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

I'm eager to re-read some of my favourite Anne Tyler books this year. Also, to explore similar authors eg Jane Smiley (whose recent two books are on my TBR pile) and Joyce Carol Oates (who I've never read!).

Thanks for the Ann Tyler recommendations. Can't wait to discover a new author now!!

I loved Catcher in The Rye and read it many times. My DD is called Phoebe because I loved the name since reading the book in my teens.

Bssh - I'd really like to read Jane Smiley's recent books and re-read a couple of the older ones. She wrote a long saga-style book set in Viking-age Greenland (I think) which I absolutely loved but can't remember the title. And A Hundred Acres is brilliant - King Lear updated to modern day mid-West America.

Just checked and the Smiley book is called The Greenlanders (duh!), and the King Lear one is actually A Thousand Acres. I have the worst memory ever

Duchess I've also downloaded an EM Forster books based on Vanessa and Her Sister about Vanessa Bell, in which he appears. I read A Passage to India years ago but have downloaded A Room with a View and have another couple in the wishlist. Also downloaded a Virginia Woolf for same reason (never read any of hers).

18. The Diary of a Nobody by Weedon Grossgrain

I quite enjoyed this but wanted it to be much funnier than it was.

Now reading Hyperion which so far I am very much enjoying.

21. My Antonia - Willa Cather

This is the final book in the Great Plains trilogy and is one of Willa Cather's early, but very well known novels. I enjoyed this gentle and touching account of Antonia, a Bohemian immigrant who arrives in Nebraska at the same time as the narrator Jim. It's a beautifully descriptive book about immigrants and life on the praries in Nebraska in the early twentieth century.

A busy weekend has meant I haven't done much reading but I am currently on A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe.

I have also started keeping track of what I have read on Goodreads and it's really helping!

Duchess I have Arctic Summer ready to go on my kindle but am holding back because having read This Thing of Darkness I was worried it wouldn't stand up against it and might be quite similar. However, I have enjoyed The Good Doctor and In a Strange Room by him previously.

Ah Jane Smiley lovers! I'm a fan too though I haven't read anything of hers in ages. Loved Horse Heaven, my copy has survived numerous clearest .

Still struggling along with Sovereign. I am determined to finish it today. Only reason I'm persisting is I've lost a whole month with the kindle troubles and if I don't finish it I'll have read practically nothing !

'Maurice' is my favourite Forster, followed by, 'Howard's End.' Having enjoyed, 'A Passage to India' as a teenager, I read it again last year and absolutely detested it. Funny how tastes change over time!

22. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Day off work today and I was looking forward to reading this Italian novel described as a masterpiece and the author as Italy's most important author.

The story follows two girls in 1950's Naples and is the first in a Trilogy. This first book follows the girls through childhood and adolescence up to the age of 16.

The first 2 pages are promising, but it's downhill from page 3 and it never picks up. The descriptions of 1950s Naples are good, but I couldn't engage with any of the characters, couldn't visualise them and boy are there many characters in this book. I had to refer to the overview of all the characters in the beginning of the book constantly to keep up. The writing is flat and I wonder if the translation is perhaps poor.

I don't understand the hype around this book. And now you may wonder if I would recommend this book? eh...NO

Loving Where Angels Fear To Tread. I can't believe it's taken this long to get round to reading Forster. Think maybe I will make Maurice my next one but maybe A Passage To India. Can't decide

Still reading The Miniaturist here - I read the first half quickly and now I find myself slowing up...mmmmmm not sure

Duchess, love Where Angels Fear to Tread and I believe our friend Rupert is in the film

Duchess - I was disappointed too. Just didn't feel it!

12. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Strphen Galloway. Audiobook. I'm afraid I didn't get on with the narrator. He was so grave and a bit monotonous. The stories follow three civilians and one sniper during several months of the seige of Sarajevo back in the 90's. Certainly the book conveys the sadness and surprise felt by those left in the city seemingly abandoned by the world. Many topics covered; fortitude in the face of adversity, loss and then gain of hope, cowardice, the importance of not becoming one of 'them', the men in the hills who are attempting to destroy the city. There were not many light moments but then it is not a particularly happy book.

