50 Book Challenge 2014 Part 2

[juneybean]

Thread 2 of the 50 book challenge. Here is the previous thread...

The idea is to read 50 books in 2014 (or more!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/adult_fiction/1951735-50-Book-Challenge-2014

I've also slowed down, partly because we've got friends from Australia staying, and partly because I'm reading Shantaram and it's great but long! Will check in again when I've finished it... only on 64% and I've been reading it since before Easter...!

32. Behind the beautiful forevers by Katherine Boo. Non-fiction about life in a Mumbai slum. It reads like a novel, following the lives and fates of a few people. I've spent quite some time in India and it feels very real. Very good, not a happy book though.

Have also started Into the Silence by Wade Davis about the first ascent of Everest. It paints the whole picture of Empire in India, War in Belgium, .. it is utterly depressing, all these men killing. Not sure if I'll finish it.

I've not just slowed down but stopped altogether in the last few days. I only have non-fiction books on my 'to read' pile, and I'm just not in a NF mood - but not a single novel is appealing to me at the moment. I need to try, 'The Three Musketeers' again, but can't say I'm jumping for joy at the prospect.

'Into the Silence' is superb btw.

I may persevere.. wish he'd stop writing about killing people though. Passchendale, Ypres, then wiping out the Tibetan army.. gah! Get on that mountain already!
It does paint a vivd backdrop of the times though.

Erm...you know the mountain won't be a happy ending too, yep?!

Agree that it is horribly depressing, but it does set the 'heroism' in context nicely. Oh and be prepared to skip a number of very boring pages about Tibetan religion btw!

what, no ...?!

I like Tibetan Buddhism, might enjoy a bit of contemplation on death and impermanence after all the bloodshed.

I'll keep goig then.

[Grin]

Wolf Hall is getting pushed further down my to read list. Also bought it for 99p. Knew I should have stuck to my resolution that it definitely wasn't for me!

39. Jackie Collins - The Boat Trip
40. Victoria Fox - Hollywood Sinners
41. Elizabeth Haynes - Into The Darkest Corner
42. Mhairi McFarlane - Here's Looking At You
43. Jane Austen - Emma

"I've not just slowed down but stopped altogether in the last few days"

I suspected that hell might have frozen over & pigs started to fly when DC cleared and cleaned their room over the weekend, and now you have confirmed my suspicions, Remus

"Into The Silence" sounds great - it's now on my Wish List. I love this thread

You will LOVE, 'Into the Silence' - I promise.

Molly - Re books about Tibetan Buddhism: Eliot Pattison writes a series of books about murder mysteries that take place in Tibet, with a disgraced & imprisoned Chinese detective called Shan who has then 'gone native' with Tibetans struggling to solve them. The mystery side of these books is quite good, but it is especially the unfolding of the landscape, history, and mentality of Tibetan people that is brilliant. I heartily recommend them.

Thanks Cote! Looks very interesting.

Finished book 24 - a discovery of witches - enjoyed it although the romance got in the way for me.

I wanted a nice quick read for book 25 before I go to my new book club tomorrow night so have chosen The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves

37. The Sea by John Banville. Just beautiful prose. One to read slowly and savour every word. My first Banville, but definitely not the last.

Have found an unread copy of Camus', 'The Plague' which I'd forgotten I'd got, so am embarking on that tonight.

Molly - Start with The Skull Mantra, where Shan is in a Tibetan gulag and first meets the Tibetans who later become his friends. I almost envy you, because you read these book for the first time

36. The Knot. - Mark Watson Really enjoyed this, strongly recommend 10/10

Will do Cote, looking forward to them! Had a browse on his site.. looks very good.
Got stuck in 'Into the silence' more, out of the war now tothe politics of getting a team together. Very good, starting to enjoy it more as he has a nice wry sense of humor which is starting to show.

23. Appletree Yard, Louise Doughty

Hmm, difficult to express my feelings about this book. I guess the main thing is that I didn’t enjoy reading it. It was too nightmarish, too unrelentingly awful for me. The author is certainly an absolute master of building up suspense, but to me it was excessive. It certainly made for a gripping novel, but the tension was itchy and uncomfortable rather than thrilling. I was very glad when I got to the end. I found a lot of the themes really interesting, but ultimately I think I’d have preferred to read this story in another genre – suspense/thrillers just aren’t really my thing.

Mumslife - I have both those books on my "to read" list and will move them further up after your reccommendations as i have enjoyed books you have previously recommended
DuchessofMalfi I Loved that book. I read it a couple of years ago and can still remember it - quite unusual for me