50 Book Challenge 2016 Part Three

[southeastdweller]

Thread three 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.

First thread of 2016 is here and second thread here.

How're you getting on so far?

MegBusset, the Patti Smith book looks great, will definitely look out for it.

If anyone is interested in the Pullein-Thompson book Fair Girls and Grey Horses, I picked up a 2nd hand one as the library copy was lost, and would happily post it on to anyone who'd like it (Sakura?). Otherwise it'll go to the charity shop as I won't re-read it :)

Just been to the library and got The Three Body Problem which I've been waiting for, and also How To Be Both by Ali Smith (rather more literary than I'd usually choose, but they're doing a 'library tombola' where you pick a ticket and get a random book, so will give it a go).

Sorry, meant to say Satsuki, not Sakura

16. Shadows of The Workhouse by Jennifer Worth. Not quite as good as Call The Midwife. This one focusses on the stories of some of JW's elderly general patients who have lived part of their lives in various workhouses in the East End. Their stories were often grim, depressing, experiencing violence abuse and neglect at the hands of those who ran the places. I didn't like the fictionalized accounts as much as I did the factual account of Mr Collett at the end of the book. That part was interesting but the trial of Sister Monica Joan was a little lightweight and silly.

Next up, Farewell to the East End, which so far seems to be a return to more serious subjects including illegitimate births and what families did about them, legal or not.

Quog I loved all three of Jennifer Worths books. It was rather sad that she died as I think there were a lot more stories she could tell. The east end of London in the 50s and 60s must have been a grim but fascinating place

13. Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School by Josephine Chase

I wasn't able to focus on anything at all complicated this week what with various half term excitements, so this was a (not so) quick and easy read. American school story from the early 20th century. Not one of the best school stories I've read. It's very of its time. Lots of basketball and narrow escapes from deadly peril.

Hoping to get back into something with a bit more substance to it next.

Satsuki your comment on the size of books - I am often surprised at the length of audio books. I just downloaded Bone Clocks today, and it's just over 24 hours. Same length as Wolf Hall . I also had no previous concept that it was a 'big' book. I have a massive queue of audio books, so it will be ages before I get to it.

25. Truthwitch, Susan Dennard. Pitched as 'feminist fantasy', this book follows 2 girls who are 'Threadsisters' - ie, best friends - as they fight and develop their way through political intrigue and ancient prophecy. It started off with a very L. J. Smith bit, describing the beauty of the two girls and how each perfectly complemented the other, which made me snurk, but then it got into things and pulled me in. I really liked it. The story itself is a bit hackneyed but the vibrancy and energy of the characters were irresistible.

14. The Secret Life of Bletchley Park: The WWII Codebreaking Centre and the Men and Women Who Worked There - Sinclair Mackay

Exactly what it says in the title. This is a good introduction to the story of Bletchley Park during WWII. I think it's about the fourth book I've read on the subject so I didn't really learn anything new. Still looking for more technical detail. Would anyone recommend Robert Harris' Enigma ?

15. Darkside - Belinda Bauer. Another dark thriller set on Exmoor, this is a sort of sequel to the excellent Blacklands in that it features some of the same characters and locations although they are not major players in this story. Not quite as good as Blacklands this pits the local village Bobby against the cynical DI from the big Smoke.

I've read Enigma Best but quite a while ago. I think there was a romance in it but not sure how accurate it was, can't remember it well enough to give a resounding recommendation

I think I got about 20 pages into How to Be Both Sadik, I do struggle with Ali Smith.

The Madrid book sounds interesting Muesum, I was there around that time. Have you read any Arturo Perez Reverte? The Flanders Panel and Club Dumas are his best known, I seem to remember they're based in Madrid.

I've had a couple of library books out this week as well. It's sometimes nice reading random stuff, but was a bit frustrating not being able to read in bed when Dh is asleep.

One was The Advent Killer by Alistair Gunn - a run of the mill crime book with a rather chippy female detective who seemed to be constantly defended herself, I won't be rushing to read any more by him. The other was Ruling Passion by Reginald Hill - the third Dalziel & Pascoe book. We're still firmly in the 70s with regards to racism and sexism, but Ellie, Pascoe's wife to be, is now on the scene tempering things. Vastly better than the Alistair Gunn one.

