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?

1. The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell

Meh, not the best start to the year but an easy enough read. She writes really well, it's just that the characters are all horrible. Middle-aged guy has wives and kids and leaves them for a new woman (three times, hence the third wife), pretending they are all one glorious happy messy Bohemian blended family. The third wife dies at the start under a bus, and it's about her and her role in the family - there's a mystery that keeps it ticking over but honestly the hero is so weak and self-deceiving it's infuriating. Okay to read on the commute but not great. Moving on to the Blue Diary now, simply because it's there and it's quite light to travel with!

Another fan of celeb memoirs here, when they're good that is...agree with tumble about the ones by Frank Skinner and Dawn French. The first book by Boy George is a classic of it's kind and the celeb autobio that's the best I've read.

1. Inequality What can be done? by Tony Atkinson

An exploration of the current level of inequality in the UK/EU, and a series of costed proposals aimed at reducing it.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in economics & politics. He says 'aimed at the general reader with an interest in the area' - I'd say it's fair enough (my background is in economics, but I haven't worked in the field for going on 20 years). Certainly much easier going than recent 'big books' like Capital in the 21st Century.

He's of the left, but I think that within his proposals, some would appeal equally (in some cases more?) to those on the right. I definitely didn't agree with all of them, but I'd be very happy to think that politicians & advisers were reading and thinking about them.

If anyone else has read/is thinking of reading this book, I'd love a thread to discuss it :)

Ah Lisa Jewell I haven't read much of her stuff, but did follow her public spat with a reader on Amazon and was mildly amused that she did not dare do a live chat here on MN after that. Or maybe her publisher didn't let her?

Perfectlyfine I agree with you about The Poisonwood Bible. The ending is drawn out but I think it was really well written with great characterisation. I'm a good chunk through The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair now; struggling to see what all the fuss was about as it appears to have won a lot of awards. The structure is fun but it is definitely airport fiction. I'm getting through it quickly though and have The Miniaturist to look forward to next.

Interested as to what you make of the minaturist pluto

pluto, I loved the miniaturist. First few chapters were a little dull, but things really pick up, so it's worth sticking with.

haven't completed any books this week, but am mid-way through four, so will probably have a flurry of things to review in a fortnight. eageraly reading everyone's recommendations though.

1. Wolves by Simon Ings

I had high hopes for this book when I read that it is about the near-future when "augmented reality" technology becomes an everyday reality, and that the author is compared to J G Ballard. It started great - protagonist & his girlfriend survive a car crash and she ends up with two functional but not entirely humanoid metal hands. But then it got lost a bit, juggled too many subplots, and didn't resolve many of them.

It delivered on some level, though - interesting ideas, fantastic imagery of looking at the city and buildings disappearing, colours, and the next step: forcing an altered reality on someone's brain. And the author writes quite well. A better editor could have made all the difference in this book, imho.

tumbletumble & southeast I have the Frank Skinner one actually, and did think it was good, too Depends a bit too on level of interest in the person and the aspects of their life they're discussing. I think with GN I find him a likeable person and enjoyed the personal bits about him, his family, past, and dogs (!) but because the memoir was set up to be about his passions I got a bit lost when I didn't share them. Which he was upfront about the possibility of. For e.g There is a whole section on 'divas', and a lot about network TV in the U.S...

perfectlyfine I think your assessment of the Poisonwood Bible is spot on. It's a great read for the first half and loses pace toward the end. I enjoyed it at the point I was reading it, but can't say it has stayed with me a year on.

Just finished book 1 - The Hand That First Held Mine. Loved this book! Easy to read and really engaging from the off. Sort of guessed the link between the 2 stories half way through but still enjoyed the story. I thought the descriptions of motherhood and the relationship between Lexie and Innes ( Lexies' story gripped me more than Elinas ) were very moving. Proper tear jerker.

On to book 2 next, another Costa Winner - The Shock of The Fall

Agree on a lot of the assessments of The Poisonwood Bible here. First three quarters was absolutely riveting. Moved me to anger and tears at times. Should have ended much sooner. The last section lost all the emotion of the first.

Re celeb memoirs not usually a big fan although I did enjoy Frank Skinners, the same as some PPs. Am currently listening to Not my Father's Son- Alan Cumming's autobiography on Audible (reccomended on the Audible thread and read by himself) It's a tremendous read both heartbreaking and hilarious.

friend keeps recommending Posionwood to me, really must dig out my copy.

Loved Miniaturist- it is a alow burn, but got drawn in. Enjoyed the R4 serialisation of it too.

Pluto, I'm afraid i absolutely HATED
the Harry Quebert Affair, not only was it poorly (and arrogantly!) written but I found the constant self-justifications and professions of 'love' (oh dear me no, not common lust) by a 34 year old man for a vulnerable 15 year old girl whom he scarcely knew deeply objectionable. The more so because the writer seemed not to question this. Misogynistic, nasty and a waste of time. Sorry, but it's a rare book that makes me that . Be Interested to know what you think having finished it.

