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50 Book Challenge 2015 Part Five

999 replies

southeastdweller · 01/09/2015 07:45

Thread five 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, third thread here, and fourth thread here.

Happy reading Smile

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 09/10/2015 09:44

whippet - For the love of all that's holy, do not watch The Skeleton Key. Yes, it's the one with Kate Hudson. I saw her on the DVD cover and thought "Oh, a good actor. So it must be a good thriller." I did not realise it was the most terrifying film I would ever see Shock

To be fair, though, the terror is not with blood and gore. It is very psychological, and if I liked that sort of thing, I would probably say it was very well done: just with a few mirrors and some good actors & actresses. Still, I am still terrified of the story (which I haven't yet managed to forget).

My kids started singing that song in the film once and I totally freaked out. You know, the old folk song children sing in the movie. I was properly panicking. I'm over 40 ffs Blush

Sonnet · 09/10/2015 13:09

Book 56 - A Song For Issy Bradley by Carys Bray
A charity shop find that was shortlisted for the 2014 Costa first novel award and was also serialised as a book at bedtime for R4.
A story about a family tragedy and how the different members handle it and their Mormon religion. Well written book. Not overly sentimental.

AnonymousBird · 09/10/2015 13:20
  1. Soul of Discretion by Susan Hill
  2. Amok by Sebastian Fitzek
  3. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
  4. Watching You by Michael Robotham
  5. Us by David Nicholls
  6. I Let you Go by Clare Mackintosh
  7. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

Now onto:

  1. Black Eyed Susans
Original poster
southeastdweller · 09/10/2015 19:11

Anonymous, did you ever finish Late Fragments? I'm curious to know what you thought of it.

OP posts:
ChillieJeanie · 10/10/2015 07:10
  1. The Strings of Murder by Oscar De Muriel

A violinist is murdered in his locked practice room. He had the door keys, and the window was padlocked on the inside. Yet his maid swears she heard three musicians playing in the night. Fearing that the public will panic over the possibility of another Ripper, Inspector Frey is sent to Edinburgh to investigate, under the cover of a fake department specialising in the occult, although he is perturbed to discover that his new boss, Inspector 'Nine-Nails' McGray, actually believes in it.

Set in 1888, and told in the first person by Frey, it's an entertaining read. Fairly gruesome murders, conflict between the two protagonists, some nice touches of humour, and some fairly grotesque characters.

Sonnet · 10/10/2015 11:20

I don't believe it ChillieJeanie I started that book last night! Really enjoying it so far....

ChillieJeanie · 10/10/2015 17:40

:) I actually bought it sometime over the summer and had forgotten about it. The other morning I had an "I don't know what I want to read!" moment and spotted it. Turned out to be just the thing!

There is/will be a second book so I will see about picking that up at some point.

Sonnet · 10/10/2015 20:29

Mine was a charity shop find a few weeks ago... Smile

Lilaclily · 10/10/2015 22:14

mmack
Thanks for replying Smile

I've just finished no 79
Sophie Hannah's kind of cruel which was much better , not so much about the detectives , I found it pretty chilling !
I've looked inside and there was no suggestion it's part of a series

mmack · 11/10/2015 00:16

i just don't think Simon is a very convincing character. Reading the Sophie Hannah books always makes me nostalgic for the early Peter Robinson D.I. Banks books. I wish I could find a new series that's even half as good as those were.

whitewineandchocolate · 11/10/2015 18:02
  1. A Case of Doubtful Death - Linda Stratman - Victorian female detective series, the story in this one was rather dull and uninspiring.
  2. Farewell to the East End - Jennifer Worth - listened to this on audio, it was reasonably interesting but not as good as Call The Midwife (I haven't read the second book in the series)

Am reading The Enchanted April now (thanks for the recommendation, sorry I can't remember who it was), I am really enjoying it so far.

DinosaursRoar · 11/10/2015 18:15
  1. Imperium - Robert Harris - a lot of people have raved about this book but for some reason I just couldn't get in to it, was a bit slow. it's a fictional biography of Cicero by his slave/secretary Tiro. I know that many of the characters were real Roman historical characters, but my knowledge of ancient Rome/the republic is so scetchy I don't know how much of it was true.
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2015 19:36

Have had a slow week - busy with work and then been away, so I feel as if it's been ages since I read my last one!

Book 127 - 'The Berlin Wall: A World Divided' by Frederick Taylor
I wish I'd read this before we went to Berlin. I thought this was absolutely brilliant - obviously the history is fascinating, but it was a really interesting and friendly read too. Loved it.

Book 126 - 'The Case of the Six Watsons' by Robert Ryan.
Ryan has created a series of novels featuring Dr Watson on the Western Front (I reviewed the first one below). Here, he has reworked some non-Holmes Doyle stories to bring in Holmes and Watson and make Watson more prominent. I really enjoyed them until the final one, which was a Ryan original and didn't seem to go anywhere.

