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?

Have had a few days off reading as too busy but have now read:
Book 89 - 'Shades of Milk and Honey' by Mary Robinette Kowal in one evening last night. It's basically a rip off of Jane Austen but with added magic. Rather silly but I enjoyed it apart from the final pages, which felt v rushed. I wouldn't want to read another, but it was okay as a v quick read.

79. A Breach of Security (A Simon Serrailler short story) by Susan Hill. Not bad but I felt that the storyline would have been better suited to a full novel.

Was going to read The Goldfinch next, but am putting that on hold until the DC have gone back to school, so I can devote proper quiet time to reading it.

Next up Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch - Book 3 in the Rivers of London series. Normally I wouldn't read novels from a series back to back but I love these stories, and can't resist going straight into this one :)

I've just started Rivers of London and am loving it so far :)

37. Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde. A bit of a sashay away from Thursday next but an entertaining read. It did take me a fair while to get into this as it was so utterly surreal and I almost felt that a glossary would have been beneficial (and a map of the areas under discussion). That said, I would be happy to read the sequel.

Glad to see some Ben Aaranovitch fans on here. I have the next release all lined up with the local library. Not long before it's out now.

Duchess yes, Parris is a really good writer. I've enjoyed the Rivers of London series as well, but will have to wait for the new one to come out in paperback. Damn my need for my books to match!

Mrs Cosmopilite I haven't tried Shades of Grey yet but it sounds like it's worth a read then.

41. My Idea Of Fun - Will Self

I'm a fan of Will Self, although all I know about him are his three books that I've read (The Quantity Theory Of Insanity, Umbrella, and now this one) and an anecdote (that he was caught smoking heroin in John Major's campaign jet). He is clearly mad and his stories are rather strange, but Oh My God can he write! Will Self is the true heir of J G Ballard, imho, and I'm not surprised to see that Self is a Ballard fan himself.

About this book, though: The first 1/3 was brilliant, the second 1/3 was OK, and the story just died a stupid death in the last 1/3. It left me with the feeling that writing under the influence works for some authors like Philip K Dick, but not for all.

I'm not selling this book well (or not at all) but it has more than a few moments of sheer brilliance.

41. Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine.

This may be the best celeb autobiography I've ever read, despite the fact I'm not into punk music and had never even heard of The Slits (the band which the author was in). It's fun, compelling, honest and touching.

Finished The Deaths, by Mark Lawson. A very compelling read - very dark humour.

Book 90 (finally!) Conan Doyle - The Tragedy of the Korosko
An adventure story about a group of English tourists being captured in the desert. Interesting and exciting, but rather more God-stuff than I liked. Excellent intro by Tony Robinson.

Book 68 The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde

Third book in the Thursday Next series, this one is set entirely in the Bookworld, where Thursday is taking refuge from the Goliath Corporation and Chronoguard as she tries to work out how to reverse her husband's eradication. But there are mysterious deaths to investigate in the world of fiction, and as the upgrade to the book system approaches Thursday has plenty to keep her busy.

40. Alys, Always - Harriet Lane

This was a fairly absorbing read about a seemingly harmless thirty something woman with a dull life who ingratiates herself into a well-connected family after being the last person to see the mother of the family alive. As with her second book, Her, there was too much description on the surroundings and not enough on character development and background but the contemporary London literary scene is depicted in an entertaining way and, from the little I know, accurately. Much of Alys, Always reminded me of Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller, though to be fair Harriet says in an interview at the back that this book was an influence.

Off now to hunt down Marriage Material in a charity shop but I'll buy it new if I can't see a second hand copy. All library copies are on loan and have been for a while.

Book 91 - The first book I have ever read on a Kindle!
'Clover' - Susan Coolidge
I've read the first three 'Katy' books lots of times, but never seen this one or the next one. Anyway, they were both free on Kindle so it seemed a good opportunity to catch up. It was okay only - far too many descriptions of landscape and hardly anything else; a so-called love story but the lovers barely speak two words to each other in the whole thing. I'll probably read the final one tonight though, just to have done it.

The ending is sweet, but there's really not v much to it.

How did you find the Kindle Remus?

Like it a lot; really pleased to have finally taken the plunge.

33. Ann Cleeves - DeadWater
34. Sue Gee - Keeping Secrets

Reading Life After Life but have slowed right down due to sons dreadful AS results causing deep depression.

44. The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill

45. The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill

Not really enjoying these books but feel like I need to keep reading (always happens to me with series). I know they are popular on here but there is too much repetition, sketchy characters, huge holes in plots and they are not a patch on the Pierre Lemaitre books. Ploughing on but not my bag.

Mumslife - they were that bad he will probably not be able to go back to school and will have to go to college. Just so stressful.

Sorry, and thanks for the sympathy!

30. Rivers of London, Ben Aaronovitch When Constable Peter Grant finds himself taking a witness statement from a ghost, he is suddenly and unwittingly plunged into the world of the Met's special and secretive division that investigates supernatural cases. I don't usually read thrillers, urban fantasy or police procedural novels but this book kept me spinning through the pages. The writing is very fluid. The book is quirky and witty and somehow doesn't take itself too seriously, despite the supernatural subject matter, which makes for a very refreshing, light and quick read.

Incidentally, I have a bit of a crush on Inspector Nightingale, who I imagine to look like Dr Who's Peter Capaldi. I'm looking forward to reading the other books.

31. Moon over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch A number of jazz musicians across Soho are dying, seemingly of natural causes. But analysis of their brains suggests a dark magical force is killing them. Over to the Met's Inspector Nightingale and his wizard apprentice PC Grant to solve the crime.

I'm glad I read Rivers of London first as scenes and characters from that are referenced in this book. Characterisation of both the main and key subsidiary characters are really well-paced: I like how Aaronowitch hadn't over-detailed them in Rivers.

Will not yet read the third PC Peter Grant book (though it's waiting on my book shelves) as would like to now delve into something meatier, more literary (McEwan or Byatt I think) but when I return to the series I'll do so with anticipation.

I still have birthday book vouchers left so today I'll pop into Waterstone's and look for Possession (Byatt), Gilead (Robinson), A House for Mr Biswa (Naipaul), East of Eden (Steinbeck), and perhaps Jonathan Strange (Clarke) though its length might put me off.

I've just started 32. Sweet Tooth - good so far (the writing and flow is impeccable) but the main protagonist is irritating me already.

Is Jonathan Strange worth a read?