50 Book Challenge 2018 Part Two

1. The People vs Alex Cross by James Patterson

Well. I read this because I said I’d make an effort for work book club. But, meh. Clearly he’s doing something a lot of people like, if the hyperbole on the back is to be believed. And this is number 25 in a sequence. But it’s just not for me. There’s nothing here really to think about beyond the immediate description of the story, which reads more like a movie script than a novel imo.

The one interesting aspect of the story, the irony of Alex Cross being black and becoming the focus of attempts to clean up “killer cops”, is mentioned precisely once, Cross saying “I didn’t want to play that card”. Meh.

Upthread someone talked about estimating how many books they might have left to read in their life. As I was reading this I was thinking something similar, and whatever the number is, it’s not enough to include nonsense like this. Will just have to be more firm when it comes to ignoring some book club suggestions!

10. The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories by Daphne du Maurier

This contains the notes she made when planning Rebecca, plus some thoughts on the book and an original epilogue. Really interesting to see what changed in the final book. The other essays cover members of her family (did you know that her cousins were the Llewelyn-Davies boys who inspired J M Barrie to write Peter Pan?), finding and moving into Menabilly (the house that inspired Manderley) and thoughts on widowhood. A short book but very enjoyable if you like her writing.

Oh, I loved 'Eight Cousins' when I was a child. Must find my old copy.

Right, just finished 5. The Home-Maker - Dorothy Canfield Fisher

This is a Persephone reprint, first published in 1924. The first part could be a MN thread - 'AIBU to be fuming that I do ALL the chores and DH and DC just come home and mess up my lovely tidy house?'
Evangeline Knapp is a woman of formidable energy and drive, who, despite loving her husband Lester and children Helen, Henry and Stephen, can't relax her iron grip on her routine of non-stop housework, and has turned into a domestic tyrant who keeps the whole family in a state of fear. Lester - a dreamy, poetic lover of literature - loathes his job as an accountant at a local department store. Everyone is ill, unhappy and full of nervous tension, until events conspire to make the parents change domestic roles....but with an uncomfortable sting in the tail.

I really enjoyed this. There’s some beautiful writing, especially about the children, and the relationships are sensitively drawn and full of tenderness and insight. The rigid gender roles in early 20thc small-town America, and the expectation that the man would be the breadwinner, give plenty of food for thought... we're still wrestling with some of these ideas today. I’d recommend it.

49p on Kindle, for Rose and Eight Cousins, Annandale. Liked Eight Cousins a lot as a child, but never knew this one existed ...

Actually that was book 13.

12. Amy and Isabelle- Elizabeth Strout have been stuck inside with a poorly DC who mainly slept so good reading time! This is Strout's first novel and I preferred it to Lucy Barton which I read at the beginning of last year . A mother with her own secrets struggles to come to terms with her daughters sexual secrets. Set in a small town in America this is a wonderful portrait of loneliness, secrets and the hidden lives of ordinary people. Beautifully written and well rounded characters, like Anne Tyler at her very best. It is never mentioned when the book is set but I think from references it could be 1970's. For some reason knowing when things are happening is important to me when reading a book!
I see have other Books by the same author on my Kindle, probably a monthly deal at some point. Looking forward to reading them.

Rose in Bloom! Haven't read that for donkey's. Now I need to read it. Kindle maybe...

5. Private Eye - the first 50 years - an A to Z by Adam Macqueen A good read. I like coffee table books and books about the media. Still think Stick It Up Your Punter is one of the best books ever about the 80s on this country.

My list - if you can call it that:

1. Make More Noise! Various

I'm with Remus on Skellig. Wonderful book. Short and powerful and highly recommended.

Currently reading Rose in Bloom by LM Alcott about which I have thoughts. I am reading quite a lot this year, just not finishing much!

Bertie Project (Scotland Street series)- easy read but lovely by Alexander McCall Smith

1. He Said, She Said by Erin Kelly a good psychological thriller, I read this in about 3 days despite it being quite slow moving for maybe the first third.

I'm now reading the hippo ranching book, Rivers of Teeth by Sarah Gailey. I'm sorry, I can't remember who previously reviewed this but I thought "that sounds bonkers, I must read it!" As it's so short I'm already 10% in, and thoroughly enjoying it!

Lots of threads have multiple postings around 19:37/19:38. Must be a site glitch!

1. The Human Stain by Philip Roth

1. Days Without End by Sebastian Barry - a bit disappointed with this one, probably because it came so highly recommended in the best 2017 lists.

Skellig and Heaven Eyes are Almond's best works, imo.

@best. I’m loving reading kids books..

Might try Skellig as I’m only fit for children’s books atm.

6. A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh. This was her first novel, and if you are picky it does show, but still, a very accomplished debut! Clearly influenced by Christie and Sayers, but stands up very well to peers like Allingham I think.

I have bought the “Why I am no longer talking...” for when I get over this cold, and the schoolgirl book sounds very interesting, but will need to hope for the library!

@remus I thought it had some lovely bits but it was missing something for me .. :s

Oh ffs!

I rate it so highly, I said it twice!

I'm just registering here:

1: Sarum by Edward Rutherford.

2: The Unseen World by Liz Moore.

best book in bold - and it was a stunner.

Life & lurgy has taken over from reading & am about to fly off to help with new grandchild, so I don't expect to read much for the next few weeks but I really do want to keep up with this thread.

I rate Skellig very highly indeed. Think it's really tender, and thought-provoking and moving. Beautiful.

I rate Skellig very highly indeed. Think it's really tender, and thought-provoking and moving. Beautiful.

I’m now on book three. Read Skellig which was alright and now reading The Secret Garden