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.

Have you read The Examined Life, Remus? Would fit the bill for good but not heavy non-fiction, I think. Don't know about kindle, but I bought a 2nd hand copy very cheap on ebay.

Or The New Spymasters by Stephen Grey might suit - although it claims to be from the cold war onwards, it actually starts in the Russian revolution & has some fascinating historical detail.

Hmm. Think I've read too much spy stuff lately, so not sure that appeals right now but might another day.

Absolutely no to Marian K, sorry, and I've fallen out with Kate Atkinson and vowed never to read her again. Don't like John F - he annoys me.

Will look into The Examined Life, but maybe a bit too 'Science' for me right now.

Sorry. Thank you!

I loved Nothing is True and Everything is Possible about life in modern Russia, but not sure if it'd be your sort of thing.

Similarly River Town by Peter Hessler - absolutely fascinating book about living in China (and indeed Factory Girls that I reviewed recently - but that's a much denser read).

I'd also like non-fiction recommendations - probably not popular science (or at least not life sciences) as I never enjoy them as much as I expect. Politics / economics / maths / psychology recs especially and particularly if they're available on audible! (not fussy, me) Considering Silk Roads for my next credit, but not sure if I'd prefer it on paper with maps.

My current non fiction recommendation is Sapiens - see my review at the bottom of p29 of this thread.

Sadik, have you read The Unwinding, by George Packer? It looks at how shifts in US economic and political policy have undone and are undoing the social contract. It's received a lot of praise, and it's on Audible.

Remus, you've probably read it, but if not, perhaps A Spy Among Friends would do?

Why have you fallen out with Kate?

If not Keyes, Binchy?

First 15 lives of Harry August?

Light Between Oceans?

A Scarlett Thomas?

Outlander?

My best non fiction of all time is Letters Between Six Sisters

Oh and if the reason is a spoiler related to A God In Ruins, please don't share as I'm reading it right now!

28. These Days of Ours, Juliet Ashton

Billed as a 'One Day' type book in the blurb which is a statement I'd be inclined to agree with. The story follows two cousins , who grow up together as best friends, with lives fully intertwined. Each chapter takes place a few months / a year on after the previous chapter. The story isn't as strong though as One Day. There isn't all that many twists and it doesn't hit you emotionally like One Day did. It isn't as memorable either. That said it's a reasonably well written 'chick lit' book, without the editing blunders or weak story lines, of other books at the moment. Would recommend though, if this genre is your bag. It is one if the better ones I've read recently and would be perfect as a holiday read.

Had a quick scan through now, so think I'm up to date! I loved the description of My Antonia, a book I'd never heard of. I've downloaded it on my Kindle for future reading.

I decided against buying H for Hawk in the end. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that it was a book I should read, rather than one I wanted to. Experience has taught me, I'd probably be disappointed. I might revisit this in the future if I see it at the library, but not to buy.

I've also read Girl on the Train. I picked up a copy left behind at the apartment we stayed in, on holiday. Not a book I would have picked for myself, but I was desperate for reading materials. From what I remember the writing style was awful. The storyline pretty interesting, and I did finish it, but it was so poorly constructed that it became irritating. I also don't remember the details a year on.

I'm certain I've read All Quiet, but as a child / teen so I think I need to revisit. Any other recommendations from the kindle monthly deals? Apart from the Dressmaker (which I think I might have read) nothing is jumping out at me.

Have you read The Cazalets Remus? I've only just started but enjoying very much. But I remember you didn't like Diary of a Provincial Lady and it does have a similar feel so far.

86. The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley. An enjoyable read - slow creeping horror rather than full on blood and guts spilled everywhere stuff. I liked it, raised some interesting questions about faith too. Would make a good discussion book for a book club.

87. The Vanishing Game by William Boyd. A bit of a weak effort from him. Short audio book used on car journey to block out DC fighting on back seat. It did that, but that's pretty much all I can say in the positive about it.

88. Meercat Madness - Flying High by Ian Whybrow. Took us a month to read this as neither DS nor I were that invested in the story. It's pleasant enough but forgettable.

89. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. A re-read, this time by audio book and I enjoyed it a lot more this time. Still not scared but did like Jeremy Northam's narration.

