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

That's put me on the spot choosing a favourite Graham Greene provencalroseparadox

I'm not religious at all but I really love his 'Catholic' novels, all the anguished attention to the details of faith, souls teetering on the brink of immortality, but for this or that transgression. The Heart of the Matter I think explored this really well, I remember its impact, the double bind of loving God and loving other human beings. The end is heartbreaking and skilfully done.

Having said all that, Brighton Rock and The End of the Affair I have re-read for pleasure, love the tension and build up to a brilliant conclusion in the former and, just, men and women, love and loss in the latter.

Our Man in Havana vv funny and the first one I read, so have a soft spot for it.

I kind of want to reread to see if my feelings will have changed.

Not answered this terribly well have I?!

I have The Quiet American and Monsieur Quixote sitting on my tbr shelf, long overdue their turn, so may update soon.

I love Our Man in Havana, Travels with my Aunt and Monseigneur Quixote

17. When we were Orphans, Kazuo Ishiguro Christopher Banks is a famous and successful society detective in 1930s England. But an unsolved crime from his childhood in Shanghai continues to haunt him and he finds himself returning there in an attempt to solve the mystery of his missing parents.

Exquisitely architected and written, in Ishiguro's highly precise, spare and pitch-perfect prose. This book held me to the end. In fact, I didn't want it to end.

I am nearly finished with first Shardlake book...I have an idea who the murderer is....see if I am correct!!

For those who enjoyed 'Before I Go To Sleep' by S J Watson, her new book 'Second Life' is on Amazon (kindle) for only £1.88 at the moment.
It's still £9.49 on nook!

Thanks for the heads up, MyIronLung! I just bought Second Life

I got it too I can't resist a bargain!

Finished book #9 Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson.

A detective story from the DCI Alan Banks series, predictable at times but a good read all the same. After reading a lot of the earlier books in this series I've got a lot to catch up on as the author seems to have written lots that I've missed!

Book #10 Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch. Loved this one, book 5 in the PC Peter Grant series finds him out of his comfort zone and solving magical puzzles without the trusty Inspector Nightingale. Fast paced and action packed, would thoroughly recommend.

Now reading Sue Townsend's The Woman who went to bed for a year.
Very funny so far.

Good spot MyIronLung. Will you let us know when you've read it with your thoughts, some of the reviews are lukewarm on Amazon. I did really enjoy his first so will be interested to hear your thoughts.

I reviewed Second Life here a few weeks ago. I quite enjoyed it as a page turner, but the protagonist is unbelievably stupid and her behaviour too unlikely I think. Also very poor ending. A disappointing follow-up I think and not surprised its a bargain on kindle already. I did read it very quickly though so mixed feelings......

oh I'm in double figures at last!

Book 9 - Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. I really liked this book. It tells the story of Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji. For most of the book, it's their two very different life stories, Arthur's complex family and love life, covering poverty in childhood, to establishing himself as a doctor and then fame as a writer. George's as a mixed raced boy (Indian and British) in a small English village as the vicar's son. It covers the 'Great Wyrley Outrages' where some animals were mutilated and killed. George is falsely accused of these crimes. The two characters stories only cross later on in the story when Doyle (now older and very famous), takes up Geoge's case and looks into it himself. I'd highly recommend it, although you might find yourself slightly raging on Doyle's wife's behalf at his behaviour towards her..

Book 10 - A Crooked House - Agatha Christie. One of the 'one off' books that's not a Miss Marple or Poriot or any other returning characters. Actually very good, and I thought I'd worked out who'd done it early on, felt very smug as more evidence started to point that way and then was quite wrong...

Now, off to start 'Bring up the Bodies'. This could take some time...

I fancy some Agatha Christie. Haven't read A Crooked House. Have just ordered it from Amazon. Thanks Mary

Book 27 - 'Annapurna' by Maurice Herzog
Another mountaineering one. This was one of the less satisfying mountaineering books I've read. The first half was all rather tedious, re planning the expedition and travelling there etc. I also found it annoying that there were a lot of names and sometimes he used surnames and sometimes first names, so I kept getting confused re who was who. It was all a bit humourless and flat too. Once they got to the summit it all got a bit more exciting, and I enjoyed (wrong word) the descriptions of frost bite, trying to get the casualties off the mountain and the ensuing amputations etc, so the last quarter or so was far more satisfying to me. Not one I'd bounce up and down recommending.

Thanks MaryWest for the Arthur and George review. Looks like a good read to add to my pile.

Lots of time sitting up with a wakeful toddler has meant I have read more than usual.

18. Landline - Rainbow Rowell

I think this might count as chick-lit? Not sure. It was really recommended on Goodreads so I got it. It's about a woman whose marriage is falling apart and she stays home alone to work one Christmas while her husband takes the children to his parents. She doesn't know if her husband has left her or not as her marriage is falling apart so she stays with her mum and phones her husband on the old landline phone as her mobile is dead. Then something strange happens...
In a way I really hated this as I found the husband and the wife so damn annoying and was shouting get on with it. But on the other hand, I couldn't stop reading!

Book 12: The remains of an altar by Phil Rickman. The eighth merrily Watkins novel. Merrily Watkins parish priest,single mum and deliverance consultant to the diocese of Hereford. Riveting as usual and this time involving Elgar and the Malvern Hills! Highly recommend this series of books.
I think bk 13 will be there paying guests by Sarah Waters.

I thought I'd mention that The TV adaptation of Arthur & George starts on Monday on ITV1 at 9pm.

Book 10 there something ive been dying to tell you by Lynda Bellingham.
Not the sort of thing I'd normally read but I thought I'd give it a go.

I've given up on this one. I made it to 42% but I really can't go on. I expected it to be more about Lynda and her family coping in what must have been a horrendous time. Instead it's a constant stream of luvvie theatre stuff and continuous name dropping. If you're a fan of the late Lynda Bellingham then this would probably appeal. I just found it boring

So...onto my new book 10. Second life by S J Watson.

There's

1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I loved this! It's set in early 19th century England, during a revival period for English magic. Beautifully written with a cracking plot and great characters. A pleasure to read.

Excellent, thanks Southeast for the heads up.

14. The Book of Strange New Things - Michael Faber. A Christian missionary is sent to a far flung planet to minister to a tribe of aliens. Although this synopsis makes it sound like the most boring book ever written, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The portrayal of the relationship between the missionary and his wife (left behind on Earth) was fabulous and some of the issues raised have really made me think.

1. The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester

A reread of one of my favourite SF novels. Have been struggling through tonsillitis this week so needed something familiar!

Book 28 - another worky one. Useful, but not worth reporting on!

Book 9 How To Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran.

Anyone who reads Moran's articles or has read How To Be A Woman will know her style, favourite themes and type if humour.

In that respect HTBAG is nothing new from Moran but this is, as expected a fun and funny read with spot on observatoions of what it means to be poor in post industrial Britain, without ever fling into self pity.

There is also frankness here about female sexuality which, while not as brave as Moran clearly thinks it is, is still refreshing.

An enjoyable, easy read, with some interesting things to say on class and feminism.