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?

The warning I was given with it was re the alien pregnancy aspect. Which is why I am pre-reading it with an open mind. I was a teen when I watched the film. No far in and I suspect for someone who is used to modern paced books and gets bored with slower starting modern paced books it would not appeal. But at least there is no puddle counting unlike Dickens

I love John Wyndham - we did The Chrysalids for GCSE. That might be a good one for him to try, pretty sure that is nothing unsuitable in it.

Tbh i have never read any books by John Wyndham nor a lot of authors who would be classed as classic. Having been donated the box I am not just reading them for ds. I am a complete sucker for an old books (the feel of the paper, the smell etc) and have a curiosity as to whether having not read them I missed out on something.

It is very interesting how the style of writing has morphed alone with reader expectations over time. Along with the use of language.

Love that pic of The Midwich Cuckoos - not read any of his for a v v long time, but enjoyed them all.

alteredimages and bigbadbarry I did Wolf Hall in half hour chunks on my commute and I absolutely loved it. The Cromwell character is so beautifully drawn, and despite it being 24 hours and 15 minutes long on audible, it was one of those books I was sad to finish. Bring up the Bodies is on my list for this year, but with some trepidation, as I know he can't possibly remain so likeable, and it's not going to end well, given the historic events it will cover.

1. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch I mentioned up thread I was enjoying this murder mystery set in 17th c Bavaria; the first half set things up quite thoughtfully, but it went into a bit of frantic action mode towards the end. Very enjoyable, first of a series, would read more. The author is descended in real life from a Bavarian executioner dynasty, and there are some interesting notes about this at the end.

Bookmarking posts - I can do that on my Kindle Fire and phone. It is a different method, though. At the end your post there are three dots in the bottom right hand corner, click on that and it comes up with a list of options, one of which is bookmark.

museum bring up the bodies is every bit as good if not better

Book 3
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
I enjoyed this a lot more than Silkworm but not as much as Cuckoo’s Calling. Like most of her books since ‘The Goblet of Fire’ it needed some serious editing. Old JK is rarely inclined to use one word when she thinks she can get away with 17. I thought the sections featuring Strike and/or Robin were a lot better than those focusing on the mid of the killer, which became repetitive and clichéd. Overall though, worth a read if you liked Cuckoo.

Finished first yesterday.

1. The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

Had been meaning to read this for years. An unusual one and, being Lewis, obviously Christian.

It's a series of letters from a senior devil to a junior one - his nephew, who has the job as the 'temptor' for a recently converted Christian man.

The senior (Screwtape) guides,offers advice,instructs and insults his 'useless' nephew in the art of tempting the 'patient' away from the 'Enemy' (God) and his beliefs, so they can take him over and lead him to eternal damnation.

Rather than diving into obvious,greater sins and temptations, it focuses on smaller sins: lesser temptations that don't seem such a big deal but build up and prime the 'patient' better for their means. These are things like pride and vanity, thinking of your worldly self exclusively, placing yourself among certain people and the way you interact within different groups - not being true to yourself but seeking vanity and a bit of an ego by acquaintance,dividing yourself between almost two different personalities. There is an interesting perspective on unselfishness, what it means to each gender and the impact of it upon others, showing it isn't always as you believe it is:'She's the kind of woman who lives for others - you can tell the others by their hunted expressions'

It's an interesting way to look at things and does make you think about all those little things in life and bits of yourself that maybe quite aren't as ok as you, at the time, believe.

It's quite amusing but also makes you think and is best read each letter at a time,followed by digesting it.

Will reread at some point, maybe a letter a weekend or something. Would probably be a good way to read it.

Ooh, that was longer than I intended

Now reading The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

TripTrap - The Screwtape Letters is a regular re-read for me. Despite the fact that I'm completely non-religious, I find it thoughtprovoking and a book that (if it doesn't sound weird) helps me try to be a nicer person.

Wilting it's starting to get better as he gets more recent although still BC at the moment. He keeps introducing characters as being v important and then they get murdered 2 lines later. It's a bit disconcerting

Oh and I adore The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Wonderful book

Book 1 Children of Men by PD James.

