two of those were short ones.

I read The War on Women last year and would absolutely recommend it. It is rather rage inducing, but it really re-affirmed for me why I'm a feminist and gave me a lot to think about in terms of how fortunate I am as a white, western woman compared to other women in different parts of the world.

Let me know what you think, Remus. It’s a very un-King plot but I could really see the influence - conscious or otherwise - in the way he talked about the characters.

Liking Thornbirds so far! I've just met the priest.