Finally book #1 is finished! Took me over a week as it was quite long.

1. Untold Stories – Alan Bennett

Anthology of diaries, a short family memoir, essays, and reviews, with the subjects including his cancer treatment, a physical assault on holiday, art, theatre, and his view on the honours system. I absolutely adored this book for his exquisite writing - always intelligent, compassionate and lucid - and I find the way he looks at the world so unique and fascinating. I couldn’t have hoped for a better book to start the year and I’ve discovered that his next volume of diaries will be published later this year so I’m really looking forward to reading them.

Next up is the new book by Ruby Wax about mindfulness.

2 Man At The Helm by Nina Stibbe- picked this up in Waterstones on their recommended by staff table. Set in 1970 story of a divorced woman with three children and no qualifications and the lengths her two daughters go to get a man at the helm because that is what they thought was needed. At times very funny and also very sad about how woman on their own were treated and absent fathers, poverty, dysfunctional families and depression. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Apologies for the review

Southeast - it is a wonderful read isn't it? So, a third volume - is that just diaries or another memoir-ish book? Where did you hear about that? I want to know more!

Will be interested to read what you think of the Ruby Wax book. I liked her Sane New World, but thought she didn't really go into quite enough depth about mindfulness. I think I shall put it on my wish list.

Finished book 1. The Drowning Pool by Jane Schmelt. Dragged in places and was very similar in structure to her first novel Daughter but still quite enjoyed it. An easy read. On to book number 2: The Children Act by Ian McEwan. **

Five, Nina Stibbe has also published a book of her letters home when she was living in London in the 80s as nanny to Stephen Frears and Mary-Kay Wilmers. Alan Bennett lived next door. I enjoyed that much more than her novel so if you haven't read it, it is worth adding to your list.

I Have added that to my list bigbadbarry my ever growing list

Third book done- Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes. She gives her tips about make up and skin care etc. It was cheap on the kindle over Christmas, not groundbreaking but quite nice to read on a rainy Sunday and I'm not really a Sali fan usually.

Quog Some of his diaries are published in the London Review of Books and I read about the next volume on that website.

Looks like there's going to be a second thread this week

Thanks for the link, Southeast :)

Just trying to get on this thread before it closes! I'm a few books in - don't have the details of the others to hand, but the one I'm reading at the moment is Charlotte Bronte, the new biography by Claire Harman. It's a great read. What strange and unhappy lives that family led.

1. Fighter Pilot by Colin Strong

Bit of an odd one this. Back in the early 1980s, my only desire was to pilot fast jets in the RAF. Well, that never panned out! There was a BBC TV series called "Fighter Pilot" and this is the book of the series.

I had this book at the time, but it got lost somewhere along the way. My mum keeps everything, think, Reception class Christmas cards, that kind of thing, and hundreds and hundreds of books, but this one was nowhere to be found.

The internet of course changes everything and several second hand copies were available. I re-read in a couple of sittings; it's quite a period curiosity now, highlighting just how the world has changed since the early 80s.

The technology of course - the Tornado was just coming into service as the book was being written, all of the other planes mentioned are long obsolete. Things like the Typhoon\Eurofighter are covered in literally one sentence: "The RAF is well aware of a quantum change in strike fighter performance and technology, led by the US". The global-political situation too: the ultimate aim of the pilot trainees was to make it to a front line NATO squadron in West Germany ("East Germany - and the enemy - is just three minutes flying away") to practice throwing nuclear bombs around central Europe in proxy of two superpowers.

But also, closer to home, the total lack of women anywhere in the process, and how utterly unremarked on this is. No women pilots of course, or even navigators. But that's okay, because a reception for new crew members is a chance "for him, and his wife - if he has one - to meet as many of the existing crew and their wives as possible."

In other news: nearly five hundred pages in to Austerity Britain; and I've found my Kindle, woo!

Gosh – this thread is moving so fast

I found Untold Stories fascinating when I first read it. After reading Lady in the Van late last year I fancied reading it again and you have just reminded me of that – thank you will add it to my “To Read in 2016” list

Book 2 – A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - this started off well with such promise until I hit about 25% and then, well it just didn’t seem to develop for me. I found it a harrowing read in places and rather graphic on the subject of self harm (I had to skip some passages). Events seemed to be repeated and we followed around and around in a circle. I did remain interested until Jude’s back story emerged but after that there was still 200 pages to go…I also wanted to know how a boy who had skipped so much formal education ended up at a prestigious collage and what are the chances of 4 freshman room mates all ending up leading their particular career field?! So nope, this was not a book for me.

still plodding on with my Audio book - don't seem to get or find the time to listen regularly.

Not sure what book 3 will be at the moment.