Lilaclily · 11/10/2015 21:51

mmack I'll have to try those instead

White wine - I loved enchanted April Smile such a lovely gentle read

Esio xx

Pedestriana · 12/10/2015 10:20
  1. Not my Father's Son - Alan Cumming. I saw this in the window of a local bookshop and as I rather like AC thought it would be worth a read. It was compelling and shocking. Alan's invitation to appear on 'Who do you think you are?' set off a chain of events relating to his family history that was unexpected, uncomfortable, revealing and jaw-dropping. I'd have liked to have heard a bit more about AC's early years, but this was cleverly written purely about the ancestry search and its implications.
wiltingfast · 12/10/2015 13:27
  1. Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch; took me a bit to get into this, but I enjoyed it in the end. For anyone who's into the series it is more of the same. Not the most credible mysteries ever, but humorous and enjoyable. The novelty is wearing off a bit for me, have Foxglove Summer but doubt I'll read anymore after that.

Have started Spares by Michael Marshall Smith and really not impressed so far. Not sure how the hell anyone expects me to believe in a giant crash landed mall, a junkie cop running from his past (yawn) and clones, whom despite the fact they are presumably a v expensive and possibly irreplaceable asset of their owners, are apparently left in to rot in Dickensian conditions and minded by junkies. Even in a totally morally bankrupt society I think such assets would be minded better.

Not sure I want to spend any more time on such cartoonish nonsense which is not even funny. I'm only page 48. Any comments? Persist or Abandon?!

DuchessofMalfi · 12/10/2015 14:24

  1. Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout by Andy Stanton. That's it, we've finished the series (well I have anyway :o). Bit tired of them now.

  2. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. Have no recollection of having read this as a child. Really enjoyed it, and so did DS.

  3. The Wars of the Roses: Stormbird by Conn Iggulden. If you like battles, with lots of blood and guts, then this is your book! I like historical novels, but this one didn't really do much for me.

Still continuing with Emma - just over a third of the way through, and liking it very much.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 12/10/2015 18:49

Love, 'The Iron Man.' So much better than Hughes' poetry! My two used to really like the film when they were younger too.

DuchessofMalfi · 12/10/2015 19:47

I didn't know there was a film as well - will see if I can get it from the library. DS will love that :)

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 12/10/2015 19:50

It's v different to the book, but quite interestingly done.

ChillieJeanie · 12/10/2015 20:35

Can I just interrupt to recommend a brilliant experience at a bookshop? If anyone is near Bath you must try a Reading Spa at Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights. I treated myself to one today. Chat about books over coffee and cake then your 'bibliotherapist' goes off and comes back with a massive pile of books for you to browse based on your discussion. It's £65 and includes a voucher for £45 of books so I came home with a bag full. I spent two hours in there and it was a really lovely experience.

So my next few reads will probably be from the pile I picked up today. Grin

Sonnet · 12/10/2015 20:44

Sounds like me ideal day out ChillieJean. I am very interested to see what is in your pile....
Book 57 - The Strings of Murder by Oscar De Muriel. I am not going to provide a synopses as this was admirally done by Chillie* a few posts ago. Really enjoyed this story - loved the characters of Frey and McGray and the interaction between them.

CoteDAzur · 12/10/2015 20:52

Oh wow that really sounds like an ideal day! What is in the pile of books you bought?

ChillieJeanie · 12/10/2015 21:40

I can't decide which one to start with! It's a mix of historical, sci-fi/fantasy types, one contemporary, and one non-fiction:

Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookshop by Robin Sloan, in which an unemployed web-designer starts working the night shift at a 24-hour book store and soon discovers curious goings-on.

The King of the North by Max Adams - the non-fiction about Oswald of Northumbria

The Strangler Vine by MJ Carter. Set in 1837 Calcutta, with a couple of men sent into Thugee territory in search of a disgraced agent of the East India Company.

Hild by Nicola Griffith, set in 7th century Northumbria during the reign of Edwin. Hild is his yungest niece with a gift for startingly accurate predictions.

The City & The City by China Mieville, which is a murder mystery taking place across two cities which occupy the same space but in different dimensions, according to the description by my bibliotherapist.

The Demi-Monde: Winter by Rod Rees. A woman is sent into the Demi-Monde - a cyber-killing field and virtual training ground for the US military - to rescue the President's daughter who has got herself trapped in there.

The pile also included things like:
The Islanders by Pascal Garnier
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen
Hidesous Creatures by SE Lister

and various other things.

I also spotted and was tempted by Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho as I was leaving but felt I probably had enough to be going on with! If anyone has picked it up, though, I would be very interested in hearing if it's any good. The blurb described it as a cross between Georgette Heyer and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

Sonnet · 13/10/2015 09:17

I have not read any of those Chillie although
Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookshop and The Buried Giant are both on my to read list with sample downloads on my kindle.

Hild instantly appeals to me and I will go and check some others out Smile

I started book 58 last Night: If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor