50 Book Challenge 2016 Part Five

[southeastdweller]

Thread five 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.

The first thread of 2016 is here, second thread here, third thread here and fourth thread here.

How're you getting on so far?

He doesn't like sci-fi, Cote, so he fails your test!

You'd hate The Loney.

Bad taste! He's got terrible taste in books! I agree with you now

No doubt re The Loney. I don't ever want to read books in which children are abducted, killed, etc. And it's a first book. And it's about people's relationships with each other in a small town, which I find tedious and boring even when the author is Stephen King (Needful Things).

46. Prince's Gambit by C S Pacat a massive thank you for the reccomentationsrecomendations for this series, am really enjoying it now!

I feel Remus, Cote and Remus' dp should fill in a venn diagram of likes and dislikes for the rest of us to slot ourselves into!

Loving the Venn diagram idea.

Cote - The Loney isn't really to do with small town/relationships stuff. And whilst I hated it, it has to be said that it is better than Needful Things (which I absolutely detest).

I've given up on the history of Japan book. Soooooo boringly written. I only have Stalin and Andrew Marr available to be now, and neither of them are appealing. I hate having nothing to read.

book 26 the ship of destiny Robyn Hobb book 3 of the rain wild triology the final book of an amazing series. Again Robyn Hobb hS told a fascinating story tying all the details of the other two books. The end is enthrawling and uplifting. Whilst this type of book isn't my usual reading I will be reading more by this author. Onwards and upwards book 27 the empty throne book 6 of the Alfred chronicles by Bernard Cornwall

42 Revelation by C J Sansom
43 Wild Cat by Christine Feehan
44 And Then there were None by Agatha Christie
45 Dark Ghost by Christine Feehan
46 The Beast by JR Ward

79. Into Darkness by JT Geissinger

Last book in the Night Prowler series. A bit different from the previous books as it's set in a future post-apocalyptic dystopia. I thought I was accidentally reading a book from a different series at first, but it's quite intriguing as you begin to see how it all fits into place. I didn't like the romance parts of the story though.

80. The Sisters by Claire Douglas

Thriller about a woman mourning her sister who strikes up a friendship with a woman who looks like her. Very weak plot, bad writing, cardboard characters. Really didn't care who was doing what or why.

81 City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Fifth book in the Mortal Instruments series. YA vampiry-were-wolfy-angelly-daftness.

82 Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

YA apocalypse novel. A predatory man has lured a teenage girl into his house and is listening to her story of her visions and how she survived. I really enjoyed this novel, but preferred the pre-apocalypse bits to the post-apocalypse.

83. Path of Needles by Alison Littlewood

A crime novel with a hint of the supernatural. A serial killer is posing their victims like fairy tale characters and so a fairy tale expert is brought into the investigation. Not bad, but doesn't quite deliver on its ideas.

84. Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough

Supernatural crime set in Victorian London at the time of Jack the Ripper. Another serial killer is in London and police surgeon Dr Bond feels drawn to investigate. Some good moments, but I didn't really engage with any of the characters.

85. The Remains by Vincent Zandri

Rubbish thriller about a woman who may be being stalked by the man who did something terrible to her and her sister thirty years ago. There are some horribly cliched characters, like the mystical "autistic savant" and the baddie who does bad things just because he's bad

Agent Zigzag and Operation Mincemeat are in the kindle daily deal today - anyone know if they are worth a read?

49. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley - Read for book group. This is set in London in the 1880s and begins when Thaniel Steepleton, a government clerk, finds an intricate watch in his lodgings. A few months later, the watch's alarm goes off (loudly) when he's in a pub and, in going outside to try and switch it off, he escapes a bomb explosion in the pub. The story is obviously partly about who left the watch for him and why but is about a lot more than that as well. I liked this - some of the writing was beautiful and, although it started off as a bit of a slow-burner (in a good way), it came together well and didn't feel rushed as the plot picked up towards the end. There were a couple of elements of the story which seemed slightly unnecessary, as though the writer was trying to tick too many boxes, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

50. Second Life by S J Watson - Another read for book group. This is the story of Julia, whose sister is brutally murdered at the beginning of the book, and her ostensible attempts to find out who killed her. In doing so, she is drawn into an online world and becomes obsessed with a stranger she meets online. I say 'ostensible' attempts because I wasn't that convinced by the whole thing. Julia wasn't a believable character, in my opinion, and the way that the plot wrapped up by the end was too far-fetched, in my opinion. There were so many moments when she just acted in the most ridiculously improbable way and it really annoyed me. She has no interaction with the police in her attempts to find her sister's killer, for example. Even everyday things that she says and does didn't ring true and I was left with the feeling that this male writer just shouldn't have tried to write a first-person narrative as a woman. It just wasn't convincing.

