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?

'Miss Pettigrew' is lovely - one of my absolute favourite comfort reads, and very funny too.

Does anybody know any other Persephone books which are equally good?

iamdivergent - I did read Delirium following a recommendation on here but it didn't leave a favourable impression on me at all, and I felt no interest in reading its sequels. 1984 and even Brave New World do the whole "feelings are unwanted for the stability of future society" thing much better. Even Equilibrium (the film) on the same subject was more nuanced and insightful than Delirium (the book), and it is very hard for a book to fail on those criteria when compared to a film.

duchess I loved H is for Hawk, not the sort of book I would normally choose. I loved her ability to describe scenes, there are some very poetic passages.

Just finished number 3 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein. I loved it & didn't want it to end.

Quite a magical book isn't it? So different from anything else

It really is, I'm worried that book number 4 will not compare! It reminded me a bit of Joanne Harris in that both authors are very good at describing scenes so that you can picture it so vividly (or at least I could).

1. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

Harry August is a kalachakra, one of a group of people who, when they die, are returned to the moment of their birth with all memories of their previous life intact, over and over again. One one of his deathbeds he is visited by a young girl with a message passed down from future kalachakra, that the end of the world is getting faster with each life that passes, and that he must do something about it.

I LOVED this book. The premise sounds quite similar to Life after Life, but this has much more of a sci fi feel to it, and the multiple kalachakra all living their multiple lives makes for some great relationships and character development. I found I couldn't think about the logic behind the repeating lives and the ramifications of certain actions too much or it made my head buzz (it's possibly not that complex but I'm still suffering from baby brain/sleep deprivation!) but just going along and enjoying the ride still made for a great read. I hear there's going to be a sequel, and I hope there is as I'd love to read about more of Harry's lives!

Oooh I've been tempted by that book after hearing a review on the radio. Will definitely look it up now.

I'd like to recommend a book to people who have enjoyed The Night Circus:

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.

I have vowed to make 2015 the year I read, 'Jonathin Strange.' It annoyed me last time I tried it and I gave up after about 15 pages. I need to give it more time.

Oops - Jonathon

I really want to read Jonathan Strange but the size of it puts me off!

I started listening to Jonathon last year and just couldn't get into it
I wil lgive it another go as few ppl were recommending it.

No.11 We Were Liars.

Read it in two sittings, it was that absorbing. Excellent twist, and a very atmospheric novel. Agree with a pp, it almost feels like it's set in an earlier era.

It's an easy read and well-written - an excellent 'coming of age' novel. I think this has been my favourite book of the year so far.

I second Cote's recommendation. Haven't read The Night Circus yet (it's on my pile though) but read Jonathan Strange years ago and remember being completely absorbed by it. Keep meaning to get round to a reread sometime

I absolutely loved The Night Circus so will definitely give Jonathan Strange a go, Cote.

Duchess, very good description of H is for Hawk. I love the cover which alone is enough to tempt me, but now it is also going on the list.

Remus, Persephone do The Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield which I always find hugely comforting, if you haven't already read it.

I'm reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady at the moment Frogletsmum and enjoying it immensely. I keep thinking she would have love d Mumsnet.

There was a good kindle deal a few weeks ago, 99p or so.

Froglet - have read it but (whispers) didn't like it very much.

I didn't get on at all with, 'The Night Circus.' I hate books written in the present tense. Drives me batty.

Smiling at the discussion here on censorship. When I was 12 or 13 I was reading The Thorn Birds and my Grandma took it off me and throw it in the fire blessing herself and saying I'd go to hell

So I started Carpetbaggers and kept it well hidden

Exactly. We were all reading, 'Flowers in the Attic' and that sort of thing by 12. Tbh my parents knew and had no problem with it.

Ah well, Remus, it's probably a Marmite book. Best, she would definitely have loved Mumsnet.

Spent a very happy day yesterday reading no 4, Howard's End is on the Landing, Susan Hill.

A (sort of) memoir based around Hill's own bookshelves, with her reflecting on the books she owns but hasn't got around to reading/will never read/knows she has somewhere but can't find etc. Lots of anecdotes about fellow writers and academics from a lifetime of writing, but also thoughtful comment about how, and why, we read what we do. Hill comes across as generous in her appraisal of other writers but also very firm in her own likes and dislikes; she is firmly in the Bronte/Eliot camp rather than Austen, and has no truck with sci-fi or fantasy or reading on electronic devices. She also muses on book-related matters, such as the things that fall out of old books, how people organise their books etc. Hugely enjoyable.

Flowers in the Attic - brings back memories! We had a copy of Judith Krantz's Scruples that had been passed round so many girls it fell open at the rude bits.

Oh - just remembered, 'The Fog' and, 'The Rats' too. Some v rude bits in those, which we used to pass around, although must've been 13/14 then.

Name changed since thread started.

I won't be able to talk about #2 and #3 as they are early drafts of novels that I have read to give feedback to the authors. Still going to count in my tally of books read this year though!

Adding my comment on censorship. I didn't have anything censored as a child or teenager. I could pick anything I fancied reading and sometimes got it a bit wrong. My grandmother used to read what she classed as naughty books sometimes and would pass them to me on the quiet telling me not to tell my mum . They were often Judith Kraft or Barbara Taylor Bradford - something with a bit of sex in them My mum thought it was hilarious.