90. Toby's Room by Pat Barker. Second in the Life Class trilogy. Continuing my reading of WW1 themed novels. Enjoyed it very much. I like her clear sharp prose and occasional subtle humour. Will read Noonday shortly to complete trilogy and possibly start Regeneration trilogy.

The Unwinding looks perfect, thanks Vanderley

Sadik I listened to The Silk Road on audio and it was fantastic. I have the paperback on my Christmas list!

Remus I think you enjoyed The Night Circus and if so you might like The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wrecker. Another one you might like is the Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. For non fiction Neurotribes by Sterve Silberman is worth a look.

Remus The Diaries/Letters of Fanny Burney? Waterloo, Dr Johnson, a mastectomy without anaesthetic. So light-ish

62. All Quiet on The Western Front Erich Maria Remarque There is a lot of life and humour in this, which makes it all the more devastating. A great book. I don't think I'll read anything else about Ww1 for a while.

Nigel Slater's wonderful childhood memoir, Toast, is just £1.99 in the Kindle sale.

Remus, this might be the perfect time for you to read Carrion Comfort. Very Stephen King-ish. I think you would like it.

That's brilliant, Grifone - next two books sorted :) I think I might go for The Silk Road first then The Unwinding, as my last book was US focused.

I fancy Neurotribes too, (maybe not on Audible? can't remember which of my wishlists it's on! that's probably why I didn't go for it now)

Remus, have you read A Month in the Country, by J L Carr?

Random non-fiction I love:

• Ex Libris, Anne Fadiman
• In Ruins, Christopher Woodward
• The Lost Ark of the Covenant, Tudor Parfitt
• Under Another Sky, Charlotte Higgins

Mermaid re WW1 novels, have you read My Dear I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young?

Don't be put off by the chick-lit cover; it's actually really good. Quite graphic in places about the pioneering days of facial reconstructive surgery - very interesting as I hadn't known much about it before - and the personal relationships in the book are also beautifully portrayed.

Yes I have read read that one, highland but not the sequel yet. Toby's Room is also set partly at the same hospital and one of the characters undergoes facial reconstruction. Have you had a look at the real pictures in the Gillies Archives online? Not for the fainthearted, some of the injuries looked barely survivable.

I haven’t been able to update for ages, work and half-term have got in the way, but I’ve really been enjoying the thread.

85. The World According to Garp – John Irving
I thought I would love this and I did love the first third, but didn’t enjoy the rest, so I ended up feeling disappointed. The novel follows the writer Garp, from before his conception to his eventual demise, with a lot in-between, including the rise of a feminist movement started by his mother. There’s some very good writing here with a brilliant set piece in the middle, but Garp and his mother didn’t wring true to me and the ideas around feminism, whilst seemingly quite progressive and interesting (his mother contributes to the feminist movement and that shapes the outcome of the novel), seemed ultimately to be treated as a bit of a joke. Perhaps a novel of its time now, considering it was published in 1979.

86. The Wonders of the Solar System – Prof. Brian Cox
Popular science for science fools like me, plus pictures of the Prof himself. What’s not to like?

87. The Travelling Bag – Susan Hill
Some not so spooky and not so good short stories by Susan Hill. Was I scared? I was not.

88. The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller
This was a good’un, following the life of Achilles, seen from the viewpoint of his childhood to man-hood companion Patroclus. This was well-written and engaging, and I found the passages set around Troy to be fascinating. It’s a grower.

89. Men Explain Things to Me – Rebecca Solnit
This includes the essay that sowed the seed for the term ‘mansplaining’. I enjoyed these short, feminist essays and would like to read some of her longer books.

Oh I LOVED Song Of Achilles.

John Irving is a struggle, I've read about 4. Garp, Meany, the one about the Hand, and Until I Find You. In Garp, the tongue people got right on my nerves, but his books all have weird stuff like that

I tried to read Last Night In Twisted River couldn't and not been back since

I loved the Song of Achilles too, gorgeous book!

The only John Irving I liked was A Prayer for Owen Meany (which I think is loathed by several posters on here ?!). I read it more than 20 years ago and I wonder if I would still love it?

bibliomania - A Month in the Country, such a lovely book, too short!