50 Book Challenge 2016 Part One

[southeastdweller]

Thread one of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2016, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Who's in for this year?

Elle, and Cote - I haven't read anything else by Stephenson actually. Someone bought Cryptonomicon for me because of the subject matter and I loved it, but somehow haven't got round to any others :/ Baroque saga sounds great mind (although this thread moves fast, by the time I came back to reply having read more about it, Cote comes back with an alternative view :)) Anyway, mount tbr awaits before committing to a saga ;)

I really enjoyed them Cote, but they are much...lighter and more frivolous than some of his books. I liked the way he brought historical characters such as Isaac Newton in, and thought the way he depicted 1600s London was brilliantly evocative. He is such a great storyteller, and it was great to have the connection to the later Cryptonomicon characters. That said, I devoured them back to back, and can't remember if the first book was more flippant than those that followed. Did you finish Quicksilver?

Yes, I finished Quicksilver but didn't continue with the rest of the series when I didn't like it. Are the two sequels worthy, then?

Theknackofflying I'm in Epsom and have boxes of books to donate to the Methodist sale. I mustn't buy any though, have about 10 paperbacks and goodness knows how many on my kindle!

I'd like to jump in too, please! Got a list of books I've been meaning to read and feeling inspired by some of your recommendations so popped them on too...

I'm starting with The Christmas Cafe - Amanda Prowse as it was a present, then I have this list to get stuck into:

Iain McEwan - Atonement
Kazio Ishiguro - Never Let me Go
Barbara Kingsolver - The Poisonwood Bible
David Mitchell - Ghostwritten
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
Anne Tyler - The Accidental Tourist
John Steinbeck - Cannery Row
Emma Donahue - Slammerkin
Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go
Ben Aaronovitch - Rivers of London
Diane Chamberlain - The Bay at Midnight
Alice Hoffman - The Red Garden
Amulya Malalladi - The Mango Season
Frederik Backman - A Man Called Ove

Not sure if it's a good or bad idea to start with a biggish list, but I'll see how it goes!

BugritandTidyUp - "Something sprawling, possibly SF."

Perdido Street Station definitely fits that description . . .

1. The Return of the Discontinued Man by Mark Hodder

Book five in the Burton and Swinburne series takes our heroes forward in time after a plague of Spring Heeled Jacks appear in 1860, all seemingly confused but certain that they need to find and destroy explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton.

You really need to read from the beginning of this series because the time jumps are getting ever more convoluted. It's shorter than the preceding four though. Hodder writes in the steampunk/sci-fi genre and I would say the stories are a little hit and miss at times, but it's a series I largely enjoy so I will keep on with it when the next one comes out.

Chilli - have only read one Mark Hodder but really enjoyed it. The library never have any in though.

1. The Other Queen (Philippa Gregory)

This PG novel focusses on Mary Queen of Scots during her years of captivity with Bess of Hardwick.

I'm sorry to say that this PG book just didn't grip me like her others have done. There didn't seem to be much of a story; it didn't have much direction. The final chapter felt more like an epilogue, the jump forward in time was so sudden that it felt like a hasty, tacked on conclusion.

However, the voices of the three central characters were distinct and strong. Each character had both admirable and irritating qualities. As always with PG's writing, the women are portrayed as worthy individuals in their own right, not as background figures to the men in the story.

This hasn't put me off PG's novels, I will certainly continue to read her work, but this one has not left a lasting impression.

I actually ended up having to order this one from Amazon - I was expecting The Rise of the Automated Aristocrats to be the next one and somehow missed this coming out entirely. For some reason it never seemed to appear in Waterstones, and I've not seen number 6 either which should have been out at the beginning of November

You like George Mann as well, don't you Remus? He has two new ones due out this year, one featuring the Ghost and the other in the Newbury & Hobbes series.

I thought they were worthy, Cote, though the trilogy is definitely lighter in tone than many of his books.

Waawo was it the Turing angle you were interested in? Or the encryption element? My DH recommended it to me as it is a cult book in his field (cryptographer).

