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

Still getting on well with Dissolution. Some of the more religious aspects seem to go over my head and I am very familiar with Tudor history, but something is making me enjoy it. I love Shardlake!

I am also reading Pepys 1665 diary for research purposes. Does that count as a book?!

I agree re: Graham Greene, one of my favourite writers. Need to fill in a few gaps in my reading, but used to wear out my library card on his books when I was a teen.

ok, want to try some Ballard I think, preferably some of his sci fi, any recommendations?

Haven't been able to settle on new reading material since American Gods and Moon over Soho. Have started Sovereign (a shardlake book) and 11.22.63 (Stephen King) and a book about a business billionaire (Denis O'Brien) but can't seem to settle on anything. Miss my kindle :( boo hoo.

hi everyone, new here. Have just read some of this thread and wandered off to buy 4 books when I have about 15 waiting for me at home..... fatal !

so far this year:

1. Lying under the Apple Tree - Alice Munro. She writes so beautifully, and I have enjoyed this, but rather preferred Dear Life.
2. A Foreign Country - Charles Cumming. Brilliant Le Carre style spy thriller page turner.
3. Stoner - John Williams. What a beautiful book. Have been giving it to friends left, right and centre.
4. All My Puny Sorrows - Miriam Toews. I read her A Boy of Good Breeding years ago (wonderful characters) and thought this was better - but quite a heart-breaking book.
5. and 6. hilarious late night Amazon book ordering mix-up ! I wanted to buy The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, and bought Girl on A Train by AJ Waines instead.... So about a third of the way through I was wondering about the 3 character plot development which wasn't happening.... and then realised my mistake ! Anyway, I actually rather enjoyed the AJ Waines story - quite a surprising (random ?) ending. Both page turners, neither very well written, but both very easy reads.

have now got my work cut out as half way through about 3 other books but want to start the new 4......

aggghhhh !

13. Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer

Wow. What a book. This left me speechless. I started this book with no idea about its content other than that it was about mountaineering. Here I was happily reading about the preparations, Everest Base Camp, sherpas, different teams, acclimatisation trips to Base Two etc, and highlighting passages about rising to a challenge and camaraderie. Then came the story of the ascent to the summit.

Several other survivors of that day have written their own books (and I will definitely read a few of them once I get off this damn mountain in Italy so I can stop obsessing about losing the DC to the elements), but I came away from this one thinking that it was a fair and balanced assessment of the strengths, courage, and failings of the people involved, as well as the "perfect storm" unforseeable consequences (of two competing expeditions, a guide insisting on making it to the top without bottled oxygen, two head sherpas in personal conflict).

In a few days, I will no doubt get over this sadness over the heartbreaking tragedy I have just read intimate details about, the feeling of helplessness and . However, I don't know when or if I will get over the chilling accounts of people so obsessed with their goal of reaching the summit that they ignored the plight of fellow climbers, such as:

"We were too tired to help. Above 8,000 meters is not a place where people can afford morality". These are the words of Japanese climbers who turned their backs on two men from a previous expedition, one crouching in the snow and another close to death. They just went on their way. 'No words were passed. No water, food, or oxygen exchanged hands. The Japanese moved on and 160 feet farther along they rested and changed oxygen cylinders.'

There are no words to express what I feel about this

wilting - I'm a big fan of Ballard but his sci-fi is his earlier work and IMHO those are not his best. Except his book of short stories called Vermillion Sands which I thought was very good - stories about a now-abandoned vacation resort in the desert. Sculpture made out of 'carving clouds', automated poetry machines, etc... All in a dreamy, eerie sort of atmosphere.

I haven't read this book in the last 10 years so don't hate me if you don't like it but I remember really enjoying it at the time

Reading this thread, I've just realised I think I read Into Thin Air about 20 years ago while a hippy student in a guest house looking at Nanda Devi (another big mountain). It was one of those random finds, not the sort of thing I would buy, that turned out to be an amazing book so thanks for reminding me of it!

I liked Ballard's resort books Cocaine Nights and Super Cannes.

I have a pile of books waiting to be read too - I browsed a few charity shops last weekend and picked up loads of books I have seen recommended on this thread. Just finished no. 6 The Miniaturist which I really enjoyed. It has been reviewed several times on here already so I'll stick to saying that I loved the rich, descriptive writing style and interesting characters. I wasn't too disappointed by the unanswered questions but I had seen a few reviews so I was expecting it to end that way. I do sort of wish that I could read it again but from Marin's point of view, I'd love to hear her thoughts!

Actually I think the one I read was K2:Triumph and Tragedy as it was in 1994, 2 years before Into Thin Air. So another one for the list.

1. The Miniaturist - plot already given by lots of other readers so will just say that I feel a bit torn by this book. On the one hand I really enjoyed reading it, I whizzed through it in four days (quick for me). Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities. However I feel let down by the "explanation" given for the miniaturist and her actions.

1. Stoner by John Williams. This was recommended to me by lots of people and I picked up a copy in my local charity shop. Again I read this very quickly. A sad, but also strangely uplifting story of a man who is raised on a farm, goes to college to study agriculture, but falls in love with English Literature and switches courses. He does not return to the family farm and becomes an academic. It tells the story of his life, his work and his relationships.

Sootgremlin your fave Graham Greene?

My favourite Graham Greene is The Power and The Glory. It's a while since I read it though.

Another fan of Into Thin Air here! DH and I trekked to Everest base camp about 10 years ago and I read it then.

#11 The Girl With All The Gifts

Welcome to all the newbys - I will go back and read catch up on this thread after I post.

It has been a while since I was on this thread as I have been reading the tome that is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Here is my update for February:

Book 10:Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – well what did I think? Overall I enjoyed this book. It is a book to savour over not race through. It starts off a bit slow. Mr Norrell has an academic view of magic which was not very exciting. The story picks up when Jonathan Strange enters the story and in particular when he helps the Duke of Wellington with his battles in Spain and then joins in the Napoleonic Wars. I loved the wonderful and alternate history of early nineteenth century England filled with practising magicians. But, I do have to add that I found it somewhat frustrating as I have some unanswered questions.

Book 11: The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle by Kirsty Wark. This was my book group read for February. The story switches between Elizabeth and Martha. Elizabeth, an old lady, is writing the story of her life on Arran. Martha is left to find out how her mother inherited the house in such strange circumstances but first she has to understand Elizabeth Pringle. I found the pace of the book slow and cumbersome I places. I thought Elizabeth’s story was the better written and I enjoyed those parts more.

Book 12: Just started Remains of an Altar (Merrily Watkins Book 8) by Phil Rickman. I am loving this as usual

Thanks for the welcome.

Book 10: Olive Kitteridge: A Novel in Stories which was somewhat unsatisfactory. Tricky one as there was no pretence that the central character was in any way easy to like. I chose it as I was interested in the format: a series of short stories about people in Olive's world, mostly with some overlap with her, even if just in passing, but sometimes not and a few told entirely from Olive's perspective. The format appeals and I may use it in my scribbling, but the book not so much.

So, I wanted for my next selection something reliable and which would rattle along. Book 11 is the latest Shardlake: Lamentation by C J Sansom. I started reading the series on loan from my Dad. He's stopped, but I have continued. I read Dominion his most recent non-Sharklake which was OK, but only that. Previously I'd read Winter in Madrid and found it terribly bleak. Well-written and well-researched, but ultimately just too dark and depressing.

I also read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell when it first came out (I remember reading the hardback). I remember finding it largely enjoyable and the reviewer who said things picked up when JS joins the story struck a chorn. It was a long time ago though ...

Looks like Into Thin Air is a thread read, so I'll have to add it to the wish list! Also ashamed to admit never having read Graham Greene & J G Ballard. This reminds me of Christopher Hitchens when asked how he felt about dying: that he regretted all those unread books.

sonnet - I felt there were unanswered questions too. I think what we could do is have a separate Spoilers allowed thread for those of us who have finished reading JS & N early and have questions without wrecking the main thread for others?

Currently reading The History of the Rain by Niall Williams. It's ok but not loving it yet sadly. Also reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Liking that.

Oh Duchess The History of the Rain was my favourite read of 2014. I hope you end up liking it!

17. The Marrying of Chani Kaufman - Eve Harris

An easy read and I enjoyed this as I have lived near some of the areas of North London that the Jewish characters frequent. I found the central characters extremely sympathetic and rooted for them throughout. I can't help thinking some of it might have been a rather cliched view of the particular Jewish community within which it was set but I do have some relatives who live very similar, orthodox lives to those described, so it probably wasn't totally off the mark. I would recommend this.

10. Philippa Gregory The Little House Ruth marries into a very tight, oppressive family who try to take over her newborn son. This seemed so old fashioned I was surprised it was set in the 90s, it seemed more like the 70s, and Ruth is such a doormat she was quite irritating and her mother in law, Elizabeth, reminded me of the mum in the sitcom 'Sorry' It was a quick read and a better ending than I expected

The Shardlake books forced me to read a history on the Tudors because I'd forgotten lots of the detail from those times having studied them at school. I've got Lamentation sitting at home waiting for me to read it.

1. Butterflies in November by Audur Ava Olafsdottir. This was a completely random choice picked up from the library. It's about a young woman who splits up from her husband and then goes on a road trip which a friend's son. She's an Icelandic writer and the book is set there. It was well written on the whole but I found it slightly confusing in one or two places. There was a back story that was hinted at strongly without being completely explored. It was funny and sad as well.

1. Forever Girl by Alexander Macall Smith. I was given this one by someone. It is about a couple of young children growing up in the expat community in the Cayman Island who are friends. First part is from the perspective of their parents. Second part was the children's. It was well written but I felt a little bit irritated by the ending. I wasn't convinced by the way the love story was resolved. Can't say more without giving the plot away.

1. The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. This is the second part of The Long Earth series which imagines an Earth where it is discovered that there are millions of parallel earths next to it. When people discover they can step between them what happens to those who travel and to the Earth they leave behind? I thought this one was not as well written as the first, I felt that the Chinese trip was a bit redundant and didn't lead anywhere. But overall I liked it and have now started on the third book to find out what happens next.

Managed to get quite a run at it this morning, whippet and have decided I like it a lot better now. Beautiful writing and I like the gentle humour.

Good idea Duchess
Joyless - My DH is a huge Shardlake fan and owns every book. Last year I read the first Shardlake book and loved it so the rest are on my TR list! I didn't particularly enjoy a Winter in Madrid and Dominion was "okay".

I can start another thread but it won't be until this evening. Am on app atm until I get home later

I am a big Shardlake fan. And in book two you'll get to meet the wonderful Jack Barak.

I liked, 'Winter in Madrid' and the first half of, 'Dominion' but thought the second half was weak. The Shardlake books are far better.

I liked Winter in Madrid - but not the ending. I failed on Shardlake though. My Mum is a huge fan and always trying to get me to read them. Might try again once my list goes down a bit as they seem universally popular on here.