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'd like to join in please. I was an avid reader at school but over the years have got out of the habit thanks to Mumsnet.

So far this year I have read

1. Call the Midwife
2. Shadows of the Workhouse - almost too painful to read at times, but glad I did.
3. Last train to Istanbul - fascinating read about the second world war from a different perspective
4. Elizabeth is Missing - read a few chapters but not sure I will persevere as finding it rather dull. Can anyone convince me otherwise?

Also have on my list:
I Capture the Castle
Farewell to the East End
That's it for now, but lots of books adorning the shelves which I should probably read before buying more on Kindle.

1. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Clare Nolan. I'm sure this has been reviewed many times before. Basically a man lives many lives (the same one over and over again) and tells his story of love, friendship and revenge. I really enjoyed this book but it also frustrated me. I know it's not a 'serious book' but some things bothered me. To start with I just couldn't get my head around all those parallel worlds- just thinking about it made me dizzy!

SPOILER ALERT

Then I found Harry deeply unsettling and incongruous in places. How could he lie so convincingly? In particular to his close friend/enemy for at least two entire lives, this friend being super intelligent but doesn't seem to notice that he is being conned. Just didn't quite fit well enough for me. But I did still enjoy it (kind of), even recommended it to my DH.. See what he makes of it!

Now onto Americanah by audiobook. Liking it so far, the narrator has a beautiful voice.

Welcome to the thread *silversixpence. I wasn't that enthralled with Elizabeth is Missing either. Good writing but it wasn't that great.

Really enjoyed Us by David Nicholls recently and have almost finished The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton which has been a quick and gripping read.

And shakeit - I loved the audio version of Americanah. The narration is wonderful

silver I found Elizabeth is missing a quick easy read but repetitive and predictable. The author's ability to deal with dementia from inside the sufferers head is an interesting perspective, but other than that I wasn't massively blown away.

Just finished number 5 - far from home by Berlie Doherty.

It is the follow on to street child which follows the journey of Jims' sisters. Fantastic book

Now just started Gone Girl.

Silver - shadows of the workhouse sounds good. We have been studying Victorians in school (I am a TA) which has helped reignite my interest in all things Victorian. Thing I will look to download that for my next book.

#1 The Shock of the Fall
#2 Sense & Sensibility
#3 The Skull Beneath the Skin
#4 IQ84 - not finished this one, may change hardcopy for audio version
#5 The Universe vs Alex Woods
#6 Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - halfway through and loving this one

#7 The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

I'm classing The Help as book 7 although I started listening to it at the beginning of January. This book is beautifully written, set in the early 1960s in Mississippi, USA. The story follows the lives of the 3 main characters at a time of racial inequality, at the start of the early black civil rights movement.

Funny in parts, shocking in others, this book moved me to tears and I was sad when it ended. Would absolutely recommend, particularly the audio version as the narrators did a fantastic job. 5/5.

Think I am up to book #8, but my phone is refusing to navigate to previous pages to check - harumph. Anyway, I have just finished Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming, which is an autobiography detailing the actor's abusive relationship with his father, and what he discovers about his maternal grandfather. It was a really interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed (not least because I watched the episode of Who Do You Think You Are? which did the grand reveal of his grandfather's end)

Book 21
One I picked up at random from a special display in the library of books set in the cold!

'Blood and Ice' by Robert Masello

This was described as, 'A riotous mix of history, cryogenics, vampirism...a chilling adventure set in the Antarctic" - so, obviously, it ticked all the right boxes for me!

It contains a love story set in 1854, the horrors of the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale, modern polar research, a coma patient, vampires and a modern love story which is unique, strange and, possibly, doomed. I found it fascinating, especially the Antarctic sections. My criticism would be that all of the exposition took too long and was rather slow - I wanted less of the first half and more of the second half, if that makes sense!

I'll be slowing down again now, I think.

10. Upstairs at the Party, Linda Grant A young woman navigates early adulthood from the early 70s with a dispassionate, often cynical eye. I liked the fact that the protagonist was not a typically earnest narrator; a commentator on rather than a casualty of those quasi-revolutionary times. The narrative then takes her into middle age but throughout her life she keeps returning to memories of those student days, in particular of a girl called Evie. A good read, particularly as a social history of Britain.

Now going to read Harriet Lane's Her. I wonder if I'll find it as dull as Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. It was cheap on Kindle so I'll give it a go.

14. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I sped through it so quickly, desperate to know what was going to happen next.

It is gripping, a true page-turner. So much happens it almost leaves you breathless (a thrilling rollercoaster of a read). It is packed full of twists and turns leading inevitably to the dramatic conclusion (and it is one that will leave you stunned and open-mouthed with shock).

I loved all the period detail; it showed meticulous research to depict life in 17th century Amsterdam authentically. And the food - so much detail of food (from every day simple meals to huge feasts). And a big helping of mystery in the guise of the Miniaturist themselves. I loved that - were they really a spy or were they a mystic who could predict events?

