50 Book Challenge 2017 Part Eight

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the eighth and final 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 and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read. To anyone who hasn't posted, feel free to de-lurk and share with us what you've read this year.

The first thread of the year is here, the second one here, the third thread here, the fourth one here, the fifth one here, the sixth one here, and the seventh one here.

How have you got on so far this year?

85. Fall Out by Tim Shipman

Follow up to the utterly brilliant All Out War by the political editor of the Sunday Times, this covers the period from the Conservative Party leadership election following the referendum through the 2017 General Election and up to just after the Party Conference. Excellent book, again. This time round he focuses far more on the Conservatives with only a couple of chapters looking at the Labour campaign, whereas in the first it was very much an overview of both Remain and Leave campaigns and what they were doing. Once again, Shipman has made excellent use of his level of access. Not just one for political geeks!

115. The Lord God made them all - James Herriot Comfort Reading again. However have to say feeling in a bit of a reading rut, not even this hit the spot. Might because work and real life in general is just crazy but I haven't read a book that really grabbed me in what seems like ages. Being stuffed up with cold isn't helping. Kindle is stacked with stuff but none of it is appealing to me. God I sound a misery!!

Satsuki

Popping in to say hello, will do update later. I think I have 3 more books to get to 50.

Someone mentioned The Outrun which I listened to on audio book. Gorgeous descriptions of the Orkneys, people and animals. I really enjoyed it.

I'm currently reading Christmas Days, 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson. I've only read 1 (very good) story so far but the book itself is gorgeous.

MegBusset, The Maconie sounds perfect for my Dad. Jus5 going to order it now.

Tara, I read Alias Grace a few years ago and liked it. That’s why I think I’ll like her other books but each one I start, I lose interest. 🤷‍♀️

You chaps might know! I posted in children’s books but no one replied.

My 5 year old likes to listen to stories on her leappad at bedtime - we do read her stories but no amount of stories is enough so this is a compromise.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good audio download suitable for a 5 year old?

Mine are grown up now but at that age they loved listening to the Sophie books by Dick King-Smith.

I also read Alias Grace earlier this year, and enjoyed it apart from the crappy ending, hence picking up The Blind Assassin. I may yet go back to it...

41. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Shows the tragic superficiality of the Jazz Age, and the sadness of lost love. Mostly good writing, but duff characters. It's not so much that they're not especially likeable, more that they're not complex or properly drawn, which makes all the morality stuff feel a bit heavy-handed.

Thanks best. I will take a look

I'm popping back in to say that Max Barry's book Lexicon is £2.99 on the Kindle atm.

It's a great read with some cool ideas. I would definitely recommend it.

P.S.: I tried to link to my review of this book and saw that two of our 50-Book threads from 2014 have disappeared 50 Book Challenge 2014 Part 2 and Book Challenge 2014 Part 2. Does anyone know what happened to them?

Sorry the 2nd one is Part 3

Is this Part 2?

Does it work for you? Couldn’t find 3 though.

Part 3?

Thanks for well wishes, yes I’m reading again so getting there though keep distracting myself with Christmas.

Will do an update soon as I’ve got a few to add.

Glad you are feeling a bit better Satsuki . I am easy reading all the way to the end of the year now, as, like many of you, work and life are seriously impinging. I'm even listening to some chick lit (Sophie Kinsella) on audible, and enjoying it!

64. The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins by Antonia Hodgson Set in a Hogarthianly portrayed 1720s London, this is the follow up to The Devil in the Marshalsea. This was well researched and a fun adventure / murder mystery. Too many characters, not well enough developed, but overall a very good read.

65. The Visitor by Lee Child Only the second Jack Reacher book I've read, and I enjoyed it. I came to realise that the folding toothbrush clipped into his pocket is deeply symbolic of the 'hobo demon' spirit dwelling in him, telling him he should free himself of the shackles of a settled life: a house, a regular girlfriend, toothpaste. There are about half a dozen Jack Reachers on my Dad's kindle, and they seem pitched about right for where I am at the moment, so should see me nicely through to Christmas and beyond.

Apparently the How to Train Your Dragon books are read by David Tennant, passmethecrisps. Several friends enthusiastically recommended them to me, but five might be a bit young?

By David tennant you say? Hmm. Maybe I should buy them all and test them out. To ensure appropriate content, obviously. Thanks for the idea cheerful. I might have a wee listen myself and see what they are like. I think she has seen the film

It's good to hear that you feel better, Satsuki. Thanks for the links. Wonder why links from AS don't work?

54. The Little Book of Hygge by someone or other. About a year behind the times on this, it was a birthday present last year that I never got round to. Fitted the prompt ‘a best seller from 2016’ from the popsugar challenge I’m still persisting with despite zero percent chance I will complete the remaining 11 prompts by 31st December. Book itself had some pretty pictures, but I did think that with all the Hygge hype it would contain something more profound than ‘its nice to spend time with people and also to eat cake oh and candles and expensive chairs are good too’.

68. Before He Finds Her - Michael Kardos

Meg Miller has been in hiding for all the life she can remember. When she was three her dad murdered her mum and the world was led to believe she was dead too. Now 15 Year’s later she wants to be free and stop hiding from her dad who was never caught and it’s time to find him before he finds her.

A kindle unlimited book whilst I have my three months free trial. Was quite enjoyable if not a little unbelievable at times.

Still on The Greedy Queen, which is good fun (what Queen Victoria ate). Took a break for The Meat Fix: How a Lifetime of Healthy Living Nearly Killed Me! by John Nicholson

The author was vegetarian and then vegan for 26 years, felt very ill (graphic description of his IBS and piles), then started eating meat and felt wonderful. It's a very ranty piece and he's not as funny as he thinks he is. His health problems seem to stem from eating highly-processed soya products multiple times a day for nearly three decades rather than from being deprived of meat. Still, okay for a different perspective.

50. (Hurrah!) (if I've counted right!) Dance for Two by Jean Ure. This is an old favourite- I love all Jean Ure's early stuff, not so much the recent Jaqueline Wilson-esque ones- I watched The ROH Nutcracker at the cinema yesterday and it put me in the mood for a ballet book! This is genuinely funny and enchanting, if you enjoyed ballet stories at any point

I'm 52% through American Gods and thoroughly enjoying it.

I have to say, though: It is exactly as long as it needs to be! If you haven't read it, definitely read this (long, original) version.

Hmmmm. See if you still feel that way at 98%.