50 Book Challenge 2015 Part Five

[southeastdweller]

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

25. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn. I know it's had a lot of attention here. I liked it, but I did wonder if there was going to be more a double-bluff toward the end (given that Nick was so prone to lying). Interesting book, I'd be happy to read another by her.

'Tenant' is my favourite Bronte too. I don't think I've read 'Agnes Grey.' Thanks for reminding me to check!

pterobore there's an excellent modern classics thread on here that has excellent suggestions. I have too many favourite classics to single a few out but recently I've adored The Children's Book (Byatt, recent classic if it counts), Great Expectations, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, East of Eden. These are also some of my favourite winter comfort reads (as per Remus thread/message).

Ooh - I still haven't read, 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'. Do you think I'd like it, Gerty?

You'll probably hate it Remus. It's one of my favourite comfort reads but even I think it's a bIt mawkish. I must have read it a dozen times and I cry every time.

80. Adventures in Human Being - Gavin Francis. A chapter for each part of the human anatomy working down from head to foot. Each chapter covers the history in medicine and literature of that body part coupled with a case history of his own.

Remember that you are talking to the woman who surprised herself by sobbing at, 'Pollyanna' earlier this year! :)

Give it a go then. I'm a bit protective of it . My first copy fell apart.

Just don't read any of Betty Smith's other books, I tried one earlier this year and it was dire.

Can't see it for Kindle. Will try to remember to order it from the library. That 'Human Being' one sounds fascinating, but must admit that I didn't make it to the end of his, 'True North'.

66. Just Julie - Julie Goodyear

Easy read style memoir from the ex-Corrie actress, but she held back too much, I think, and portrayed herself as something of a saint.

67. True Confessions of Adrian Mole - Sue Townsend

Third in the Mole books, this is a huge step down from the first two . I disliked the format going from diary in the other books to chapters in this one, and in just 86 pages, his life from ages 16-20 is barely covered. Then there's dull ramblings from the author, and then unfunny and heavy-handed satirical diary extracts from the teenage and adult Margaret Thatcher. I don't know what motivated her to write this book the way she did but as Adrian is such an entertaining character I'll read the later books soon.

Currently reading A Little Life and a book about decluttering called Suffocation.

Book 136 - A re-read of, 'The Princess and the Goblin'. Lovely!

Now have four on the go, so may be some time!

I don't understand all this talk of Pollyanna and Princess & The Goblin, but I respect it DD (10) is recommending Warrior Cats series to those of you loving kiddie fiction.

115. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. So far my only read from the 2015 Booker Short List. A nice easy read about a family, set in Baltimore. Gentle, nothing too unpleasant happens. In fact not that much happens at all! And I quite liked that.

116. Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. A re-read, this time to DS as a bedtime story. Loved it, but I had forgotten quite how wistful and sad it was in places.

Started the new Robert Galbraith - Career of Evil - yesterday (audio book). So far really good, much better than the second one.

DS wants to explore Roald Dahl' s novels, so we may be reading one next. Have plenty to choose from!

Cote nooooo, save me from the Warrior Cats. My DD, now 13 has been into them for years. I thought she would have grown out of them by now but no such luck. She can talk for hours about those damn cats. Literally hours. I have timed her on a walk. There's loads of fan fiction too, plus fan art, animations. It goes on and on and on. And then it goes on some more. And they're all really tragic and loads of cats die.
Save me from the cats.

98. Probably nothing: a diary of not your average nine months - Mathilda Tristram
    This was reviewed up-thread. I've always wanted to read this graphic novel about the writer/artist Mathilda Tristram who was treated for cancer whilst being pregnant. I read this in an evening and thought it was excellent and thought provoking. I had previously read an extract in The Guardian. She does Abney & Teal on CBeebies.

99. The Wasteland and other poems - T.S Eliot
    I studied The Wasteland for my degree and it's one of my favourite poems. All his major works are in this collection, chosen by Eliot himself. Wonderful poetry, wry and intelligent. I struggled with a lot of the classical references so forays into notes/the internet were required.

I am nearly at my yearly target of 100. Hurrah!

We have Warrior Cats too! (DS 11 and DD10!).

72. Only the Innocent by Rachel Abbott (not as good as Sleep Tight, but I will read the one in between)
73. Mercy by Jussi Adler Olsen (BRILLIANT!!!!)
74. Silent Scream by Angela Marsons. Ok, bit predictable and OTT.
75. The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald.

Are they actually cats? I don't 'do' talking animals unless they are centaurs or harpies or something. Talking cats is far too Marakami for me!

Think I'm going to buy the Galbraith for myself dp for Christmas.

Yes, they are cats. Actual cats!

I'm not tempted - whatever Cote might think of my taste!

Chillie Am enjoying the Holmes thing so far, although only a few chapters in as I'm reading other books alongside.

Remus - You seem to be drawing a line in the sand at a totally arbitrary point Rather than re-reading some children's book written 40 years ago, try a modern kids' book like Warrior Cats or Percy Jackson next time

Have read some Percy Jackson but could live without any more!

Book 137 - 'The Pale Criminal' by Philip Kerr
The second Bernie Gunther novel, set in 1938, in the period leading up to Kristallnacht. A serial killer is abducting and murdering German girls with typical Aryan features. A Jewish man is arrested but everything isn't as clear cut as it might seem. I enjoyed this, although some of it made for uncomfortable reading. I love the way that he interweaves fact and fiction and the fact that I've visited some of the streets/places mentioned. What's fascinating and horrifying is that the state is often proved to be the far biggest Evil, whatever other horrific events are taking place.

I've read a couple of the Percy Jacksons (tend to read dd's books when I don't have anything else to hand) and while it's a nice idea, two was definitely enough. To be fair, there aren't that many YA series where I get beyond the first book or so.

Empire of the Sun is 99p on Kindle today.

No Esio, US is a completely different set of characters to One Day

I'm listening to Career of Evil on Audible too Duchess. Really enjoying it so far

Also reading Cold Justice which is quite griping as I am desperate to unravel the big community secret that has been hidden for 15 years

117. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith. Really enjoyed this, although guessing the identity of the killer wasn't that hard.

118. The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl.

Next up - James and the Giant Peach (another Roald Dahl) and Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

Cross post with you, Sonnet :) Robert Glenister reads it so well doesn't he?