Remus, can you ask your library to order books in? Like the sound of the Mark Hodder too Chillie.

There isn't that much on Turing in Cryptonomicon IIRC. The main character working on the Enigma code is a fictional one. The book is very satisfying if you have any interest in cryptography, though. There is lots in there about solving codes etc.

If you're interested in stories about code breaking, Between Silk and Cyanide is on my re-read list. It's autobiographical - the account of an SOE cryptographer during WW2. TBH though, it focuses more on the internal politics than the nitty gritty detail of cryptography.

Finished book 2. The Heroes' Welcome by Louisa Young.
A really good follow up to My Dear I Wanted To Tell You.
Unfortunately it's back to work tomorrow, so my reading will slow down now. Going to read Ben Elton's Two Brothers next, which I see some on here have read and enjoyed.

I added Between Silk And Cyanide to my Kindle wish list, which is ever-growing at an alarming rate because of you bookwormy vipers

I've got The Heroes' Welcome in my tbr pile. Really enjoyed My Dear I Wanted To Tell You.

Could I join in, too? I'm starting with Garth Risk Hallberg's City on Fire. My next book will be either Americanah or Purity.

Book 1 finished.

1. The Last Kingdom, Bernard Cornwell

I think it's pretty well known given the recent BBC series but the story of Uthred an Saxon boy who gets taken by the Danes in battle and grows up to become a warrior with them. Fate leads him to Wessex where he serves King Alfred. He is often conflicted in his feelings as a Dane or Englishman which I found the most interesting part. There are many battles which I was less interested in but it is clear throughout that Cornwell has carried out quite extensive research but as a modernist I am not sure of accuracy etc but it certainly has made me a little more interested in this period and I will probably read the next in the series but not in any hurry and I would like to see them nice and cheap on Kindle before I do.

Wow! What a lot of newcomers excellent!

Have polished off no 1 for 2016:-

1. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie; really enjoyed this. Story of a spaceship AI's desire for revenge. Given that it relates it's story through its multiple points of view, you have to read it careful to keep track of developments. I thought the way the character of the AI was rendered was really well done. I should add that it is complicated by the fact the surviving remnant of the AI is a former human. So the AI at times seems cold, yet what is driving the desire for revenge? Is the human remnant reasserting itself? The details in the book bring Breq (the AIs name now) alive and I at least believed in it. That said it could definitely have been a bigger better book. There are 20 y of back story that I'd love to have heard. I love to understand better where Anaander Mianaai came from and the extent of what happened on Garsaad. Plus the pacing drops towards the end as it sets itself up for the (sigh) sequel (can't these people write one big book dammit?). Oh and Breq can't tell a man from a woman so everyone is gendered female unless there is some external correction. I didn't find this irritating but reading the net, plenty do. Not sure where the sequels can go to be honest except into typical space drama. I suspect the best ideas are in this book.

snozzlemaid I'm pleased to hear that The Heroes' Welcome is a good read. I really enjoyed My Dear I Wanted To Tell You .. a much more thought-provoking novel than the title and especially the chic-lit cover design suggested. I recommended it to lots of people last year.

I'm saving THW to read on a long journey next week; looking forward to it.

1. Do No Harm - Henry Marsh

Absolutely rattled through this. It is written by Henry Marsh, a neurosurgeon, and details some of his experiences in this field. Very accessible, and I think anyone could find this a gripping read with little medical or biological knowledge.

I found the workings of the NHS quite interesting. I also appreciated the honesty he has in the book. I certainly will be recommending this book to people.

Next book, Spill, Simmer, Falter, Wither by Sara Baum

First Book done:

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A heartwarming book that will have you laughing one minute and fighting back the tears the next. The characterisation was superb.

If you enjoyed The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The NIghtime then this book is for you.

Not too sure what I am going to read next as I have too many to choose from

Tolpuddle' I really enjoyed Henry Marsh too.

I am in too if you will have me. Joined goodreads too. Am reading the Matt haig book about mental health and depression at the mo.... Determined to try new things rather than samey.