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?

perfectlyfine I loved The Poisonwood Bible. It's been years since I read it - must re-read at some point.

Oh and I'm just about to start Into the darkest corner by Elizabeth Haynes.

I enjoyed the Poisonwood Bible last year, too.

2. Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume

It was a difficult read, rather disturbing in parts, but very well written and I did find it difficult to get into. The scenes are so well described I felt I was there, although I sometimes wished I wasn't! It is not a book I would have chosen but I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read something completely different to my normal crime books, I actually won a copy on MN. I would have loved more background information. I cannot say I enjoyed it, it is a difficult subject, but it definitely made me think.

Number 3 is going to be The Lake House, which I started in early December just before I went on holiday. It is a huge hardback so did not take it with me and I am hoping I can remember what has happened in the first half I have read.

Thanks Daphne. I've bought The City, will give it a go. This thread isn't helping the size of my to-read list

Currently reading To Sell is Human, non-fiction book I bought ages ago after hearing Dan Pink talk about it, but just never got to.

1. Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge - Lindy Woodhead

Finally finished my first book of the year, I can't believe how fast some of you read. This was the book the TV series was based on and I enjoyed both the story of his life and also the other historical information provided as part of his story. I enjoyed his climb to the top more than the decline of his health and empire at the end. A fascinating man for sure and interesting to learn some of the facts behind the institution.

On to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood next.

I didn't get on with The Poisonwood Bible at all, at all. V v boring, I thought. It always gets a lot of love on here though.

It's an awfully long time since I read Perdido Street Glitter but I don't remember it being grim. My main memory is of fantastical creatures and steam punk.

I couldn't finish the Poisonwood Bible Remus, but keep think I should try again as it's so lauded. I think I initially tried it about 15-20 years ago when it first came out.

4. Skellig by David Almond

Children's book. Picked it up as I wanted a quick read and pp up thread liked it.

Centres on Michael, who has just moved into a run down house with his parents and very ill baby sister. He befriends the girl next door and together they make an unusual discovery that injects myth and poetry into their lives.
Beautiful little story.

I loved the poisonwood bible, was completely engrossed. I also enjoyed flight behaviour and the lacuna although these get more mixed reviews online. She had quite a distinctive writing style, maybe it's a bit marmitey.

The Handmaids tale is a brilliant book, so perceptive it almost scares me.

*has
I don't think Barbara Kingsolver is dead!

Evening all!

I'm finishing my 4th book of 2016 so far (or I will have done before I fall asleep). I'm storming ahead of my one per week target due to reading non-fiction which I seem to get through faster than fiction. I'm trying to get ahead of my target as I know at some point I'll get readers block and stop reading for weeks on end.

1. "The Winter Garden" by Lulu Taylor - enjoyed this dual time narrative and unusually for me I preferred the modern day narrative to the historic (1960's) which was a first.
2. "Now and Forever" which was the autobiography of Bernie Nolan. Sad that there was no happy ending. RIP Bernie.
3. "Orange is the New Black" by Piper Kerman, which is the book that the Netflix TV series was based on. It was, however, a lot different to the TV show but very readable none the less.
4. "Violated" by Sarah Wilson which is a very sad read about a girl who was groomed and sexually abused by males from Rotherham. Not an easy read at all.

I started one book "Letter from America" by Geraldine O'Neill but I abandoned it after a few pages which is something I do a lot with the intention of going back to it another time.

3. The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy
Really enjoyed this - so beautifully written. The gorgeous abundance of the environment in Kerala as described by the smells and sounds was just such a contrast to the human story being played out. I felt I'd been somewhere having read this book.

4 Do No Harm by Henry Marsh
I read this one because it popped up on Amazon and it had been recommended on here several times. I have a close relative living with a brain tumour - I don't think I would have read it had I known the subject. I'm very glad I did and appreciate all the medical professionals even more now. It is such an engaging and honest - and self critical - account of a neurosurgeon's career. Made me really think about some of the choices people have to make.

