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

15. Second Life by SJ Watson Follow-up to Watson's debut Before I go to Sleep. Julia has a chaotic background but now lives a normal family life with her surgeon husband and their son Connor. Connor is really Julia's sister's son who they adopted as a very young boy his mother unable to care for him. Julia's life is thrown into turmoil when her sister is found murdered and she sets out to find her killer...... This is a book which will appeal to fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train etc I thought the first half was brilliant and a real page turner, but the plot became increasingly implausible and I found the main character too stupid if I am honest. The ending sucks. I wouldn't rush to buy the hardback like I did, but wait for the pocket and treat it as a light beach read.

Can I join as a very latecomer? I need somewhere to come and discuss my prodigious reading habit. I'm extremely catholic in my tastes (as in the original Greek rather than the religious meaning), really, really, diverse.

Would love to join you all in the endeavour.

#7. The Vesuvius Club - Mark Gatiss. I grabbed this at a the same booksale I got the dragon book (see last thread). Ridiculous but thoroughly entertaining Edwardian romp featuring Lucifer Box who is an artist and spy. Double-crossing, cross-dressing, mad scientists, crossed lovers, louche gentlemen, shady ladies, volcanoes, poison and zombies... this has it all.

Welcome Hound . Just dive in and add a list of what you've already read this year with a brief summary of what they are about and whether you liked them/would recommend them.

Remus - I wouldn't have recommended The Martian to you, based on what I know of your tastes. I loved it because it talks in detail about calculations for how many hundreds of square meters of earth is necessary to plant potatoes so he can survive for so many days until the next Mars mission arrives to save him etc. I just found my review of this book in the previous thread, and I have indeed said: "It is a constant calculating, problem-solving, McGyver-ing geek-fest. I love it ".

The first part of the book is just one lonely scientist talking to himself, trying to be positive and not dwell on the harsh reality that he is alone on the entire planet, constantly facing a horrible death. In these circumstances and given that he is a young scientist (rather than an Eng lit major), I thought the narrative's flippant, non-literary tone was entirely reasonable.

"puerile in tone (all the boos, yays and ughs) so that I'm really surprised that somebody who dismisses YA outright wasn't pissed right off by it"

What pisses me off in YA isn't the tone (which, if the narrator is adolescent, is bound to be teenage-y) but superficiality of the plot, focus on teenage-y themes like puppy love, and especially in YA sci-fi, a complete disregard for the actual science. It is stupid books that I can't stand. The Martian isn't literature, but it is an intelligent book that talks about real science and real mathematics triumphing over very credible problems that would arise on Mars.

I'd say push through for a bit and see if you can enjoy the problem-solving part of the story. It gets far more complicated than calculating the m2 necessary for planting potatoes

13. The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton

This has already been reviewed on here a lot so I will just say that I really did warm to this novel and read it extremely quickly as I was gripped by the story and wanted to find out what happened. I would absolutely recommend this book, despite some of it (quite a lot of it) being a little far-fetched! However, I suspended my disbelief and thoroughly enjoyed the read. I can't say too much as I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will leave it at that.

Welcome to Hound

Provencalroseparadox - The long narrow road to the north is on my to read list for this year.

1. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

I didn’t find this particularly challenging to read but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. The ‘plot’ is moved by the inner workings of the characters mind which although is well done at the same time the different voices at times seemed to blend into one. All the voices seemed to the same tone throughout. The second chapter was excellent as was the conclusion.

Book 23 - 'The Expedition: A Love Story' by Bea Uusma Schyffert
This investigates the fate of three explorers attempting to reach the North Pole in a hot air balloon. Their bodies were discovered 30 odd years later, but it is still not known for sure how they died. I enjoyed the history of this, and the subject matter is right up my street, but at times I thought the writer got in the way a bit. Overall though, a hit.

Cote - I'm going to have to press on with it because I haven't currently got anything else to read, but I'm still not liking it much (at all?). Actually, now it's started focusing on what's going on back on earth, I'm maybe a little bit more engaged. Overall though, it feels as if it's been written by a 17 year old geek, who is trying to emulate what he thinks the cool kids on Twitter might sound like.

Just marking my place

8. World War Z by Max Brooks; V engaging zombie fest , nothing terribly original really, zombieness breaks out, governments react with typical self involved narcissism resulting in the world being overrun, I liked the reportage style, gave it a grittier feel than is usual for this type of stuff. I did get a bit bored towards the end but over all would recommend as a good read.

Now on American Gods by Neil Gaiman which is excellent so far though I'm not entirely sure what it is really about .

Wilting - I enjoyed both of those hugely. Good choices!

Hi all I'd like to join in. I love reading but don't get as much time as I used to since the children came along. I lurked a bit last year and I hope taking part in a relaxed challenge might be a good way to read more and more widely.