Despite an exciting premise and being set in 2021, this is a quiet and thoughtful investigation if hope versus despair, guilt versus self interest.

Worth a read.

Sadik Not odd at all, it certainly does make you question yourself, doesn't it. I picked up on things I could relate to and thought 'maybe I've been a bit of a plum' ,some things really struck with me.

It's definitely a very thoughtprovoking book and I'd recommend it to anyone who is up for a challenging/self and society questionning read who doesn't do that bizarre thing I've seen in some reviews of C.S. Lewis books and throw outrage because it is Christian based!!! What else do they expect from him for crying out loud!!!

book 2 Locked in by Kerry Wilkinson.

Originally self published, this novel and the following series was picked up by Pan McMillan after huge sales (300,000 copies).

It's so far from being my cup of tea that's it's actually a mug if coffee. Daft storyline, flat writing.

What is well drawn in the main character; DS Jessica Daniels. Expect to see her on ITV at some point .

"The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Wonderful book"

I'm a big SF reader but never got around to Day of the Triffids. The whole idea of plants plotting and planning and attacking people is so ludicrous that I can't help but be prejudiced about that book. It feels like it will be one of those books that give SF a bad name

The Picture of Dorian Gray is brilliant Triptrap, have you read any other Wilde?

Think I may add The Screwtape Letters to my list.

Oh and to all you Wyndham readers, they're all brilliant books, certainly of their time, the Cold War and post WW2 politics are very much evident, but also pertinent today in many ways (plus ca change).

If you enjoy them try The Kraken Awakes and Trouble with Lichen

Nooo, Cote, it's a CLASSIC, really is, it's short too as all Wyndham books are, more of a novella, it truly is classic speculative fiction. I can't believe you haven't read it - and are indeed resistant to it - shame on you woman!

It's not grand ideas and huge vistas, it's Britain in the 1950's, domestic, cosy in many ways, post war and somewhat Blytonesque, but with an alien menace at the shoulder. I think all of Wyndham's fiction was in the same vein, his vision wasn't massive, it was very immediate, very small, but the danger was always there, and I think for a post-war society that was very pertinent.

(And I am also a big Science Fiction reader Cote, so I don't approach this from an amateur's viewpoint!)

DH recently came by various Wyndham books on audio, & we listened to Day of the Triffids together in the car. The main thing that struck me (that I hadn't noticed at all reading it as a teenager) is the narrator's attitudes to women; it's certainly very much of it's time from that POV. It definitely put me off re-reading his other books.

1. All That Is by James Salter

I read this for my book group and it provoked a lot of discussion. A little reminiscent of Stoner in that it tells the story of one man's life in lucid prose, if you enjoyed Stoner this is probably worth a read.

The author's use of English is amazing in places; he can capture a moment in time as few writers can, and the novel is worth reading for those passages alone. He also depicts 50s America extremely well.

On the other hand, there's an unattractive misogynistic streak in the main character that grated on me. There's a lot of sex in the book, as he constantly moves on to his next conquest, and the way in which he simultaneously idealises and sexually obsesses about each woman seems very dated now. Whether this is cleverly depicted on Salter's part, or a reflection of the fact that he was 87 when he wrote the novel, and essentially shared his character's views, I found hard to tell.

Glad I read it, and would read another of his books, but this one is heading for the Oxfam shop now.

Book 1 - The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion I enjoyed this, though I got slightly frustrated with the plausibility of it; there were times when the main character, Don, who has Aspergers, seemed so far from understanding what was expected of him as a partner and father that it seemed unbearably sad. Also, Rosie, his wife, who married him knowing the difficulties he had seemed very intolerant. But as a whole, I love Don Tillerman as a character and rooted for him all the way through. A good follow up to The Rosie Project.

"it's a CLASSIC, really is"

So was On The Beach, I'm told, and regulars of these threads will remember how well that went

"I can't believe you haven't read it - and are indeed resistant to it - shame on you woman!"

I feel suitably chastised and will give it a go if you can reassure me that it is not ridiculous, and that it actually makes sense. If not, better for me (and its fans) not to read it, lest I do and then take the mickey out of it on here forever and ever

Go on cote, give it a go just think of the triffids as giant Venus fly traps...