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.

Crikey, I didn’t check the thread for a day or two, seems I’ve missed some interesting discussions. Among other things, I’ve been reading Peter Pan, so I think that hints at which side of the fence I fall on regarding children’s books . Personally, I see a good story as a good story, regardless of who the intended reader is. I find stories written for children relaxing and light, good for when I fancy a gentle read. I also find they work well on audio, as they’re a little shorter (I borrow mine digitally from the library, so have a limited time to finish them before they go back to the catalogue to then be spirited away to someone’s reserve list), and it’s not such a problem if I accidently zone out for a few seconds. I also wouldn’t want to miss out on great children’s stories that I didn’t get around to when I was young because I’m no longer the target audience .

Agree that The North Water is relentlessly grim, but I liked that. It seemed, to me, to be a fairly realistic portrayal of what it would have been like.

Now, back to Tinkerbell being grouchy and calling everyone a “silly ass.”

Arthur Quiller-Couch here:

It is Quiller-Couch who originated the saying "kill your darlings":

If you here require a practical rule of me, I will present you with this: ‘Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it—whole-heartedly—and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings.

I had King in mind because I've just read On Writing. I like his "egocentric scribbler" addition!

Yes, again re North Water I didn't mind the grimness, but just felt it was a case of someone relying on gore to compensate in other areas.

Sorry, Stitches - missed your post.

Satsuki - would be interested to know where it originated. It's a great phrase.

Just googled and was about to post exactly that, Satsuki! 'Kill' has a far better ring to it than 'murder' though - 'Kill your darlings' has that lovely singsongingly hypnotic 'L' alliteration to it.

I'm struggling with Sapiens. It's very well written and extremely interesting but I feel like I need to be in a lecture hall to get the most out of it. My eyes keep wandering to the pile of fiction sitting on my TBR pile. I just can't get excited about Sapiens. Maybe I need to spend a good hour or so on it to make some progress rather than just ten minutes here and there.

I am missing fiction though!! I dare not mix it up with a novel as I know I will never pick it up again.

Yes, you're right remus, it does.

The argument about children's books is interesting.

Until a few years ago, I would have been wholeheartedly on the YES side of the fence and I loved re-reading old childhood favourites.

But these days, what with work and kids and life in general meaning less time available for reading, I find that I have very little urge to pick up one of my old children's books. There's too much adult literature I haven't read yet! Which leads me to the conclusion that, possibly, I was enjoying them purely in a nostalgic way rather than because I was seeing them in a different light, or getting more out of them than I had as a child, or similar reasons given by other posters?

I haven't read Sapiens, but I often find that sort of book really does need alternating with something lighter (or I really like non-fic on audio where I can listen while doing boring tasks).

Half way through Bitch in a Bonnet which is entertaining enough though a bit like listening to my mum going off on a rant while watching a bad Austen adaptation. Having just got to Mansfield Park I'm unsurprised but unimpressed by the fact that he loves Mary Crawford (the quintessential 'popular girl' at school) and doesn't appreciate Fanny Price.

Fanny Prices is a priss and a prig and needs to lighten up already. Mary Crawford is absolutely the noisy popular girl at school with the annoying loud laugh who all the boys fancy for no earthly reason. Edmund is too good for both of them and needs to run away with me.

6 The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps by Melissa Orlov.

Read this after seeing it on an ADHD Rec List. I would highly recommend it for anyone who has ADHD affecting their long term relationship, regardless of it is you with ADHD or your partner. Easy to access style but with the necessary bluntness. Plenty of humour but not a fun read because seeing the more painful aspects of your marriage and your own behaviour on paper isn't pleasant. Doesn't blame either party or suggest there are easy solutions, just that there are solutions. Particularly relevant to women because of how under-diagnosed we were in the past and how badly ADHD collides with the family organising and household running roles that are more likely to be seen as a woman's responsibility.

Now going to read some fiction! I deserve it especially as my TBR pile contains more Self Help books. Will be starting to use the tools in this book though.

No problem Remus, it's just round the corner from the library and I had to go there anyway. Ordered Into The Silence. I have read it but it was a few years ago and I was in bed with flu so I want to re read.

Now reading To Kill a Mockingbird again. Definitely Young Adult.

1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgkin Burnett

This was a book for small children that went on for 340 pages. No doubt you have all read it so I don't have to explain what it was about, but I hope we can at least agree that it could (and really should) be edited to a maximum of 100 pages.

Imho it was a garden variety (ha!) children's book, where good things happen in quick succession to make everything better by the end.

I'm really disappointed in you lot and can only assume that pretending this book would be appreciated by a middle-aged adult who likes complex brainhurty books was payback for some past grievance

I can understand rereading a childhood favourite because you miss it and want to evoke those feelings again or whatever, but there is no way, none whatsoever that anyone's convincing me that this is a book for adults as well as children.

Anna Karenina has exactly the same themes of finding purpose and happiness in life through hard work, working with nature, and connecting with fellow human beings. Why would I want to spend time on stuff written for kids who have only recently learned to read & write?

Smiley fail! That sad face was supposed to be a

I haven't completely lost it just yet

You see cote - reading a children's book did not steal your brain cells; you were able to draw parallels with Anna Karenina. Now isn't that interesting?

I'm teasing you a bit - but to be fair I don't think anyone said it was for adults, but that it can be interesting reading such things as an adult for different reasons, certainly not
to be "challenged". I'm quite interested in the history of children's literature, what themes were fashionable etc. It's only as a adult that I've realised similar themes between The Secret Garden and Heidi, for example, and always mean to read them both again to see, but, as I think Tarahumara said, there are always so many other things I want to read. They don't take as much time though

"reading a children's book did not steal your brain cells; you were able to draw parallels with Anna Karenina. "

I have enough brain cells to last me a few of those, thankfully

Sorry Remus - I like "murder" - iy has a finality about it that "kill" lacks.

I didn't realise that it was Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (I have his edition of The Oxford Book of English Verse) who originated it. My Creative Writing tutor (30 years ago) led his class to believe it was his own (plagiarising bastard)

I've just finished book 31 The Paying Guests (Sarah Waters). I took longer than I need have, because although it was well-written and compelling it was also a novel that needed to be "savoured", for want of a better term. FIVe STARS - I loved it.

AM about to start Hiss and Hers (MC Beat - an Agatha Raisin Mystery) and on audio The Edge of the Orchard - Tracey Chevalier. Actually I've started the audio - much darker than usual fro this author - not sure if I like it. I'll keep you posted.

I wonder how many creative writing tutors have blurred the lines with that quote, happy

(Is "kill" ever not final? )

Is "kill" ever not final?

Fair enough Satsuki - valid point - perhaps :determination" would be better.

Is "kill" ever not final?

Maybe when talking about zombies, vampires and other fictional undead creatures at the end of their pre-dead state?

Can't stand Fanny Price, or Edmund. They deserve each other. I always think that Fanny would have been happier and far more likeable if she'd at least snogged Henry Crawford.

Ah I understand now, happy, sorry!

Yes stitches, I forgot one must always consider the undead - @ "pre-dead state"

And yyy to the whole of your MP post remus.