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

Wow cote, you read Triffids!!! I am daftly pleased

Can't believe we're on a new thread already it's moving so fast, lots of interesting reads popping up. Have marked Barbara Pym as an author I might like and the psychopath one too. Read ME Thomas previously and really enjoyed it.

My own list so far is:

1. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
2. The meaning of everything; the story of the OED by Simon Winchester; this was nothing as good as Krakatoa. V dragged out. The fundamentals were there and it was interesting to realise what an incredibly mammoth achievement it was and the level of work required to put it together. But the story of the characters and difficulties just weren't that terribly interesting. Would have a decent article in the Sunday Times but did not merit imo an entire book. Short read but I was bored with it so actually took me ages.
3. an astronauts guide to the universe by Chris Hadfield; again while the fundamentals are interesting the book for me was too long. The man is incredibly driven and focused but I don't think he appreciates how unusual he is or how lucky he was to find a partner who supported him in his aims. He offers insights into how he achieved his success and he definitely has good points to make, but the thought of working out in detail every step of my next working day to the point of acting it out makes me wither a bit inside, so I guess I won't be achieving greatness any time soon Again a short read but I was a bit bored so took me longer than it should.

I have tentatively started on The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro . I've read 3% and already encountered a 10 page monologue from the hotel porter that seemed pointless. Feels a bit kafkesque and joycean so far. I'm concerned I won't be able for it frankly, but feel I should buck up my reading a bit

hope you all appreciate how I resisted the urge to bang on about Station Eleven agsin

wilting Yes I read Triffids and yes, the urge to berate Station Eleven is strong indeed!

Bugger, I bought Station Eleven because it was cheap and kept popping up in my Kindle recommended list. Oh well.

1. Earwig and the witch Diana Wynne Jones

Have read all DWJs books for older children, reading through the younger children's books. This is pretty short, may be a bit short for the nieces as they're onto Harry Potter now. But appealing story about a stubborn small girl who always gets her way, even against Baba Yaga.

1. Taken Benedict Jacka. Number 3 of the Alex Verus series. Story developing well from the first two but doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I like that the hero is often stymied by lack of power, it makes the plot more interesting. Trying to spend less on Kindle so not sure when I'll buy the next books.

Slightlyglitter - I'm sticking my head above the parapet briefly, wearing a hard hat, to say that I enjoyed Station Eleven. I readily admit that I haven't read much post apocalyptic literature and so didn't think too deeply about the plot holes others saw. I just read it and thought it a good story Am off to bed now so you lot can talk about silly Quog in my absence :o

book 5 the summer of blood by Dan jones like the other books that dan Jones has written this was thoroughly note rating although I have to say it was a bit slow to start. Dan Jones provides a superb narrative about the peasants revolt which really makes the character come alive.

Next on my list book 6 persuasion this a much loved novel I just felt I needed to read it again

Sorry I should have said worth reading not sure what happened there.

1. Rock Stars Stole My Life - Mark Ellen

Memoirs of the former Word/Q/Select editor. Some of it was over-familiar and he's not the most exciting music writer but he comes across as very likable and there are some very funny anecdotes.

1. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor

Third book in the Chronicles of St Mary's series about time travelling historians. Mostly a good read. Trips to see the fall of Troy and Agincourt.

The ending of the book really stretched things a bit too far though. The happy ending felt very contrived and far too mystical to fit nicely in a book where the time travelling aspect is portrayed as scientific in nature.

Thanks, tumbletumble! I have The Children's Book on my to-be-read pile. I should probably give Possession another try.

AnneEtAramis, I've picked up The Pure Gold Baby several times, but I've always put it back. I'm not sure why, exactly, as it seems like the type of book I should like.

Sadik, I'm really looking forward to reading Grief Is The Thing With Feathers. Does its style remind you of Dickinson at all?

wilting I gave up on The Unconsoled in the end, far too weird for me! I loved Never Let You Go by Ishiguru so have been disappointed that I've not particularly enjoyed any of his others.

Have finished book 9 Mapp and Lucia by E.F. Benson. This is set in the 1920s-ish (it's never made precisely clear when) and is about two women vying to be queen bee of their little town. It's very funny - if you like Wodehouse you would probably like this.

Book 10 is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, review to follow!!

Chessie I loved daughter of time. I do hope you enjoy it

Welcome Apples. Cresset, I really enjoyed the Viv Albertine autobiography too, even though I've never been a fan of punk music.

