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

Another one who's just finished The Goldfinch, which was my 49th book of the year.

I've nothing new to add to all the praise that's been said over the past twelve months - it's a stunning book on every level, no complaints from me whatsoever .

I'm so glad you liked it- I divide people into My Sort and Not My Sort on that basis .

I've been putting it off, but I guess I'll have to read The Goldfinch that has been sitting patiently in my Kindle for quite some time Once I'm done with Henrietta Lacks, that is.

I absolutely loved The Goldfinch. I really lost myself in it.

58. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

A poor blacksmith's apprentice is given the opportunity to fulfil his "great expectations" of life by an anonymous benefactor.

A later, maturer work by a master storyteller. I absolutely fell in love with both the story and the main protagonist Pip. And the descriptions of London are terrific.

David Copperfield is next on my Dickens list. I'm really enjoying reading him as an adult. I found him so boring as a school child.

I'm now reading Tony Parsons' The Murder Bag.

Anyone interested in owning hardbacks of the six Man Booker 2014 short list for just £25 then go to the Book People site. Flash sale, ends tomorrow midnight! Quick quick quick :)

51. The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot

This is the fascinating (non-fiction) story of HeLa cell line and the person they were initially taken from - Henrietta Lacks, a black woman from a disadvantaged background, a young mother of 5 children who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Pieces of her cervix were taken, cultured in a lab, and found to be incredibly resilient. Given favourable conditions, they multiplied forever and never died - the perfect human cell line for research, since then used in discovery of vaccines (polio, measles, etc), cancer research, sent to space, and still in use everywhere around the world.

It is not the best-written book I have ever read and imho goes on a little too much about Henrietta Lacks' descendants (really didn't need to know so much about the ones dealing drugs, going to prison etc), but the story is fascinating and the issues are important ones. I would recommend this book.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber is £1.29 on the Kindle at them moment

100. Ian Rankin "Resurrection Men". I didn't get on that will with this one

I really enjoyed The Crimson Petal and The White and would recommend.

I bought it white wine

I have bought it too. He has a new sci-fi(ish) one out that looks great! I enjoyed (and was freaked out by) Under the Skin. Would recommend that one a lot!

I am struggling with a D.H. Lawrence novel called The Plumed Serpent. I hate it but I am a third of the way through so there's no point giving up now. It's really long and rubbish

I'm a big MacFarlane fan too and am currently reading The Old Ways which is amazing :)

59. The Murder Bag, Tony Parsons

Twenty years ago, seven rich and privileged boys from an elite boarding school committed an abominable act. Twenty years later, they are being killed off one by one. Max Rolfe is the maverick DC who tries to solve the mystery, whilst at the same time trying to be fully present as a single father to five tear old Scout.

An impressive crime debut for Tony Parsons. I'm looking forward to reading his next Rolfe novel.

Now about to read The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee.

96. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson.

This is the first novel in Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series. I thought I had read this one already and, in fact, had it marked down on Goodreads as having read it. I hadn't, but have read One Good Turn many years ago.

This one is set in Cambridge, and there are several interweaving tales of a child who disappeared in the night, a teenage girl killed seemingly in a random attack at her father's office, a young mother sent to prison for the murder of her husband, and the case of disappearing cats.

The cases he has to deal with here are not without fault or plot holes but I am overlooking these to see the bigger picture - the humour, the intelligence of Kate Atkinson's writing, and the sheer entertainment and enjoyment I gained from this novel. Highly recommended - a great replacement for Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler series which I have finished reading and am missing very much.

Next up is Smut by Alan Bennett - am already half way through - not one to read if you're easily offended :o

17. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion This is not the sort of book I'd read usually but I really enjoyed it. I listened to it on Audible, a bit each night whilst doing the cleaning.

whippet - Which 'sci-fi'ish book?

97. Smut by Alan Bennett. Mischievous, cheeky, rude, and very funny.

Thinking about reading a ghost story next, maybe The Small Hand by Susan Hill. Don't like them too scary and DH says this one is quite safe

Nice to see so much love for Alan Bennett, who is my favourite writer.

I'm reading the new Hilary Mantel book of short stories and it's not really grabbing me so far.

Will be interested to see what your thoughts are on the Hilary Mantel when you've read it, Southeast. I was thinking about borrowing it from the library. May wait to read a few reviews first though.

southeast - I wasn't grabbed by the Hilary Mantel book either. A bit disappointing - I don't think the short story is really her form. However, not long after that I read the new Margaret Atwood collection, Stone Mattress, which is brilliant.

(Have just finished book no 69 - the Richard Coles memoir - and will post my next list when I've completed no 70!)

I'll never touch another Hilary Mantel book.

Even short stories are too long to bear. If she writes a haiku, I might give that a go

Duchess - yes the small hand is safe. I'm a ghost wuss & it was fine for me