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50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Two

992 replies

southeastdweller · 14/01/2017 11:26

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?

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6
weebarra · 25/01/2017 11:30
  1. X by Sue Grafton. I've read all her alphabet books and this one was fine, but not as good as some of the others. I wonder how she's going to finish the series?
  2. Station Eleven - fine for what it was, although I've read far better post-apocalyptic novels. It felt as though the writer had a lot of ideas but not enough time to deal with all of them. Justin Cronin does this sort of thing so much better.
BestIsWest · 25/01/2017 13:35

Welcome Dragon and Iris btw.

Murine · 25/01/2017 13:44
  1. Everyone Brave Is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
I didn't want this novel to end! An excellent read set in WWII London, following the changing lives of two sets of best friends: wealthy socialites Mary and Hilda and the less well off Tom and Alistair. When Mary decides to shock her mother by volunteering for the war effort the friends' paths cross, the book depicts how the war changes them as people and their friendships, as well as how London changes. I learned about parts of history that I had previously known little of: the fate of children who were not chosen by evacuee families, the siege of Malta and minstrelry in London during the way to name but a few. It's extremely well written (unlike my review, apologies for my inarticulate rambling!). I loved the characters witty dialogue and several scenes will stay with me for a long time.
InvisibleKittenAttack · 25/01/2017 13:48

6. Crow Hollow - Michael Wallace - Set in 1670s New England, an English spy has been sent to look into the death of a promient man who was killed by Native Americans near Boston, an attack on the 'English' that lead to most of that tribe being wiped out in revenge by English settlers. The man's widow is convinced her daughter is still alive and the 2 embark on a journey to find her/what happened. Was going to abandon this book after the 80 page mark, but stuck with it for want of anything else on my kindle I wanted to read and glad I did, there's a good story in there, even if the use of the first names by people who hardly know each other seems odd for the time.

Stokey · 25/01/2017 14:21

Have you seen the latest Grayson Perry video doing the rounds Remus?

He is asking for opinions on Brexit to make two vases - a leave and remain.

It's on Twitter & C4.

RMC123 · 25/01/2017 16:54

Long train journey for work so finished book 8. My Husband's Wife Amanda Prowse. Bought on Amazon daily deals and think it was billed as a thriller. Apart from a bitchy and slightly unbalanced other woman there was nothing in it to make it a thriller. Story of a break up of a marriage, quite dull and very light. Some good dialogue though.

HappyFlappy · 25/01/2017 16:54

Welcome Iris and glad you enjoyed "The Uncommon Reader" as it is in my Big Pile of Books to Read. I'm looking forward to it now.

Just finished the John Grisham - far from his best but I needed some chewing gum for the brain after all of my others, a couple of which were quite heavy. It was just The Usual Stuff.

Have begun "May We Be Forgiven" by AM Holmes. Only just started it so I'll say nothing about it yet except that I am enjoying the writing, and at p19 am already very keen to reason.

weebarra · 25/01/2017 17:21

I see that Everyone brave is forgiven seems to get really good feedback. I really didn't like The other hand but might give this one a try.

LookingForMe · 25/01/2017 17:54
  1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling - Getting there in my re-reading of the whole series. We go to see Cursed Child next month. I enjoyed this, as did DS - am quite surprised he didn't get more upset at the end (he normally does) but he seems to have taken it all in his stride.
  1. The Trouble With Goats And Sheep by Joanna Cannon - Read for book group. This is set in the summer of 1976 and focuses on 10 year old friends Grace and Tilly and the people who live on Grace's street. One of her neighbours, Mrs Creasy, has disappeared and the whole street is very interested in discussing what might have happened to her. This was a fairly light read on the surface, but there was quite a lot more going on underneath it all, and I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed it.
mogloveseggs · 25/01/2017 17:56
  1. A seaside affair by Fern Britton. A group of corniche locals and a few celebs get together to save the local theatre from the council who want to turn it into a coffee place. Quite waffly but a pleasant enough read. Don't think I'll be reading any more of hers though.
murine everyone brave is forgiven sounds really good! Definitely going on my list Smile
mugglebumthesecond · 25/01/2017 19:22

I listened to everyone brace is forgiven via audible last year and remember loving it. Couldn't tell you what happens though 😀

Murine · 25/01/2017 19:50

I liked Everyone Brave is Forgiven much more than The Other Hand, weebarra, the characters and relationships between them were more believable.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did mogloveseggs (love your username by the way!).

