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

I've also just finished There's Something I've Been Dying to Tell You, by Lynda Bellingham (book 51).

Her very frank insights into her own experience of living with cancer were eye-opening and made me put my own problems in perspective. It was one of the most poignant books I've read for a considerable time, as well as being, at times, very entertaining. An ultimately life-affirming and surprisingly not at all depressing read from someone who died much too early.

Book 120 - 'Heartstone' by CJ Sansom
I enjoyed this (a re-read). I heartily recommend this series btw, if anybody hasn't read them.

Just bought, 'Lamentation' on Kindle - decided I couldn't wait until it was cheaper: I want to read it now, whilst I'm completely immersed in Shardlake's world (and completely in lust with Jack Barak!).

Finished book 75: Slate Expectations by David Burnell-
Started book 76: Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves

Way behind with this thread though so will catch up now and no doubt add yet more books to my To Read list

Those of you who listen to audio books - do you use audible?

102. The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. Despite the title, not really ghostly, more a study in grief, loneliness and mental breakdown. Rather sad but well written little tale. I liked it.

Best - glad you enjoyed The Soul of Discretion. I hope Susan Hill doesn't take too long to bring the next one out. She can't leave Simon in limbo like that. I need to know what happens next :o

Sonnet - I have an account with Audible, for one book a month, and also download audio books from the library's website onto my i-pod. A combination of these keeps me going for a whole month :) I prefer to use my Audible credits for long books where possible so I get 15 hours or more listening, which is a week's worth for me.

Sonnet another Audible user here. I also like a long book to listen to on it.

Incidentally Duchess do you have any recommendations for any books you've really loved on Audible? If it's a classic even better. I've listened to most of Martin Jarvis reading Dickens but not much else classic wise.

I've listened to some great books, not classics though. One that stands out for its narration is Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

63. The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett

Whilst walking her Corgis on the edge of the Palace grounds one day, the Queen stumbles upon a City of Westminster mobile lending library. Not much of a reader, she tentatively borrows a book and quickly develops a bookworm habit that not only disrupts Palace life dramatically but changes the way the Queen looks at life. A funny and insightful book.

64. The Summer Book, Tove Jansson

Her mother dead, six year old Sophia spends the long summer with her Grandmother on a remote island in the Gulf of Finland. Together they roam and explore every inch of the terrain, sleeping under the stars, musing on life and death. As they adjust to one another's quirks of personality, they develop a deep and abiding love for each other.

A dreamy, sometimes funny novel by the author of the Moonin stories.

I finished Station 11 last night- it was a beautiful and thought-provoking read. I'm usually put off anything that sounds futuristic or sci-fi based, but this one confounded my expectations.

109. The Examined Life, Stephen Grosz. Non-fiction - tales from a psychoanalyst's couch. It was an easy read. I liked it, but found it a bit superficial. It looks at what's wrong with the individual, unlike eg. Zeldin's An Intimate History of Humanity, which doesn't take society/culture as a "given" that we have to fit with.

110. Sex and Stravinsky, Barbara Trapido. I always forget how much I like this writer - such vivid characters. She makes an ordinary life sound astonishing. She has a lot of fun with the plot, which is playful rather than plausible.

111. The Thirteen Problems, Agatha Christie. Hmm, well, what you expect it to be. The short stories don't work so well, as you don't get so caught up in trying to guess the solution and then finding your suspect is next in the firing line.

Currently reading The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, by Deborah Moggach and enjoying it. Noticed the film is on TV next Saturday so will have to watch.

62. Howard's End is On The Landing - Susan Hill.

A short autobiographical book in which she examine all the books she has at home, deciding to read only books she owns for the coming year and selects her top 40 books.

I enjoyed this. She's very opinionated which I liked. The short chapter on childhood, libraries and Enid Blyton made me well up, so close was it to my own experience as a child. I don't share her opinions on Dickens and Austen though.

Next up, back to Alan Bennett and Writing home.

Thanks Duchess I'll have a look for that when I've finished the one I'm listening to.

Thanks Duchess and Upandawayy. Will check out the Audible subscription now!
Finished book 76- Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves. Not sure what next yet...

65. Love Falls, Esther Freud

A coming of age story set in Tuscany. Esther Freud describes both the setting and characters in exquisite detail. I felt a lot of compassion for Lara, the main teenage protagonist.

The Whisperers- Private Lives In Stalin's Russia, by Orlando Figes. An incredible piece of social and political history, I've been reading this in small chunks for most of the year, mainly because the print is so tiny it was tiring to read for longer. I just wish I'd had it on kindle and I could have cracked on with it properly. A harrowing but important book, I think.

48. under the skin michel faber; what a creepy horrific disturbing little book. Absorbing, you keep getting drawn in to identifying with the main character then recoiling. Bitter terrifying end. Great read. Might. Even reread when I recover! Must def read more michel faber, he is new to me. Somehow thought he was a more "literary fiction" type?

Really want to read not far from the tree now by andrew solomon but it is SO big and I'm SO close to 50 I'm a bit put off!!

wilting: Far from the tree is a huge book, but you won't regret reading it. It's a fascinating read and definitely my book of the year. But if I were you I'd get to 50 first and maybe save it for a read over Christmas or when you've got a good block of time.

103. Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou.

This is a delightful companion book to I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. If you haven't read that, then it really does need to be read before this one because Mom assumes the reader has prior knowledge.

I listened to the audiobook version, read by Maya Angelou. Knowing that she died within a year of recording this made it all the more poignant because it really was her final word on her extraordinary relationship with her mother, who was quite a character! Sadly all too short, but one I shall want to listen to again and read.

22. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen. This brings me up to date on his books. All his novels are crime based, set in Florida, always with a character who cares a lot about the environment . Usually quite darkly funny but this one wasn't as amusing as other ones I've read.

Book 121 Travels with Charley I absolutely loved this. His writing is exquisite - not a word wasted. It's humble and thoughtful and funny and tender. Perfect. One of my favourites this year.

104. Ruby Wax "Sane New World". A brilliant book on the mind and mindfulness. I saw the show live and really enjoyed it. The book did not disappoint.

Just finished The Narrow Road - number 72. I agree with BashBosh: I did find elements of this quite uninspiring. The bits set in Thailand where they're building the railway are fascinating but the love story was unconvincing and flat, and the whole book went on for far too long.

112. A Moment's Liberty, The Shorter Diaries of Virginia Woolf. Mixed feelings about this - lots of moaning about too many people coming to tea. But it's interesting to see her envying her sister for having children, and to see how plagued she was with self-doubt.

105. Iain Banks "The Bridge". I didn't enjoy this one. I know it's meant to be clever and I wanted to love it, because I am a big Banks fan, but I just didn't get in with it at all.