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.

Agree and it's so nice to be read to

Daily deals have indeed been rubbish lately. Having said that, I recently snapped up H Is For Hawk, Into Thin Air, Mountains Of The Mind, The Three-Body Problem, Alan Turing: The Enigma, and Rivers Of London so maybe shouldn't complain too much.

Cote - I think you'll love, 'Mountains of the Mind'.
And hate, 'Rivers of London.'

Dp really enjoyed the Turing book - and I think it sounds right up your street. I've not read it - scared it might be too mathematical for me.

I'm keeping an open mind about Rivers Of London (having loved JS & Mr N and enjoyed Drood) and suspect I'll like Mountains Of The Mind, too.

I read and loved Alan Turing: The Enigma and reviewed it on the previous thread, I think. It was easily one of the most difficult books I have ever read, and I say that as someone who enjoys reading big tomes on math & science topics. Very rewarding, though.

Room by Emma Donoghue is 1.99 on the Kindle at the moment, if anyone is interested.

With Rivers of London series, if you can appreciate Ben Aaronovitch's sense of humour then it will help with the strangeness of the plot. Rivers isn't the best of the series and I would recommend reading the next one as well before deciding whether you want to continue, because I think he's just getting into his stride with the characters then.

I loved the series and I am definitely not a fan of fantasy novels

John Sweeney's non-fiction "Church of Fear" about Scientology is 0.99 on the Kindle today, if anyone is interested. A superb piece of investigative journalism, apparently.

I'll try that Duchess, thanks

No 35
Decided to read an old favourite in the garden under a shady tree yesterday
Jane austen's Emma
Never grow tired on it reminded me of being at uni reading outside summers seemed much longer then !

Thanks for the welcome ladies.

I started Number 18, What Alice Forgot, yesterday. It's entertaining so far and very light.

Queued up next on my Kindle is Gentleman and Players by Joanne Harris - saw it recommended on another thread and haven't read one of hers in a long time so thought I'd give it a go.

I found it really hard to read after DS was born in 2013. Don't know why, I couldn't concentrate on a book (sleep deprivation probably!) so I'd say I'll have a hiatus from reading when these 2 arrive.

Love listening to audiobooks as well, think I commented on the other Audible thread that I enjoyed listening to Agatha Christie short stories.

Ooh I heard John Sweeney interviewed a few weeks ago and he was very interesting. Will definitely have to take a look at that book at some point.

TheEagle, I loved What Alice Forgot. It's a light read, but it made me ponder what 25 year old me would think if she saw me now. Hopefully she wouldn't be too shocked.

I hadn't thought about that littlebooktroll - I'll be 35 later this year too so I should think about my 25 year old self too!

I was in a very different place! Different career, different partner, different kind of life altogether.

18 Longbourne by Jo Baker ; Have to say I did enjoy this although the sensibilities expressed are really v modern and the proffered Austen setting really just gives a backdrop, it doesn't inform the atmosphere or emotion of the narrative at all. So if you are looking for an Austen re-telling or re-enacting of the original P&P, this is not it. It is it's own story and the Austen thing is a bit of a hook really. I suppose there was rather a lot about all the housework but I found I was interested in what life was like for those servants and what they strived for and what realistically was available for them. In the end, the book gives into the readers(?) desire for a happy ending which I think does not really accord with the times we are supposedly reading about or the likely fates of the people featured. So a weak second half but overall an enjoyable read.

Currently reading The Barbarians at the Gate: The fall of RJR Nabisco by Bryan Burrough & John Heyler which is about the LBO of a giant US corporation involving food and tobacco companies. V well written for a business book, really engrossed in it so far.

Cote picked up The Martian in the library on Wed! Was well pleased with my find

Joyless I loved 1Q84, one of my favorite books. Did you say you had a blog??? >nosy

wilting - The Martian is great. It is currently being filmed with Matt Damon in leading role, apparently. Enjoy

Meanwhile in the magical realm called MumsNet where nameless strangers come up with the weirdest personal attacks, I got told by someone that she is sorry for me because (in her understanding) I have no books at home and don't know "the pleasure of reading". She is sorry for me & my children, apparently.

I can't stop laughing

You did put her straight I hope?

Cote I just snorted my tea at that

Tee hee, cote, that's you told!

Cote - Have you read, 'The Room'?

What the heck re: the weird personal attack? Where did that come from?

Wilting - Do we go to the same library? They had a copy of, 'The Martian' in the window at the weekend.

That made me snigger cote

Book 36 - the acid house by Irvine Welsh

Collection of short stories, varying in quality, but an enjoyable enough read in the bath.

Still on with Revival by SK too. Enjoying it a bit better this time, but it pisses me off when half the book is all childhood, then it jumps to adulthood and all the characters have completely changed.

Ladies, I may have replied with links to our 50-Book Challenge threads. Enjoy

Please don't snigger reply there. I'd rather not look like one of those MNers who call on their buddies to pile on whoever they are having a debate with.

Remus - No, I haven't read Room. I read its synopsis and decided that I really don't want to read about kidnapped girls and their children born of rape after having watched endless hours on this very subject over 8 seasons of Criminal Minds. Have I missed something?

cote, I think Room suffered from being so popular and being dissected to death.

It's a good novel, and at the time it was published it was a little bit different so got a lot of attention.

The main storyline isn't exactly heart lifting but the way it's written is lovely (IMO) and there are some really touching parts in it.

It's worth a read.

There's a movie in the pipeline I believe!