50 Book Challenge Part Five

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fifth 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, the second one here, the third thread here and the fourth one here.

What are you reading?

Screw - Glad I'm not the only one who just can't appreciate the Rivers series. I thought the first one was just about bearable, the second silly, the third ridiculous. Won't read any more.

I really enjoyed Burial Rites too Murine, but got cross about the injustice of it.

30. The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland. Medieval mystery woven with the supernatural, set during the reign of John.

This is my third of hers this year and I don't know why I keep picking them up. I enjoy reading about the medieval period as I studied it eons ago, but I feel several other people do it better. They are well researched, but start to get quite far fetched bordering on ridiculous. In this one the story bimbles along at no particular pace and then you get all of the loose ends of the plot tied up in about 3 pages at the end with no real conclusion. I won't be rushing to pick up another.

24. A Long Long Way – Sebastian Barry
    Excellent but harrowing novel about the first world war and Easter uprising told from the perspective of a young Irish soldier. I thought this was well written, sad but with lots of (very dark) humour to balance things out. Thought provoking - made me want to find out more about this period in history, always a good sign. I got quite attached to the characters and was sad to finish this one.

25. The Bingo Palace – Louise Erdrich
    A love story which also focuses of family relationships, good and bad. This book was quite unusual in that the same story is told from multiple characters' perspectives. A bit confusing at first, but I stuck with it and was glad I did. Everything fits together nicely at the end when you finally see the whole picture, which I thought was clever. Might be more of a challenge if you have not read some of her other books which focus on the same group of families on a North Dakota Reservation, although there was a helpful family tree at the front of the book. I found I had to really slow down and think about this book. It has a restful, gentle pace.

26. The Descent of Man – Grayson Perry
    I don't really read much non-fiction, in fact this is my first non-fiction read of the year. I saw this reviewed favourably on this thread and thought I'd give it a go. So far it is very interesting and an easy read.

Murine I thought Burial Rites was great too. I loved the way she created such a complete and believable world, she must have done a lot of research!

I almost bought The Gallows Curse today FortunaMajor, your review makes me glad I gave it a miss!

Indigo
I really liked The Descent of Man. Am a bit of a Grayson Perry fan. I thought Playing to the Gallery was superb, too.

Another vote for Burial Rites - I really enjoyed it.

I'm not doing very well. Am still reading and still not liking Howard's End is on the Landing. I got cross because she criticised Jane Austen, and decided to read Persuasion in protest.

But...but...I'm not even enjoying that much either, which must mean I'm either ill, pre-menstrual or just plain horrible. I'm finding it all too sedate, and Mrs Smith (a mere Mrs Smith, an everyday Mrs Smith) is annoying me. I expected to find it comforting, but am currently finding it hardly even tolerable enough to tempt me. Usually a Remus in possession of Jane Austen is a very happy Remus. It will not do.

Remus . You must be sickening for something. Take some vitamins pronto.

22. Papillon by Henri Charrière

Thanks to whoever recommended it on an earlier 50-Book thread. I really enjoyed this book. BUT OMFG was it long! It went on and on and on and on. I thought the "voice" felt authentic, the translation was pretty good, and the events described quite interesting.

I don't think it's meant to be 100% non-fiction, though, and was a bit about everyone he meets being super kind, helpful, and encouraging in his escape efforts, from the governors to their wives, from Venezuelans to Indians.

I would recommend it, though.

56. Anne Boleyn: A Kings Obsession Alison Weir Think I might of finally reached saturation point with the Tudor thing, or maybe this was just poorly written . Either way I was just plain bored. Feel like I have had a pretty crap run of book lately. Need something to really grab my interest.

I recommended Papillon, probably amongst others. Agree it does go on a bit but is very entertaining generally and still a good read. I think it was somewhat fictionalised for sure, that's definitely how I read it.

Book 53
persuasion by Jane Austen
This must have caught me on an off week, because it just didn’t work for me. It was a horrible feeling to be reading a book I love, whilst not loving it at all. I found myself getting annoyed with the characters I’m supposed to be sympathising with, irritated by her multi-clause sentences, and unmoved by the ending. I don’t actually know myself anymore. :(

Thank you Satsuki. It was a good rec

"I don’t actually know myself anymore. "

Remus

Tastes do change over time. We start appreciating different things and then one day old favorites don't look as great in comparison.

Do you remember when I recommended Dune to you back in 2014 and reread it myself after you so thoroughly hated it? I couldn't believe how unimpressed I was by a book I would have counted among my top 5 and yes, it did feel like part of me was unrecognizable.

remus wtf?!

That is why I'm quite scared to reread some books, but never Jane.

I'm done reading Jane Eyre I think as I've read it as an adult and appreciated it, but will never love it the way I did when I was nine.

Satsuki - I know! I am devastated.

Cote - I don't think I will ever forgive you for Dune!

I've re-read Jane Austen's novels pretty much every year or so since I was 16. I am a fully fledged Janeite. I think it must have just been too hot for reading about Lyme Regis in November, or something. If I can't turn to Jane, I'll never read another novel again.

I don't think persuasion is one of the best Austins, I can't imagine it would work as a reread once you know what's happening. It lacks a lot of the humour and fun of some of her others.

Cote - I was the one who said that Papillon is a bit like Shantaram - do you agree?

Kitten - It's worked as a re-read for me lots of times before. :( :(

Persuasion is one of my favourite rereads, along with P&P and Mansfield Park. Then in order of preference Northanger Abbey, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. I just never could stand the Dashwoods.

I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance when I was about 14 and thought it was the most brilliant thing ever. 20 years later I was definitely not so sure.

S&S is my favourite.

P&P, S&S, P, NA, MP then Emma last by a long way (mainly because it was our A level book but maybe I should learn a lesson from re reading LOTF this year. )

Satsuk, I tried and failed to read Jane Eyre again the other day and I loved it from the moment I first read it as a 12 year old.

MP last for me, although I am v fond of the Crawfords.

Remus - I'm not sure whether or not to suggest trying P&P to restore your Austen faith. Imagine if that was a disappointment too

Oh sorry - missed the above messages. P&P is my favourite!