50 Book Challenge 2013 -The Sequel!

[CardiffUniversityNetballTeam]

Morning all,

As the old thread here is nearly full, I have created a shiny new one for your delight and delectation.

Sign in and update your progress here!

I'm Cardiff and I've nearly finished book 16, so I'm very behind as to be in track we should be approaching 25 by now. Where is everyone else up to?

53. Mutton - India Knight. Funny enough, no real plot to speak of. 54.Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Not as good as the TV series strangely enough.

Could you tell me more about Casual Vacancy, GalaxyMum? Sounds interesting

I haven't started the John Le Carre and a friend came over with Americanah for me to borrow so that is now going to be 33....so excited, thought id have to wait to Christmas for someone to buy it for me!

A Casual Vacancy starts with the sudden death of a parish councillor - the first part explores the reactions from various characters, then follows them towards an election. The interesting structure which I liked was how JK Rowling showed the different perspectives from characters in a relationship and so you had various sides to a story. I think she handled multiple character perspectives very well. Not for everyone I realise, but I liked that a lot. I also thought she adapted the dialogue from different characters very well. The characters of the social worker, guidance counsellor and Krystal linked very effectively going from behaviour and attitude in a professional setting then a private setting. The ending is very emotional, certainly has affected me.

44. Under Another Sky, Charlotte Higgins. Loved this. Non-fiction - she and her boyfriend visit various Roman sites around the UK, and she talks about the different ways that this period has been seen. For example, perspectives have shifted between generations that were colonisers and proud of the mighty Empire and the post-colonial commentators who identify with the oppressed Britons. It's done with a really light touch. I love history, archaeology and travel, so this is exactly to my taste.

Have started in on Agatha Christie's Cards on the Table (45). Rather startled to read that the victim is the kind of damned Dago that every healthy Englishman longs to kick. Amazing the changes in social attitudes in a couple of generations.

32. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin/Nicola Kraus

19. Snow Blind - PJ Tracy
20. Room - Emma Donaghue

43. This thing of Darkness - Harry Thompson. I found this really difficult to put down. It covers the opposing views of science and religion (and the changing views of both too), from the perspective of Robert Fitzroy and Charles Darwin. Much coverage of their voyage on the Beagle, and experiences in Tierra del Fuego. Highly recommend this!

44. Family Secrets - Deborah Cohen. Examines approaches to family 'shame' over the previous century - attitudes to disability, mental illness, homosexuality, the family as a unit. Thought-provoking is an understatement.

This Thing Of Darkness is brilliant. I think you would also like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

Just added Family Secrets to my immense list.

Joining late but making an effort now to get to 50:

1. One of Your Own: The Life and Death of Myra Hindley - Carol Ann Lee
2. Wish I Was There - I Was the Golden Girl of British Cinema...Then My Life Fell to Pieces. This is My Story - Emily Lloyd
3. Unseen (Will Trent / Atlanta Series) - Karin Slaughter
4. David Mitchell: Back Story - David Mitchell
5. Sleb - Andrew Holmes
6. Complete History of Jack the Ripper - Philip Sudgen
7. A GAME OF THRONES - George R R Martin
8. A CLASH OF KINGS - George R R Martin
9. A STORM OF SWORDS, 1: STEEL AND SNOW - George R R Martin

10. A STORM OF SWORDS, 2: BLOOD AND GOLD - George R R Martin 11. A FEAST FOR CROWS - George R R Martin 12. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS - George R R Martin 13. The Diaries of a Fleet Street Fox - Fleet Street Fox 14. Girl Least Likely to - Liz Jones 15. The Magpies: A Psychological Thriller - Mark Edwards 16. Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain - George Mahood 17. The Woman in Black - Susan Hill 18. The Other Typist - Suzanne Rindell 19. The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America - Mike McIntyre

This Thing of Darkness sounds good - something DH and I could both get into.

50 . The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larrson. After a very busy weekend with parties, guests coming round and having to scour the house because of an aged and incontinent cat. I have finally finished book 50

Congrats Minsmum, how many are you going to aim for between now and end of the year?!

Thank you Gailforce. I think as I am heading off on holiday at the end of sept I am going to try for 75

65. The Pursuit Of Love, by Nancy Mitford
66. One Step Too Far, by Tina Seskis
67. The Silent Wife, by A S A Harrison
68. The Best Of Our Spies, by Alex Gerlis

BOF, was that your first read of Pursuit of Love? One of my favourite books ever!

It was! I loved it.

Book 77 - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

hmm... this thread has gone from my tio list

anyhoo havent been reading much as i had family visiting... then my mil visited (read quite a bit when she was here ) so now im updating

29. never look away - linwood barclay. very good read. reminded me of gone girl, i didnt like gone girl but i really liked this one. hope the other books are just as good.

30. billy and me - giovanna fletcher. she is a girl crush of mine. i really enjoyed this book. i cried at the end and its a very easy read though the main character did annoy me a couple of time... only because she reminded if how i was years ago.

31. city of bones - cassandra clare. its the first book in the mortal instrument series and im halfway through already. waited to start this till after i saw the film as i tend to hate films if ive read the book first. there are quite a few changes from the book which are making me feel a bit but never mind im still enjoying it

48. Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin. Creepy and surprisingly plausible.
49. The Quarry - Iain Banks. Full of serious themes handled with the author's usual flair for words and atmosphere.

45. Company of Liars - Karen Maitland. I grabbed this by chance from the library. It's a sort of twisted Canterbury Tales, weaving folklore, superstition, witchcraft and the unknown together as a band of misfits travel across England to escape the plague. I found it really hard to put down, and have read it in the very short time since my last post!

25. World without end by Ken Follett.

I am very proud that I made it through this 1200 page behemoth in less than a fortnight!
I have been very disciplined and made time to read at least 100 pages a day. In the end I couldn't put it down though, possibly my favourite book this year.

MrsCosmopilite, I've had Company of Liars on my bookshelf for ages without getting round to it, but that sounds good. Will give it a shot!

Ooh BOF, have you read Love in a Cold Climate? If you like the Pursuit of Love, you'll enjoy that one too.

Read two more by Agatha Christie, (46) Mrs McGinty's Dead and (47) Dead Man's Folly. Now reading a biography of Georgette Heyer.

Can I recommend two more Nancy Mitfords - The Blessing, and Don't Tell Alfred? Both very good.

Lots of interesting-sounding reads on this thread now. I'm now on book 46 which is non-fiction, but as I'm on holiday from tomorrow I'll try to manage a few more of the paperbacks I have stacked up to work through.

Not sure how many more I'll manage once I get back to college but I reckon I'll reach 50 fairly soon!