50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Two

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the second thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2017, 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 previous thread is here.

How're you getting on so far?

1. The Raven's Head by Karen Maitland

Another of Karen Maitland's fantastical novels, this one set in 1224 Norfolk where the local Lord of the Manor and the abbot of the nearby abbey are both practising alchemy in secret as rivals in the hunt for the Philosopher's Stone. Lord Sylvain recruits the apothecary's niece in his work, while the abbot makes unpleasant use of the young boys in his charge for his experiments. Into the middle of this comes a man in possession of an intricately carved raven's head which advises him. His attempts to blackmail Sylvain go rather wrong. Very creepy, kind of disturbing, and pretty good really.

mugglebum Sarah Hilary writes really quite beautifully and certainly knows how to maintain a narrative arc. But I HATED that her twist plays into a Daily Mail trope. Won't read any more of hers.

Yes, I liked The Secret History and found it quite a page turner, so if it's not grabbing you yet it might just not be for you. I enjoyed it but didn't love it and don't suppose I'll read it again. I would give it a good go to get going though, but the style is the same all the way through.

I can never remember which is which in Secret History and Little Friend. I like done and hated the other. The one I liked had some kids in a water tower, I think, but I can't remember anything else about either.

I've not read The Little Friend yet and don't remember a water tower and kids in the SH - it's university students.

Just checked - Water tower is Little Friend. I think I liked that and disliked History but it was a v long time ago!

1. Girls on Fire - Robin Wasserman

Story of two high school girls bonded together over a joint enemy after a student commits suicide in the woods. Good story that reveals all the secrets and the dark side to high school girls. Didn't particularly like the ending though.

Another book off my TBR list and no books purchased in 2017.

I might try and get round to the LF then this year, been on kindle for ages but read Goldfinch first.

I read the Secret History and absolutely hated every single one of the characters. I finished and told dh I disliked it. But actually with time I found the characters hung with me and I thought about them often so that is the mark of a good book I suppose. I have read A Little Friend twice. By accident. I was half way through the second time before I recognised the plot. Even now though I can't really remember it.

Tell you what book I really hated on the topic of "women's lives" books - Arlington Park. Holy macaroni did I hate that book. Full of awful characters being awful to each other while pretending to be charming, laughing their tinkly laughs at each other over dinner parties. Yuck. I hated that book so much and deeply resented the hours of my life I will never get back.

Diva- I might try the Sarah Hilary in the background if I'm that way out

I listened to secret history in audible- loved it. She narrates her own!

Just looked on Amazon and apparently people who buy that load of clap trap also buy Zadie Smith's NW.

Just lining up books for the future (currently reading a trashy YA fantasy romance dd has out the library).

I don't suppose anyone can recommend a book about Leibniz? (Been looking at Leibniz: A Very Short Introduction, but it's got no reviews at all on amazon, which I reckon is a Bad Sign. And I'd have to buy it new as too recent to be in the library / available 2nd hand.)

I've had The Secret History on my wish list for ages, but its another one that never drops in price. I thought about using an audio credit to get it, but it is narrated by the author herself, and I don't like her voice (sorry Donna, I just don't). Sounds like I should maybe try The Little Friend instead.

The characters in TSH are all unlikeable but that is one of the interesting things about the book - you hate them all but you want to see it play out anyway.

Thanks for all the replies. Def agree about not liking any of the characters; maybe that's the issue. Got loads of other stuff to read at the moment but still is sat on my Kindle winking at me. Maybe one for the summer holidays when I will literally read anything.

I'm on book 2 which I'm quite pleased about. I've already read more this year than all of last year so thanks for the thread.

Book 2 is "The Magpies" by Mark Edwards and I'm about 2/3 through it. Still not sure if I like it! I'm generally just reading whatever I can borrow from friends while I wait to get paid (or get a library card - whichever happens first).

I didn't mind The Secret History but wouldn't rave about it. Couldn't get past the first chapter of The Little Friend.

1 The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
2 Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller
3 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (audible)
4 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

5 Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave. I absolutely loved this, I wanted to race through it and yet not finish it so quickly. It's a book I wanted to mark, underline highlight etc, but couldn't as it was a library book. Oh well. I have read Life After Life and A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson fairly recently and enjoyed both so was a little hesitant about starting Everyone Brave as the era and cast could be considered similar. But I wasn't disappointed. What I particularly liked was the dialogue between main characters and I liked the unexpected fates and themes in the second half of the book. I know that's a fairly vague critique but I don't want to give away any story.

I have read The Secret History one and a half times. The first time, when it was first published, I absolutely loved it. Second time I didn't enjoy it at all, didn't like the characters and couldn't finish it. I also couldn't finish The Goldfinch because I found the characters unlikeable.

Currently listening to Still Life by Louise Penny on audible. It's good, I'll probably listen to another Inspector Gamache after this as a result.

Not sure what to read next. As always. Either The North Water - it seems to be very popular lately. Or maybe Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier. Choices.

slightly carrying over books from last year to this counts in your total, yes.

The Secret History is wonderful, though not quite as deep and thrilling as The Goldfinch. I expected to love The Little Friend but like Best I couldn't get past the first chapter.

I think I enjoyed The Secret History when I read it (ages ago). Never tried The Little Friend, but I thought The Goldfinch was wonderful.

Thanks southeastdweller good to know I can carry over.

Also, thanks Cote - have been wondering about the Peter Hamilton books (they keep popping up on Amazon recommendations) but 3k pages of zombie sounds a bit much.

Oh fuck me. You are joking crisp?

Arlington Park is my next book.

I'm not picking these btw they are set texts on my course KILL ME NOW

That is probably why people who buy NW buy Arlington Park they are on the same course!

Secret History = LOVE
Little Friend = LOATHE
Goldfinch = MEH

Oh every what an absolute Scunner. It is hideously bad. The author is pegged as being literary but that just means she writes pages of description of shit all. My husband actually had to ask me to stop talking about how much I hated it.

I agree satzuki. Kind of "well, that guy's a prick and so is that guy. I hope they get their comeuppance. And actually that guy is hideous. And so is she" and so on. Interesting to look in and see it all unfold.

Just finished book number 2 high fidelity by Nick Hornby. Now to see what all the fuss over the girl on the train is all about.