50 Book Challenge 2014 Part 3

[Southeastdweller]

Thread 3 of the 50 book challenge. Here are the previous threads...

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

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

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/adult_fiction/2000991-50-Book-Challenge-2014-Part-2?

Can only cope withYA atm as my brain is fried with end of term madness. I've read so many book reports by my students on these 2 so thought I should give them a go.

27 The Fault in our stars - John Green

and just about to finish

28 Divergent - Veronica Roth

32. Summer with Monika by Roger McGough

Inspired to reread this by a conversation I had with a friend about Elbow as some of their lyrics remind me of it. It's a story told in poetry of the first year of a marriage. I really love it; it's happy, sad, poignant but down to earth.

I really like the Liverpool poets.

Calling have you read The Bone People? I really enjoyed it

Is that by Kerry H..something? Kiwi writer? If so read it years ago before I went to NZ for the first time.

Love Roger McGough!

Sorry I meant The Bone Season. It's a YA novel.

Kerri Hume wrote The Bone People. I think it won The Booker

wilting I liked parts of it. The early chapters I liked, and the various lives she cos have had during the war, but the story that was meant to hold it together was dull (imo) and I think overall it could have been written much better. The ending was awful. If it had finished a chapter or two earlier, it would have been a stronger story.

66. Kate Atkinson "Life after Life "

Haven't heard of Bone Season, will look it up. Is it gory? I find it difficult dealing with too much gore when pg or with a newborn. I was reading some of the Charlie Higson Enemy series when DS was tiny during night feeds and it freaked me out in the middle of the night, so had to keep it for daylight hours only!

Checked and did read the Kerry Hulme one pre-travelling!

27. Mermaids Singing - Val McDermid

Disappointing. I quite liked the TV series Wire In The Blood with psychiatrist Tony Hill assisting the police in catching serial killers etc but the book was rather meh.

22. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Finished Book 39 - Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves
On to Book 40- Gentlemen & Players by Joanna Harris

37 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah harkness
38 Frederica in fashion by M C Beaton
39 The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Bone Season not gory at all but quite sinister.

I enjoyed the ending of LAL. Loved that other people had realised her 'gift'. Seems to be a minority view though.

Sonnet is the Joanna Harris any good? Only started reading her stuff this year.

Provencalroseparadox - this is the first ofI have read since Chocolat years ago
I am enjoying it so far though - and loads more of hers to read if I do

I loved Chocolat, them really dislikes The Lollipop Shoes but enjoyed Blackberry Wine

Provencal and Sonnet - I read Gentlemen & Players a few weeks ago. Thought it was very good. Gripping in fact. It twists and turns all over the place, and will keep you guessing right to the end.

Whilst I loved Chocolat, I haven't got round to reading the sequels yet. I read her short story collection Jigs and Reels earlier this year, most of which were enjoyable. I've got her latest collection A Cat, A Hat and A Piece of String lined up to read too. I'm not normally a big fan of the short story, but think Joanne Harris has got it right, and I like her writing.

For the love of God, A Room with a View is so dull. Chugging through and not quitting as it's so short.

Lollipop Shoes is odd. Vianne is a totally different person in it and the main character is hateful. It felt like it was made for Hollywood.

Blackberry Wine is much better and has some good characters.

I really enjoy the way she evokes all the senses. Will definitely read more

I only liked, 'Chocolat.'

I liked a few if her earlier ones but hated Five Quarters of the Orange so much I haven't read anything of hers since.

BestIsWest I'm so glad you've said that! The only Harris I've read is Five Quarters of the Orange and I hated it so much I gave up 10 or 15 pages from the end. I just couldn't be bothered finishing it. It put me off trying any of her other books.

Ok ok, the luminaries is £2.99 on amazon - should I buy? Anyone read it????

Buy it! The Luminaries is incredibly well-written and an interesting murder mystery, too. All within the historical context of the New Zealand gold rush.

Wednesday - Ha! I knew it!

Well, I am loving Gentlemen & Players and about half of the way through. I have remembered reading "Three Quarters of an Orange" now you mentioned it and I really did not enjoy it at all! I didn't realise that many of her other books were short stories DuchessofMalfi. Not sure I fancy them now as I have never been a short story fan.