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

bibliomania I read The Cornish Coast Murder a couple of years ago and was similarly unimpressed. In fact, I can barely remember a thing about it now. I started to read The Lake District Murder shortly afterwards but lost interest and never went back to it.

They're not in the same league as Sayers or Christie.

12. House of Hidden Mothers by Meera Syal. This has been my most enjoyable read for a long-time. I find Meena witty, very perceptive and warm, her dialogues are excellent. She may not be the most literary of writers, but writes well enoug and if you're after a pacy, engaging, topical read, I highly recommend it. It centres on a 40-something British-born Indian woman and her immediate and extended family both in London and in India, but also about so much more than that- Indian surrogacy, ageing, relationship with a younger man, friendship, chasing dreams, parenting struggles...so much is packed in there, all acutely, painfully observed. Very sad to have finished it.

Returned to both my Dicken's biography and Bleak House, his best novel by far, in my view. To be honest, i enjoy the picture he paints so vividly on Victorian life, but it is SO drawn out, so many characters. I keep forgetting who everyone is! Is it me or in the 21St century is he just not very gripping? Shall persist for a little longer. Also still got A Shepherd's Life to turn back to. Hmm. Not sure if I like it. Would have been a fascinating radio documentary or magazine article.

It really is the agony of choice, does anyone else find that? If I don't much like a book a little way in, I mostly give up on it. Whereas 20 years ago -without the same immediate availability of affordable books - I'd have ploughed on and may have found some joy in it further down the line.

I think it's also lack of time now. I know I only have arround an hour a day to read most days, so if a book is crap, I'm stuck with it for a week (or longer if I can't focus on a dull book). I was brought up on going to the library rather than buying books, but taking out multiple books at a time, I do find buying books harder, the idea of just buying one at a time and being stuck with a bad choice! (Kindle is good for that).

That said, last year I only adandoned 2 books - there were several I wish I'd abandoned, and others I would have done if they weren't "book club" books, I'm waiting to see if they have similarly uninspiring books this year and I might make my excuses and leave the book club...

Thank you for the advice to give both the Cornish Coast and Lake District murders a swerve, someone had recommended them to me as I've got a soft spot for a cosy murder mystery, but shall wait for a better suggestion. (Keep hoping there's a Christie I haven't read somewhere, not sure if it's been long enough for a reread of some of her best).

as I've got a soft spot for a cosy murder mystery
Me, too. Have you read the Dandy Gilver series by Catriona McPherson? It was (again) someone on here who recommended them to me and I've really enjoyed those that I've read.

5. So You've Been Publically Shamed by Jon Ronson
Account of people's experiences of internet trolling, and wider public shaming. Good commentary on the nature of mob-justice, and how the anonymity of the net can make people a bit more thoughtless and a lot less kind.

Movingonmymind I have Bleak House in my to-read pile, and am rather daunted by it's size. Keep wishing I'd asked for Hard Times or some else slimmer instead...

urgh, typos aplenty

Indeed, Prince- Ineed Simon Callow or even Dickens himself to come and read me a chapter every month, that would suit me fine! After all, that was the format for which he was writing. Maybe there should be Dickenscasts with some great actor reading him aloud, especially for ploughing through his huge novels!

Natasha - no, haven't read that series, more for the pile! thank you!

Some unexpected reading time today, brought to me courtesy of a chest infection and my dh having to take over childcare duties so...

10. True Grit by Charles Portis

When Frank Ross is shot down in cold blood by a wayward employee, his 14 year old daughter Mattie decides not enough is being done to apprehend his killer, so takes matters into her own hands, and engages Marshal Rooster Cogburn, against his better judgement, to assist her, hearing that he has 'grit'. Well, Mattie has some grit herself and it's great fun watching a grudging respect form between the unlikely companions as Mattie seeks to avenge her father's murder.

