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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:
Sonnet · 06/12/2015 14:04

I could have sworn I posted on here on Wednesday - but something odd must have happened because I can't find it! Blush

*Book 81 Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" - I enjoyed this YA novel. Found the first two thirds moved at a great pace but slowed down a little in the last third. I thought the ending was a little vague and open ended until I realised there were sequels!

Started Book 82 -Station Eleven thanks to whoever posted the kindje deal.Also started A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson on Audible.

There is so much for me to catch up with on this thread but three things stick out for immediate comment.

Dissolution was a fantastic novel. I only wish I'd listened to DH and read them sooner as he raved about them for years Grin

Biblio - I read my first *Sophie Hannah (Lasting Damage) and I couldn't agree more with your comment about intriguing beginnings and 'let down' endings.

Thanks for the Little Stranger tip off .SouthEast unfortunately I bought it last week Grin

Will catch up with the rest of this thread now

Sonnet · 06/12/2015 14:18

I have the following books lined up:
Station Eleven
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah which won the Goodreads Historical Novel of 2015
Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
The Crimson Petal and the White

On Audible I am currently listening to A God in Ruins and have After The Crash and A Place called Winter

Now I just need some time to read....

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/12/2015 14:50

Sonnet Glad you enjoyed, 'Dissolution.' I envy you being able to work your way through the whole series now.

I've started the first Jim Butcher Dresden Files book, which a rl friend recommended. I have a feeling I've seen them mentioned on here before too, but can't remember who by. Still enjoying 'Micemeat' too.

MegBusset · 06/12/2015 23:41
  1. London Overground - Iain Sinclair

The eminent psychogeographer walks the route of the 'Ginger Line' around London in a single day, uncovering literary, artistic and personal connections as he goes. First-class writing.

BestIsWest · 07/12/2015 05:55

I like the sound of that Meg.

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 09:46

What is a "psychogeographer"?

whippetwoman · 07/12/2015 09:53

Cote, thank you very much for the recs Smile
It is now my mission to obtain and read those two books and perhaps I will become a sci-fi convert!

I will probably read them in January to tide me through the Winter as it's a good time to disappear into another world though a book.

Sonnet · 07/12/2015 10:05

Station Eleven - can't get it out of my head. I even dreamed about it last night happening in "my world". Scary stuff actually.

Sonnet · 07/12/2015 10:06

Remus - My DM says the same thing. I plan to read them all in January. My DH got my Mum into them and she has read the whole series at least twice!!!

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 12:21

whippet - You are very welcome Smile I hope you enjoy them very much. I might indulge in a reread around the same time, if you & others who are interested in Hyperion and The Diamond Age let me know when starting to read them.

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 12:22

I'm excited to read Dissolution now!

tumbletumble · 07/12/2015 15:31

Just bought Hyperion!

wiltingfast · 07/12/2015 21:25

Ah tumble, really hope you like it now!! Great being on a thread where there's actual readers of sci fi ;)

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 21:45

My thoughts exactly Smile

Now we need to get others to read more sci-fi so that we can one day (soon) talk about why Station Eleven is not worthy Wink

Sadik · 07/12/2015 21:58

Cote (and others) - any thoughts on an xmas present for sci-fi loving BiL? He gave us Ancillary Justice & Station 11, and I stupidly already recommended my two other recent reads (Dark Eden and Gemsigns). He likes Neal Ascherton, Iain M Banks, all the obvious ones.

Sadik · 07/12/2015 21:59

Sorry, I obviously mean Stephenson, brain fail

MegBusset · 07/12/2015 22:08

Cote - Wikipedia explains psychogeography better than I ever could - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogeography

But basically it boils down to walking and writing about it - the walk itself being a prompt for making connections, unearthing memories, and revealing the importance of place in our psychology, art and literature. Sinclair's been doing it (brilliantly) for many years, the likes of Robert Macfarlane and Helen Macdonald owe him a great debt.

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 22:22

Sadik - Does your BIL have Neal Stephenson's latest book Seveneves?

Or, how about Red Rising? He will love you for it Smile

Sadik · 07/12/2015 22:31

Am I fairly safe that he won't have read Red Rising, Cote? I suspect he may very likely have Seveneves, I think he'd also probably rather have a new author, IYKWIM. (Besides, I haven't read Red Rising, and we're spending Christmas together . . .)

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 22:44

Well, Red Rising is not written by a well-known sci-fi author so there is a higher chance of your BIL not having discovered it than a book like Seveneves tbh.

CoteDAzur · 07/12/2015 22:45

By the way, I keep meaning to ask you: Do you know that your nickname means "loyal"? Smile

Sadik · 08/12/2015 09:01

No, I didn't - it's also the name of a character in Le Guin's Dispossessed. I wonder if she chose it for that reason (you probably know that the names in that novel are meant to be computer generated combinations of 5 or 6 letters). What language is it?

Will def go for Red Rising, that and The City & The City which I'm pretty sure he hasn't read.

Sonnet · 08/12/2015 10:13

Disclaimer – Post-apocalyptic novels are a new genre for me

Book 82 Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel. I couldn’t put this book down and am finding it genuinely hard to convey in words just how this book made me feel. The scenario is frighteningly plausible and for two consecutive nights I actually dreamed about it! I keep churning over the story and characters in my mind. Working out the connections between the characters, both pre and post apocalypse also worked to keep me hooked.

Would like to read more of this genre in 2016

Just started Book 83 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and carrying on listening to A God in Ruins

CoteDAzur · 08/12/2015 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pedestriana · 08/12/2015 14:16

#27. A God in Ruins - Kate Atkinson. I'm a fan of KA, and love her writing style. I got thoroughly absorbed in this, although I confess I found some of the technical things about aircraft a little hard to follow. I was blown away by this. I don't want to give away the plot but for me, this book was a tapestry of strands which, when one was pulled, left a very surprising result.