1. The Versions of Us - Laura Barnett
2. All the light we cannot see - Anthony Doerr
3. Red Rising - Pierce Brown
4. Golden Son - Pierce Brown
5. Flash Boys - Michael Lewis
6. There's Only Two David Beckhams - John O'Farrell
7. Authority - Jeff Vandermeer
8. Blue Monday - Nicci French
9. Mockingjay (reread)

10. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson 11. The Exclusives - Rebecca Thornton 12. A Clubbable Woman - Reginald Hill 13. The Advent Killer - Alistair Gunn 14. Ruling Passion - Reginald Hill

Book 12 Vipers Game by Christine Feehan a series about super soldiers who have been genetically modified. It's good fun, very low brow

Book 13 The Surgeon by Tess Gerritson a serial killer is murdering women but he is dead. His last victim killed him.Good murder mystery.

I loathed How to be Both. The best thing about it is the cover.

Has anyone read In a Dark, Dark Wood? It's currently just £1.99 on kindle.

I got In a Dark, Dark Wood in the mumsnet book giveaway. About 4/5 through it and enjoying it so far.

Book 24
The Osiris Ritual by George Mann
A steam-punk detective thing, which I largely enjoyed. Victorian London (Victoria is being kept alive by machines) and girls are going missing. Meanwhile, a famous explorer is found murdered, after his return from a trip to Egypt. And a rogue agent, half dead man and half machine, is on the loose, not to mention an insane doctor. The writing is a bit clunky and there were a few sections that were clearly setting things up for the next book, rather than adding to this one, but this was quite good weekend fun.

You're not selling me on How To Be Both, people - this was meant to be my widening my horizons moment . . .

(Mind you, my Dad got persuaded into trying the library tombola, and turned down Lady Chatterley's Lover and The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe before getting Sherlock Holmes' Last Case )

29. The Dream House by Rachel Hore. I've read others of hers and really enjoyed them. This was her first novel and was weaker than the others. A family moves to the country and the wife meets an old lady. You then get 2 stories, one following the wife and family, the other is the old lady's story of her growing up. It was ok but dragged a bit. I would recommend her other books over this one.

30.Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling.

31. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling.

I've just been to the Harry Potter Studio Tour so wanted to reread the books. I know they're for kids but I love the world she's created.

I got in a dark dark wood in the moments giveaway. It's a page turner

Bringing my list over to this thread:

1. The Ice Twins
2. The Taxidermist's Daughter
3. Us
4. The Tempest
5. Hamlet
6. 1599: A Year In The Life of William Shakespeare
7. The Revenger's Tragedy
8. Disclaimer
9. The Little Paris Bookshop

10. The Lie Tree

Am now adding:

11. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson - Read this for work and it was...fine. I do think a lot of the impact of the story is lost in the fact that modern readers know the concept before reading. I'm not sure my GCSE group will particularly enjoy it as a result, but we will see...

12. War and Peace - have FINALLY finished! Started it before Christmas and have been plugging away around my other reading. This is the longest I have spent on one book ever, I think. Overall, I did enjoy it, but felt it is very much a book of two halves: the society bit and the war bit. Loved the society bit and the lives of the characters but I'm really not interested enough in military history to want chapters and chapters on analysis of military strategy/philosophy. My lasting memory will be page after page after page pondering whether Napoleon had a cold on a particular day in August 1812 and the consequent impact of this on the outcome of the battle. I really don't care about the state of anyone's immune system to that extent. I'm glad I read it but am also glad to have finished it.

Am on to Jeremy Hutchinson's Case Histories by Thomas Grant now. Non-fiction read for next month's book group about some of the cases defended by 'the greatest criminal barrister of the 1960s, 70s and 80s' (quote from the blurb). Looks interesting so am looking forward to this one.

I've managed to finish a couple of books on holiday so still on track - phew!

1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - I really enjoyed this YA book about two young women, one pilot and one spy during WWII. Great writing, a real page turner and so nice to have female protagonists in an adventure story. It's a fictional story based on true events in England and France in 1943, but it's a bit too harrowing for my youngest; I will definitely give this to my dd when she is in her teens. Recommended! (It was 99p on Kindle deals so an absolute bargain, it's now £4 but definitely worth it IMHO)

1. In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware - I received this in the MN giveaway too. A light, fairly implausible page turner which I read very quickly. The author maintains the tension pretty well, but I found it very weird that the heroine is still obsessed with her first boyfriend after 10 years. Am I hard hearted or is that just weird? I was bonkers about my first real boyfriend, but 10 years later?

