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

Yes, it's definitely good for the book industry that we all have diverse tastes :)

Reminds me of a quotation from Murakami's Norwegian Wood -

“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”

That's why we all have such interesting debates on here, including Never Let Me Go :o

Love that quote. So true!

My review of/thoughts on Never Let Me Go is here on Goodreads. I haven't copied it over on here, because it is a bit wordy .

I've taken on board a lot of the questions raised about the book's plot flaws, and added other thoughts/ramblings but I'm sticking my head above the parapet here by saying that I liked it because of those flaws. It has been an interesting experience reading it - I don't think I've ever read anything else that has caused such controversy. Opinions are very definitely polarised on this book :)

Bsh I really enjoyed A Tale for the Time being last year and just the other day was wondering about the ending and what happened to Nao. However, I thought The Lowland, also short listed for the Booker that year, was an even better novel.

Nearly 2/3 through This Thing of Darkness and loving it even more. Is is wrong that I have a crush on Fitzroy?? He's such a (flawed but genuine) hero character. I never have crushes on book characters ever!

Cedar03 I am a slow reader and with 3 children, a dog, work etc I really struggle to find time to read as I am so tired in the evenings. As a result I try to reader some shorter books, such as poetry, mixed in with longer books. Plus I do some sneaky "in work" reading as I am a librarian. Ahem.

I'm a slow reader too - I've been off work with a bad ear infection thus week so that's helped me catch up a bit. I can manage a book a week when it's about 300-400 pages long, but I have just started reading The Stand which is going to bring my average down somewhat!

Book 12 - the long run only a short book but couldn't get into it

Now rereading the Harry potter series, so number 13 was the philosophers stone

Nowt wrong with being a slow reader.

I have a terrible habit of racing through books, particularly on the kindle - once I've got through my tbr list on that I think I'm going to switch back to paperbacks for a bit - there's just something about having a phsyical book (although I do love my kindle).

meg The Stand is one of my favourite books and its a nice one to luxuriate into. It never felt too long, to me.

I need to make a conscious effort to read more slowly, to savour the writing (especially as many of the books I enjoy are so beautifully written); I'd like to spend more time after finishing a book to really reflect on it (if it's a good one) rather than racing off the next book on my list.

Hmmmm.... perhaps I need to stop this challenge for a while!

See, I try not to look at it as a 'challenge' - I don't think I've ever read less than fifty books in a year since I was old enough to read.

Maybe it would help if you just report on every few books? It would be a shame if it's curtailing your reading pleasure.

The problem is, I keep hearing about new books I want to read and my list keeps growing

Oh god, that first line sounds a bit snotty!

Yeah, you see there are so many new (to me) books I want to read too so I read fast so I can read the next good book. A tricky one. It's okay, I'm not overly worried about this dilemma :)

I'm also slightly worried that the next ASOIF book will be out later this year, which means I'll need to reread all the series so far which will take a big chunk.

I do tend to have two books on the go at once though - because I am no longer allowed to take my kindle in the bath so tend to have a paperback that lives in the toilet. much to DHs despair

I'm reading more books atm because I have to have more rest - just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my ankle. I know - any excuse to sit down with a good book :o

My to read list never gets shorter, for each book I read I seem to add another 3 to the list

Sounds like a pretty good excuse to me Duchess.

I find that this challenge affects the amount I'm reading, but not the actual speed at which I read. I'm also enjoying keeping track of the books I've been reading -- it's quite fun to look back and see what I was reading a year or so ago.

Clash, have you considered putting the kindle in one of those zip-up plastic wallets to protect it?

I've read some of Robin Hobb's earlier stuff, Stokey. Enjoyed the first Fitz trilogy and the Liveship Traders, didn't mind the others (even the Forest Mage books), but I read the first of her DragonKeeper books fairly recently and was horribly underwhelmed by it, so I'm disinclined to read much more. I probably will get them out at the library at some point though.

I've also fallen behind with ASOIAF need to reread the earlier books before getting around to A Dance with Dragons and hope to get around to reading Tad Williams's Shadowmarch series, so there is stuff to read; it just doesn't feel like there's anyone new.

I'm one of those who read too much and too quickly, so am always complaining that I haven't got anything to read and hence the current Snicket marathon. I HAVE to have at least two books on the go at all times, or I am hideous to live with, but I'm struggling to find things that I actually want to read, not helped by the fact that I am stupidly awkward too.

#11. By Hook or by Crook - David Crystal. A travel around parts of England and Wales, looking at the origins of phrases, and how our language is structured. Etymology is great interest of mine, and I'm reasonably familiar with a number of the places he visited, so this was a very enjoyable read. For me, a book that could be dipped into, put aside, picked up, and lost nothing in the delays.

11 1/2 - I started 'The Miniaturist' but only got three chapters in as it had to go back to the library. Unsure - I'll return to it later in the year!

Woah woah woah bugrit - zip up plastic things for the kindle?! Tell me more!

My last two kindles went to watery graves....

I think this challenge has introduced me to new things - I was quite stuck in a rut before. I've read a fair few mediocre books, but a couple that I've really loved, and that makes it worth it for me.

Duchess - I sent you a PM.

10. Stardust - Neil Gaiman.

For anyone who's seen the film - the book is less "Disney' than the film.

Basically, Dunstan Thorne lives in the village of Wall, which is on the mortal side of the boundary between our world and the land of Faery. One day, Dunstan attends the fair which is on the other side of the boundary, and nine months later his son, Tristran, is left at the boundary wall.

Tristran goes on a quest to find a fallen star, to prove his love to one of the village girls - little knowing that in Faery, a star is a living being. As he and Yvaine, the star, journey back towards Wall, they quarrel, get to know each other, and evade capture by witches bent on killing Yvaine.

I read this book on my Kindle - apparently in it's original format the illustrations are beautiful. I think, probably, that I preferred the book to the film, but I didn't like the end of the book as much as the film, it wasn't as happy. Fairy tales are supposed to have happy endings - so in my head this will always have the ending from the film. (I know, I'm such a sap!)

Can I join? I'm fashionably late!

I've been lurking for a while, I don't think I'll make an official 50 as I'm writing a Masters dissertation. Not only am I late but I plan to count some of my academic reading in my 50, that way it will look like I've made it.

In contrast to my work and studying I'm keeping my reading for pleasure light for the early part of this year.
My list so far.....

1. Gone With The Wind
   I reread this as a comfort read, I've never seen the film as I don't want to spoil my imagination of the story. One of my favourite books.

2. Not That Kind Of Girl
   Turns out she's not really my kind of girl.

3. The Rosie Project
   Fluffy love story but considered and well drawn characters, enjoyable.

4. I Capture The Castle
   Beautiful.

5. Yes, please
   Better than Not That Kind but this was the point at which I decided to ditch autobiographies for now.

6. The Rules of Civility
   For fans of The Great Gatsby, I loved it.

7. Silverfin
   A young James Bond book by Charlie Higson. Well executed, better than some of the Flemming Bond books.

8. Us
   Well written, a good read but I preferred One Day, I'd recommend it.

9. Funny Girl
   I didn't enjoy this much, it lacked depth, not nearly as good as previous Nick Hornby books.

I haven't decided on number 10 yet.

15 Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann. An exciting thriller.
16 The Childrens act by Ian McEwan. I really enjoyed this, it's been reviewed by other people up the thread. I did find myself thinking LTB at the beginning but that maybe because I have read the relationship boards on here. I seem to be drawn to sad books at the moment. The first part was very good the second not quite as good. Still I would recommend it as it did engage me