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?

The Yellow Wallpaper is so good.

I rate 1984 highly but absolutely detest Animal Farm. It makes me furious.

Having looked back, I've not updated since the end of last month. Much has been going on, but not nearly enough reading. The bad stuff is to do with my elderly parents and the good stuff is that I've been participating in a blogging challenge which takes place during April, writing on the subject of book genres.

So, a lot of writing, but I've only read two books in all this time:

Book 18: Voices from Chernobyl Svetlana Alexievich - we hear from various voices, farmers, families of firemen who were the first responders, liquidators who volunteered to work at the Reactor to carry out the dangerous work of cleaning up the building itself and the surrounding area, scientists who fought for government leadership and protection of the people, some young, some old, some farmers, writers, photographers. Not an easy read, but a powerful and worthwhile one. If you want to know more, you can click on my full review Oral History on my blog

Book 19: Generation X Douglas Coupland - The story of 3 20-somethings who move to the California desert to find themselves. Lots of generational catch phrases, much ennui, but it's all told with affection, understanding and wit and man can Coupland write. One reviewer commented that he needed to take his head out of his arse with this book, but I really liked it. My full review if you really want to read more: GenX on my blog

I have missed you all and have LOADS of the thread and your recommendations to catch up on.

I had to put this thread down as lots of you were reviewing storm front and I didn't want spoilers!

23. Storm Front by Jim Butcher.

Like all the urban fantasy I try at the moment, I didn't like it as much as I wanted to! I did finish it thought, so that was good. I felt that the writing style wanted to have the casual cool of Zelazny's 9 Princes in Amber, but it didn't quite work for me.

Have enjoyed catching up and don loaded a sample of the Angry Planet book. Have also read Mony Dick, but only remember the bit where they wear the whale's foreskin to protect themselves from some other horrid job- but that bit was very good (and informative!)

22. Olivier - Philip Ziegler. Very readable biography of Laurence Olivier with an impressive number of sources, but the problem is that it’s too short at 400-odd pages. Everything feels lightly sketched and rushed considering what a colourful private life he had, his long and varied career, and that he lived until he was 82.

23. Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters. Her first book and it definitely shows. It’s set in Victorian London and follows the adventures of Nancy King, an Oyster girl from Kent whose life takes some very surprising turns after she meets a music hall star in London. I enjoyed the sex descriptions, and as usual she evokes the period brilliantly but the story is nowhere near as absorbing and exciting as it is in some of her other books, and often meanders. It’s also about 100 pages too long and there were too many distracting coincidences.

I need a period of light fiction reading now so next up is Man at the Helm and a new book called Not Working.

I would be interested to hear what you think if you do read The Dust that falls from dreams Satsuki. Night women is very good but VERY violent! I'm sure someone on here read and enjoyed it.

Finished Holes by Louis Sachar. Grand total for this year: 5

Happy to see another Amber fan, Tanaqui :) I find the same with a lot of urban fantasy (& steampunk), I really want to like them, but too many don't quite hit the spot. I thought Storm Front was fine, & I'd pick up the next if I saw it in a charity shop or the library, but I'm not rushing out to find them.

Grendel I picked up The Pumpkin Eater at random in the library and thought I'd give it a go. There's some brilliant stuff in there about how as your children get older there is less time for you as a couple on your own because they don't go to bed at 7 but stay up all evening.

It is sad to know that it is based quite heavily on the break up of her own marriage, though. I haven't read The Yellow Wallpaper I shall have to look it up.

I rate Holes highly - a really excellent YA book.

Book 51
The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriot
I enjoyed this but not as much as the previous one I read. It meandered across time a bit too much for my liking, although a couple of the scenarios in it I thoroughly enjoyed – a dog who liked to queue up and have a go on a slide and a randy bull getting frustrated in his intentions were my two particular favourites.

ElleSarcasmo", wasn't Hild GREAT? Apparently it's the first of a projected trilogy, I'm so excited for the next two. On a level with Hilary Mantel's Cromwell books as far as historical fiction goes.

These are my latest:

31. Missionary Position – Christopher Hitchens. I knew of Mother Teresa and had heard some not so complimentary tales of her activities but I was not prepared for what this short expose had to offer. She received an extraordinary amount of money to alleviate suffering and she didn’t do it because of her belief that suffering glorified god. The nuns in her order left people to die without medical intervention, palliative care and the basics of treating people with dignity and compassion. Really shocking.

32. The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman. In this book the narrator goes back forty years to recount a tale of fantasy and magic which is woven around his memories and the three rather strange women who live at the end of the lane. I adore Neil Gaiman and I couldn’t resist a reread of this.

