50 Book Challenge 2014 Part 4

[Southeastdweller]

Thread four of the 50 Book Challenge.

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

Here are the previous threads...

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

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

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/adult_fiction/2094773-50-Book-Challenge-2014-Part-3?msgid=49151537#49151537

Book 85 Disgrace by Jussi Adler-Olson

The file of a closed case has appeared on the desk of Carl Morck, head of Department Q (cold cases division) in Copenhagen. It concerns the murder 20 years ago of a brother and sister. A group of boarding-school students were under suspicion, and one eventually confessed and was convicted. So why has the file appeared on Morck's desk? Most of the others in the group, all from very wealthy families, are now highly influential and extremely rich businessmen. They are also extremely dangerous. The only woman is living on the streets of Copenhagen, and her former friends are hunting for her, because of the secrets she knows. As Morck looks into the original case he and his assistant Assad uncover links to other attacks. And someone doesn't want the investigation to get anywhere.

Book 112 - a re-read of "Dissolution" by CJ Sansom. Thank you to whoever recommended it going v cheap on Kindle. I really enjoyed this and it made my commute go much faster this week. I've just downloaded the second in the series to re-read too.

I'm also still reading, and still enjoying, Earth Abides.

96. Ian Rankin "The Falls". Another solid Rebus novel.

Now reading "Americanah" and so far not seeing what all the fuss was about

Can I just mention that I loathe it when there is a dream sequence in books

91. The Soul of Discretion by Susan Hill. This the eighth novel in her Simon Serrailler series. I'm all up to date now, and desperate to find out what happens next - she's left a cliffhanger.

I had thought the series was starting to feel a little too comfortable, perhaps, but this one was back on top form. A disturbing tale of a paedophile ring which Simon Serrailler was required to go undercover and infiltrate. Disturbing and distressing, but edge of seat stuff. Can't wait for the next novel.

Duchess, I'm really looking forward to The Soul of Discretion. Glad to hear they are back on form.

I am still reading Alan Bennett's Untold Stories. It's taking ages because I am savouring it. I now have his voice in my ear giving me a running commentary of everything Im doing.

Best - I read his A Life Like Other People's earlier this year and found it quite upsetting.

It was published separately but I believe it is included in Untold Stories as well. Have you read it yet?

Finished book 72: Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield. It was okay. Not a patch on The Thirteenth Tale though.

Just started book 73: The Shadow of Death by James Runcie

Yes it is Duchess, it's the first part. It is very moving and I can relate to it in lots of ways. Beautifully written though.

I adore Alan Bennett and went to see him read from 8 Poets last week. It was wonderful. He's very funny

I'm very envious Provencal.

Writing Home is a classic and I'm devoting December to reading Untold Stories. Nobody sees life the way he does .

I am really hoping they will publish his next set of diaries soon. 2004 to 2014.

i haven't read Writing Home. I might read that next.

Think I'm up to 80-something, but I'll have to properly check, as I'm sure I've counted some twice.

My most recent are Regeneration and the subsequent two in the trilogy. I was less thrilled by the second one, and by the third (which won the Booker), I was so fatigued by the seedy sex escapades that I gave up a couple of chapters in.

I am trying Madame Bovary at the moment, in translation, but I'm finding it hard-going.

BOFFA I really did not enjoy Madam Bovary at all.

AB regularly does Platforms at the National Theatre where her reads from new books or plays. Tickets are only a fiver and well worth it. I've been a couple of times and really enjoyed

I finished book 48 yesterday - Playing to the Gallery, by Grayson Perry, a too short, but fascinating and accessible look at art and artists, with some wonderful drawings included. This was a library copy but I'm going to buy it as I know I'll re-read it often.

Now I'm back with The Goldfinch and enjoying it very much, so much that it feels like RL is intruding on me reading it.

Boffa - totally agree with you re the "Regeneration" trilogy. Barker's obsession with sex gets totally in the way of her telling a half decent story and it all gets so wearing. "Toby's Room" is even worse. I will never read another of hers.

I hate "Madame Bovary" too, btw.

I was away over the weekend so with a lot of travelling I got through a couple of books.

Book 86 Comfy Monkey by Kevin Dinwoodie

Starting with a bank robbery and kidnapping in Cheltenham, the story follows both the kidnapper and his hostage as well as the police. Not a bad idea for the story, but the writing is average and there are errors in places (self-published ebook) so it would have benefitted from an editor.

Book 87 The Cold Calling by Phil Rickman

A detective inspector is brought back from the dead following a hit-and-run but instead of a bright light and feelings of warmth and happiness Bobby Maiden's near-death experience is of a cold, harsh place he never wants to return to.

A New Age journalist from New York arrives in England in search of her sister, who has disappeared following a mysterious dream experience at a stone age site.

An ageing stage ventriloquist-cum-Celtic Shaman is on the trail of a serial killer calling himself the Green Man who hunts at stone circles, burial mounds, and ancient churches. A killer the police don't believe exists...

Rickman is a phenonmenal writer, and this is a brilliant book.

'RL'? I meant non-reading stuff like work...

92. The Silent Wife by A S A Harrison. An interesting psychological study of the breakdown of a longterm relationship, but doesn't work as a thriller.

Not sure what to read next. Will have a think overnight

43. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910

More graphic novel fabness.

I've just found this thread, can anyone join in? I won't make it to 50 books this year; new baby has got in the way but I'm trying for twenty and your posts have given me lots of inspiration.

Absolutely upandawayy - welcome aboard.

Let us know what you've been reading and enjoying. And congratulations on the little one

hank you for the warm welcome highlandcoo. I'm afraid my list this year isn't very impressive as i made the decision to finally get up to date on the Number One Ladies a Detective Agency series and they're quite short books. So far this year I've read1 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes2 Catch 22 - I can't say how much I love this book and I'm staggered I've only just read it this year. Potentially my favourite book of all time now.3 The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules4 Three Men in a Boat5 The Casual Vacancy6 When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit7 The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden8 The SilkwormThe rest are eight from the Number One Ladies a Detective Agency.Currently reading We are all completely beside ourselves but not sure I am enjoying it much. So impressed that some of you are closer to 100 than 50!