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.

Think I've lost track of my list!

I KNOW I have read the following:

1. The Life Project by Helen Pearson
2. Gone to Ground by Marie Jalowicz Simon
3. The Dreaming Void by Peter F Hamilton
4. Mother of Eden by Chris Beckett;
5. The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson;
6. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson;

new

7. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell; I really enjoyed this. I haven't read David Mitchell in years having bingeing on him years ago. It's classic DM, with multiple characters written in diverse chapters. The narrative arc is simpler than I recall his earlier work. There isn't as much distinction between the different elements or voices, in ways it is probably an easier read and more obviously coherent than say Cloud Atlas. I was a tad disappointed when I realised we were [SPOILER SPOILER] talking blood drinking vampires but it didn't stop me reading The writing is great, witty and sharp. The story ultimately devolves into the required showdown setpiece and then there is an add on [SPOILER SPOILER] which I enjoyed as it focuses on the collapse of civilisation, but which felt like a weird unnecessary wrap up piece, just so we'd know what happened to everyone. Why? A good though, even with reservations, hard to find books this good to be honest, I'd recommend.

I read two more but I need to get back to work will update again later.

Ha ha wilting I enjoyed Bone Clocks very much too, but some bits are utterly beautiful bonkers!

Wow I know I've slowed down when this falls off the threads I'm on list.

Having a bit of a go slow with reading as just returned to work after being signed off for 3 mths. Currently reading Lolita after getting it on the deal and agree with what other people said, its both a compelling and beautifully written book that is disturbing and to somenextent makes me shudder.

I don't know where 'beautiful' appeared from; I meant just bonkers

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd is 99p on Kindle today. I can recommend it. About Sarah Grimké and the abolishment of slavery in US/emancipation of women.

I really enjoyed Bone Clocks too but not quite as much as Cloud Atlas, still my favourite David Mitchell.

I have cast aside Half of a Yellow Sun for the moment, but have discovered I am definitely in a reading funk. I got 2 chapters into Captain Corelli's Mandolin before casting that aside and then it took me 3 days to finish a 100 page book.

23. The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin. Shortlisted for the Booker in 2013. Details the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. I should preface this by saying that I am not religious and my knowledge of christianity extends to knowing it was St Pancake's Day yesterday. It came from a random browse in the library and appealed because it was so short. It felt a bit simple, but there was definitely some quality to the writing, I could feel the tension rising as +++ SPOILER +++ the crucifixion came closer, but beyond that I can't really say I got what was meant to be so good about it. The reviews made it out to be some great profound work and that passed me by completely. I'm either too heathen, or a bit thick.

I've moved on to To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris. I loved The Shock of the Fall which I read in December. I'm hoping something a bit lighter in atmosphere will bring me back on track.

Your review of Testament really made me laugh fortuna I really liked it when I read it, I thought it was basically about his mother saying "he's not the messiah, he's a naughty boy", but in a sad, frustrated, devastated way.

I'm definitely a bit thick. I'm getting Nathan Filer and Joshua Ferris mixed up.

I'm not religious either, btw.

It took me ages the other day to figure out what the holy book for Jewish people was called. I felt like a right numpty when it dawned on me. When it comes to religion I'm beyond help.

about The testament and FilerFerris confusion. I loved the Ferris book but if you're clueless about religion it might be a bit confusing iirc. It's bloody funny though, but is also been a few years since I read it.
I loved the testament too, thought it was lovely but agree about the naughty boy!
Gave up on Tana French the Secret place, that was unreadable. Teenspeak straight out of Catherine Bennett satirising SamCam complete with amazeballs. Not in my me time thanks.
On to Claire Messuds the Emperors children, not sure yet.

Wilting - oooh! Thank you for reminding me - I have loads of Robertson Davies Icold re-read. I think I'll dig out my Iris Murdoch's too,

I could, not Icold

Thanks, all. Need to read again to catch up on all the recs, but from what I remember:

Cornish trilogy - remember this being mentioned several times. Have written it on my 'Go to the library' list.

Miss Pym - nope, I can't get on with it.

Trollope - have tried him several times over the years and always given up. Read 18 pages of The Warden this morning and I can't say I'm dancing with glee at the idea of reading any more yet.

Loved all the cake references and full afternoon tea and so on - it's a pleasure to read these threads and how wonderfully you all write. :) Lots of the writers out there could learn a lot! Will read again later - am trying to multi-task (not terribly well) at the moment...

Finished Itlast night (went to bed and then got up again and finished it, because I just couldn't leave it undone). Oh there's so much to love about it. Will review properly when less frantic.

remus - Try "The Way We Live Now" or "The Eustace Diamonds" if you have had problems engaging with Trollope.

Remus You like Helene Hanff, don't you? Have you read all of her books?

"I can't say I'm dancing with glee at the idea of reading any more yet."

Better than 'Can You Forgive Her' - aka 'Just Make Your Mind Up Already'

I'd love to reread Robertson Davies too. Weird they're not on Kindle.

Thought the second Ferris book was a bit rubbish, maybe just too American. I liked his first though.

Have read the latest messages again!

Making of a Marchioness Read/liked but didn't love - but yes, something like that is exactly the kind of cake I want!

Trollope To be continued...

Eggers - yes, will definitely read more of his, but not now. He fails the full afternoon tea test severely.

The Dumas - now bought. Have also bought A Place Called Winter from the March sale, but probably not to read immediately. Have got the sample of the Vine and Gillespie and I. If I've forgotten anybody, I apologise!

I prefer Bone Clocks to Cloud Atlas. Although CA is a work of pure genius, and to be marvelled at, I felt much more emotionally involved in the slightly messier and bonkerser Bone Clocks, and I think the closing section was my favourite, as I was so invested by then (and sobbed intermittently throughout, mainly on public transport).

13. Coffin Road by Peter May I was hoping this would do for the Western Isles what the Ann Cleeves books do for Shetland. It didn't. Annoying know all wanker type washes up on beach with amnesia and proceeds to narrate his life in the first person present tense with adjective overdose, including the bits that add no value to the story. I feel a bit of a meanie hating this, as there was an interview with the author at the end, and he seems like an awfy nice chap, but I won't be reading any more of his books.

I know our tastes don't often always overlap, but did you read pony books as a child, Remus? If so, have you read the Pullein-Thompson autobiography 'Fair Girls and Grey Horses'?

Another one you've probably read but if not might fit the bill - Period Piece by Charles Darwin's grandaughter Gwen Raverat. Definitely cake-y (though good tea in nice china with the cake).

8. Good Evening, Mrs Craven: the wartime stories of Mollie Panter-Downes
Twenty-one short stories written during WW2 and published in the New Yorker. Could also be subtitled upper-middle-class wartime problems. These varied from the annoying "I've got frightfully working class evacuees! And they keep trying to talk to me!" to the rather poignant, such as the woman who realise when she takes in a mother and baby how much of her life with her husband has been taken away from her, or the lonely spinster who misses the friendships of the Blitz. Very well observed, particularly about English restraint.