50 Book Challenge 2016 Part Four

[southeastdweller]

Thread four 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, second thread here and third thread here.

How're you getting on so far?

Book 48
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
A lovely, gentle read after the horrors of Charles Cumming’s writing, and the horrors of war and Stalin’s post-war Russian soldiers in the Kanon. I liked the Herriot books as a teenager, and fancied something calm & feel-good, so this was just right. I like the descriptions of Yorkshire and there are some really tender little pen-portraits of the Yorkshire farmers. It’s never going to set the literary world on fire, but this was just what I needed.

Oh Remus I love James Herriot's books. I collected them all in second hand shops as a young teen I was so excited when I spotted one I hadn't read. Some of those stories are so vivid I feel like I'm remembering them myself; I cried with laughter at some of them, and I was half in love with Tristan.

24. Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie - Read this for book group. This is the worst book I have ever read and I'm not exaggerating. It's about a woman who retires to the south of France and her life as an ex-pat there. It looked like chick lit (hate that term, but it seems to be trying to sell itself as that), which isn't my thing, but I read it anyway and really shouldn't have bothered. Ridiculous, predictable plot combined with over-the-top and completely implausible characters. Don't even get me started on the really poor quality of writing - she would use a particular word and then re-use it multiple times over the next couple of pages, for no particular purpose. She also had this really annoying habit of starting a new paragraph every time she started a new sentence. Just when I thought the book couldn't get any worse, it did. Over and over again. I read the last half in one sitting just to get it over with. If she wasn't famous, there is absolutely no way this would ever have been published and it actually really annoys me that somebody somewhere has allowed this to happen. Rant over!

25. This Side of Paradise by F Scott Fitzgerald Loved this. The only one of his novels I haven't read before and, although it's no Gatsby, I really enjoyed it. It focuses on a young man, Amory Blaine, and is mainly about his time at Princeton around the time of WWI. A lot of it is semi-autobiographical and knowing the background about Fitzgerald's life and his relationship with his future wife around the time this was being written added a really interesting element to it. I also liked seeing how many of the themes and characters of Gatsby are present here too. It seems like a first draft in many ways, although is not the same story at all. Some beautifully written passages too, particularly in the second half.

Satsuki - Tristan is lovely, but I suspect that I'd probably go for Siegfried (and then want to strangle him at least twice a week).

Ha - I nearly put Siegfried as well, but didn't want to sound too fictionally promiscuous

It's allowed - it's fictional!

How strange, I was talking about the James Herriott books on Saturday with my Dad and thinking I'd like to read them again. I have them upstairs somewhere. Must go and have a look.

I had a teenage crush on Tristan but I agree with you on Siegfried.

Thanks for the heads up, slightlyglitterbrained. I didn't know there was a new Benedict Jacka book out - to Waterstones tomorrow, then.

And, in a similar vein:

35. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

As a favour to one of the more tolerable vampires of his acquaintance, Harry ends up undercover on the set of an adult film. The producer believes himself to be the target of a curse, but it's the women around him who are getting killed. Thomas Raith, a vampire of the White Court (these are the sexiest of the vampire types), seems to have a personal stake in the case which brings Harry into contact with other members of the House of Raith, leaders in the White Court of Vampires. There's a powerful vampire of the Black Court (more the Dracula type, complete with a set of Renfields) out to kill Harry as well, and Harry is also starting to uncover secrets that will change his life forever.

22. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

This is a book to be read before one has children. I hated especially the first part where he is drooling over a preteen and constantly felt sick to the back teeth. Contrary to what I was told on here earlier, I thought the road trip and beyond was better than that first part where most of what we are told is what the narrator would like to do to Lolita and other girls of her age. Which is not what I want to spend hours reading, as the mum of a 10-year-old girl.

Yet, I now know why Nabokov is considered a brilliant author. There wasn't much of a story and the narrator wasn't really consistent/realistic imho but WOW, the man can write! There were paragraphs of such beauty and insight that I stopped and stared at my Kindle I think I would like to read another book by Nabokov, preferably something that is not as vile and disgusting.

It would have been a much more interesting book imho if Nabokov let us see further into Humbert's mind. Other than his sexual desire for prepubescent girls, that is. I thought we were going somewhere with his mind slipping at one point, but he seems to have miraculously recovered his sanity so that was a disappointment.

There were quite a lot of references to Edgar Allan Poe's poem Annabel Lee which talks about the death of a beloved young girl, and not just the name of Humbert's 1st love as a teenager: Annabel Leigh - "Princedom by the sea"(Loc. 607), "by the side of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride" (Loc. 731), calls Lolita/Dolores "Dolores Lee" (Loc. 2730) etc.

OK, I'm glad to have read it but never again. And frankly it didn't live up to my expectations.

19. Heat Wave by Penelope Lively.

Penelope Lively is a sort of English version of Anne Tyler in my opinion. Lovely observational writing style, great characterisation, plots which meander slowly along. I've read lots of her books over the years, loved some (Moon Tiger, The Photograph) and been a bit meh over others (Judgement Day). This was a good one. Pauline, in her fifties, observes her daughter Teresa's marriage when they spend a summer sharing a pair of houses, and is reminded of her own marriage to Teresa's father. Very enjoyable, and just what I needed after the intensity of Alan Turing.

Just finished Maestra by LS Hilton. A crime caper set in the art world - yachts, tarts, mafia and sex clubs. The sex scenes are reminiscent of the Black Lace books of fond memory. It felt like major wish fulfilment for the author - revenge/sex/shopping fantasies all rolled up into one package. It reminded me of a proper 1980s doorstopper of a shopping and bonking book. It ain't literature, but fun if you're in the mood for it.