Fantastic read. Good old-fashioned storytelling that carries you along, with a clear beginning, middle and end, really refreshing. A satisfying, fast paced adventure with great characters, and just what I needed to take my mind off being ill. I grew up with the John Wayne film version of this, but the book was well worth it, going to watch the more recent adaption as soon as DH finishes the book.

*book4 Charles Dickens biography by Claire Tomalin
Very informative,I enjoyed it very much. I knew very little of Dickens and he was certainly an active man and influential and also had a tangled personal life!

Another book added to my reading list satsuki

I've almost finished book four!

1. Carrie by Stephen King.

I expect everyone knows the gist of the story. Bullied teenager with telekinetic powers, blood features a lot. It was OK, seemed a bit dated, but that might be just because I was reading an ancient charity shop copy.

Finished book 3 The Princess Bride by William Golding. It was nice to have a bit of silliness and I do have a bit of a soft spot for both swashbuckling fantasy and post-modern smarty-pantsness. My only issues were the fact that there really wasn't a single interesting female character (Buttercup is rather pointless I felt) and that the version I had contained a long intro bit where he wittered on about the film, which I haven't seen so was a bit tedious.

Now I need a H author for my next book. I can't decide if I fancy another trashy one or something a bit more taxing this time.

Finished books 2&3

2) The Shock of the Fall Expect most people have read this but basically its one young mans narrative of his struggles with mental illness which stems from his brothers death and the feelings of guilt about it. It was really well written and felt believeable, and struck a chord with me especially the parts where the narrator and his family are trying to deal with their loss.

3) Pocket Full of Holes and Dreams Autobiography about a mans "rags to riches" story. Didn't overly enjoy this book. Some of childhood parts were interesting, but I felt that most of it was a massive brag . And the fact that he made out like he was back on the scrap heap when his multi million pound business collapsed, yet his kids were still in private school and they could still afford a nice home annoyed me, especially as he came from absolute poverty as a child.
I think that when you can't warm to the narrator you're just not going to enjoy it.

Jeepers The film is brilliant - far superior to the book.

1. How To Be A Bad Birdwatcher - Simon Barnes. Lovely little book about the basics and pleasures of birdwatching.

6 Birdwatching with your eyes shut by the same author. How to identify birds by song.

1. The Potters House - Rosie Thomas. Started out a bit light and fluffy but ended up quite dark.

Currently got a few things on the go, still reading SPQR, A God In Ruins and no 6 in the Ruth Galloway series.

I think I'd like to see the film now Remus as I've heard loads of people race about it. It's one of those films I'm really not sure how I missed. Dh is out tomorrow night so tempted to treat myself and snuggle on the sofa and watch it.

I have just spent some time deliberating between a terribly intellectual looking and worthy book about growing up as a girl in poverty in Afghanistan and the first book in the Dalziel and Pascoe series. Both authors i haven't read with names beginning with H.

Needless to say I went with the trashy option and book 4 will be A clubbable women by Reginald Hill. :o

Have you read Louise Penny Dinosaurs? I really enjoyed her books, but start at the start.

I found Dandy Gliver didn't really grip me, a bit like Alexander McCall Smith. But agree the Cornish Coast one was unmemorable.

11.5 Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones DD brought two D W-Js home from a book swap at school because she knows I like them. This one's one of her Chrestomanci series, and aimed at younger readers than some of her books. Published in 1982, so I was too old to read it when it first came out (now I'm old enough not to care!) Amusing, with lots of nice touches, though - unsurprisingly - not as much to it as something like Power of Three.

Finished number 3:A God in Ruins. Enjoyed it but felt it ripped off one of my favourite novels( will say no more for fear of spoiling) so a little disappointed. Number 4 beckons! Not decided yet.

Jeepers - I love a Reginald Hill, I read them all many years ago and I was thinking the other day that it might be time to revisit them, there's no way I'll be able to remember whodunnit! I love the characters of Dalziel and Pascoe....

A Clubbable Woman is 99p on Kindle deal at the mo...