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 Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell. This is a children's novel that DD read and loved, and as it had a good testimonial from Philip Pullman I thought I would give it a read. It's set near St Petersburg deep in the Russian winter in the late 19th Century, and is the story of Feo, a girl who "wilds" wolves that the aristocratic families of St Petersburg have grown tired of. She makes an enemy of a local general in the Tsar's army who captures her mother and she goes off to rescue her.

I really enjoyed it - it was a very well written (but not difficult to read) children's novel that had the feel of classic children's fiction.

5. The Moving Toyshop - Edmund Crispin - Jolly murder mystery from 1930s Oxford. I was recommended the Gervase Fen books (of which this is one) as I like Agatha Christie books as was told these are similar. They are not, I shall go as far as to say this was crap. I can't even begin to be bothered telling you what it's about.

I LOVED The Moving Toyshop. I thought it was clever and very funny.

I quite liked The Moving Toyshop, too. Lightweight but witty. Not my favourite genre though in general.

1. E is for Evidence Sue Grafton. This is the 5th installment in the alphabet series staring private detective Kinsey Millhone. In this story evidence comes to light that makes our private detective look like she is taking bribes and infiltrated in insurance fraud. It also fleshes out the main character's background somewhat so if you like the series its worth a read. Essentially your basic crime thriller.

Number 6 is F is for fugitive as im really enjoying the series.

Biblio, that's a great way of putting it - 'sideways' encouragement for the win!

Best I also said/generally think that Sarah Moss is "Middle Class Probs"

and on that note Arlington Park well I'm only 50 pages in and I already know Cote would hate it

I look forward to eviscerate this on the thread at some point this weekend

Eviscerating even

Mouse place we read wolf wilder last year- or rather listened to it on audible. I agree a great children's book for adults too!

5. The Sister oh this was alright. Felt a bit like I'd wasted a bit of my reading life but it was ok. Very basic but twisty and I guessed all the twists. The protagonist has lost her best friends and the secrets to the death are gradually revealed.

6. lying in wait Liz Nugent does not disappoint again. I read this within 2 days and yes it's a page turner but so much happens in this book. Please read this if you like psychological thrillers. The writing is so subtle, the atmosphere just gradually builds and the end terrified me! Can't review properly without giving the plot away. Written from the point of view of sociopath, insane mother , her son and the sister of the nurder victim who the mother and her husband buried in their garden.

Ah, I missed your post Every, but definitely agree.

Thank you for the warning, Every

I think cote should read it just for the review which would follow.

A quick visit to say that A Spy Among Friends is £1.29 on Kindle today. A really good book about Kim Philby. Recommended!

I've also just purchased the Audible daily deal for £2.99 which is Winter Pilgrims - historical fiction about War of the Roses. Anyone read it? Have I just wasted 3 quid?

I've just bought the daily deal too- thought the story looked interesting but not what I would normally choose. A bargain though

Still not reading much but really enjoying the thread. Have bought Lolita. I am pretty sure I read it in my teens but am equally sure most of it would have gone over my head at that age so looking forward to reading it properly. Also have American Gods and The Essex Serpent on my TBR list.

mugglebum is The Sister the one by Lynne Alexander about Henry James' sister? I don't think it is from your summary but it has been a couple of years since I read it. If it is, I really enjoyed it and would recommend.

1. Cheer up love - Susan Calman. Self-help/memoir combo from the comedienne that I found unfunny and largely predictable. Also sensed she held a lot back from writing about some of her life, which was frustrating.

Just started the latest Julian Barnes book, The Noise of Time.

Altered, no my the sister was a cheap psycho thriller- yours sounds much more interesting!

1. His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narrative devices were really entertaining - the novel was structured a bit like a case study into the murders of a crofting family in 1869. There was quite a twist in the tale, which has made me want to read the first half of the story again, as it made me question the reliability of the murderer's memoir. I'm going to read Ian McKewan's new book next.

1. The Princess Bride - William Goldman

A rather silly but very charming fantasy fairytale presented as an 'abridgement' to the original work, with annotations by the author referencing the film and even a cameo from Stephen King. I've never seen the film but this was very enjoyable and an original take on traditional fairytale tropes.

1. 'According to YES' - Dawn French

A very easy read not deep and meaningful. The first novel by Dawn French that I've read.

5. The Heat of Betrayal - Douglas Kennedy

Recommended by a colleague and picked up at the library as it wasn't something I'd normally buy myself. Robin and her artistic impulsive husband visit Morocco with her hoping to have a baby and him working in new art. When he goes missing she is, as always, prime suspect. This follows her journey through the twists and turns of being a suspect whilst also discovering a foreign country and culture.

Very good read that I'm glad I was encouraged to read.

And still no books bought this year

I kept up with this thread much better last year, I think! Work is still busy and am squeezing in as much reading as I can around it, but not much time for much else.

1. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell - This has been reviewed loads before so will just add that I quite enjoyed it as a light read. Some interesting things about Denmark that I didn't know but agree with others that the magazine style got a bit irritating after a while. There were also a few things that she commented on in surprise as though they were unique to Denmark when, actually, plenty of English people do those things too. Unfortunately, my brain is so wiped at the moment that I can't remember what they were but I do remember being irritated by it!

1. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams - Read for work. I love this play. Blanche DuBois goes to visit her sister Stella in New Orleans after their inheritance and family home has been lost. From the start, she doesn't get on with Stella's husband, Stanley, as she doesn't consider him to be good enough for Stella and he views her as a snob. She begins a flirtation with his friend, Mitch, but various things from Blanche's past come back to haunt her.

Thank you for suggesting "Lying in Wait" Muggle - on my list now.

Have finished Celebrating Life (it was only 200 pages or so). I enjoyed it - I like to read/hear people's faith beliefs.

Have begin "You Can't Hide The Sun" - John McCarthy. Following his 5 and 1/2 years as a hostage John McCarthy went back to the Middle East to look ito the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspective of the Arabs displaced by the Jewish state. If is heartbreaking, and for me shocking that any nation which has suffered as much as the Jewish nation has, is prepared to inflict similar suffering on others. Very, very sad, and an eye-opening read.

Meg - have read "Princess Bride" and seen the film. Both are fab. The film is often on tv - watch it if you get the chance - you'll enjoy it.

1. Lies, Damned Lies, and History by Jodi Taylor

Number 7 in the St Mary's series about time travelling historians. I really like this series. You know what you will get with each book - they go back in time to various historical events, it all goes horribly wrong, but usually ends up ok for the main character. This was more of the same and I enjoyed it! Now reading a short story in the same series, My Name Is Markham, but I'm not counting that as a separate book. Not sure what to read after that, loads of choices, so will browse the shelves of unread books until something grabs me!

Invisiblekitten when you typed Gervase Fen, did you mean Gervase Finn? If so, I agree with you - his writing is utter sh*te - certainly on a par with Dan Brown.