50 Book Challenge 2016 Part Six

[southeastdweller]

Thread six 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, fourth thread here and fifth thread here.

Me too

61. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath comfort (!) reread of a favourite. It's been a while since I'd read it and was surprised by how much I enjoyed revisiting it. Written with cold, clear-eyed intelligence, wit and poetry.

I would definitely recommend Born To Run.

All Quiet is magnificent. I envy people reading it for the first time!

I want to read Britain Begins now, you've sold it well Chillie but £14 on Kindle is a bit steep.

I really enjoyed Born to Run earlier this year. All Quiet on the Western Front is waiting on my kindle.

Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer is also in the Kindle sale and I think Mermaid has recommended it a few times.

Book 115
Two Brothers by Ben Elton
Oh dear. Somebody on here recommended this to me ages ago and I finally tracked it down in the library. To be honest, I mostly wish I hadn’t bothered. It’s right up my street in terms of subject matter (two brothers, one who is adopted) growing up in Nazi Germany – one a Jew, the other not). Unfortunately, despite some interesting characters and some quite moving moments, he’s really not a v good writer. Most of it was exposition – lots of telling instead of showing – and there was an awful lot of Elton a) reminding us that the Nazis were very nasty and b) proving that he’s done some research that he’s determined to cram in. I’d have forgiven both of those if the story itself remained decent. Unfortunately it got more and more ridiculous. Oh and he should be hauled over the coals for his abomination of a so-called ‘black person accent’ which was hideously embarrassing at best and horribly racist at worst.

Britain Begins sounds excellent. Do you think it would be good on a Kindle, Chillie? It'd make a great Christmas present for my dad, but he has eyesight issues and finds the kindle much easier than paper books.

(Although am I right that you still can't buy kindle books as gifts in the UK, only vouchers???)

50. (Yay!) The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin. This is high quality science fiction, with the emphasis on science (as the title indicates). Wang Miao is very confused - he is experiencing things which should be against the laws of physics. Other academics are affected too. And what is the relevance of the Three Body computer game - does the Trisolaran world (with its three suns) exist in reality? Maybe Ye Wenjie, with her background at the mysterious Red Coast Base project, can help him to find out what is going on...

I enjoyed the beginning of this, with the link to the Cultural Revolution, but I found myself struggling around the 30-40% mark - the bit when Wang is playing the computer game. I found it irritating when people like Newton and Einstein kept popping up - I think because it reminded me of the stupid 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and kept randomly bumping into famous people. However, things picked up after that, and the second half of this book is brilliant - original, gripping and intriguing.

I've finished the The Three Body Problem too.

I quite enjoyed the game sequences. My point of struggle was the last third of the book. However, this may be due to the 'curse of kindle' where I can see I don't have much left and try to read too quickly to find out what happens!

Yay for The Three-Body Problem love

Now quickly go on to the next book, The Dark Forest. It is even better than The Three-Body Problem.

I'm very intrigued by The Three-Body Problem discussion. I should see if my library system has any available copies.

42. A Fatal Likeness by Lynn Shepherd. Charles Maddox is a young private detective who, in 1850, becomes embroiled in a case revolving around Mary Shelley, Claire Clairmont, and Percy Shelley and the events in their lives leading up to Shelley's death, events that have long-reaching repercussions and implications.

Phew - caught up with thread, have had visitors staying for 2 weeks so not much time for MN but thankfully time to read books.

My favourite recent comment has to be the one about Shantaram from tarahumara "I enjoyed Shantaram (although started to get a bit bored towards the end). I agree the main character is a bit of a twat, but it was still a good read IMO." That is exactly how I felt about that book!

45. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christmas. This was pretty good, not nearly enough Hallowe'en flavour for my seasonal needs. I do agree that the teenage boys were hilarious, very Weasley-esque as Remus says. I found it interesting how Christie keeps mentioning the mentally ill not being cared for properly, there must be some sort of back story there.

46. The Girl With all the Gifts by MR Carey. I was inspired to read this by the recently released film getting good reviews. It's basically a zombie apocalypse book and I LOVED IT. I could not stop reading it. I am sure you SF aficionados could critique it much better than me but it was utterly gripping with a fabulous selection of characters. I cannot wait to see the film now. (Probably obvious from the subject matter but it's pretty gory so not for the faint of heart!)

Welcome back, LadyDepp

My experience with The Girl With All The Gifts was somewhat less positive

I really wish the Amazon blurb said this is YA. A book about the feeeeliinggs between a teenage zombie and her teacher that is filled with childish truisms like " you can't be a child for ever, even if you want to be" was never going to be my thing.

Cote - I completely understand why you were slightly less positive about it, but for some reason that I can't even explain I really liked it and found it absolutely gripping. Maybe I was just desperate to find out what happened to them all. I was quite meh about the zombie/teacher thing but I just loved the mad scientist woman and the soldier guy. I've forced myself to flog through so many more worthy books this year, and it was refreshing to really want to read a book....

I wasn't going to mention it again, but I did love Station Eleven as well

I've not read Girl With All The Gifts, though I do have it

The film was good, but I didn't like the ending (which I believe they altered)

I was cacking myself watching the film, not good with jumpscares, kept looking away and staring at the fire exit light. I am a wuss, but it was very tense.

I didn't like The Girl with all the Gifts, unfortunately. Loved the concept, but not the execution.

I loved The Girl with all the Gifts. It was definitely a Marmite book at book group though!

64. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - a re-read after a couple of people read it earlier on this thread and I was inspired to find my copy again. I first read this when I was 17 and loved it but couldn't remember much beyond that. I'm so, so glad I re-read it. It tells the story of a Baptist missionary, Nathan Price, who takes his wife and four daughters to live in the Belgian Congo in 1960. The story is mainly told from the perspectives of the daughters and occasionally their mother. I got so much more out of reading it this time than I did the first time and think I'd put this as one of my favourite books ever. Highly recommended.

I'm now reading Radio Girls for book group, which is a bit blah so far, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

And now I'm bookless yet again. :( :(

What are your choices - can I help pick?

Because I'm assuming by bookless you obviously mean SURROUNDED BY A MOUNTAIN OF BOOKS AND YET TO START ONE

66. No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer. I know there are lots of Heyer lovers on mumsnet; this is one of her detective stories, which aren't as good as the romances, but definitely worth worth a read if you like Christie, Allingham and Sayers.

You've finally read everything, remus

Song - Nope. I truly have nothing. :( Can't find anything on Kindle either, other than for stupid money.

Satsuki

I fancy something 'lightish' but good, akin to 84 Charing Cross Road or some non fiction. Would I like the Body Problem thing that you're all reading? I sort of think I wouldn't if it's science.

Hmm 'lightish' and of the McCall Smith variety. A Marian Keyes? A John O'Farrell?

Oooo Kate Atkinson, Case Histories ???!