50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 3

[Southeastdweller]

Thread three of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2015, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. It's still not too late to join, any type of book counts, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

First thread of the year here, and second thread here.

20. The Master And Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov

Some books I like, some books I don't. This one I hated with a vengeance. Pathetic prose, ludicrous 'plot' (if it can be called that), pathetic 'conversations' (if they can be called that) between 2D characters one of whom is a giant cat and another is the dullest Satan I have seen portrayed in print.

It's supposedly a "classic" I see only one possibility - since it was written during Stalin's rule, there may be covert references in there that would make sense to a Russian living there and then but to nobody else. Maybe if I got those, I would find something (anything!) in this book that is remotely worthy of the praise I have time and again seen heaped on this book on MN.

Looking online, I see that all sorts of meaning has been attributed to this book over time because it has no meaning that is apparent at first glance including Freemasonry. This is a subject I know a little about and can report that I have seen no indication of Freemasonry symbols or rituals in this book whatsoever.

I couldn't even tell if this book is defending religion against state-sponsored Soviet atheism or ridiculing religion along with the official state view. That is how complete and utter nonsense this book is.

If anyone would like to tell me what I have missed, if anything, I'm all ears.

No. 11 - Martyr by Rory Clements. This took me ages to read. I was looking for a new Shardlake but the character really didn't grab me. I enjoyed the historical detail and the plot particularly the sub plots of the prostitutes and their battles with the men, but I felt the main character was a bit bland. I don't think I'll read any more of the series.

12. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. This book, on the other hand, was the best book I have read in a long time. I absolutely loved the structure, the narrative and the supporting character of Tommy. I think the whole concept of the "students" was a fascinating dystopia as the students only rebelled so far without going over a line. It intrigued me as well as how the author just allowed the information to seep into the reader's mind as the guardians did for the students. I had seen the film, and was pleasantly surprised by the ambiguity of the "donations" in the book. It felt more fitting. I think this has already become one of my favourite books and I will definitely read it again.

Now reading The Children Act by Ian McEwan - I am enjoying it a lot so far. I think my reading style has changed recently by the books I am now enjoying.

13. Did She Kill Him? - Kate Coloquhun - non fiction account of the murder of James Maybrick, his wife Florence was accused of his murder by poisoning. The book was a good read for the most part, reads more like a novel than a non fiction book. There was quite a lot of analysis of Victorian society, some of which I've read before but an interesting read.

14. Ticket to Oblivion - Edward Marston - haven't finished this yet but I'm adding it on as its a regular Victorian murder mystery and I haven't got much to say about it!

Off for Easter and feel like I'm catching up a bit with getting to target.

Stephen King's Joyland is £1.00 on the Kindle. Is it any good?

It's not his best, Cote, but I'd say it's worth a read and worth a pound! :)

Amazon just informed me that I had bought Joyland on 11 Feb for £0.99

Wanted to try so hard to complete these but seeing as I have onky read 7 books this year i cant imagine it happening

On a plus note ... I haven't read 7 books in this short amount of time for a couple of years so at least that's an improvement!!

Don't let that discourage you GetHappy. I am a little behind as well but each book read is one book closer. It is not a competition so just keep reading, checking in and most if all enjoy!

GetHappy seven books is awesome, so don't give up. It doesn't have to be fifty books and everyone here would love to hear about what you have read because it's great to hear about what people have enjoyed/not enjoyed and what people recommend. What is your list so far? Life is generally so busy that I am always impressed by anyone who has read anything to be honest!

14. A hunger like no other - Kresley Cole The first in a series of paranormal romance books. It was ok, a few hmmm moments. Was a light, easy read. I'd probably only recommend to big fans of this genre.

I was in the same position GetHappy and some posters recommended some shorter books and I'm nearly catching up.

WhippetWoman- thanks, that's a great way to look at it. I love reading but never found the time until this challenge. I've already read more books this year than I did in the whole of last year (maybe the last two years). My life is so much better for it. And this thread is great for suggesting books I wouldn't normally have read.

Heartfelt thanks to all of you participating.

GetHappy, you don't have to read 50 books. And it's definitely not a competition if it were, we would all lose to Remus & few other crazies who read 150 books every year

Number 30 - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

My first book by the author. I enjoyed the writing style and found this easy enough to get into. Towards the end, it was quite thought-provoking, however, I did find some sections arse-clenchingly dull.