10. A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi. I really need to up the quality of my reading material! A big family saga-style novel about the failing 'House of Farrell' and the struggle to save the beauty house from bankruptcy. It was fine, kept me reading, some decent characters in it but the writing isn't brilliant.

Moving on now to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

Shakeit- we seem to be reading similar books. I had the audiobook of The Cellist of Sarajevo last year, borrowed from the library. I couldn't get on with the narrator either. Thought it was probably the story. It seemed quite disjointed and I struggled to engage with it. Maybe it's one of those books that don't work well as audiobooks. I have found that before.

Book 14 The Stranger's Child - Alan Hollinghurst. The book is weaved around Cecil Valance, eldest child of a baronet, student at Cambridge, a poet, who died aged 25 in the first world war. We are introduced in the opening story to George and Daphne, brother and sister, who both have a love affair (of sorts) with Cecil. The story travels on via Daphne who subsequently marries Cecil's brother and becomes Lady Valance herself, then her next two husbands and George who also marries. The telling is picked up by people who have somehow strayed into the family, drawn by their interest in Cecil, one finally writing a biography that the family insist is fanciful. The ending is quite like the rest of the book, hinting at a possible "happening" but leaving you with things said but not said.

I enjoyed it overall and would recommend it. I found it well-written and the characters well-drawn (with the exception of the final voice which all felt a bit rushed).

I have succommed to John Dies at the End having seen it reviewed here and finding it offered on kindle for 99p. Not sure if it will be book 15 though. So many others on the TBR pile & wishlist still ...

I have lost track a bit as fractured my back and can't move too much :(
book 9 was the WW2 book The Betrayed...gave up on this one
since then I have needed "light and fluffy" books to cheer myself up.
book 10 Marian Keyes This Charming Man....love this book. Touches on domestic violence. Light with serious message.
Book 11 also Marian Keyes: The Other Side of the Story: Entertaining about the publishing world.

Book 12 Martina Reilly What If? Nostalgia, bad life choices, relationships etc enjoyed this one
Book 13 The Minaturist I love the the atmosphere in this book based in Amsterdam in 1657. But the sadness and tragedy left me very upset.

Book 14 Now half way through the Rosie Project and it is BRILLIANT.....clever, funny, romantic in its own way.....I am in love with Don Tillman! I do not want this book to end.

Lammy
Sorry to hear about your back. How awful for you! I read Landline by Rainbow Rowell and that was very light and easy to read if you're in need of something that's not too taxing.

I am off to investigate John Dies at the End as everyone keeps talking about and I want to know why.

That's awful Lammy. Hope you're not in too much pain? Definitely need cheering up books . The Rosie Project is just the right thing. Will you be reading the sequel too?

Hope you start to feel better soon.

That sounds so painful Lammy. For you:

Is the miniatyrist really upsetting? I have it on my shelf but I don't read upsetting books if I can avoid it.

Thanks for the lovely messages....the pain is manageable but the cabin fever of not being able to go out or do anything is awful....body brace for 8-12 weeks. At least I will heal, lots are left in worse condition!

Little Book Trill I did like the Miniaturist a lot, I loved Johannes Brandt in it the husband but it is sad and spirals downwards into tragedy.....I would recommend it though as it is well written and intriguing.

Whippet thanks for the "light and fluffy" recommendation, I will get Landline and have a go!

Duchess I didn't know there was a sequel !!!! That has really really cheered me up :) :) thanks so much x

Lammy that sounds awful. Hope you are being well looked after and kept supplied with cups of tea and good books!

Yes, The Miniaturist has just got very sad, one thing after another...I have no idea how it will all pan out tbh.

I too am off to see what this John Dies At The End is all about....

Lammy much and a full recovery to you. I have back troubles, but not to your extent (for which I am hugely relieved) but I've noticed that it does change what I read. I can't handle anything with too much darkness and often end up re-reading comfort books.

I wasn't sure about The Miniaturist, but it sounds like it could be worth a punt too. You lot ... you're really not helping with my never ending list!