50 Book Challenge 2015 Part 4

[southeastdweller]

Thread four 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 can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

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

Happy reading

Well, if you don't like it, you don't like it. I think she's a fantastic writer and I loved Stone Mattress. There's a lot of humour in her stories, which is one of the things that makes them so enjoyable. But if you're not liking it so far I wouldn't bother.

Yes, OK, there is a bit of humour. A little bit. There isn't much else, though, as at 28%. Yawn.

I've totally given up on Attwood. Handmaid is decent, until the ending, as is Alias Grace. Everything else tediously bangs on about the same old same old and sets my teeth on edge.

I managed those two but have failed to finish anything else of hers. I've read Alias Grace a couple of times (though I can't remember the ending).

53. Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham. This was OK but very indebted to Peter Robinson. The crime story was pretty good but Thorne isn't a very memorable character. I think I will probably read the second book in the series and see how things develop.

I thought Handmaid's Tale was ok, but I find Attwood's writing very cold and clinical. Not my thing.

45. Inferno: The Devastation of Hamburg by Keith Lowe

Astonishing book about the July 1943 bombing raids on Hamburg.

The book describes some of the history of bomber command and the USAAF, their role in the bombings as well as the impact and aftermath in the city itself. It's not for the faint-hearted; there are some terrible details. It's also pretty non-judgmental.

The eye witness accounts of the firestorm that were created by the fourth raid are incredible and shocking and a testament to the horror of the aerial bombing war.

Recommended.

Book 81 - A tedious introduction to the poetry of Robert Browning.

JoylessFucker The book my dd recommended is great. I am really enjoying it. Will probably finish it tonight, so, unless anything goes horribly wrong in the final quarter, I can really recommend it.

18. The Pearl - JohnSteinbeck
19. Lunar Caustic - Malcolm Lowry

Two modern classics from the 'short reads' section of the library, in a blatant attempt to make up my numbers Both very powerful and moving novellas.

My kindle has broken - gutted! I'm not sure what happened, I don't think I dropped it or anything, but the screen has gone funny.

I will get a new one, as I love it, but in the meantime I am taking the opportunity to read the pile of books beside my bed. Some were presents, some I bought myself because I wanted the actual book, and some have been sitting there since before I got my kindle three and a half years ago!

32. Funny Girl by Nick Hornby. I've seen some lukewarm reviews of this, but I enjoyed it. Not his funniest book, but warm and touching.

Sorry for your misfortune, tumble. Broken Kindle - what horror! I hope your new one arrives soon.

Thank you best for the recommendation of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, I've ordered it from the library after thoroughly enjoying My Cousin Rachel.

29. Hide and Seek by Ian Rankin.
    Still working my way through his books starting with the early ones.
    DI Rebus investigates a drug overdose in a squat in Edinburgh, leading to a murder investigation. Not bad.

30. Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin.

DI Rebus is invited to join the police force in London as an expert in serial killings, ruffling a few feathers along the way. Twists and turns aplenty, this is a good book.

Philip K Dick's cult book Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep (on which the film Blade Runner was based) is £1.99 on the Kindle.

Hello! Not on Mumsnet much these days so haven't been posting much but have been reading:

39. The Ten-Year Nap, Meg Wolitzer
40. The Makioka Sisters, Junichiro Tanizaki
41. The School at the Chalet, Elinor Brent-Dyer
42. Jo of the Chalet School, Elinor Brent-Dyer
43. Jamaica Inn, Daphne du Maurier
44. Saving Grace, Jane Green
45. Saint Maybe, Anne Tyler

Loved all of these books, especially the Anne Tyler. As a PP has discovered, I have never read du Maurier before but am now hooked. Have Rebecca and My Cousin on my TBR list.

Bookworm - enjoy Rebecca; it's one of my ultimate comfort reads!

#36. The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain - man finds a stolen handbag and tracks down its owner using clues of what was in the bag. I really enjoyed this in the way I really enjoy films like Sleepless in Seattle. Yes, its plot is frankly ridiculous, but who cares - there was a real feel good factor at the end. I think it would make an excellent beach read

37. The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford - a rich American narrates the tale of the collapse of his marriage and that of a English couple he meets in a European spa town. I was absolutely blown away by this book, which relies heavily on the device of the unreliable narrator. I am very impressed by the author's ability to convey a whole other meaning than the literal interpretation of the words put forward by the narrator, who comes across as very sinister. It's a book that requires concentration (for me at least!) but definitely repaid the effort put in.

#38. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Clare North - this would probably be described as a literary thriller in which certain people are reborn to live their lives over again and again while still retaining the knowledge of their previous lives. I realise that I am in the minority, but I didn't really warm to this or enjoy it. To me there was a huge flaw in the logic of the reincarnation, which wouldn't work. Different reincarnates died at different times in different lives, but their souls were still ready to take to the stage at the pre-ordained time of birth in subsequent lives. In order for this to be feasible, there would either need to be a "holding pen" for souls till everyone was ready to be reborn at the correct time, or each soul would need to be split so that it could simultaneously continue in its existing life AND start to live again in the next life, the start of which would have been triggered by the death of another reincarnate.

Was wondering where you'd got to, Bssh :o

I'm hopefully going to finish The Luminaries this evening. Currently at 97% - so close - just got to get the DC to go to bed and then I can carry on.

Book 82 - 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons From the Crematorium' by Caitlin Doughty. I found this really interesting and engaging. One of the books I've enjoyed most this year so far.

Not read, 'The Good Soldier' for years. Excellent book.

50. The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman

Thomas Cale is a fighter, brought up from childhood to be a holy warrior by the Redeemers in their brutal Sanctuary where life is hard and frequently violent. After rescuing a girl about to be dissected to death by a Redeemer and escaping with two friends, he ends up in Memphis and eventually becomes the bodyguard to the daughter of the city's ruler. Then the Redeemers start to move against the empire, and battle comes to Cale and to Memphis.

It's an okay read. The setting seems to be a kind of alternate medieval Europe - either that or Hoffman couldn't be bothered thinking of his own names for cities since the geography seems rather off kilter. This is the first in a trilogy but I'm not entirely sure I'm interested enough to seek out the other two books.

68. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. I finished. Where do apply for my medal? :o

Actually it wasn't that bad. Pretty good story, which really does need to be read in huge great chunks otherwise it could be quite easy to lose the plot! On the whole I liked it, but really don't understand the astrology references. Off to listen to some podcasts where EC explains it all.

Well done, Duchess. Here's your medal

Astrology references went over my head, too. When you find out what all that was about, give us an abridged version, please.

Thanks Cote :o. Hope I can still find the podcast I'm thinking of. Was either Guardian or BBC Radio 4.

Right - here's The Guardian podcast interview with Eleanor Catton where she talks about the structure of The Luminaries and explains the astrology references - Podcast link :)

37 Stone Mattress: Nine Tales - Margaret Atwood

I didn't find this terribly impressive. All about old people doing old people stuff, which was all very boring. There was no effort (none!) to develop the few potentially interesting ideas to any meaningful level. Is this woman supposed to be a sci-fi/fantasy writer? The fantasy elements were just add-ons to some very dull & geriatric stories. I kept hoping that the stories would somehow come together (as indicated by the shared characters of the first two stories indicated) but was disappointed.

If anyone is interested in the sort of social phenomena that Atwood explores with the story where young people are burning down old folks' homes with cries of "It's now our turn!", "Burn the dusties!" etc, check out J G Ballard's books. He does this sort of thing much better.

Gosh yes, old people are so boring.

I wouldn't say that, and there are interesting books about seniors but this wasn't one of them.