I think my problem with the book was that the characters were all fairly bland - although given the theme of the book, this may have been a tool used by the author. Even so, it did hinder my enjoyment of the book.

It read like a YA book as well, which I wasn't expecting. I like YA when it's being YA, but this seemed a bit like YA dressed up in adults clothing, IYKWIM.

Overall, it was an ok book, but very well written and I'm keen to read other books by the same author - I believe a few fans on here have suggested this is one of his weaker books.

Number 32 - How The Dead Live by Will Self

Most Will Self books, IME, are like marmite. This is one of his more accessible ones.

The story of Lily Bloom, a late-middle aged lady who dies of breast cancer, and her adventures in the afterlife - which apparently means a basement flat in a suburb of London reserved for the recently deceased.

Told from Lily's viewpoint, this is a very funny book, it manages to be absurd without being ridiculous and the characters are all utterly believable. Great fun.

Really enjoyed this one, and would recommend.

GetHappy - thats great, it's only week 13 as well. (Time to pick a few short ones to catch up? I read "we have always lived in the castle" over 2 days, it's only 200-ish pages! )

I've just finished 19. Charm - Sarah Pitborough - a 'grown up' version of the Cinderella story. She's a bit slutty and stroppy, the 'ugly sisters' and 'step-mother' are far more sympathetic characters, the prince is a bit of a tosser, Buttons is a 'Robin Hood' character and there's about 5-6 other fairy stories interwoven/referenced. Was a bit, and not one I'd recommend unless you're after some fantasty, chit-lit-y nonesence with lots of 'self love' with magic mice watching. (which is not always a bad thing!).

Deffo not a competition, and I fully admit to being in the crazy camp. I read stupidly quickly and don't have enough of a social life - bad combination!

I need more, 'Survival against the odds' or, 'Failure to survive in the wild' recommendations, please. 'Into the Wild' was perfect for me, and I need more like that.

27. A Visit from the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan

I still don’t know how I feel about this. In one respect, I read it non-stop like an addict but on the other hand, I don’t know if I really particularly enjoyed it, which is very strange.
Basically, it’s about a lot of different characters who are loosely related to a music industry executive called Bennie Salazar and each chapter is about a different person, but you discover connections between all the people and see them sometimes in their past, sometimes in their future from their own persective and the perspectives of others. There was some very perceptive writing here about how life doesn’t turn out the way you imagine or hope it will.

28. Academy Street – Mary Costello

This really is quite similar to Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and I admit I much preferred Brooklyn, but Brooklyn is a much longer more detailed story. This short, sad novel focuses on a shy and socially retiring Irish girl who moves to New York and makes her life there. Although it skims over events very quickly (with some some fairly clichéd happenings) the writing was engaging and on the whole I enjoyed it. Plus, at 193 pages it was short!

I am now trying to read Waiting for the Barbarians but it is not gripping me. When I track down a second hand copy of IT by Stephen King I will read that.

If has been a while since I last updated….
11. The Marrying of Chani Kaufman – Eve Harris. A novel exploring relationships and marriage within London’s orthodox Jewish community. Chani is one of 8 daughters who has rejected and been rejected by several suitors and is under pressure to make a success match, as her younger sisters cannot marry until she has. It was an interesting and easy read.
12. The Glass Painters Daughter – Rachel Hore. The novel follows two connected story lines concerning a stained glass window. One Victorian love story concerned with the original creation of the window and one modern day concerned with the restoration of the window and of the main characters relationship with her father. A lovely novel.
13. The Ladies Room – Carolyn Brown. The main character finds out that her husband has been unfaithful and on the same day inherits her great aunts house. The outcome was very predictable. An undemanding easy read.
14. The Cold Tap – Tom Beckerlegge. A very unusual book. A kind of classic detective story, interspersed with information and stories about bathing through the ages.
15. In Stitches – Dr Nick Edward. From the title I expected this to be a light-hearted book about life as an A&E doctor. However the majority of the book is the author’s rants about how the NHS is run. I don’t recommend.
16. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray is a beautiful and irresistible young man. When his friend paints his portrait, Gray expresses a wish that he could stay forever as young and charming as the portrait. The wish comes true and the portrait ages while Gray remains young.

