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

Thanks highlandcoo I'll add it to my list

17. Unseen. - Karin Slaughter So so 6/10

1. Bad Science - Ben Goldacre

This book should be required reading in schools. It is written in a modest and gentle way, and I think should not offend even the staunchest defender of woo.

"she has no social skills whatsoever"

Maybe that's why I enjoy Lionel Shriver's writing. It isn't like most other female authors', focusing on the feelings of the characters and their interpersonal relationships, trying hard to make them likeable etc. I hate that about books written by women and for a female audience.

Meg - Hurray! Glad you enjoyed it in the end. I was really pleased to see the old Pere again. :)

I agree that Lionel Shriver doesn't strive to make her characters likeable, but I think that she very definitely explores their feelings. She's not afraid to make them very emotionally honest, even when voicing the 'unacceptable', like the ambivalence about motherhood in WNTTAK, for example. And Post-Birthday World is about little else but interpersonal relationships.

I love Bad Science, and I can lose hours on Ben Goldacre's website .

I'd also recommend Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools Of Us All, by Rose Shapiro.

Remus I've never read 'Salem's Lot (or indeed any SK horror - only the Talisman books). But think I'll add it to my wish list (along with The Stand which seems to be often recommended on here)

BOF - I should clarify that I was talking about 'girly' feelings (for lack of a better word). Just can't stand books that focus on those.

Of course any good author will allow a glimpse into the characters' thoughts & feelings.

Oh yes to The Stand - cracking read! Although you'll probably find that overlong too.

Book 33 - A book about Amundsen. Really enjoyed it, and, as it was quite a hefty non-fiction book, it slowed me down for a few days!

Not sure what's next. Yikes.

GoWest A very enjoyable small book I'd recommend is 'Smut' by Alan Bennett.

14. Stoner, John Williams. A lovely book, I saw a review that lauded the 'calm and quiet prose' which captures the feeling of it quite well I think. It was just so sad though, I could have done with a few more lighthearted moments or 'wins' for the main character...he was permitted so very few.

17. Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach. Wasn't expecting to like this novel, after the trashing it got on MN from several reviewers :o

Maybe because I listened to it on audiobook that it made a difference. I really enjoyed it. Yes it is unbelievable in places, but essentially it is the tale of a gullible young woman drawn into the clutches of a manipulative and very believable leader of a suicide cult. It's her tale, not that of the person whose identity she was required to take over.

Will look out for Lottie Moggach's next novel.

I agree about Bad Science - I now visibly cringe when people talk about "detoxing". I can't access youtube, but look up Mitchell and Webb's skit called something like "if homeopathy took over from modern medicine". HILARIOUS.

I can't remember the number but I've now finished Escape from Camp 14 - it's the true story of an individual who was born in one of the prison camps in North Korea, and managed to escape. Incredibly depressing that the camps are still able to exist.

I'm just finishing "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides which is excellent. The narrator was born into a greek American family, and finds out when they're in their teens they're actually a hermaphrodite, it just never got picked up for various reasons. It's also a family saga (following the family leaving Turkey in the 1920s, to the parents and then the narrator) which I always love. The grandmother Desdemona is awesome.

#27 - Life on a cruise ship
A very light reading travel anecdotes book by a cruise ship, doctors, wife.

#28 - The Days of Anna Madrigal - A Maupin. The latest instalment of Tales from the city. All the lead characters are now in their 60s- 90s! tho there is new flock of supporting cast in their 30- 40s. Much is revealed about Mrs Madrigal's early life.

15. and 16. = Confusion and Casting Off - Elizabeth Jane Howard - volumes 3 and 4 of the Cazalet Chronicles - enjoyable, old fashioned escapism. The question is, do I now go for All Change, the fifth volume, which was published after a long gap and doesn't seem to be universally admired?? Or, do I decide not to spoil a good thing??

16. Appletree Yard - Louise Doughty - this thriller just didn't work for me; I ended up skim reading the last half!

16. The State We're In. Adele Parks. Thankfully only 99p on Kindle. Made me cross.

I've read a chapter or so of that, Best. It seems a bit clunky in its 70s and 80s references. I have skipped onto other stuff- almost finished Madame Bovary.

After a dreadful February of very slow reading, I've finally finished Simon Garfield's To The Letter. The slow reading wasn't a reflection on the book which I enjoyed. It made me want to write letters but not sure who to! Wondering what next - too much non fiction sitting by my bed and I fancy a novel.

1.Robert Galbraith, The Cuckoo's Calling
2.Mad About the Boy, Helen Fielding
3.Tangled Lives, Hilary Boyd

1. I Am Pilgrim, Terry Hayes
2. The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion
3. Killers Wedge, Ed McBain
4. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce

I really enjoyed Harold Fry, found it really touching.

19. The Rosie Project - Like most others, enjoyed this as a light and entertaining read. Fairly predictable ending but a nice feel-good story nonetheless

12. One Hundred names - Cecilia Ahern
13. The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer

100 names was an audio book I had on in the car, have enjoyed other Cecilia ahern's but found this a bit meh. Lots of unnecessary detail and unsympathetic charaters.

I loved the shock of the fall, amazing characters and writing.

17. The Unknown Bridesmaid - Margaret Forster. Now I love Margaret Forster but this isn't one of her best.

1. Growing Old Outrageously: A memoir of travel, food and friendship by Liz Davies and Hilary Linstead.

1. Girl Least Likely by Liz Jones. Surprisingly entertaining and reflective. It's one of the few books that made me laugh out loud.

1. What Color is Your Parachute by Richard N.Bolles. Some of what he says is common sense and the religious stuff is tedious but I learned a lot about job-hunting and feel very inspired. I strongly recommend this book to anyone thinking of a new career or is out of work and can understand why it's sold millions in the 40+ years since it was first published.

Book 34 - An Agatha Christie which I've already forgotten the name of. Will go upstairs later and check. It was set in Petra and the victim was an evil old lady who deserved it. Quite unsatisfying overall, which is a shame as I usually find her Poirot books reliable for a quick and easy read, where everything comes together well.