50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 2

[Southeastdweller]

Thread two of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

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

Previous thread here

Just checking in to say I'm halfway through Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and loving it so far. Remus, please give it a try!

Loved your description of the mobile library sootgremlin!

I'm sure I heard somewhere that there's due to be a televised version of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell showing on TV sometime this year?

For what it's worth, Remus, it's taken 9 years for me to get round to reading J S & MN. Bought it when pregnant with DR who will be 9 this year :o. Glad I have read it though - should finish this week. Has been surprisingly readable, good story.

DD not DR (haven't got her career planned out for her )

14. Zero Point - Neal Asher. This is the second in the Owner Trilogy and the action is split between earth, a space station on the run and Mars. Dark gritty sci-fi with interesting take on what the world could become. At the start of the book drastic measures are taken to radically reduce the world's 18 billion population. I'm going straight on to the third part as DH had already got them all.

Into the Silence is on the TBR. Love mountaineering books. Is it possible to be an armchair altitude junky?

Shadow It's on in late April.

:) at DR.

Yes, deffo possible to be an armchair altitude junkie. I'm also an armchair Antarctic explorer, when in reality I hate being cold and wet.

Book 8 Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand it was very easy to read, put down and pick up again. On the other hand I found large sections of it boring!
The main characters are Kathy, Ruth and Tommy with Kathy being the protagonist. Reading this book feels like having a (one sided) conversation with Kathy. Everything is described to within an inch of its life, even a lot of things that have very little to do with the plot. I found this boring by the time I was halfway through which is a shame because the writing's beautiful.
I'm not going to say much more because this is one of those books that I think it's best not to know too much about. I knew nothing about it and I bought it on a whim, which made it better I think.
I will just say, this book is categorised as science fiction, and I'm a big sci-fi fan. I don't class this as sci-fi. There are certain things in it that could certainly be described as such, especially if it were written by say Dan Simmons or Alistair Reynolds and I think if it had been written by a 'proper' sci-fi author (imo) it would have been utterly brilliant and gripping.

I'm glad I read it but I doubt I'll be re reading it in the future.

Book 9 The Martian by Andy Weir.

I've said it before (and will certainly say it again) - I loathed, 'Never Let Me Go.'

Me too Remus. It was so cold and detached and it upset me.

I didn't like 'Never Let Me Go' either - plus I was annoyed at the main character's passiveness.

It didn't upset me; it made me furious. And I agree that it was boring too, although not as boring as, 'The Remains of the Day' which was torturous.

It made me feel manipulated which is another reason why I didn't like it. McEwan's The Children Act made me feel the same way recently.

I very much doubt I'll read anything by Kazou Ishiguro again. I feel cheated because I expected quite a lot from it, I have no idea why as I knew nothing about it!
Have any of you seen the film?

Not seen the film.

He is also on my, 'Never read again' list, along with:
Ian McEwan
Kate Atkinson
Sarah Waters
(Possibly) Margaret Atwood

at armchair Antarctic explorer, Remus.

Never read anything by Ishiguro but I've seen the film of The Remains of the Day, which I liked, and Never Let Me Go, which I hated. Neither of them made me want to read the books. However, his new one does sound interesting. Might give it a go if I come across it in the library.

Thanks Southeastdweller

It'll be interesting to see how they bring Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell to the screen.

I have both read the book and seen the film of Never Let Me Go.

Both equally gloomy IMO.

And I didn't really get the way all the characters seemed so passive and accepting of their fate. I know their upbringing was supposed to indoctrinate them, but you'd think that at least some of them would try and escape, or have to be dragged there kicking and screaming?

1. 'Before I go to Sleep' S J Watson.

This was given to me by a friend who recommended it. It was certainly gripping for the first 3/4 but the ending was all a bit convenient. Not the sort of thing I usually read and I didn't find it very satisfying but it's probably a good speed/beach read. If you liked 'Gone Girl' you would like this. Only just discovered that Before I go to Sleep has also been made into a film - but I won't bother watching.

thelittlebooktroll I haven't read 'The Paying Guests' yet but have got it waiting on my Kindle. I wasn't sure about 'The Little Stranger' but I loved 'Fingersmith' so would recommend that, if you decide to try another Sarah Waters.

Ishiguro's Japanese novels are sublime:
An Artist of the Floating World
A Pale View of Hills

And I adored Nocturnes, his short story collection.

No 8 Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - thank goodness that's over, didn't really enjoy it, just persevered to the end

1. The no cry discipline solution by Elizabeth Pantley.

A reassuring read about solving common irritations in bringing up small children. Particularly good on coping with your own anger.

Must read some fiction.

Costacoffee what didn't you enjoy about JS&MN? Just curious :)