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50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 3

993 replies

Southeastdweller · 21/03/2015 17:46

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.

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 06/04/2015 12:53

Chillie - That book sounds confused. Surely, it should be talking about a Turkish prison in Istanbul or Byzantine prison in Constantinople.

More accurately, given the time period (pre-1920s), it should be talking about an Ottoman prison in Istanbul.

ChillieJeanie · 06/04/2015 15:13

There were references to Sultan Abd-ul Hamid II, the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and Stamboul, Galata and Pera, but the city as a whole was referred to as Constantinople. I must admit my knowledge of Turkish/Ottoman history is not great so I wasn't sure whether it would still have been Constantinople or Istanbul at the end of the 19th century, but I think it probably added to the feel of things not quite being right, along with the use of American terms for elements of life in Victorian London.

CoteDAzur · 06/04/2015 15:56

Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453 and renamed it, so it would definitely be Istanbul by the 19th Century.

ChillieJeanie · 06/04/2015 16:03

Goodness, my knowledge of Ottoman/Turkish history is even worse than I thought! I hadn't realised it was Istanbul from the 1400s.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2015 16:16

I read, 'Lullaby' when it first came out. I enjoyed it - didn't like his others though. I can't remember anything really awful in it, but it was a long time ago and I was less fussy then! :)

whitewineandchocolate · 06/04/2015 16:35
  1. Stoner - John Williams - reviewed before by others, the story of a university lecturer from approx 1915 onwards and his rather sad life. I enjoyed the book very much, it is beautifully written and extremely sad in many ways. A very realistic portrayal of a life that didn't quite work out as planned narrated from the male perspective.
SprungHasSpring · 06/04/2015 16:57
  1. Man called Ove. Very easy read. Quite amusing in parts (dragged a little bit 3/4 of the way through). Akin to the 100 year old man who climbed out of a window (or whatever it was called) but better IMHO.
ClashCityRocker · 06/04/2015 19:27

Ah see I'm the other way around - have loved all his other books, but just didn't enjoy this one. Worst bit was him finding and shagging his dead wife, it was quite graphic and put me off my crumpets Grin

Anyway, I have three hours of train journeys tomorrow so on the prowl for a 'banker' book that will get me through...

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2015 19:48

:)

I've just treated myself to This little beauty I suspect the story itself will be middling, rather than brilliant, but the books are just beautiful.

Original poster
Southeastdweller · 06/04/2015 20:08

Clash What book are you talking about? A Man Called Ove? Just so I know to avoid it (unless it's a comic novel).

OP posts:
SprungHasSpring · 06/04/2015 20:33

It is comic.

Original poster
Southeastdweller · 06/04/2015 20:45

Thanks...another one to add to my tbr pile, then. A few others on here have enjoyed it.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2015 20:47

Clash is talking about, 'Lullaby.'

Original poster
Southeastdweller · 06/04/2015 20:48

Thanks, Remus Smile

OP posts:
DuchessofMalfi · 06/04/2015 20:50
  1. Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle

Elizabeth Fremantle, with her second novel, appears to be cornering the market in detailing the lives of the quieter figures from history. With Queen's Gambit it was Katherine Parr and with Sisters of Treason it is Katherine and Mary Grey, sisters of the more famous Lady Jane Grey.

Interwoven into the stories of Katherine and Mary Grey is the story of Court painter Levina Teerlinc, friend of the Grey family. This provides the opportunity for third party observation of Court life. She was an interesting figure but who I felt was rather under used in the narrative. Her story began to tail off as the novel progressed but I felt that more could have been made of her third party observations.

I really wanted to give this novel four stars, and it so nearly got there. Four for meticulous research, but just losing a little bit because the pace of the story dipped in places. Furthermore, the novel is slightly confused - most of the time it wants to be taken seriously as an historical novel, but just occasionally it wanders off into romantic bodice-ripper mode. In order for it to be "perfect for Wolf Hall fans" as the sticker on the front of the book says, it needs to be taken seriously all of the time. The bodice-ripper bits weren't really necessary and rather spoilt my enjoyment of an otherwise good read.

Next up - reading The Girl on the Train (along with nearly everyone else :o). It's not bad, fits the bill - I wanted something lightish and undemanding before tackling something a bit meatier.

Ellisisland · 06/04/2015 21:12

Book 15: at the waters edge by Sara Gruen

Set in 1945 3 Americans arrive in Scotland to search for the Loch Ness monster. Two men and the narrator who is married to one of the men. The men have avoided joining the war and are treated with disdain by the locals. The story is of the narrator Maddie realising that her marriage is not what she thought it was and as she discovers this she forms friendships with the local girls and falls in love with the owner of the inn.
This is by the author of Water for Elephants which I enjoyed and whilst this book is readable and entertaining it is not as good. The characterisation of the Americans and the Scottish girls is good and I really liked some and couldn't stand others. The metaphor is a bit heavy handed but works (searching for fictional monsters when real ones can be the people closest to you) but what lets the book down is the love story. We barely know anything of the man she falls in love with and it goes from nothing to them declaring their love for each within a few pages. I actually reread because I thought I must have missed a bit! It's a shame because it makes the whole book weak where as up to that point I really liked the female characters and cared about what happened to them.