So far this year I have read:

1. 'My Notorious Life' Kate Manning about a midwife/abortionist in 19th C New York. Compelling in parts and interesting but contrived at the end I thought.

1. 'Remember Me' Fay Weldon. I love Fay Weldon, this is one of her older ones, which tend to be my favourites am on my way to reading all of her novels. She is fab.

1. 'Dane Law' Susan Squires. Was cheap on Kindle. I usually enjoy historic fiction and am interested in this period of history (King Alfred the Great, the Vikings) but thought this book was trash! I persisted but would not read this author again.

1. 'Americanah' Chimamanda Ngoziadichie. Enjoyed this overall, thought the first part while she was still in US and sitting in the hair shop was really good, loved the character but was less bothered once she was back in Nigeria and started seeing her ex.

1. 'Us' David Nicholls, really enjoyed this. I'm approaching that age and it all felt pretty relevant to me.

1. 'The Children Act' Ian McEwan. Almost half way through, enjoying it so far. The details about the legal cases are fascinating me.

Waiting on my Kindle - The Bone Clocks, H is for Hawk, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Elizabeth is Missing.

Interesting seeing what others recommend up thread. I loved 'Where'd You Go Bernadette' last year, which I had started and put down but picked up again after seeing so much praise for it on last year's thread.

On the zombie front I am now reading: #9 Warm Bodies - only a couple pages in so far, but it's quite engaging.

I loved World War Z, read it last year on kindle unlimited for free so bonus.

Halfway through The Miniaturist and not enjoying it much. The pages are turning quickly but only because it's an easy read. I'm really glad I didn't buy it.

Book 6 Dear Thief by Samantha Harvey.

This book has a lot to recommend it.

The main characters are delightfully textured and flawed.

The central question, what did X do to Y to ruin their friendship has enough suspense to keep the reader on edge.

There are lots of interesting musings on people's innate nature and what 'camp' any of us fall into.

My biggest gripe is that...the author sometimes goes on a bit. The endless mental gymnastics of the narrator can get a wee bit dull. The first erson narration doesn't help here.

But oveall a good book. I'm glad I read it.

No. 6 - Conference at Cold Comfort Farm - one of the sequels to Cold Comfort Farm. I loved the original andfound the characters very amusing. This one wasn't up to the standard of the oiginal for me but still a decent lighthearted read.

I'm now on The Handmaid's Tale and enjoying it so far.

Gosh a new thread! Not been posting much as immersed in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. About 3/4 of the way through and whilst I am enjoying it I am not gripped by it so it is taking even longer to read!

Southeastdweller just noticed your comment to me on the previous thread - I have decided on a self imposed book ban. It is ridiculous I have so many to read

15. The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane 4/5

Another fascinating read from Robert Macfarlane.

In this one he is discovering (and rediscovering) old paths, routes, tracks, drove roads, sea crossings and much more. Some of them he is familiar with - the Cairngorms where his grandparents lived, but mostly he is discovering new places accompanied by friends, colleagues and local people with specialist knowledge of the regions.

The sea journeys around the Outer Hebrides reminded me of the journeys undertaken by Kathleen Jamie in her books Sightlines and Findings, and I found these just as interesting. It's a part of Scotland I would like to visit at some point.

Along the way he encounters some very interesting (and quirky) characters. In particular a sculptor on the Isle of Harris, whose choice of art materials and studio contents I found quite disturbing! Especially the skeleton re-covered in calf flesh and filled with calves organs, destined to be buried at a later date as an art installation.

The courage and tenacity of Rajah the Palestinian human rights lawyer who continues to assert his right to walk wherever he chooses even into the Israeli West Bank, in the face of arrest, injury or worse, was particularly admirable.

Included in this volume are short biographies of the poet Edward Thomas, killed in action in 1917 and the artist Eric Ravilious killed in WWII in a plane crash. They were both enthusiastic walkers and observers of nature, and with whom Robert Macfarlane expresses an affinity. I'm very interested in reading more about Edward Thomas (more additions to my reading list!)

I found the tales of the homeless, jobless, isolated and often shunned ex soldiers post WW1 who returned to this country after the war but who were left with nothing - no option but to live rough and roam the countryside looking for work (often without hope, and certainly by the 1930s and the Depression) particularly poignant.

Oh, and I won't be in a rush to sleep out on Chanctonbury Ring on my own. That was beyond creepy.

There was so much of interest here, and he just makes you want to get outdoors to walk, and discover your surroundings.

1. World of Poo by Terry Pratchett. 3/5.

DP, DF, DB and DFIL read Pratchett's and DS received this as a present. I thought I'd give it a go. Not very imoressed tbh. Too many references outside of the book, footnotes annoying. Although did enjoy the reference to the rarity of the poo of the rocking horse!

