50 Book Challenge 2018 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 2018, 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.

What are you reading?

Still reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (with DS1).

19. A is for alibi Sue Grafton. I hated this and really had to force myself to read it to the end. It was a bit tedious.

I'm starting warm bodies Isaac Marion.

I'm glad you enjoyed it Tanaqui. The placing in history was one of the things I really liked about At the Existentialist Cafe. I did study some philosophy as part of my degree, but that was things like Locke, Hume, Berkeley, Kant, and Mill and it was just the ideas with no historical context. Phenomenology and existentialism didn't come into it at all so in that respect it was all new to me.

20. Virginia Woolf - Orlando Written for and dedicated to Vita Sackville-West, in basic terms this is a fantastical biography of an Elizabethan nobleman over 400 years (ageing very slowly - Orlando is 16 at the start and 36 by the end) who, part way through his life, wakes up one day to discover he is now a woman. It's an unfamiliar style of writing to me, sort of stream of consciousness really, which I wasn't altogether engaged by. Woolf explores changes in literature over the centuries (Orlando writes constantly), human relationships, the differences between Orlando's life as a man and as a woman, all with the backdrop of the slowly turning centuries. I'm undecided as to whether or not I like it. In all honesty, I find it a bit meh. Although I am curious as to how they did with the film version.

I haven't posted since last year, but have been keeping up with the thread - and have finally regained some reading momentum!

1. conversations with friends by Sally Rooney.

Interesting - student life and relationships in modern Dublin. More complex than initially thought 2.the politics of washing by Polly Coles Wry asides from writer who moved her family to Venice, and the reality of life there, domestically, in education etc

1. the threat level remains severe by Rowena McDonald

Admin staff at the house of commons have secrets, affairs and interior lives leading to a possible murder. Enjoyed this

1. passing go by libby purses

Dated now, but enjoyable family saga type book, of disconnected children and sexual identity. Seems a bit naive now

1. This is going to hurt by Adam Kay

Loved it. Just a very human and funny account of a junior doctors early years, and the reasons he quit, and quiet despair at the ineptitude of nhs managers. Everyone should read this. 6 Telling Tales Ann Cleeves Can't remember these individually, but enjoyable bath time whodunnits, but with some nature/bird related asides. 7 The paying guests Sarah Waters Audio book - been reading this post war suburban genteel life with undertones for weeks

1. next Ann cleeves

Flowers in the bath one. Good, but instantly forgettable

1. Midwinter Break Bernard MacLaverty

Enjoyed this short novel, and recognised the evocation of love after a long time of being married. Don't think it merited the praise it has received, but it was nice to see an older voice being centre of the story. 10. A Woman's Work Harriet Herman I like to think I am pretty politically aware, and was familiar with this Peckham MP's career of several decades. However I really enjoyed this, and learnt lots of new facts about the Labour Party and the development of parliament to women MP's. It was an entertaining read, and the realisation of how recently nurseries, and maternity pay have transformed our professional life's is sobering. Recommended 11. Sunshine on Scotland Street Alexander McCall Smith Perfectly pitched - this series is so accessible, yet refers to poetry, art and feminist thought. Bit of a guilty treat really AMS's work in general, but I do enjoy it.

RosehipHoney, I’m reading the Harriet Harman at the moment. It’s so interesting, the way she talks about her career - for all her amazing work for women’s rights she’s absolutely laden down with “am I good/smart/nice enough?” worries. I keep
thinking no man would ever write like that!

26. Vampire Diaries: The Return. Nightfall, LJ Smith.

This was fecking hilarious. Unintentionally, I think. Just to set the scene, I was a massive Vampire Diaries fan as a teenager. I first found the original 3 books in the school library aged 12 and read and re-read them. I also read the Secret Circle, the Night World (as far as they had gone circa 1997) , Dark Visions, the Forbidden Game etc etc and loved them all. When I was about 20 and at uni I discovered a fourth Vampire Diary (The Reunion) in Forbidden Planet and was ridiculously excited. And all the books pretty much flowed and had a very similar style. However, when LJ Smith started adding to the series later on I bought Nightfall and was horrified - Elena had regressed to a mute spirit-child and Damon starts off spying on girls from trees and musing about how vampires don't have sex because they exchange blood instead. So I dropped the book in disgust in probably 2009 and have only just picked it up again. I was terribly amused - it is absolutely mental and most of the plot twists make no sense whatsoever and there are at least two occasions where the gang are in peril which gets resolved so quickly it's laughable, only to plunge back into terrible doom. Plus lots of terribly convenient magical healing of near-death situations. The cemetery is built on a ley line nexus and supernatural creatures are being drawn to Fell's Church - had LJ Smith been watching a bit too much Buffy? Most of the characters have regressed, particularly Damon, although as he spends most of the book possessed by a bug it's hard to tell. Still, I highly enjoyed myself and I've downloaded the next one. It seems to have gone all Stefan: Origins and ghost-writing so I'm not quite sure how far I'll go with them, but I'm still liking reading about beloved characters even if the plots are mad as several boxes of frogs.

