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?

Krantz not Kraft

Jonathan Strange defeated me a few years ago, gave up half way through. I rarely give up and I'm sure there was a lot more in it if I'd finished it, but I just found it so dull.

I might try it again as have a feeling of guilt attached to the book, it being a (thoughtful) present from my DH. It just didn't live up to my expectations.

Have the Night Circus in my sights though, so we'll see.

Ha lammy I remember reading DH Lawrence as a young teen and thinking it was a good job my mum had no idea what was in it

1. O Pioneers - Willa Cather

I really enjoyed this actually. It's set in Nebraska and focuses on Swedish settlers in both hard times and prosperous times. An engrossing short novel about the difficulties and gambles farmers must take to tame the land and make a living. The reason I enjoyed this is that the heroine is a strong, capable woman who makes a success of herself in male-dominated environment. Good (though sad) book.

Just finished #2 we are all completely beside ourselves. Don't want to spoil the plot bug this book has such a range of reviews! Personally I liked it a lot, a story I engaged with about what it means to be human

whippetwoman have you read My Antonia by Willa Cather? Gorgeous book, would recommend if you liked O Pioneers.

8.5 - a Kindle Single read today - Silt by Robert Macfarlane. It's a chapter extracted from his book The Old Ways of his walk across the Broomway in Essex, the second most dangerous footpath in the UK (Morecambe Bay being the most dangerous) with added photographs. Quite a surreal bleak place.

Just finished number 5, Saturday by Ian McEwan

Well what a load of shite that was!!! I trudged through it hoping something, anything might happen, and other than 3 or 4 pages when the break in goes on, nothing at all happens . Except a load of waffly shite that I skipped considerable chunks of.

Think I might give Jonathan strange a go too seeing as there's lots of recommendations for it! I've got a week off and I've been put of reading it by the thought of carrying it with me to work every day, so a perfect time to read it!

The size of that Jonathan Strange book (1024 pages) also puts me off. I'm going to watch the imminent TV adaptation first to see if that grabs me, like what I'm doing with Wolf Hall.

I've been meaning to tackle Jonathan Strange for ages - have a lovely unread copy sitting on my bookcase (has been there far too long :o). Was going to suggest that if there's enough of us planning to read it this year maybe we could have a separate Jonathan Strange thread?

Jonathan Strange - 32 hours on Audible.
I managed 10 and felt I couldn't be bothered....

Looked up The Broomway just now, is near to places I'm familiar with, looks fascinating and have added The Old Ways to my Library Reservations.

I remember the film Macfarlane made on the BBC a few years back really captured how I felt about the 'wildness' of places I grew up near; a wildness thrown into relief by an otherwise urban landscape has a different feeling than a simply rural location and it is hard to come upon the particular kind of bleak yet exhilarating atmosphere it creates. Thanks duchess and all on this thread who have been reading Macfarlane and reminded me of his existence

Good idea, Duchess. I need to find a copy in a charity shop though, as I refuse to pay for fiction when I invariably dislike so much of it!

Admiral - I detest Ian McEwan.

Ian McEwan = writing by numbers

Intriguing trailer for the Jonathan Strange series here as well as other info - looks exciting. I agree with Remus - good idea to have a thread on it, Duchess. I'll treat myself to a copy of the new edition, I think.

Good idea re a thread for JS & Mr N. That can be my excuse to reread it

How about setting a date for the JS & Mr N thread, so everyone can plan to read it by then? Sometime at the end of March? That would give us 2 months to read it - surely no problem for such committed readers as ourselves

Sounds like a plan, Cote. :)

I've got JS & Mr N waiting on my kindle after recommendations on here, so I'm in. Loved The Night Circus too.

OK then I set an alert for 28 March (Saturday) in my calendar, as a reminder to start the JS & Mr Norrell thread.

Sounds like a good plan to tackle JS&MsN soonish

I was thinking maybe we could start the thread now so that everyone who plans to read it can sign in. Then we could add updates, questions, discussions as we read along but no spoilers?

The only book I'm committed to reading before then is The Miniaturist, for the MN Bookclub discussion in February, but other than that I can make a start soonish.

And after 28th March spoilers could perhaps be allowed?

Won't be able to start it until early March but I agree with Duchess about starting the thread now

(jumping in excitement at Vey Long Books Club)

Sounds good to me. Go ahead and start the thread, Duchess.

I'm in for the JS thread! I have a hefty copy weighing down my shelf but might buy it on kindle for ease of portability!

Sootgremlin Thanks for the recommendation of My Antonia. I will certainly read that one soon as I really did enjoy O Pioneers.