17. The Rosie Effect – Graeme Simsion. Sequel to the Rosie Project. Don and Rosie have been married for ten months and are living in New York. An enjoyable book, but not as good as the first.
18. The Spice Merchants Wife – Charlotte Betts. The story is set in 1666 and starts just before the Great Fire of London. The devastation wrecks the family life and prospects of a young wife, Kate Finche. The story covers the gradual redevelopment of the city over the next couple of years. Great story with lots of historical details. Would definitely recommend.
19. Daddy Long Legs – Jean Webster. Book largely written in the form of humorous letters from a lonely orphaned girl to her male benefactor, detailing the trials, tribulations, hopes and fears of her life. A great read, highly recommended.

I adore, 'Daddy Long Legs.' Such a lovely book - they don't make them like that any more!

I also have not updated for about a month - I spent quite a lot of it a bit ill and rereading Louise Penny "cosy" crime for comfort.
So
#19. The cruellest month - Lousie Penny
#20. The Murder Stone - Lousie Penny
#21 - The Paying Guests - Sarah Waters. I think other people have reviewde this but it's set between the wars about a mother and daughter who take in a couple of lodgers to make ends meet. I found it quite similar to her other books, beautifully written but the plot dragged for me. It took me well over a week to finish which for me is a looooooooong time.
#22. The Brutal Telling - Louise Penny
#23. The Narrow Road to the North - Richard Flannagan. This won the Booker last year and is about Australian POWs in Burma building a railway in WW2. It was a great read,sad without being cloying and about an aspect of WW2 that I didn't know much about.

#24. Bury Your Dead - Louise Penny - one of her weaker ones but kind of a folllow on to The Brutal Telling.
#25. A Trick of the Light - Lousie Penny - better than the previous one.

then I read Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer , on recommendations from here which was great. And that got me on to a slight mountain disaster theme.

so #27 - No Way Down - Graham Bowley - which is about climbing K2 in 2008.
#28. Dark Summit - NIck Heil. Climbing Everest in 2006
#29. K2: Triumph and Tragedy - Jim Curran. K2 in 1986.

None of them are as good as Into Thin Air but I found the stories very compulsive. It's fascinating to see how it all pans out. Jim Curran's was the best of the others I think as he, like Krakauer, was actually there although he stayed near base camp as was filming. It's also interesting from a historical perspective how much changed from 1986 to 1996 and again to 2006 in terms of phone technology/internet etc. Also in 1986 soem of the routes were still unclimbed.

Phew... will try and update more regularly next time.

Ahh thank you everyone for your kind words ... I know it's not a competition. I'm just jealous of you all who get to read so much

My list so far is:

1. Elizabeth is Missing

Really enjoyed this book and found it a page turner.

1. The Curious Incident of the dog in the night.

Again enjoyed this book. Very well written.

1. The Letter by Kathryn Hughes.

Enjoyed this book. flits between just before WW2 and the mid seventies.

1. The 100year old man who jumped out the window and disappeared.

I can't really describe how I felt about this book. I read it and enjoyed some partd but found a lot of it went off track.

1. The Secret Life of Bees.

Really enjoyed this book.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird

Again really enjoyed this book. I enjoy reading this kind of genre.

1. Us by David Nicholls

Again ... I really enjoyed this. i actually felt really connected to the characters.

I am thinking of starting The invention of wings next but struggling to get into anything at the minute.

Don't worry gethappy I have visions of remus lounging about by a pool in some countryside idyll, with hordes of immaculately dressed servants running back and forth to do her every bidding whilst she devours a mountain of books

I get through a fair few books because of a 90 minute commute - so that's three hours a day reading. I'm sure if I pulled my finger out and learned how to drive I'd get through a fair few less!

Plus, it sounds like you've really enjoyed some of the books - and that's the main thing.

I wish! I work full time and often bring work home too, but read on the way to/from work, and have (at least!) an hour in the bath with a book every evening. :)

Ah, you can't beat a book in the bath

I think that's my most favourite place to read.

Although you have to choose your size of book carefully - Its hard to manage a big thick book with one hand while my other one holds the wineglass

I have realised I have a crisis brewing. I finished my last library book this morning (charm - review above) - I've started 'Her Fearful Symmetry' that a friend lent me, but it's only 380 pages, so as DH is out tonight and we've got time off, I'm thinking this will be done before Sunday. I have only some really godawful looking 'chic lit' books a mum at school gate lent me after I mentioned I was trying to read 50 books in 2015 - I was only holding onto them for a time limit that seemed decent before returning. Library won't reopen until Tuesday. I'm going ot have to read the chic lit aren't I, or make conversation with my husband over the easter break.