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?

"Remus was the standard bearer for HHhH last year"

And I was its... er... whatever the opposite of 'standard bearer' is

All this is making me feel I should read more Dickens. Neither of my parents like his books, and I think I was just put off as a child because of that. I've read (and did like) A Christmas Carol, but that's about it other than Great Expectations in school. Perhaps Bleak House is the one to go for.

Night is by Elie Wiesel, it is a powerful autobiography of the Holocaust and perhaps the best written autobiography, I've ever read.

Cheerful some of the mushy bits made me think of the man I loved at the time and probably still do love

I'll probably never read any Dickens. Just don't like the style. Took me a while to get going with the Strange/Norrell book as the style was v dickensy.

Though mind you I would like to read a tale of two cities, hmmm.

Just started Bone Clocks so I'll probably be awhile at that given the amount of bumming around on YouTube I've been doing

Have read 3 more books, will review them soon.

I have the complete works of Dickens staring at me from my TBR shelf! Not sure whether I'm encouraged to read them or put off by the recent discussions! I do intend to get through at least a couple this year though.

In the meantime I have read something far less intelligent! 16. Five Go Parenting by Bruno Vincent. This is one of the parodies, the Famous Five rewritten for adults. It was a Christmas present. The Five, who are now adults themselves, have to look after their cousin's baby. Comedy hijinks ensue. It was pretty much what you would expect from such a book. It was quite amusing but not laugh out loud hilarious. It was also very short!

The latest Ann Patchett book , Commonwealth, is just £2.29 on Kindle, for today only.

New thread is up now so come on over and check in! 📚

I've just bought it southeast, thanks for headsup.

Feels like there have been a lot more books on offer recently than over Christmas.

Slightly off theme but I watched the film Captain Fantastic last night about a Dad who home schools his kids. There's a good analysis of Lolita by one of the teenage girls that reminded me of this thread.

Ooh I want to join. So far this year I've read Neil Gaimans The Sleeper and The Spindle (sleeping beauty reworking) - worth it for the art work alone!! Lazily working through collection of short stories by Stephen King and one by Gaiman.
Need to read Small Talk on how to get my son to speak!

Thanks, Every.

I've been wanting to watch captain fantastic stokey, thanks for that extra info!

Reminds me - Reading Lolita in Tehran is a good book about the significance of reading controversial (even in a Western context) texts in a climate where even Jane Austen isn't welcome. It follows a uni lecturer and group of girls in Iran who meet weekly for something radical - a book club.

Posting to mark my place on this thread. Still plodding along with Code by Kathy Reichs. Finding it slow going at beginning but its about to pick up.

goes off to catch up on thread

1. I have just finished reading The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. The death of a Parish Councillor leaves a vacancy, and many people wish to fill the seat. There are some nasty spiteful people living in Pagford and Rowling describes the characters extremely well. Many themes are covered - class, politics, and social issues such as drugs, rape and prostitution. Not what you'd expect to find in a sleepy little village really. Anyway, I really enjoyed it and recommend it.

Hi Andrews we're over here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/2847379-50-Book-Challenge-2017-Part-Three?watched=1

I loved the Casual Vacancy too.

Thank you BestisWest - I have trouble finding the new threads!

Just joined MN my books since the beginning of this year are

All The Light We Cannot See
Lie With Me
The Muse
I'm Travelling Alone
Golden Hill
The Girl Before
Her Every Fear
The Scent of Death
The Breakdown
Cold Earth
The Ashes of London have nearly finished this. Andrew Taylor is a great writer of historical crime fiction, not enjoying this one as much as The Scent of Death listed above set in Manhatten during the American War of Independence, but nevertheless still a good read.

The book I will read next is Lisa Jewell's I Found You which I bought today. I've read quite a few by this author and enjoyed them all.

From my list I found Travelling Alone disappointing I usually like Scandi Noir but this one didn't grab me found it very cliched. The Breakdown for me wasn't a great follow up to Behind Closed Doors which I found very gripping. All the others pretty damn good.

Books I hope to read soon are A Prayer for Owen Meany because it seems to have a unanimous MN vote for best book. My Name is Lucy Barton and The Leopard.

Welcome carbuncle - please do join us on the current thread