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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:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/03/2015 13:34

Wilting - I'm afraid I absolutely detested, 'Longourne.' I do hope that you get more out of it than I did.

Just got, 'Burmese Days' and A Short Introduction to the Norman Conquest in a charity shop - looking forward to both of those.

ClashCityRocker · 29/03/2015 13:53

My horrible horrible 'd' h has made me sort and slim down my book collection Sad

Now they all fit on to the shelves and everything Sad

On the plus side, we can actually get into the spare room now...

I've been fairly ruthless and chucked out quite a lot (well, they'll be going to a book bank) and I just KNOW that next week I'll fancy rereading something I've chucked, even if I've not even thought about it for the past ten years...

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/03/2015 13:55

We cull pretty ruthlessly nowadays. Only really hang onto cookery books, non fiction and Stephen King! :) Don't tend to keep fiction, unless it's classics we know we'll re-read.

ClashCityRocker · 29/03/2015 14:00

My SK books have survived the cull Grin apart from the duplicates, which DH was a bit Hmm as to why I had them anyway - most of them were gifts of books I already had.

Tbf I do the bulk of my reading on the kindle nowadays, and only really read paperbacks in the bath which means they get wet and swell up to twice the size

esiotrot2015 · 29/03/2015 18:13

I really enjoyed Jill Mansell - three amazing things about you

It is very readable about three women & their love lives but it keeps you guessing all the way through & the characters are very relatable to

whippetwoman · 29/03/2015 18:40

I have never read a Stephen King book in my life Shock

However, I have just finished:

  1. The Colossus - Sylvia Plath
    An unsettling, but at times a very evocative collection of poems here. I believe this is early Plath. A lot are set roundabout the coast (New England?) and there are some beautiful descriptions of the natural world, as well as some disturbing ones, such as the poem Mushrooms, which genuinely made me feel a bit odd.

  2. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
    This is the second book in the YA Divergent trilogy. I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed this and found it a bit of a page-turner despite its simple YA first person narration style. I like reading YA fiction because it reminds me what it was like to read books when I was younger and also because I can then discuss them with my DD who is 13 and watch the films of them and have some idea of what is happening

ShakeItOff2000 · 29/03/2015 18:51

Cote - the second book in the Brilliance series is on my Amazon wish list for purchasing when I have read some of the mountain of books I have already bought! I'm looking forward to seeing where he takes the story. I read Lexicon last year; liked it but I felt the whole feel of the book and characters was quite cold, not sure exactly what it was I didn't connect with, maybe I didn't sympathise/identify with the characters as much as I would have liked. And I thought the ending was a bit of a cop out. Much preferred Brilliance!

Adding to the SK love. I read It and The Stand in my early teens - probably due a re-read but I don't want to spoil my memories, I loved them that much. I recently read Dr Sleep, which I really enjoyed but I HATED Mr Mercedes with a passion. I though it was nasty and violent with a ridiculous story. The Dome I liked but thought the ending was very very silly.

ClashCityRocker · 29/03/2015 19:41

Whippet, how have you managed that?! Do you feel an urge to start? If so, I would recommend It, definately his best IMO.

And I enjoyed the whole divergent trilogy - yes it's YA, but it's good YA and a decent story.

and I have distinctly unwholesome thoughts about Four

Ellisisland · 29/03/2015 19:59

Am very behind on this challenge as my baby DS does not let me keep still long enough to read much but...

Book 12 Signature of all Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

I love this book. Read it twice straight away. It's the story of a young woman who develops her ideas of evolution along the time of Darwin. But it is so much more than that it is a epic story of a woman's life and learning. I loved this book so much I have given copies to friends to get them to read it so I can talk about it with other people!

Book 13 Outlander book 1 by Diana Gibaldon (sp?)
I just finished watching the TV adaptation so thought I would try the book. It's the story of Claire a nurse in 1942 who travels through time and has to survive in 18th C Scotland. It's entertaining enough and easily read though the sex scenes are excruciating! I don't often say it but the tv adaptation is better mainly due to the beautiful Scottish scenery. The book is the first in a series but although this was an fairly enjoyable read I won't bother with any more in the series.

Ellisisland · 29/03/2015 20:01

Remus you are the first person I have encountered who hates Longbourn as much as I do. Everyone I know who has read it raves about it but it left me cold.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/03/2015 20:14

Ellis - I thought it was shockingly badly written and unbelievably tedious.

