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

I remember you Sonnet. Welcome back

thanks Cote

Hi Sonnet, I've only been on this thread a few months but welcome back! My father passed away suddenly in June so I know a little of what you've been through. I kept reading too, I find it a great comfort and distraction.

30. The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage. Written in 1967, the story of 2 brothers in the American West. Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended, one of my favourite books this year. It reminded me of E. Annie Proulx and Cormac McCarthy but better. Everyone in my book club loved it too. I did not predict the ending!

31. Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson - an old fashioned thriller, along the lines of Frederick Forsyth. I enjoyed it but possibly a bit too much spy craft for me. It was a good holiday read though

32. Silent Scream (Detective Stone) by Angela Marsons - I bought this for 99p for Kindle. It was ok, nothing special but fine for 99p. I always find detective thrillers a bit stereotyped and formulaic and this was no exception. It did keep my interest though, so not a complete waste of time.

I'm onto some non-fiction now, time for a change

Hello again, Sonnet. Very sorry to hear about losing your father.

I've started The Girl in the Red Coat. Just the kind of thing I wanted right now!

And yours too, ladydepp

Thank you Ladydepp and Tumble - yes reading is a great source of comfort to me right now.

tumble - sorry it took a while to reply - have been having a lie down this afternoon, not been feeling very well (again). Have had a look at the list - you're not on it, but unfortunately southeast and Joyless are. I think MN are in the process of contacting those who are on the list.

Welcome back Sonnet - sorry to hear your sad news. to you and Ladydepp. Reading is what saw me through when my mum died. Was a huge comfort.

Sorry I missed your sad news, Sonnet. My sincere condolences for your loss

Lovely to have you back, Sonnet, and I'm so sorry about your dad.

Sorry to hear that you're not feeling well, Duchess. Have had a couple of nasty episodes of illness again recently, and am feeling a bit fed up of it all today. At least I've had a nice book to amuse me though, I suppose!

Book 106
'Pollyanna Grows Up' - the sequel to, 'Pollyanna' as reviewed below. I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one, as it was all rather samey, but it was still very sweet and feel-good, so just what I needed when feeling a bit sorry for myself!

Sonnet and LadyDepp, sorry to hear your news.

Remus and Duchess, hope you are feeling better soon.

Book 58
Blue Monday Nicci French. A re-read as I have been reading the series and had forgotten what happened in this one.

Just started Kane and Abel by 'master storyteller' Jeffrey Archer. I had been reminiscing with DH about the huge blockbusters we used to read in the 80s and how they don't seem to be around so much these days. Went to the library and this was sitting on the returns shelf. Last time I read it I was 17 and lying on Llangennith beach during a heatwave.

Thank you Cote, Remus & Duchess
Hard times but am so glad I have books to escape into. My mum and sister are the same. I have pondered a lot about what people do who don't read.
Enjoying catching up and will hopefully be fully up to speed tonight ????

Good God, Remus Trust you to find and read the sequel to Pollyanna

Thanks Best
Gosh yes I remember Kane and Abel of the 1980's - was the sequel The Prodical Daughter?

Remus & Duchess - do hope you are feeling better soon...
ladydepp so sorry I forgot to pass on my condolences - a dreadful time and I hope you have some happy memories to hold on to (I am finding that is helping me a lot). Look after yourself

Thanks, Remus and Best. Hope you feel better soon, Remus.

I had yet another blood test this morning. Starting to feel like a pin cushion :o. It doesn't normally hurt, but today it did. Glad DH was there to drive me home because I couldn't bear to move my arm afterwards.

I knew you'd be proud of me, Cote.

to those dealing with losses and poor health.

Welcome back, Sonnet

Thank you Southeast
My list earlier was from kindle/memory so bound to have forgotten a few - just found 2 paperbacks that I read in June:
Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende which takes my total to 41.

Just started a charity shop find - Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid whilst wallowing in the bath ????

Are there any from your list you recommend, Sonnet?

I was on the list and I agree it's worrying about the hacking, though I have no personal info stored on here I don't think it's a coincidence that I've been getting more spam email than usual over the past seven days. So I guess I need to change my password for my email, too.

Southeast - yes I have some recommendations. Up until book 16 I was following the "rules" of the thread and writing a synopsis/recommendation and from now on will carry on doing that.

As for the ones between 17 and 40 I have really enjoyed the Merrily Watkins series by Phil Rickman. I was introduced to them on last years thread by ChillieJean (if she is still around) and another poster whose names escapes me at the moment.

The rest of my recommendations (in no particular order)
The Storyteller – Jodie Picoult. My first and only JP novel
The Childrens Act - Ian McEwan
Behind The Scenes at the Museum - Kate Atkinson
Life After Life (A re-read for Book Club) - Kate Atkinson. I know this polarises a lot of posters
Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie
Us – David Nichols
The Bone Clocks – David Mitchell
The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver

My book of the year so far is The Poisonwood Bible

Sonnet - have you read A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson? It's the follow on novel from Life After Life, focussing on Teddy's life. I think I loved it even more than Life After Life.

63. Paganism A Very Short Introduction by Owen Davies

A short examination of the idea and meaning of paganism over the last two millennia, looking at the origins of the word itself, various belief systems from around the world, and neopaganism today. Bear in mind that this is only about 120 pages so it's a bit of a superficial overview, but there are good references at the back for anyone interested in looking at various elements in greater depth.

Nice to see you back Sonnet. I remember you seemed quite taken with Phil Rickman too. The Merrily Watkins series is really good. I'm a little nervous about how the TV version will go, but am looking forward to seeing it.

Duchess - I have it on my "To Read but un-purchased" list. When I heard it had been released I decided I had to re-read Life After Life first and then lo and behold a friend chose it for her Book Group choice (50% split between Loved it and hated it!). Interestingly my sister, who is a real KA fan, didn't like it as much as LAL. Glad to hear that you loved it!

ChillieJeanie thank you so much for the intro to Phil Rickman. I would never have found him otherwise. I have just introduced my DH to him and he is currently on book 2 of the MW series. I am planning on reading some of his back list too this year. I actually have a secret yearning to read all the MW books back to back this Autumn but on the other hand there are so many books I want to read and so little time....
If I am honest I will not actively seek out the TV series - it may disappoint!

Welcome back, Sonnet - sorry for your loss and sympathy to all the others going through tough times at the moment.

Another two books:

93. Courting Shadows, Jem Poster. Victorian architect is renovating/destroying a church; falls out with locals; falls for local girl. Mixed feelings about this - some memorable scenes, but overall a pretty downbeat read. Main character stumbles around not realizing how much harm he is doing.

94. Moriarty, Anthony Horowitz. I enjoy The House of Silk, his first go at a Sherlock Holmes novel, but not this one. Sherlock Holmes doesn't appear at all, although a few other characters do, making it rather pointless. As for the twist, bah, Agatha Christie did it better. If you're going to read a Sherlock Holmes homage, The Mangle Street Murders is much more fun.