50 Book Challenge 2016 Part Two

[southeastdweller]

Thread two 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, it's not too late to join, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Previous 2016 thread here

7. Day of the Triffids re-read but from so long ago so as to be neglible. Really enjoyed this, it stands up well. An unforeseen catastrophe befalls humankind, and the novel largely follows the immediate aftermath of this, and subsequent attempts to survive and rebuild in a new reality. It contains some nicely written observations on the precariousness of the modern human condition, which is thrown into relief by the presence of a plant form that seems capable of thriving in the very circumstances that renders people virtually helpless. The triffids aren't centre stage for much of the book, being more of a creeping menace, but bring your flame-thrower anyway.

6. Friday Nights by Joanna Trollope. A re read and purely in response to having teenagers and instead of having a double gin and tonic. its not even one of her best. I'm going to re read A Village Affair by her next to stop me having another double gin and tonic.

7. The Two Income Trap by Elizabeth Warren. She is a senator for Massachusetts and is a woman many in the US would love to see run for president. She wrote this with her daughter in 2003 when she was a professor at Harvard Law School. It is a really interesting analysis of bankruptcy data in the US. While it is very US focused, it basically says that when financial crisis hits families, sometimes it is better if the woman hasn't been working because then she can go out an get a job. Whereas if they have 2 salaries, they have probably bought a house and made other major choices based on those 2 salaries and will be hit very hard. She talks a lot about the massive increase in property values which drove couples to need 2 salaries and live up to both of them. She also debunks the idea that americans end up in bankruptcy because of buying too much stuff which conservatives love to say. Basically it is illness, loss of job, divorce which drive bankruptcy. This was all before the big housing bubble too.

Just seen first activation by d & m wear mouth is on the daily deal on kindle today, I remember someone mentioning it on last years thread, but can't remember if they said it was any good, would anyone recommend it?!

I was wondering the same thing. First Activation and its sequel are both 99p today on the Kindle. It sounds like a fairly standard apocalyptic novel, but I read a review comparing it to Stephen King's The Cell which I thought was shockingly awful (and I say that as someone who usually likes King's stuff). It would be good to have a yay or nay from someone who has read it.

1. Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt. Described as "a tale of polite theft, bitter heartbreak, domestic mystery and cold-blooded murder in which every aspect of human behaviour is laid bare", it's a quirky story of a feckless young man who takes up employment in a rather odd castle. There is young love, madness, war, criminality, and a puppy. The dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny, and although the main character is a compulsive liar and quiet unlikeable at times, I somehow developed a great affection for him over the course of the book. It's fairytale-ish in the way that The Princess Bride is, so if you like that kind of thing you might give it a whirl.

*

1. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
2. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
3. The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
4. The Whites by Richard Price
5. Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume
6. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
7. The Martian by Andy Weir
8. Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt

Finished 4. A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks last night. Feeling a bit cheated that I spent a week ploughing through it in the hope it would improve or I'd have some huge revelation. But I just didn't get it. I like so many of his books I was really disappointed by this one, so much so that I haven't reshelved the book but have put it straight into the next charity shop pile! The structure is a novel in five parts, essentially each is a short story which stands alone, some are better than the others. I tried and tried but just couldn't see any cross-linkage that would make the book more than a collection of short stories. If the book had been billed as such I probably wouldn't have minded as much. I have a degree mostly in literature so can usually spot even subtle links, but... No.

Can't bear to try reading his latest one next. Need a palette cleanser - perhaps blueeyedboy by Joanne Harris which I've had lurking on the shelves for ages.

SerendipityDooDah, have you read the Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt?

Elle, yes, and I enjoyed it. I think I preferred Undermajordomo Minor slightly, but in general I really like his style of writing.

Thanks Serendipity-I liked the quirkiness of the Sisters Brothers too, so might give UM a try.

1. Sweet Caress by William Boyd.
2. Disclaimer by Renee Knight .

5.The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood. 6.Glad of These Times by Helen Dunmore.

I enjoyed Sweet Caress, though I don't think it is one of his best. The two psychological thrillers were predictably disappointing but kept my mind off the virus I have just now. I love Helen Dunmore's poetry and read this early collection for my poetry reading group.

1. Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts by Emily Anthes - quick Kindle read on the tube that I actually bought ages ago. Thought provoking enough trip through (mainly) genetic approaches to modifying animal behaviours and characteristics; also brings up some of the ethical implications of doing so. Fairly average pop-sci book really, not bad, not great.

Realised I was getting ahead of myself calling the last book no.9 when it was actually no.8! Have just started my third 500+ page book of the year from the "never to be moved again" shelf - Under the Dome by Stephen King. I used to read everything he wrote pretty much as it came out but I think I fell out of love, oh, fifteen years or so ago. 850 pages might be a bit much as a way back in, but it was on the shelf.