Agree re the stupid ending of, 'Under the Dome.' A shame because generally it was a return to form.

ShadowStone · 29/03/2015 20:31

I haven't read Under The Dome, but I have seen the first 2 series of the TV version. Anyone know if this differs wildly from the book?

whitewineandchocolate · 29/03/2015 21:08
  1. Where D'You Go To Bernadette by Maria Semple - set in Seattle, mum is a recluse, dad works at Microsoft and the daughter Bea is a genius. Very funny novel touching on Seattle life, pushy parents and mental health. A bit different and very enjoyable.
EleanorRugby · 29/03/2015 21:33

Just finished 13 which was Red Love: The Story of an East German Family by Maxim Leo. This was an OK read, it is written by an East German journalist and tells the story of his parents, and their experiences in the GDR and the story of his grandparents and their experiences in WW2 and how they shaped their future. It was an interesting read, especially the WW2 parts as I haven't read much about the German experiences of the war. However at under 300 pages it was short and it seemed to lack detail in parts.

I can't decide what to read next!

whippetwoman · 29/03/2015 22:45

Clash thank you for the SK recommendation. When I've finished the book I've just started I will give it a go. I am a complete and utter horror wuss though so may be a tad massively scared. That's why I love these threads because I would never have thought to read it.

I agree about Four (ahem).

Cedar03 · 30/03/2015 06:50

My H is a massive Stephen King fan but he hated Under the Dome. He thought it was just unpleasant rather than creepy horror. It is different from the TV series - apart from the main premise.

Whenever we have a book clear out it just turns out to be an excuse to buy more books - and H is worse than I am!

OllyBJolly · 30/03/2015 07:57

#11 We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

As recommended by ClashCityRocker and a huge thanks for that.

An engaging and intriguing story that pulls you right in. On the surface everything is normal - hormonal teens, family get togethers, manners and appearances. Several layers exist under that, becoming increasingly sinister. There are the undercurrents of jealousy and entitlement, of racism, manipulation and the reality behind the main character's condition. I found it difficult to put down. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Still one book behind schedule so taking up SouthEastDweller's recommendation of The Children Act by Ian McEwan as a shorter book.

BugritAndTidyup · 30/03/2015 10:09

I Capture the Castle was meant to be up next, but an abortive attempt at settling baby DS in his cot mean that I turned to my kindle instead. A Paperwhite, which I'm still not quite used to. Miss my kindle keyboard. Does anyone find they keep changing the pages accidentally with the Paperwhite? Seems to happen every time I put it down and pick it up, which is quite often.

Anyway, all that blather is meant to explain why instead of Dodie Smith, I've been reading:

  1. Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn. When two young girls are found murdered in her home town, damaged reporter Camille returns to her childhood home to write a story on their deaths. I enjoyed this quite a bit, and the ending wasn't anywhere near as crap as Dark Places (I quite liked the ending to Gone Girl, although it could have been handled better). Here the twist was much more sensible/deftly handled, although I did see it coming. It's dark, pretty macabre, and although I quite liked Camille, I found her half-sister Amma deeply, deeply irritating.

Now I need something lighter for a bit, so I will be turning back to I Capture the Castle again.

Rugbylovingmum · 30/03/2015 11:20

Hurray, I have won a copy of H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald - really looking forward to this one arriving. I had promised myself I wouldn't buy any more books as I have a huge pile to read but I was keen to read this one so very hapy with a free copy :)

I haven't quite managed to avoid spending. DD has been listening to Matilda on my phone (downloaded from audible when it was deal of the day). She is really enjoying it so I've treated her to set of Roald Dahl CDs from Book People so we can listen to them in the car. Much better than the annoying Disney CD we've had on recently.

JoylessFucker · 30/03/2015 12:58

Duchess, many thanks for the tip of Girl on a Train. Felt I wanted to find out what all the fuss was about, but sounded like it might be a disappointment so, at that price, its justified!

Bssh, thanks for the review on the Buried Giant. Another one for the List

whippet, like you I was in that position until a year ago when I got fed up of a good friend who collected the books going on (and on). So I picked 11.23.63 (the one around the Kennedy assisination). While it was fine, I can't say I'm dying to read another one.