33. Brooklyn – Colm Toibin. I bought this on an Audible DD a few months back. At the time Quog advised the narration by Niamh Cussack was a bit boring. I agree – it was completely flat and there are so many other Irish voices out there that could have done it more justice. I do know that reviews on here have been mixed but I would broadly agree with Satsuki and Lookingforme who have also read it quite recently. Overall, I liked this one. Relationships, both family and romantic, can be quite complex and I liked how each detail was slow, measured and paced. It reminded me in many ways of Stoner which I loved. It should have been really mundane but I didn’t find that and that maybe because I have lived similar experiences to some of those described in the book (bereavement at a distance, falling in loved and making decisions about heart vs place etc). I found that it made me think and reflect about decisions and how we make them and their impact. The ending was unsatisfying as I would have liked more about Eilis and Tony’s relationship when she returned.

I am half way through the audio of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on the school run. On kindle I am reading High-Rise and paperback is Neurotribes. I am also listening to Apple Tree Yard but got a bit tired of it so took a break with Brooklyn and will resume ATY later.

I am enjoying reading all the Catherynne Valente reviews. My 12 year old daughter loves her books and once I get to book 40 I am taking a few months to read some of her recommendations as she really wants to talk about them to me.

46 The Life Project by Helen Pearson

An account of the British longitudinal birth cohort studies, starting with the 1948 study that aimed to cover every baby born in Britain over one week, and which has re-visited them periodically over the years. The studies have fed into a huge amount of research both medical and social (e.g. being part of the puzzle that conclusively linked smoking with lung cancer & lots of other diseases, and a main source of information to look at social mobility & factors that influence educational performance).

A really excellent book, and one that I think a lot of people would enjoy (anyone who likes the 7 Up programmes, for a start!). The writing style can be a bit clunky at times, but it didn't get in the way of the story, and I found the history of the studies as interesting as the results that the author describes.

I feel the same about the next Dresden book Sadiq. Do you have any other urban fantasy recs? Amber is probably my favourite Zelazny, though I have a soft spot for Coils.

I saw the film of Brooklyn, which rather put me off reading the book!

Probably nothing you've not read, Tanaqui. I like the Rivers of London books, loved The City and The City but less enthralled by Mieville's other fantasy. I guess quite a few authors I like sit somewhere in the boundaries between urban and classic fantasy, Diana Wynne Jones being an obvious one, ditto Neil Gaiman.

I like Cassandra Clare's books (despite their extreme trashiness) but they're really more romance with an urban fantasy setting. I enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate, but again, they're lighthearted comedy romance with a steampunk backdrop.

Ooh, I hadn't heard of the Parasol Protectorate! I will look out for it.
I love DWJ, read the first Rivers of London but wasn't gripped. Liked Cassandra Clare's fanfic better than the City books, but enjoy them while I'm reading them. Have you read Sarah Rees Brennan?

39. White Night by Jim Butcher

A series of apparent suicides have raised the suspicions among the Special Investigations department of the police, and Harry has been called in to have a look at the latest scene. He finds indications of magic and a message only a wizard could find - suffer not a witch to live. As Harry goes in search of the killer he finds evidence that Thomas, a White Court vampire, may have been involved with some of the victims, and Thomas seems to be avoiding him.

Not read Sarah Rees Brennan yet, but she's on my list to look out for. (My YA reading tends to be very heavily influenced by what dd brings home from school )

Which reminds me that I did like Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, again kind of urban fantasy/romance but then dd didn't enjoy it and never borrowed the rest of the series.

1. Shakespeare - Bill Bryson I really enjoyed this was interesting to hear some facts I didn't know about Shakespeare and easn't aware about just how many different people they have claimed wrote his plays and how little we actually know about his life. If you know little about Shakespeare then I'd recommend this books as an easy read with some interesting information about his life and plays.

9 Blood will tell - Kyra Cornelius Kramer 2 chapters in and I'm finding her argument quite persuasive and finding myself feeling so sorry for Katherine of Aragon. It also appears well researched so far which is always good to see.

I can't seem to get into any books at the moment, any recommendations considered

minsmum - I'm currently reading, and really enjoying, Company of Liars by Karen Maitland. It's set in the Middle Ages at the time of the first epidemic of the Black Death. It's gripping stuff. Don't want to put it down. Would that appeal to you?

I'm also reading A Very British Murder by Lucy Worsley, which is fascinating.

Thanks Mermaid I have that on my kindle, I will give it a try

Just wanted to mention that there are some good books cheap on Kindle at the moment, if anyone is interested. (Good in my opinion obviously! )

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - £1.49 (I've not read yet but many people reckon it's her best...)
A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre - £1.29
Wild Swans by Jung Chang - £1.99
Golden Son by Pierce Brown - 99p
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - £1.99
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler - £1.99
Adventures in Human Being by Gavin Francis - £2.29

The Buried Giant is not super cheap at £3.09, but well worth reading if you like something well written and a bit quirky.

Does anyone have any recommendations in this months Kindle sale?

Great minds, LadyDepp - I bought A Spy Amongst Friends at about half past one this morning. :)

A Town Like Alice is £1.99 - one of my absolute favourites.