50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 1

[Southeastdweller]

Thread one of the 50 Book Challenge.

The idea is to read 50 books (or more!) in 2015.

Who's in for this year?

highlandcoo The Old Wives Tale is a brilliant novel. I read it a few years ago and loved it. I read Riceyman Steps last year but it's very depressing. Have you read Anna of the Five Towns? Another good one by him.

Whippet and Highland - I thought The Old Wives Tale was fab, too - read it this time last year. Sathnam Singhera (sp?) has re worked it and set his version in the modern Sikh community in Marriage Material, which I enjoyed as well.

Book #1 is finished - The Road to Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead. An interesting blend of biography of George Eliot, light literary criticism of Middlemarch and how the author has responded to Middlemarch through her life as she's matured, often drawing parallels between situations she's found herself in and those experienced by both the characters in Middlemarch and George Eliot.

Now I feel that I've read something worthy, I'm going for something to make me turn the pages and am going to start Tana French's Faithful Place, recommended upthread . . .

MY 2015 READING

1. Goldfinch Donna Tart- loved the book, think I will re read it by the end of the year.
2. Finding Alaska John Green

Dragontrainer that sounds very interesting indeed. I will have to read Marriage Material this year. I have added it to my (long) list!

Currently reading White Noise by Don Delillo. I'm enjoying it but am reading very, very slowly due to interrupted nights courtesy of a grumpy toddler.

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

In between the world wars, set in southern USA, woman copes with gender and race exploitation. Lot better than it sounds particularly as "authentic narrator" nailed.

Thanks, Cote. Stephenson isn't really my sort of thing (sorry) and the few pages I read of, 'The Miniaturist' in the bookshop didn't do much for me, I'm afraid.

I need something manly but not sci-fi-ish right now, I think! :)

I loved the Goldfinch, I miss Theo and Boris ??

mumsnet I agree - wish there were more to read. I'm now well into Marking Time and already sorry there are only three-and-a-half more to go . Do you know of anything similar at all? I have Cranford waiting to be read, also some Edith Wharton which might do the trick hopefully.

whippetwoman Yes, enjoyed Anna of the Five Towns, haven't read Riceyman Steps but would recommend Clayhanger as a long satisfying read.

Dragontrainer I have Marriage Material still in my tbr pile. Was lucky to meet and have a chat with Sathnam Sanghera at an author event in London last year. Really likeable and engaging speaker .. I bought both his books and although I don't usually read biographies I very much enjoyed The Boy with the Topknot. Although he now moves in a world very different from that of his parents his affection and respect for his family - and his mum especially - comes across clearly in this memoir.

No worries, Remus. I checked the prices of some other Kindle books that were super low in December, but the Christmas Sale is over, I'm afraid.

Can anybody think of any adventure classics along the lines of, 'The 39 Steps' by any chance? That would be perfect for me right now!

Finished One Step Too Far yesterday....hmmmm . It was gripping, I couldn't put it down and always wanted to know what was going to happen next but to be honest I felt a bit let down by the 'twist' - it just wasn't such a shock as I hoped it would be, in fact I have even had to find out if what I have assumed was the twist actually was!

Onto The Killer Next Door by Alex Morland next...

Have finally finished my first book so I can join in the thread rather than just lurking and picking up recommendations!

1. The Return by Hakan Nesser.

Scandi crime thriller featuring Inspector Van Veeteren. He is fast becoming one of my favourite fictional detectives. It was quite bleak but very amusing in places.

First audiobook of the year listened to counting as my first book of 2015.

1. City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris

Okay crime novel set in Jedda, Saudi Arabia. Young girl found dead tortured and American man goes missing. Police procedural and some comment on the life of women in Saudi.

Next audiobook Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore.

Currently reading one of the books I received for Christmas - Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen. Will post review when finished but really enjoying it so far.

Can only think of Biggles at the moment Remus.

Finished number 1-Hothouse Flower.An ok read.
2- The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers

Late to the party, but can I join? Mumsnet, DD2's all night boob partying & mindless Internet browsing has been the death of my book reading...
Book 1 started-to rise again at a decent hour: not loving it so far, which is a shame as I loved his first.

Brices - I read the Color Purple years ago. I would love to read it again. Have you read any of Maya Angelou's autobiographies? I know why the caged bird sings is the first one.

Thanks, Best.

CardiffUni - would you recommend.Hakan Nesser to a Henning Mankell (Wallander) fan? I would like to get DP a book or two for his birthday and he's read all the Wallanders now. He also likes Ian Rankin.

Just read your Cloud Atlas thread, Cote. Wow!! Really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Remus, have you read Buchan's other books? Plenty more along the lines of The 39 Steps. Otherwise how about some Rider Haggard? Or Jules Verne?

Dragon, I really enjoyed The Road to Middlemarch.

Atm I'm reading the deeply literary work of Anne Diamond, Winning the Fat War. It's the kind of book you find yourself reading in Jan, when you're all about the NY resolutions.

Remus, have you read Buchan's other books? Plenty more along the lines of The 39 Steps. Otherwise how about some Rider Haggard? Or Jules Verne?

Dragon, I really enjoyed The Road to Middlemarch.

Atm I'm reading the deeply literary work of Anne Diamond, Winning the Fat War. It's the kind of book you find yourself reading in Jan, when you're all about the NY resolutions.

1. The accident by Chris Pavone

I really enjoyed his first book The Expats, but didn't think this latest was as good. It's s thriller set in the publishing world with plenty of murders and a lot of cat and mouse chasing. It did keep me hooked to the end though so all in all enjoyable.

1. Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith

Part of the Sunday Philosophy series. Not one of the best, but an easy comforting read.

1. White Noise - Don Delillo

I tried reading Don Delillo years ago as an undergrad. At the time I didn't really get it so I decided to go back for another go. Much better this time! This is a novel with classic post-modern themes - real post-cold war paranoia replaced by the fear of technology and natural disaster, where the characters move in a world saturated by popular culture and brands with constant television in the background. There is very little in terms of actual plot and plenty of irony here; the main character is a professor in the department of Hitler studies, one of his daughters mutters the names of different Toyota cars in her sleep. There is an 'airborne toxic event' that they have to flee from but the resulting pollution produces incredibly beautiful sunsets.

I could say a lot about this book because I found it so interesting, though hard going as I needed to read it slowly but I'm glad I did. The quality of the writing was very high. A thought-provoking look at late 20th Century American modern life and culture.

1. The Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens

I really enjoyed it, was full of Dickens' trademark wit and fun characters. Lots of people complain about the lack of plot in this book but I didn't really notice. It was a good read.