Eleanor, I was very tempted by Red Love recently, but decided I had to curb the spending. Was it a kindle deal recently? I was drawn to it following a visit to Berlin and after watching a fascinating mini-documentary on you tube. May check it out again ...

I'm on book 19 (and maybe book 20?) Am finally reading IQ84 books 1 & 2. Enjoying it so far ...

CoteDAzur · 30/03/2015 13:19

I'm still struggling through the silliness that is The Master And Margarita which I had very high hopes for after all the praise I saw heaped on it over the years on MN. I can't tell if it wants to be Alice In Wonderland or JS & Mr N, but in any case, it's just not doing a good job of it. 76% through and wanting to stick pins in my eyes rather than read another chapter of it, frankly.

Meanwhile.... .... and this has nothing to do with reading but I'd be called insane if I went around telling people this in RL... I did an unassisted headstand today, for the first time in several decades Shock Grin Guess who will seriously impress the DC tonight Grin

EleanorRugby · 30/03/2015 13:38

JoylessFucker yes Red Love was a Kindle deal and still is 99p. I'm a sucker for a Kindle deal! I'm really not sure how I feel about this book. Having thought about it a bit more, for me there was too much detail on the war, I would have preferred more detail about life in the GDR. But for 99p I would recommend it if you have an interest in the country.
Have now decided on number 14 - I've just started Basil by Wilkie Collins (love Wilkie Collins)

tessiegirl · 30/03/2015 13:43

Still reading A Single Breath...enjoying it.

Finished Pepys 1664 diary which was fascinating, as always. Will start his 1666 diary later today which of course is the year of the great fire after the plague year of 1665...

Have added Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell to my Amazon wish list, thank you for the heads up!

Calfon · 30/03/2015 16:02

It has been a while since I updated but here goes:

  1. Storm Front - Jim Butcher. This is the first book in the Dresden Files and it is a cracker. Harry Dresden is a private investigator in Chicago. He is also a wizard. In this book he is working with the Chicago police to try and solve a number of murders that seem to be magical in origin. He has also been hired by a woman to find her husband who has been dabbling in magic. It was a very entertaining book - looking forward to the next in the series.

  2. The Night Watch - Terry Pratcherr. Audio book narrated by Stephen Briggs. I have spent the last year listening my way through all the Discworld novels. This is one of my favourites and in this one due to a magical storm Sam Vimes finds himself back in Ankh Morpork in the past and in the few days before the revolution. His future depends on the outcome of the next few days and as he assumes the role of Sergeant John Keel who has been murdered. Vimes finds himself as mentor to his younger self and in the end Vimes makes it back to the present time in time for the birth of his son.

  3. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn. This was a book club read. Libby Day was a young girl when her family was murdered. She testified that her brother was at the scene and he was sent to prison. Years later it seems that she may have got it wrong and she set out to discover the truth. The story was set against a backdrop of poverty, abuse, satanic cults and ignorance. It was ok.

  4. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde. This is the first in a series of books about literary detective, Thursday Next. The book is set in an alternative England which is at war with Russia over the Crimea and Wales has been and independent state for many years. Thursday works in Spec Ops (Special Operations) and chases a criminal mastermind who steals important original texts with the purpose of changing the original story which results in all the books worldwide changing. This book was totally bonkers and I loved it.

  5. Soul Music - Terry Pratchett. Audio book narrated by Nigel Planner. Int his book a young musical imp arrives in Ankh Morpork and with a few others starts a band called 'The Band with Rocks In' and 'Music with Rocks In' takes over. DEATH is upset after the death of his daughter and goes off to join the Klatchian Legion. All in all usual Pratchett genius. This was only let down by the quality of the audio.

I am a little behind but hoping to catch up over the Easter. I started The Goldfinch this moring, am currently listening to A Hat Full of Sky and have to read The Girl on The Train for my book club so will update when I make a bit more progress.

Cedar03 · 30/03/2015 16:27

Calfon I love the Eyre Affair and others by Jasper Fforde.

Book 14 was New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani. A man is found during WW 2 without memory and has no language. The doctor thinks he is Finnish and starts teaching him the language. Main disappointment was that the main plot development is told on Page 3. I kept expecting a twist but there wasn't one.

Book 15 is Death of a Cad by M C Beaton. Lightweight murder mystery.I enjoyed it and will read others as my local library seems to have loads of copies!