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.

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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?

I find Banks' Culture novels terribly lightweight. I think the name of the subgenre is "space opera" (as in "soap opera). Robots, people, and all sorts of aliens live together in harmony etc. I read more complicated and challenging sci-fi in my teens (no offence to his fans).

Player Of Games had an interesting premise but was completely underdeveloped. Iirc, Inversions was the better one among his books that I've read.

42: The Secret Intensity Of Everyday Lives, by William Nicholson. Really absorbing look at a connected group of people's internal thoughts. It reminded me of David Lodge or John Lanchester's Capital.

Ah, I've misnumbered. That was actually 43.

25. Darkness Hunts - Keri Arthur. It's number 4 in the Dark Angel series. I love this sort of paranormal story, it's so easy to read (which is why I read, I don't want to have to think too hard)

I've just started 26. The Colour Purple. It doesn't seem like my type of book at all but I've read a few books this year that I wouldn't normally pick up and really enjoyed them, maybe it'll be the same with this one.

Very late, but would love to join you.

Have read little for myself over the last year, just professional reading. Need to get properly back to the habit and spend less time web surfing. I'm sure it is causing my deep concentration to atrophy. Got six weeks off work now, and tickets for the Edinburgh Book Festival to look forward to at the end of the holidays. Going to see Margaret Atwood, Carol Anne Duffy, Patrick Ness, Kate Atkinson, Ronald Frame on Great Expectations and the James Tait Black awards. Ridiculously excited! This will dictate a lot of my Summer reading.

1. The Testament of Gideon Mack - James Robertson
2. The Lotus Eaters - Tatjani Soli
3. The Panopticon - Jenni Fagan

Did you like The Lotus Eaters? I was very pleasantly surprised.

28. The Murder at Styles - Agatha Christie. Haven't picked up any of her books since I was a teenager.

23. The Unpleasant Profession Of Jonathan Hoag - Robert Heinlein

novel, ooh, jealous of you going to Edinburgh! (Not to mention six weeks off.....)

I always found Banks' sf to be pretty impenetrable, although there are some good set pieces (unfortunately one torture scene has lingered with me horribly).

44. Blink Of An Eye, by Cath Staincliffe. I didn't like this- far too much irrelevant and extraneous description.

24. summer on blossom street - debbie macomber, is done

25. hannah's list - debbie macomber has now been started

Yes Cote, I thought Helen was a brilliant character. Some really haunting incidents that will stay with me for a long time.

19. The Rise and Fall of a Domestic Diva, by Sarah May. Not as fluffy as the marketing suggests. Ostensibly about angst over the little darlings getting into the right school, but with a backdrop of PND, infidelity, early dementia, an attempted suicide and the fear of crime.

Struggled a bit to keep the characters straight and it was all a bit one-note, but there's something pleasing about a glimpse of darkness behind cheery middle class facades.

47. Kate Morton - The Forgotten Garden. Didn't realise it was that long but enjoyed it eventually! and near the end of
48. Giselle Green - Little Miracles. Supposed to be like Jodi Picoult/Dorothy Koomson, not as good IMO but interesting storyline of woman whose child who goes missing in Spain. She is convinced he is alive but rest of the family think he has drowned. Wondering if tissues will be needed by end

27. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

32 Time's Legacy by Barbara Erskine
33 Whispers In the Sand by Barbara Erskine
34 Inferno by Dan Brown

I'm so glad I discovered Barbara Erskine this year - I feel a little bereft after reading 3 in a row. Then going through the manic Inferno I need a breather and a real change of pace. Looking through reviews and my books to read on the shelves at the moment!

Book 61 - The War of The Worlds by H G Wells. Really good. Gripping

45. The Detective's Daughter, by Lesley Thomson (I think). Really excellent- well-drawn characters and a properly chilling atmosphere. Long though.

Book 25 will be a non-fiction one: R. Shay "The Rise and Fall of Occupy Wall Street. Something different.

Duchess War of the Worlds is on my list of books to read!

Wednesday - are you on our Goodreads group? It's our classics group read for July

I'm reading the war of the worlds next too. Yes I am on your goodreads group. Then I'll read we have to talk about Kevin. I'm nearly finished the colour purple.

I'm starting Kevin today. It should be an interesting read.

I couldn't finish Alone in Berlin, it was too depressing...

Just finished Big Brother by Lionel Schriver, fascinating read!