It is by no means a happy novel - some really life-changing events happen to Nella and her household, but it doesn't leave you completely in despair and entirely without hope for the future (not plot-spoiling!)

A beautifully written, entralling novel. Can't wait for Jessie Burton's next one!

Next up - still reading The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane, which got paused so I could read The Miniaturist.

11. The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

An early novel by Zafon aimed at younger readers (early teens according to the blurb at the back). Irene moves to Blue Bay in Normandy at the age of 14 along with her 9 year old brother and recently widowed mother. Her mother goes to work for a reclusive toymaker, and Irene befriends Ismael, a 16 year old fisherman and sailor. But there's a shadow that hangs over the village, a deadly shadow hiding in the woods and which has already claimed one life. And it has turned its attention to Irene and her family.

Decent enough read, fairly simplistic as you would expect given the target age group. Mildly creepy but shouldn't scare young readers too much.

The Help was a wonderful read, one of the few books to make me cry. I hope she writes another.

South - have you seen the film of, 'The Help'? It's good - I liked it better than the book.

Yes I have Remus. For me the two are pretty much on the same level.

I liked the film better because there was less focus on Skeeter (is that her name?) and more on the other women. The whole Skeeter love affair thing bored me and was a distraction, I thought.

And I absolutely love the actress playing the lady who is picked on (the miscarriage lady) and also the actress playing the maker of the pie. Can't remember any names, fictional or real!

Celia Foot was the lady who was cold shouldered by the community Remus, and Minnie was the maker of the pie. My god that was some revenge!

I haven't seen the film but I'll look out for it as I enjoyed the book so much.

Double digits reached at last

10. This Boy - Alan Johnson

This is the first memoir from the politician, which tells of his life growing up in poverty in 50's and 60's London. I felt the style of writing was mundane, and unlike some other readers, I didn’t feel this added to the emotional impact. The book also left me with many unanswered questions but I do admire him and his sister for coping through very difficult circumstances.

11. The Stepford Wives - Ira Levin

The 70’s novella about misogyny in small town America, this is a better read if you haven’t seen either of the two films. There was much more to develop with this material than what he wrote (139 pages) so I didn’t feel like I ‘knew’ any of the characters. But the ending was fairly chilling and thought-provoking.

Starting The Miniaturists today.

Apologies for the typos in yesterday's post about The Miniaturist .

Should read "themself" instead of "themselves" and "enthralling".

12. Stone Mattress: Nine Tales - Margaret Atwood

I liked these short stories, some of which were linked to each other, some of which reprise characters from earlier novels. They have all been previously published in different places so this book gathers them all together. Unlike some, I am a huge fan of short stories so I enjoyed these a lot, particularly the first one, Alphinland, and the last one, which is rather disturbing about a mob and an old peoples home.

Essentially, you can't beat Margaret Atwood for excellent writing.
Surely even Remus would agree with me on that

13. Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel.

I think seeing the TV series helped me keep track of the characters (like Lord of the Rings - I always got Faramir and Boromir mixed up till the films came out).

Overall I liked it. The dialogue is snappy and amusing. I liked the sense of a Tudor household - a different set of relationships to today's nuclear families. I thought the emotional side was curiously subdued, which could be because she's taking the perspective of a man with a firm grip on his feelings. Still, it has a deadening effect - I had no sense of how or why TC had strong feelings about Thomas More going to his death, for example.

Bookwormbeagle- I also loved the audiobook version of The Help. I listened to it whilst pushing DS2 in a pram to try and get him to daytime nap when he was a baby..

Duchess- it was on your recommendation that I looked for and then reserved it from the library!

gosh, so many people on double digets, I'm still working my way thorugh book 6! I found Wolf Hall hard going and knocked me off track!

My list so far is:
1 the White Queen - Philippa Gregory

1. A murder is announced - Agatha Christie
2. Wolf hall - Hilary Mantel
3. The uncommon reader - Alan Bennett
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barows

and currently re-reading Pride and Prejudice, not read since childhood. Interestingly reading it now, I've already been struck how clearly Mr Darcy is shown as shy and clearly in love with Elizabeth from the start, yet every adaptation seems to show him just as arrogant and rude, then it is suddenly all a bit suspcious that Elizabeth later realises he was just shy and akward - usually around the time she sees just how rich he is! He's a much more sympathetic character in the book than in any film or TV version.

Southeastdweller - I might add Stepford Wives on my list, as well as being a 'classic' I've never ready, it seems nice and short to get back on track!

Duchess - I've just put the Miniaturist on my 'to read' list after your write up, sounds good!

I feel like I'm massively behind too Mary! I've got my next audiobook on the go for when I'm cooking - Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch (still got wolf hall, the Poisonwood bible and a spare credit from audible to get thru - membership suspended whilst I catch up!).

Also halfway through Fingersmith by Sarah Waters which is brilliant. The only other one of hers I've read is The Paying Guests so I might look into more of her works.