1. The Skeleton Cupboard: The Making of a Clinical Psychologist by Tanya Byron. Professor Byron now mainly works with children and is best known for The House of Tiny Tearaways, but this book looks back to her training, when she worked with a wide variety of cases - suicidal teens, adults with AIDS or dementia or sexual dysfunction, anorexics, drug users and so on. The cases are apparently not based on real people (for confidentiality reasons), but they are fascinating and believable and it is also interesting to read about her own learning journey as a trainee psychologist. Recommended.

VanderlyleGeek, I wouldn't say it did, to be absolutely honest. Definitely do read it though, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Chessie the BBC did Mapp and Lucia (which I love) very well last winter, with Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor. Worth a watch.

Ooh, tempted by that Tanya Byton autobio. But still juggling the Dicken's biog, Northanger Abbey whic i revisit rvery few years and now also The Shepherd's Life which details (too much so at times) the life of a sheep farmer in the Lakes. I read more enjoyably and more when i have several on the go, weirdly. A nice, comforting fiction of a night-time, biog type work on my long morning commute. Works for me!

8) In the Woods, Tana French
Annoyed that she left one of the mysteries unsolved - if you write a thriller, you're meant to tell all at the end. No fair otherwise.

The Skeleton Cupboard sounds interesting - I've reserved it from my local library.

4 Born to Run, Christopher mcdougall. Non-fiction. An account of the greatest ultra race ever run, against a remote tribe in Mexico. Fascinating accounts of the lives and drives of the best North American ultra runners. Highly recommend.

bigbadbarry I did watch Mapp & Lucia when it was on and enjoyed it, it's just taken me a while to get round to reading the book!

bibliomania the end of In The Woods annoyed me for the same reason, I was racing through the book to find out what happened and.... Nothing. I thought they had forgotten to print the final chapter! I've avoided her books since.

1. The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett.

Jim and Eva meet accidentally at Cambridge in 1958. The novel then describes three possible consequences of this meeting. Once I became familiar with the three "versions" I enjoyed spending time with Jim and Eva.

1. The Human Stain by Philip Roth.

I enjoy American literature but haven't read any Roth . Nathan Zuckerman is a writer who becomes interested in the life story of his friend, Coleman Silk, a university professor who is forced to retire after being accused of racism. Silk is hiding a huge secret that, when revealed, causes his life to come apart. A densely, but beautifully written story about one man, but also about America at the time of Bill Clinton's impeachment.

Changed names, but still on this thread!

Books so far:

1. Rivers of London by Ben Aaaronavitch
2. The Book Of Night Women by Marlon James
3. The Patience Stone by Atiq Rahimi
4. Broken April by Ismail Kadare - just finishing this up.

Tonight, I'm starting 5. A Question of Power by Bessie Head.

I'm doing alright with the novel-reading, but my target of reading more non-fiction is failing miserably so far.

Did anyone notice that the name of this topic has changed from Adult Fiction to What We Are Reading?

I hope that means MNHQ have merged Adult Fiction and Adult Non-Fiction topics.

Book 8

Sherlock Holmes & the Yule Tide Mystery by Val Andrews

Bought because cheap on Kindle, and about as good as you’d expect. It followed the usual Holmes and Watson formulas, but didn’t have an awful lot of substance to it. Better than nothing, but not good enough to make me want to read another of hers.

1. My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante. I enjoyed the scene setting of this book (the first book in a saga)-the book is set in 1950s Naples, and describes the friendship between two young girls. The descriptions of the culture of the time were interesting, but her style of writing isn't for me. I spent most of the book feeling it was unlikely that I would read any more of the series, though she finished the book with quite a teasing hint of what the next book might entail (trying to avoid spoilers!) which tempted me slightly. However, I think there are other books which I would prefer to read.

1. SPQR by Mary Beard. This book describes the origins of Rome and the Roman Empire. She writes well and passionately. The written story is brought to life by pictures of artefacts recovered archeologically and snippets of speeches that have survived. It was fascinating to learn what a complex society it was in many ways and the things they have passed on to us (like our calendar for example).

My baseline knowledge was pretty limited so I couldn't tell you how it compares to other books on the same subject. I was absorbed in this and definitely recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in Rome and the Romans.

It has taken me ages to get through though and I'm normally a pretty fast reader. I'm struggling to decide what to read next-have a huge TBR pile which almost makes it harder.