Now reading Anne Tyler's A Spool of Blue Thread

1. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Already mentioned several times on this thread and last year's. For me, this balanced on a knife edge between moving and mawkish. Usually came down on the right side, but not always!

1 The Poisonwood Bible

I enjoyed this very long read. After a slow start the story is beautifully told but also really gripping. The characters' voices are strong; my favourite chapters were those narrated by Rachel and Adah. I found the final section a bit slow going bit overall this is a good book. The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair is my next read.

1. The Invisible Library, Genevieve Cogman. I got this because a few people had already reviewed it upthread and I thought it sounded interesting. I really liked it. Steampunk librarian secret agents, dragons, analogues of Sherlock Holmes - what's not to like? I agree that it started slowly and unevenly, but the ending was great. I am regretting not buying the second one when I was in Waterstones.

I've finally finished my first book of the year and I may be cheating as technically it's only half of the full novel, but I'm counting it anyway.

1. A Dance With Dragons Part 1 by George RR Martin.

Book 5 of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. I can't say much about the plot without risking spoilers of the earlier books. It runs parallel to book 4, showing what happens to the characters not included in that. I think I would have preferred it if he had combined the books and written all the events chronologically, just to make it easier to see how everything is fitting together. This book is very slow moving and it's hard to see where Martin is going with it.

1. Still Alice by Lisa Genova

I've been wanting to read this book since I heard about the movie (I've yet to watch the movie because I wanted to read the book first). I'm really glad I finally read it. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I have had no direct experience with Alzheimer's and this book gave me a new perspective on such a tragic disease. Each time I put this book down, I kept thinking about it. Heartbreaking, touching, and well written.

On to Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

3 Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey
Final part of the fantasy trilogy I was reading. The heroine is still unrealistically talented in all areas but was an enjoyable romp.

Just begun numbers 4 and 5- 4 is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson- am enjoying it so far but am only a few pages in and 5 is Not my Fathers Son by Alan Cumming which I'm listening to on Audible.

Hello everyone! I'd love to join in, and looking forward to reading some of the recommendations on here.

My list so far:-

1. The accidental hit man. AW Wilson OK but not amazing
2. Thinking about it only makes it worse.David Mitchell. Some bits are very funny,parts are dull & repetitive. OK 3)Incidents in the life of a slave girl. Harriet Jacobs. Thought provoking/poignant tale of motherhood.

Do cookbooks count ? I love reading them and planning something to make. If they do, I have also read Persiana, lots of very interesting recipes I can't wait to try.

I love non-fiction and travel books. Trying to soend more time on my Kindle and less time on the iPad. Here are the books I've finished so far.

#1 Ninety Percent of Everything by Rose George
A trip on a Maersk container ship from England to Singapore. Not the most riveting book ever, but I enjoyed learning more about shipping and how it has changed. The chapters on pirates and shipwrecks were he most memorable.

#2 Anywhere But Saudi Arabia! Experiences of a Once Reluctant Expat by Kathy Cuddihy
An entertaining memoir, I read it on a beach in Dubai

#3 The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton
I finished on the plane. It was okay, but I felt it was a bit brief and flimsy and also increasingly dull towards the end. I travel a lot and loved de Botton's The Architechture of Happiness, but this was not in the same league.

Glitter, I thought there were some quite grim bits in Perdido Street Station, but easily skimmed/skipped.

I quite liked The Poisonwood Bible, although it's not at all my sort of book (too classy - I generally read much trashier fiction). I really enjoyed her memoir Animal Vegetable Miracle though, and I'd recommend anyone who likes her writing style to look out for it.

I'd like to hear about your cookbooks, gladisgood :)

Ah, would love to hear about Persiana too! Really want to get ottolenghi's Jerusalem, recently bought Domini Kemp's Dinner (writer in Irish Times) which looks really good but have yet to cook anything from it lazy