RemusLupinsChristmasMovie · 25/01/2017 19:55

Thanks, Stokey. Not seen it but will ensure I do!

I didn't like The Dud Avocado. I thought it would be something similar to Miss Pettigrew but just found it silly and a bit of a waste of time.

Matilda2013 · 25/01/2017 20:39

I'm now onto book 7. Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell and quite enjoying it so far Smile some nice uncomplicated reading!

Passmethecrisps · 25/01/2017 21:48

Evening all. Was very excited to be surprised by the Loan of His Bloody Project this evening. I had quite forgotten being told about my friend meeting the author and not being very sure if this book was for her. I hadn't heard of it at the time but was very keen to read it.

Her copy is terribly neat (anyone else a bit hard on books when they read? I make a bit if a mess of them) and signed by the author. There is also a big red thumbprint inside.

Now I need to decide whether to ditch the American crime thriller froth with all it's cheek bones and pointless shagging or earn it by waiting until I am actually ready

SatsukiKusakabe · 25/01/2017 21:59

My books don't look like they've been read when I've finished with them. I've seen other people with books though and wonder what exactly it is they do to them Grin Having said that, if I lend a book, within reason, I don't mind if it comes back a bit battered, as I want the person to enjoy it without worrying about stuff like that.

SatsukiKusakabe · 25/01/2017 21:59

HBP v good btw.

Passmethecrisps · 25/01/2017 22:12

I am not sure what I do to mine. The spine gets broken though as I like the pages wide open. This looks like it hasn't been touched. She must read terribly gently

CheerfulMuddler · 25/01/2017 23:01

Can I join in, please? I've only read nearly two books so far though:

  1. The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
  2. Marking Time also Elizabeth Jane Howard
I'm late to the Cazalet books, but I'm bloody loving them. They're a 1930s/40s family saga, a lovely, beautifully done muddle of 1930s children's book, angsty teenage coming of age in wartime, domestic dramas, love affairs, secrets, bombs, lesbians and a wry look at some of the darker corners of the interbellum. I'm looking forward to reading the others, but am going to take a break to read the Antonia Forests I've rescued from the library reserves.
slightlyglitterbrained · 26/01/2017 00:02
  1. Nation Terry Pratchett
This isn't set in Discworld, but in an alternate 19th century Earth. Terry Pratchett described it as the best book he'd ever written, so I was putting off reading it, and last weekend seemed like a good time. I can see why he said it. It's sort of concentrated Pratchettiness, if that makes any sense? A good book to read when the news seems to be all about the world going to hell in a handbasket.
  1. The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg
Succumbed to another cheap Kindle deal, but at least it contributed to my non-fiction pile, and as I've finished it, not to my to-be-read mountain. It was an emjoyable enough read, though I'd read various of the stories elsewhere. It's about how habits are formed, and changed. The book is actually over around the 63% mark - the rest is references, and quotes from people and organisations described who were sent summaries of the bits about them, and mostly seemed to reply "no we never did!"
ThereAreNoGhostsHere · 26/01/2017 06:45

I like my books to look like they've been read :) I tend to crack the spine as I read so I can open the book properly, and have the pages flat. DD is very careful with her books and never cracks the spine, so they always look pristine even when finished. DS takes after me - his books look well and truly read :o

Passmethecrisps · 26/01/2017 07:33

Yes there. I think my books look 'lived in'.

TheDowagerDuchessofDenver · 26/01/2017 08:12

Mine definitely do, but not through choice - it's just what happens when they get lugged about at the bottom of my handbag ...

SatsukiKusakabe · 26/01/2017 08:16

It's funny isn't it, it would never occur to me to deliberately break the spine, but I always hold my books crooked open in one hand, never flat, just habit and they happen to come out untouched; I'm not trying to read especially "carefully". My dh is the same. I'm pretty sure I've still read them though whatever they look like! Smile

BestIsWest · 26/01/2017 09:05

  1. Funny Girl - Nick Hornby Nostalgic look at the world of 1960's sitcoms. Really more about the writers than the young Northern girl of the title. Sweet enough but no real depth. Did remind me a bit of a drama documentary I watched about Dad's Army.

  2. Mockingjay 2nd in The Hunger Games trilogy. Enjoyable enough really. I can see why teenagers love these books.

Am poorly today with some kind of winter virus so about to go back to bed with Slade House