50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Three

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the third 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 first thread of the year is here and the second one here.

The White Spider and Touching the Void both v good.

Satsuki

Westminster Bridge, tho. Ozymandias! Kubla Khan! She Walks in Beauty!

Agree they did also churn out a fair amount of shit. Bryon used to call Wordsworth 'Turdsworth' apparently ...

I do like a bit of Coleridge, I must admit. Turdsworth is v apt.

cheerful I enjoyed your thoughtful post about children's literature and agree, too, sadik, complexity is not the sole pleasure storytelling has to offer. Also, I don't leave my intellect at the door whatever I'm reading; I can enjoy something simple on other levels - historical context, patterns, motifs, and archetypes which have had a lasting cultural impact or follow a tradition for example.

I'm not a huge fan of Turdsworth I must admit, but I do have a soft spot for The Prelude. Love Keats.

I've almost finished This Thing of Darkness and don't want it to end! I found a related book that I've ordered, Savage: The Life and Times of Jemmy Button by Nick Hazlewood, has anybody else read it?

Murine - The Jemmy Button book is excellent. I often recommend it as a companion piece to This Thing of Darkness.

Satsuki Excellent post re children's lit.

Oh that's good to hear Remus, I'll look forward to it arriving!

"Savage: The Life and Times of Jemmy Button"

Ooh, I'd love to read that book but I see that there's no Kindle version I don't know how many times I clicked that button "Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle". Nothing ever happens.

Cheerful - "Westminster Bridge, tho. Ozymandias! Kubla Khan! She Walks in Beauty!"

Are you pished?

"There are more things in heaven and Earth than STEM, Horatio "

Satsuki

I quite enjoyed the one Shakespeare play I studied in high school ("6th form"?) but doubt if I would understand much of the others if I read them now. That "English" is not easy for those of us who are not native speakers.

Cote Philistine!

And no, curses. I'm still working.

19 What We Cannot Know by Marcus du Sautoy, listened to on audible (read by the author)
This is absolutely wonderful, I've been stretching it out to try to make it last - added to by the fact that MdS has a gorgeous reading voice.
The overarching theme of the book - as in the title - is an exploration of the limits of human knowledge, and an attempt to establish whether there are things which are truly unknowable. It is divided into seven 'edges' of current knowledge (ranging from quantum mechanics to the meaning of consciousness). It starts relatively slowly, after a couple of chapters definitely needs full concentration, but is totally understandable as a lay person - the last time I studied any sort of science or maths I was at school (and taking O levels, so a very long time ago ). I'm very tempted to get a text copy now to read myself & for dd who doesn't like audio so much.

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

An average book at best. Didnt really enjoy it that much.

Best - "ust got to the part where they realise they've found Mallory. Hadn't expected to feel so emotional... Feeeelinggs in a mountaineering book "

Ah but you see those are regular feelings. They are OK

Feeeeeeeliiiiinnnnnngssss (to be sung to the tune of ) are an entirely different kettle of fish. They are the tear-jerking, heartstring-tugging, exaggerated, phony and whiny half-cousins of normal feelings

Pride and Prejudice = 'average'???!!! I think I need a little lie down.

Now I have that as an earworm, thanks cote

Hugely enjoying the debate today.

Lies down in sympathy with Remus. P&P is my favourite ever book.

Ive just finished Bedroom secrets of the master chefs not one of Irving Welsh's best imo, could've been about a third shorter and the 'twist' was obvious from about a quarter of the way through

Just started The other Bolyn Girl seems ok so far, I don't usually read historical fiction so thought I'd have a change

I did try to enjoy it but it made no impression on me. It was a chore to finish it.

Upon my word, I never heard such nonsense! I am all astonishment! Average! Indeed it is not! Why, I it is one of finest books in all the land, and I declare, I think it very ill of you to say otherwise!
If that is your opinion, then I am very sorry for it. Depend upon it, it is not what would be said at Pemberley. There great literature is valued, there they do not call Miss Austen average.
I rather think, however, that you spoke in jest, and we must endeavour not to be downhearted. Is it not so, Mrs 11122aa?

(Sorry, am reading it at the moment and couldn't resist. Please do not attempt to discuss literature with Mrs Bennet, it won't end well.)

CheerfulMuddler - brilliant!