Overall an entertaining read but not one I will read again and not as good as the authors previous.

esiotrot2015 · 06/04/2015 22:05

  1. Thomas Hardy little book of poems introduced by Claire tomalin

  2. The wave - book about the 2004 tsunami very moving

esiotrot2015 · 06/04/2015 22:08

remus I loved koomsom 's ice cream girls
Hated how they changed the ending in the mini series on the Beeb

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/04/2015 22:12

I didn't see the TV thing. I thought the writing was clunky. Iirc she was very young when she wrote it, and I thought it showed. Didn't warm to the characters, either.

OllyBJolly · 07/04/2015 07:59

Reading a few short books to get back on track and huge thanks to SouthEastDweller for these recommendations (especially the Ian McEwan - that is one great book Smile)

#11 The Children Act Ian McEwan - Exquisitely and compellingly written. Loved this - I got so drawn in to the story and the characters. Quite sad it's over.

#12 I Feel Bad About My Neck Nora Ephron - Didn't enjoy at all. Couldn't see the point of any of the stories, and just didn't see the humour that the reviewers see.

Now reading Julian Barnes The Sense of an Ending.

tessiegirl · 07/04/2015 10:55

So, decided book 13 is Game of Thrones... I must admit I am a little scared! Thought I would give it a go as it has been sat on my to read pile for months...I've been scared off by it's size!!!! However, I have taken the plunge and I started it last night and am pleasantly surprised by how easy to read it is so far.... Confused Smile

bookwormbeagle · 07/04/2015 11:34

Not posted in a while but have been enjoying reading some of the reviews on here. I'm a bit stuck in a rut with my reading at the moment, and have been re-reading some old fairly safe reads whilst I decide what to go for next (have lots on my kindle tbr but can't find my charger Shock ).

  1. All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson.
    A DCI Banks case, following the investigation of a murder/suicide. Not one of his best but an easy read all the same.

  2. Bad Boy by Peter Robinson.
    Another DCI Banks book, although in this one he's out of the country for most of it. His daughter Tracey gets caught up with a bad lad and gives him refuge. Didn't read the last few chapters as I got bored.

  3. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin.
    The first book in the Detective Rebus series follows the investigation into the investigation of young girls being abducted and killed. Rebus is receiving coded messages to both home and work addresses. Well written.

Audiobook of Wolf Hall has been paused as I don't have time to concentrate on it atm. Will come back to that one.

CoteDAzur · 07/04/2015 12:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thelittlebooktroll · 07/04/2015 22:00

  1. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
    The Queen visits a mobile library and develops a love of reading. I suppose this book really is about the love of reading. I know a lot of people love Alan Bennett and I thought this book would be funny/ witty, but I found it boring and unoriginal. Disappointing read.

  2. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen
    Major Pettigrew is a respectable widower living in a little English village in Dorset. His younger brother Bertie dies and the local Pakistani shop keeper Mrs Ali supports him and becomes a good friend and a sort of romance develops between the two which might not be acceptable in this traditional Dorset village, but they have much in common. I loved this story. Read it while home in bed fighting a tedious cold and it was the perfect tonic. Chick lit for old people but the characters are well developed and its a book with a big heart. This book has been on my shelf for a long time, so glad I finally read it.

  3. My cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
    Philip is brought up by his uncle Ambrose on an estate in Cornwall. One day Ambrose leaves for Italy where he marries his cousin Rachel and Philip doesn't hear from him until he receives a letter from Ambrose that all is not well and he might be dying. Philip travels to a Italy, but arrives too late. Ambrose is dead. Back in Cornwall Philip gets a visit from cousin Rachel. He falls for her, but did she have a hand in Ambrose's death?
    Beautifully written by Du Maurier if course. I am a big fan of her writing and not sure why I haven't read this book before. Loved it.

mamapain · 07/04/2015 23:46

I first posted on the second thread and was only up to my fourth book. Sorry I haven't come back I've been so embarrassed as I haven't done that much reading since. I can't believe some of you are approaching 30 or 40 books already.

Just to recap, I read:

  1. Backstory- David Mitchell
  2. I Partridge: We need to talk about Alan - Alan Partridge/Steve Coogan
  3. Yes Please- Amy Poehler
  4. The Girl on the Train- Paula Hawkins

I have now read

  1. The 100 Year Od Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
  2. The Shock of the Fall
  3. The Rosie Project
  4. The Rosie Effect

All of these seem to have been repeatedly posted about. I didn't enjoy the shock of the fall at all, but found the other three funny and heartwarming.

I'm not a good reader and am so slow that its a bit of a struggle. I'm doing ok considering I only read 4 books last year, although I certainly won't be keeping up with you lot!

I'm currently on Wild by Cheryl Strayed, but am not sure where to go next.

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