My list so far:

1. My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante.
2. SPQR by Mary Beard
3. Perfume by Patrick Suskind
4. Expecting better by Emily Oster
5. The life changing magic of tidying by Marie Kondo.

1. Friends of the dusk by Phil Rickman

I love Phil Rickman for a light read, though I think some on here have found him daft. This is the latest in the Merrily Watkins series about a female deliverance minister (exorcist-kind of) which are set in Herefordshire and on the Welsh border. I love the descriptions of the area and of the countryside-I am rural too, not a million miles away. In this book, a deviant burial is uncovered at the beginning-but the skull is stolen shortly afterwards. Two people are murdered with a possible connection to an occult society in the past. Meanwhile, Merrily is called to help a family who feel their home is occupied by an unfriendly presence. The tale of a local legend, the Summoner, is woven into the story and is the common thread holding the plot together. I enjoyed this one-familiar characters (Merrily, Lol, Jane, Franny Bliss, Annie Howe) have their back stories updated as we pass through the book, it's a nice undemanding read, and you almost feel like you're amidst the border scenery.

1. A god in ruins by Kate Atkinson. I think several people on here have read this already. The author describes this as a companion book to Life after life (which I personally enjoyed but admit to getting irritated with at times). It focuses on Teddy, the brother of Ursula Todd from Life after life. He signs up as an airline pilot during WW2. The strength of this book for me was the descriptions of life as a pilot, and it described the bombing runs very well.

I'm catching up a little now! Things have been hectic at work but are settling down now. I'm still reading Middlemarch little by little as well.

I still haven't managed to read anything since Room although I am a practically no way little way through two books by Mario Vargas Llosa. Hopefully I will be back this side of Easter having finished something.

I forgot on Tuesday to include book 8, Passenger 23 by Sebastian Fitzek, in my updated list, probably because it was so mediocre.

1. The Good Liar - Nicholas Searle

An elderly conman, Roy, meets a widow with a plan to fleece of her of savings. She has secrets of her own, but what will Roy discover about her? The story alternates with the present and Roy’s past, as well as the past of the woman he plans to con. Great concept, but poorly executed. The author had little understanding of his characters, the story lacked tension and the final reveal too far-fetched to ring true.

10. A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman Loved by many on here, and I enjoyed the first half, but I found the story increasingly contrived and tiresome, with too many chapters.

I've got The Stopped Heart and The Widow from the library and starting the latter tomorrow as I’m not able to renew it. It's been hyped as 'this year's Girl on the Train’ - expectations are suitably low.

11. Limitless (The Dark Fields) by Alan Glynn

This is the book that the film Limitless with Bradley Cooper was based on, and it is pretty good. The story is about a struggling, burnt-out, wannabe author who receives a pill from his ex-BIL who says it will help him get things done. It turns out to be much more than that, and his life changes immediately.

This was a good read, although I like the ending of the film much better.

12. Dissolution by C. S. Sansom

I really enjoyed this story of a Commissioner for Thomas Cromwell investigating a murder at the Scarnsea monastery during the time of Dissolution of the Monasteries. It is a period I knew practically nothing about, having received the sum total of my knowledge on the subject from the film The Other Boleyn Girl, and I loved the book not only for the murder mystery but also for the historical insight.

I am happy to see that it has quite a few sequels, too

Stokey yes I do like Arturo Perez Reverte - my favourite was the one set in Seville, with the murder mystery surrounding an ancient church, the disgraced Vatican guy, and the interludes with the comedy lowlife folk.

Warning - lowbrow celebrity twaddle alert...

13. All Balls and Glitter by Craig Revel Horwood Should have been a lot of fun, but unfortunately whoever he paid to write it seems to have attended the Take A Break school of ghostwriting, and managed to make the style excitable (but not exciting) and plodding at the same time. His own voice doesn't come through. Very linear descriptive, then I moved here, then I worked on this project...then I got married to a woman... what!... but let's completely gloss over that. He gives only a superficial glimpse into how the events described shaped him, what his feelings were about them, so overall a bit disappointing.

18. Darkening Hour bought on a whim after narrator (Adjoa Andoh) was highly recommended on audiobook thread..

It was very gripping, easy to read, good detail of the characters, thought provoking about their motivations. Interesting case of modern day slavery in the UK and the fine line between this and live in help, at times.
But AA as narrator spoilt it at times for me with rather OTT accent. Overall worth an easy read.