Remus, I love James Herriot too! I am so disappointed that they're not on Kindle, because I have somehow lost most of my copies. I particularly like Tricki-Woo and Mrs Pumphry, and the story about Debbie the cat who brings in her kitten Buster always makes me cry. But yes, I adore Siegfried too.

Oh, ok, I'll take both if you insist I love it when Siegfried is really angry at Tristan for something or other. The episode where Jim carried out a calving drunk with the Methodist farmers, the one where he ate loads of pig fat just to be polite, and also the one where he accidentally stole a ham sandwich and a bovril because he was still in his pyjamas were so funny. But the some of the stories of cruelty mended by kindness, companionship and loss are just incredibly touching and lovely.

Fair review, cotedazur. It is worth perservering through the perversion to get to the writing, but as you say, once is probably enough. I did say you might prefer the second half btw - the first third in particular, though incredibly beautifully written, I would have trouble reading again with a dd I think.

I am 25% through War and Peace and loving it more and more, haven't hit a wall yet, long may it continue

19 Cat among the pigeons by Agatha Christie
The err 7th Poirot book I have read this year, although I listened to this one. I really enjoyed this Poirot book even though he's in about 1/5 of the whole book; sort of turning up in the end and solving the mystery straight away. It's all based around an exclusive girls' school where there are missing gems, three murders, a kidnapping and the usual red herrings etc.
In case anyone is interested I've been rating them (inside my head) in order of preference after reading them, the list is below

1. Murder on the orient express
2. The murder of Roger Ackroyd
3. The mysterious affair at Styles
4. Cat among the pigeons
5. Death on the nile
6. Evil under the sun
7. Dead man's folly

16. Agent Zigzag by Ben MacIntyre; a true story of espionage, love, friendship and high jinks from WW2. I really enjoyed this, it is an incredible tale of daring and derring do in the best spirits of British WW2 stoicism and bravery. I enjoyed Operation Mincemeat but this one really comes to life and is a better read. It's a bout Eddie Chapman, a roguish criminal who persuades the Germans to take him on to spy in Britain and double crosses them by actually spying for the British. He's a lively, amoral character and you are never quite sure what he might do next. Very very enjoyable, would really recommend.

Not quite sure what is next, might go for Creativity Inc, a book about Pixar... hmmm

Haven't read James Herriot in years, wouldn't mind picking one up.

Fair play on War & Peace Satsuki, I have never been able to face it!

Cheddar They are on Kindle. I got All Creatures for 99p. It's the one with Mrs Pomphrey in.

Wilting Agent Zigzag* = another both that Cote and I both thought was excellent.

I'm thinking about that and ignoring her on Lolita right now!

Cote - DD1 raves about The Eye which, unlike Lolita, is one of his shorter novels. I'm not so sold on it, but she absolutely loves it.

I've got two dds. I still think the first third is where the writing is far and away the strongest. Yes, it's vile but I maintain that this is why it's so clever and why he's a genius - he's writing about hideous things but still makes me want to lap up every word and wallow in his art. I find it utterly compelling. The horror of the character and his 'desires' and the beauty of the writer's craft are a really uncomfortable combination, I know, but the word-play and the very sounds of some his phrases are just sublime - and then we step back from it and realise how vile it is, and then dive in for another bit of exquisite poetry, whilst feeling uncomfortable and greedy for more simultaneously. Genius!

I agree with you remus, I was speaking more to cote's preferences as I can see it from that point of view too; that the discomfort/enjoyment balance was a bit off for her. I've already read it several times, so I'm not in a hurry to revisit it while my children are young.

Sorry, Satsuki - my message was to Cote. I wasn't disagreeing with you...I have to disagree with Cote though - it's in our MN User Rules!

25. A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett

I loved this book as a child and I'm happy to say that I love it still :) it is a perfect story from start to finish. I have had a stressful week so it has been wonderfully comforting reading.

Halfway to 50 and still only April! I'm doing a lot better than last year.

"I have to disagree with Cote though - it's in our MN User Rules!"

Yes, it is! We don't seem to have a problem agreeing on non-fiction books, but novels we both like are few and far between.

"he's writing about hideous things but still makes me want to lap up every word and wallow in his art. I find it utterly compelling.... the word-play and the very sounds of some his phrases are just sublime - and then we step back from it and realise how vile it is, and then dive in for another bit of exquisite poetry, whilst feeling uncomfortable and greedy for more simultaneously. Genius!"

I agree with this to a certain extent I felt like this after the first 1/3 or so, when all the drooling and whining stopped and some semblance of a story (albeit a very mediocre and dull one) started. Before then, he just went on and on with his woe-is-me and vile drooling which was both disgusting and boring at the same time. Yes, there sure is beautiful prose from time to time, but beautiful writing about boring & vile stuff isn't what I want from books, frankly. The best writing in the world about vomit would still not be my favourite book, unless there is some clever plot in there somewhere. And there is a near-complete absence of plot in this book, let alone a clever & fascinating one that would make me want to keep reading.

But you DID keep reading, Cote, even when I told you to stop, and even against your gut instincts! Why? Surely because the writing kept drawing you back in? Or was it just sheer bloody-mindedness, like me with the drivel that was Charles Cummings?

It's because I almost never give up on a book - 99% of the time, I just push through and read it to the bitter end

I would be interested to try another Nabokov but not just yet. Not for the rest of 2016, either, actually.