50 Book Challenge 2021 Part Eight

Ha ha.....just checked and the mother's called Emily, not Alice. So the sequel's called Emily, Alone - I promise I did read the first book and it did make a good impression on me! That'll serve me right for not making sure of my facts before I posted

@InTheCludgie I like what I've read of Stewart O'Nan, which is admittedly not much. Like you, I really enjoyed Last Night at the Lobster, and I've also read and loved Wish You Were Here. It's a recognisable kind of American story, I suppose - a family (older mother, grown-up kids and their children) go to spend the summer at their holiday cabin. But it's going to be for the last time, because the father has died and the mother, Alice, thinks she's going to sell it. There's a very poignant feel about it, but it's spiky and funny as well. I like this kind of thing anyway - families in conflict - but I think he did it well. Alice is a complex, not that likeable character, but very interesting.

There's a sequel to it called Alice, Alone which I haven't tackled. I do also have his fictionalised F Scott Fitzgerald novel, West of Sunset, but similarly, haven't got round to it yet. He's written loads more, I see.

Here's my review of On The Beach (on the 2020 thread):

On The Beach by Nevil Shute. Set in Australia, the northern hemisphere has been laid to waste in a nuclear war and the southern hemisphere is waiting for the same to happen as the radiation gradually spreads south. While I have to agree with the critics questioning whether the characters would realistically behave like this (planting gardens they know will never come to fruition etc), I still really enjoyed reading this.

I got the impression that opinion was divided on Nevil Shute but I read The Pied Piper earlier this year. Here is my review in case it helps:

During the early stages of the Second World War John Howard takes a holiday to France to help him to overcome a recent loss. As the Germans advance through France he finally realises he shoud get the hell out of Dodge (with the benefit of hindsight I felt like it took him a ridiculously long time to get this) and this book is the description of his attempt to reach the safety of England, along with an assortment of children. Although we know Howard survives, as the book begins with him telling his story to a fellow club member, I did find that there was a certain amount of tension as the fate of the other characters was not clear from the outset. I loved the main character who came across as very realistic as a thoroughly decent, old school, kindly British gentleman. This was a really enjoyable read that managed to convey the impact of war on civilians without descending into mawkishness or sensationalism- the focus on the loneliness of old age, as well as the frailties of young and old were also beautifully drawn.

I've got a couple of questions:

Has anyone read any Stewart O'Nan and can recommend? I've read Last Night At The Lobster which I loved and am keen to try some of his other books

Also, what's the score with Nevile Shute? I have a couple of his things on my wishlist but if his books are generally rubbish I might rethink that

I was outraged by that statement and almost stopped reading at that point. It was an an awful statement and I can understand your reaction. I took enough from it that overall I am glad I finished it, but I must admit I feel a bit grubby for thinking that.

MamaNewt I accidentally requested and started listening to the abridged audio version of that from the library a few weeks ago. After hearing the victim/volunteer section on domestic violence I cancelled my reservation for the full verson. I was furious.

I'd heard people raving how good it was and I think he had some good points about social conditioning, but I now have no respect for the author.

104. The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

I’ve seen this book mentioned quite a few times on mumsnet so when I saw it in the kindle deals I thought I’d give it a go. The idea that the author puts forward is that the ability to decode the behaviour of others, to predict whether they will do us harm, is innate but we (particularly women) have been conditioned not to act upon this information for fear of seeming irrational or rude.

I found the real life examples, where he broke down the warning signs and how to interpret them, more interesting than the theory, but I’d like to have seen more info on how to react to these danger signs, the advice is pretty much “obey your instincts” for every scenario.

Some of the sections weren’t that relevant to the UK (workplace violence) and I definitely didn’t agree with everything the author said by any means (“I believe that the first time a woman is hit, she is a victim and the second time, she is a volunteer”) but there are some lessons I’ll take from this book, and for that reason I am glad I read it.

105. Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer

During an experiment at CERN everyone on earth blacks out for two mins and during that time they are able to see what they’ll be doing 20 years in the future. This leads to the examination of some interesting ideas. Is the future set or can it be changed? Do people have free will? How does knowledge of the future shape the decisions people make now? What about those who did not have a vision? I read this book years ago and absolutely loved it so was looking forward to a reread. I don’t know what I was thinking. Despite the intriguing premise the story was unrealistic and so badly written and I didn't enjoy it at all.

"doctors told women to refrain from reading as this led to hysteria and could even make them orgasm" Imagine how big this group would be

Tarahumara - I remember when you got this name

"doctors told women to refrain from reading as this led to hysteria and could even make them orgasm"

Our secret is out

I’ve been looking at the readalong thread Sol but I might wait and read it on the appropriate dates next year.

@ChessieFL
You must join us on the Nigel Slater readalong for Christmas Chronicles. I'm hidden in plain sight on there. It will run until Feb when the book's diary ends (and I'm still at the first week of December anyway)
I had just two books for Christmas
Winter by Karl Ove Knausgard
La Casa Senza Ricordi Donato Carisi. (told dp I need to read more in Italian )

Seconding Cote's recommendation for Born to Run - the inspiration for my username

Janina I have Vaxxers waiting for me on Audible, glad to hear you are enjoying it.

Fortuna what a fab idea for secret Santa!

Chessie my 12yo recently enjoyed The Giver by Lois Lowry and my old Judy Blume books!

Tanaqui

@JaninaDuszejko I love Doomsday Book have you read the two WWII books in the same series?

At the in-laws and have two more books to add to my haul. Off to check out the kindle deals now as you can never have too many books

Thanks Sadik - she hasn’t so I’ll look those out.

I only got one book this year but it's a cracker - stunning photos of Paris in the 19th c by the photographer Charles Marville.

Agreed the genre-read bookclub sounds like a great idea.

"she’s just turned 12 but isn’t really interested in YA yet"
Chessie, has your dd read any of Frances Hardinge's books? Her earlier novels, particularly Fly by Night, Twilight Robbery & A Face Like Glass, I'd say are absolutely ideal for that inbetween stage. I feel like with her later books she's been pushed to simplify her language and make them easier to read for younger audiences, whereas I think the joy of her books is that they have the plot complexity & language appropriate for young teens, without the YA focus on relationships/sex/etc.

Matilda I adored The Paper Palace, in fact I took it back to the library and then immediately bought myself a copy for a reread. It's a strong contender for my book of the year.

Sorry you had a rough day Tanaqui

Some absolute crackers in the 12 days of kindle, plus Miriam Margolyes's memoir in the daily deal.

Chessie and Janina those are quite some hauls!

I got a couple of books for Christmas, including Angela Harding's A Year Unfolding, which is a thing of great beauty.

And just like that, revolution starts across UK book clubs

I also love that idea for a Book Club Cote. We have been looking at new ways of doing things for next year and I think that could be the answer. This year we've had a rogue faction reading a 2nd decent book each month because the main pick is invariably a crowd pleaser that is crap.

Also no book haul as I don't need any encouragement. We opted to have a no 'stuff' Christmas and did a Secret Santa with vouchers for family favours (all adults now, no kids). Some lovely things promised. My elderly mum has a year of lawn mowing from one of her grandsons and my engineering BIL has pledged to help me with the new electrical wiring in my campervan. I'm teaching a niece to knit. Everyone is thrilled and as long as everything offered comes off, I think this could be a great way forward.

On a reading front I've finished the 3rd Strike and am half way through The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

49. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm

Disappointed to find this collection of short stories was not all about Christmas! But I did enjoy reading something from a different era as I usually focus on modern stuff.

50. Christmas In Austin

Been on my wishlist since someone on here read it last December. I quite enjoyed it. Just dipping into a usual family life for a few days at Christmas which included all the mind-numbing detail of daily routine in among the small bits of drama. It was ok.

Really pleased to have made 50 books in a year, I wasn't sure I would. Next year I am not going to worry so much about the number but I will stay on this thread and keep reading. I would like to get back on my Stephen King re-read but his books are so long it's a hindrance to getting to 50! So next year is going to be less about the number.