Thanks for the Welcome Whippet & Duchess, ok I'm diving in then;

First book I read this year was;

1. Michel faber's The Book of Strange New Things, I enjoyed it, I've read all of his previous books and the style of this should have been right up my street, & whilst I enjoyed it at the time, it wasn't a 'stayer', is was intriguing and beautifully, quite lyrically written as with all Faber, but it just didn't linger with me, I don't think it had anything profound to say, which was a shame, I got much more from Under The Skin.

2. The End of Alice by A M Homes, unusually for me, I couldn't finish this book, I found the subject matter too disturbing in the sense that there was too much sympathy with the protagonists, I may revisit it later, but I found it very hard going. I think you'd have to be in the right mood (and I'm not sure what that is) for this book.

3. I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, I really, really bloody & thoroughly enjoyed this, don't read any thrillers as a rule, is was an Amazon punt, a brilliant read, twists and turns, interesting protagonist, great escapism. Recommended.

4. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, Beautifully written and chilling, great one for a Winter's night if you want a classic ghost story, evocative and a well told tale.

5. The Martian by Andy Weir, Brilliant, I adored this, it's quite technical hard SF in the meat of the novel (which is my bag anyway), but it's also entirely human in the way all the best science fiction is. Mark the protagonist is one of the best realised and relatable characters I've encountered for some time, you will be rooting for him.

6. Sand by Hugh Howey, I imagine there are many on this thread who read the Wool books, Sand is something of a departure in the same genre, I enjoyed it but didn't feel the characters were as fully realised as in Wool, I suspect this may expand to be a series though. Well worth a go if you enjoyed Wool or are a post-apocalyptica fan.

7. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, I'm not sure why I bought this book, standard guff really, derivative, one plus point was the narrative from the alcoholic protagonist and her own unreliable memories, I thought that was interesting and true, a better author could have made more of this as she was a very interesting character, the story - nothing new, pretty dire.

8. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, one of my best reads this year, it's post-apocalyptic but not grim or hopeless, it's about hope and humanity and death and life, all the big themes beautifully realised, intertwining tales of love, loss and the road. Brilliant.

9. At Last by Edward St Aubyn, the last in a semi-autobiographical quintet about Patrick Melrose, I have nothing to say but, read these books, they're extraordinary & brilliant, heartrending, sad, funny and REAL.

10. Arrrggghhh, a book I bought from a local bookshop, it was an American publication on the back of a project about people's stories, the tales of their lives, there were about 40 stories in it, all true and written by their tellers. I lent it to a friend & can't remember the chuffing name of it. It was a truly lovely and life-affirming book though, I'll send her an email & get the name, it's well worth a look.

11. The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett & Steven Baxter, as a long time fan of both of these authors I'd been meaning to read this for a while but was having supply problems with Amazon, I stumbled across it when I was browsing the shop where I bought the above book, Hmm, it was ok, an interesting premise, I'm not really sure if they work as collaborative authors though, I think the both loose something in the mix, I have ordered the next book though as I'm interested to see where it goes. If you love them both, it's worth a look, if you're a newcomer to their work, I can offer better alternatives.

12. Finally, I finished The World According to Garp by John Irving today, an obvious classic, funny & tragic in turns, 'In the world according to Garp, we are all terminal cases'. Too true.

Ohh Cote, I just saw your post on The Martian, agreed completely, YA it ain't, (& I speak as someone who has accidentally bought YA fiction on the back of an erroneous Amazon review), it's not fine literature, but it's incredibly human and the science is good (& interesting & engaging).

As Cote says, YA fiction is obsessed with the usual teenage preoccupations (which is fine and usual for the genre) of unrequited & impossible love and its ultimate happy consummation. And if it's YA wrapped in SF you can guarantee the S of that is woeful and shite, it's Mills and Boon in a dystopian future essentially, I hope my DCs skip this nonsense (it wasn't even an option for me as a young reader and if it had been, I would have been dismissive to the point of ire) and skip to proper fiction with alacrity.

Number 17 Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil gaiman

A thoroughly enjoyable and delightfully ridiculous book. My one complaint is that some of the characters seemed a tad underdeveloped, which is a rarity for Pratchett. Would recommend if you don't want a book that takes itself too seriously.

hound I have I Am Pilgrim cued up on my kindle, looking forward to it! Have a couple more books to get through first.

Next up is Peter Straub's Ghost Story on the kindle. I'm currently reading The Book Of You in paperback.

In 3/4 of the way through Gone Girl. Still don't think I like it but want to know how it ends so persevering. Second half is more interesting than the first though