Have added The Two Income Trap and Deep Sea and Foreign Going most recently to my "want to read" list, based on recs on here :)

My list so far:

1. My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante.

1. SPQR by Mary Beard

1. Perfume by Patrick Suskind

This was a quirky book which follows the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who is born with an incredible sense of smell, but with no scent of his own. Grenouille is an unlikeable, essentially sociopathic character. I thought the book was well written. I enjoyed it but didn't love it.

10. The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C Kasasian

March Middleton is invited to London to live under the guardianship of Sidney Grice, personal investigator, following the death of her father. Grice is a famous detective but is also appallingly rude and apparently heartless, with an addiction to tea. Shortly after March's arrival, a woman comes to plead for Grice's assistance in saving the life of her son-in-law, who has been accused of the murder of his wife. When Grice refuses on the grounds that Mrs Dillinger cannot afford his services, March offers to pay the fee, on condition that she is also involved in the investigation.

It's set in Victorian times and is very much in the mould of Sherlock Holmes, complete with March in the Watson role. Grice is a thoroughly unpleasant individual though. I know Holmes was hardly a sensitive soul, but he did at least have some redeeming features. March Middleton is a much more likeable character - she drinks and smokes, and basically refuses to accept the role of shrinking violet that all the men around her try to force her into.

Satsuki I read Day of the Triffids for the first time last year and really enjoyed it too. I had told my 9 year old I was reading it at the time and he wanted a running update/summary and had quite a few questions about the triffids but declined the offer of reading it for himself. I think "menacing" is how I'd describe them as well. The Midwich Cuckoo is also on my list.

I should add he is an avid reader, but the triffids concerned him somewhat!

I will have a tough day at work on Wednesday.. Can you recommend a really absorbing novel, bio or travel book?

13. Wizard Undercover, KE Mills. This is the last in the series so far - am hoping for a 5th at some point. This one focuses a lot on Bibbie - she's painted as a flibbertigibbet, and she spends the book trying to prove herself. Wizarding romp, interesting analogy of the way women can be treated.

Ben Macintyre's non-fiction book Agent Zigzag is £0.99 on the Kindle.

Cote - I'd rather assumed you were the one who's mentioned First Activation!

Oh well, I've just looked at my credit card bill and decided I'm going to read the 15 (!) unread books I've got on my Kindle before buying anymore this will probably last all of 24 hours

My list so far

1. Brass Ring- Dianne Chamberlain

2.Frog Music- Emma Donoghue 3.All the light we cannot see-Anthony Doerr

1. the life changing magic of tidying- Marie Kondo
2. According to Yes- Dawn French

Am new to doing this challenge and wondered what other readers do with the lists so that you don't need to type them out each time. I know I could create a word doc but is there another way that is easier/better?

Dinosaurs - No, it wasn't me.

"decided I'm going to read the 15 (!) unread books I've got on my Kindle before buying anymore"

We've all been there 15 is actually very conservative. I have about 100 unread books on my Kindle.

perfectlyfine perhaps he'll give it a go in a couple of years. I think it's precisely because they are so mundane in their way and unexpected as a threat, there is something of the uncanny about them.

dinosaurs I have created a folder on my Kindle, called, insightfully, 'To read' that contains only 15 books, in order to make my actual list of unread books seem more manageable, and to give me somewhere to begin

1. Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. (Audiobook)

A re-read of a story set in Nigeria in the 1960s following sisters, their families and friends in the lead up and through the civil war. I had forgotten a lot of the story, having read it more than 5 years ago. A sad and moving story depicting the tragedies of war, narrated very well.

1. City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett.

My second Christmas book from my DH. This is a Fantasy novel with political thriller leanings, Gods and world building. It got some great reviews. Overall it was okay, quite an enjoyable read. I think the main problems for me was for the genre it wasn't thrilling enough and there were no surprises; I could see all the plot 'twists' coming.

Thank you to Frugal for all the non-fiction recs, more added to my Amazon wishlist!

And Cote I couldn't resist the last in the Brilliance series and that is what I am reading now.

I'm onto book 2 a little later than expected been quite busy! Book #1 was Little Children by Tom Perrotta, which I enjoyed but not as much as a couple of his other books. I'm now reading Carol by Patricia Highsmith as I can't be bothered to go see the film by myself... it's ok so far but a bit dull in areas - I'm not keen on the main character at all. Looking for recommendations for book #3. Any ideas anyone??

The Kindle has a lot to answer for! It's too easy to accumulate books without the physical reminder and creaking bookshelves..