Monty - both worth a read, but especially Operation Mincemeat.

78. Quiet Impact by Sylvia Loehken

Very short book subtitled 'How to be a successful introvert', basically giving strategies for introverts (or 'quiet people' as Loehken calls us) to use their strengths and avoid obstacles caused by their specific needs in their professional lives. Some interesting exercises that I need to take the time to try at some point.

47. Kings' Rising by CS Pacat. The last of the captive prince trilogy. I gather that this started as an online serial and imo it would have benefitted from a bit of rewriting to tweak a few plot points that obviously changed slightly during the writing process, but I guess that might have disappointed original readers. I enjoyed this, but I do like well written slashy fanfic, so I guess I am the target market!

Based on Muskey's rec above, I might have a look at robin hobb- I read one or two about 20 years ago and wasn't gripped, but wonder If I've missed out- does anyone have a suggestion of where to start?

Dammit mixed up my numbering and those last two were 48 and 49!

50. Bossyboots by Jean Ure picked this up from a charity shelf in the hospital- I'd forgotten this series though I had read it (and, on checking, I own the other two so that is very pleasing!). I like Jean Ure but this isn't her best (which imo is probably Dance for Two).

Update with books 55-58.

55. Silverthorn – Raymond E. Feist. This is the second book of the Riftwar Saga. The kingdoms are at peace after the Riftwar and Prince Arutha is about to marry Princess Anita. However, evil is not far away and when Anita is poisoned, Arutha, Jimmy the Mocker and other characters we met in the first book are reunited as they defeat the dark forces and search for the Silverthorn which is the only anecdote for the poison. Epic fantasy – I loved this and have put the next book in the series on my wishlist.

56. Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman. I read this on my daughter’s recommendation and it was fantastic. It is a kind of Romeo and Juliet but set in world where the colour of your skin decides your outcomes (sound familiar). This was a powerful YA book and I am still thinking about it and the issues raised. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

57. Company of Liars – Karen Maitland. This is the story of Camelot who is a seller of relics and his travel companions as they make their way across England. The year is 1348 and the black death has arrived. Each member of the company has a secret and a story to tell. It was a really enjoyable medieval yarn. I listened to this on Audible and will look out for more by this author.

58. The Distant Hours - Kate Morton. This is the story of three sisters who live in their old family home, Middlehurst Castle which was the scene of many tragic events over the years but the main focus is on Juniper, the youngest sister, who was jilted during WW2 and never recovered. This is mostly a story of love, loss, memory and heartache and was well written and readable.

Museum of Ham - Americannah really worked well as an audiobook so much so I would definitely listen to it again.

ShakeItOff200 I was like you with the Stand and I can honestly say it was only better second time round.

40. Peter O'Toole: The Definitive Biography - Robert Sellers. Entertaining but superficial bio of the late actor, I'm still none the wiser about why he drank so much and behaved so badly to certain people in his life. This was a bit of a hagiography and not detailed enough.

41. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan. A young couple arrive at a hotel in Dorset having married earlier that day, both nervous about consummating their marriage. Short but powerful, he can make more impact in a book of less than 200 pages like this than most others can in books twice as long. Looking forward to reading his new one that's published this week.

Thanks Remus, bought!

Tanaqui I started with the Farseer trilogy (Book One is Assassin's Apprentice) and loved them. It was the first trilogy she wrote in this world, so it sets everything up nicely for the others.

40. The History Of England Volume 3: Civil War - Peter Ackroyd

This was a cracking read. He is a fantastic storyteller who makes a complicated period of history very accessible, and really gives a feel for the individuals involved.

I've just posted a new thread