15. Angel of Storms by Trudi Canavan

Fantasy. Second book of the Millenium’s Rule series. Tyen has learnt how to travel between worlds and quickly gets caught up in a rebellion against the mighty ruler of all worlds. Meanwhile, Rielle has been invited to leave her world to work as an artist for an “Angel”, which leads to much more adventures and world hopping.

I read the first book in this series not too long ago, and was rather underwhelmed, but this second book appeared on the recently returned shelf in the library a few weeks ago, so I thought I’d give it a go anyway. I enjoyed it more than the first book - this had more action, the storyline seemed to be more purposeful, but ultimately I still felt a bit meh about the whole thing.

16. Anxiety for Beginners by Eleanor Morgan

Non-fiction. Talks about anxiety disorders, what they are, some reasons that can contribute towards them, the effects they have on those who live with them, possible treatments for them. The author has suffered from an anxiety disorder and panic attacks since she was a teenager. A lot of the book details her experiences and her struggles with anxiety, so it’s mostly told through the personal perspective of Morgan, rather than trying to be an impersonal guide to anxiety disorders.

Overall I found this very readable and would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about anxiety disorders and their impact on people.

1. The Panther in my Kitchen, My Wild Animals with Animals by Brian Blessed A really funny read. I stumbled across this in our library and although I knew Brian Blessed was a real character I had no idea he loved animals so much. The book runs through the various animals who face shares his homes and the animals he's befriended through friends working at zoos. It is written as if Brian is sitting next to you loudly recounting his tales. I'd definitely recommend.

16. The War on Women and the brave ones who fight back by Sue Lloyd-Roberts.

Recommended from this thread, I borrowed this book from the library in lovely hardback. Sue Lloyd-Roberts was a respected journalist travelling the world witnessing and documenting atrocities with a special interest in the treatment of women. I’m not sure which of the chapters is the most horrifying and it is a depressing and important read. I have the utmost respect and awe for the women who are putting their lives at risk to bring respect and an even-standing for women in those communities where women are treated like chattel (or worse).

Terpsichore, I also have Adult Onset on my TBR list. I think it was listed in a "best of" list in a sunday supplement or something a couple of years ago, that's my very vague recollection of where I heard of it. Thank you for not spoiling it despite it being an obscure choice :)

18. My Antonia, Willa Cather

Oh God....... I know this is a super-beloved book on here and perhaps I started it with unreasonable expectations because of that, but it left me cold. I totally get why it is a classic - stunningly beautiful writing, and a wonderful evocation of a time and place. But the story seemed to lurch strangely from one place to another, there were great swathes of the book where nothing seemed to be happening (or things were happening but it wasn't sure what their significance was, if any), and Antonia herself didn't seem real at all except in the childhood scenes. Maybe I just didn't get it. I don't know. I acknowledge Cather's genius but don't feel inclined to read her further.

Hurrah Keith, I hope I didn’t give too much away! It was a rewarding read in the end so I’d recommend it.

Now finished Rise Up Women! which was my eighteenth. As I said earlier on the thread, this is a detailed and fascinating book which has me in awe of the Suffragettes and of Diane Atkinson (who calls herself Di The Dauntless on Twitter!)

I learnt a huge amount. Not sure I warmed to the formidable Pankhursts. But am now a fully signed up member of the Lady Constance Lytton and the Pethick-Lawrences fanclub! And Kitty Marion : the first of the #metoo women? (Perhaps #mefirst!)

At 600 pagesish (and big pages at that) it is not a light undertaking. But I am so glad I heard about it, bought it, and read it.

Next, I need to finish my Susan Calman book. She - or more her siblings- is an old school friend of mine and I do love her. I started this ages ago but neglected to finish it, so will do that forthwith.

keith A Lost Lady is so much better than My Antonia. It's a beautiful beautiful book.

I was so bored by My Antonia. Not for me.

Book 24
Artists in Crime – Ngaio Marsh
The best one of Marsh’s I’ve read so far, and I’m glad I gave her another chance after the irritating Death at the Dolphin. Inspector Alleyn falls in love in this one, and it was all so much more tight and efficient than the bloated Dolphin. Does anybody know which others feature Troy, ideally cheap on Kindle ones?!

My Mum bought me all my Cathers. I had a beautiful copy of one of them. Can still picture the cover and don't know where it is now :(

My Antonia is one of my favourite ever books. She is not meant to seem “realistic”; she is a platonic ideal. The bit at the end where all the children run up out of the ground underlines the cave allegory. The patchwork of memories do not belong to the reader, or even always the narrator, and they are disorderly, like the oral storytelling tradition the book mimics, but they ultimately provoke a feeling of nostalgia for land and life that is universal. The last few pages always hit me however many times I read them. Some books are not to be read for plot; the beautiful writing and the evocation of a feeling is the end game. This is not directed at you for not enjoying it keith, only explaining why I did

26. Opening Night by Ngaio Marsh. A good one, mainly about the theatrical cast with only a brief appearance by Alleyn (and no Troy Remus- but she has a big part in Final Curtain if you can get that cheap (I got it on Overdrive)). In a nice bit of synchronicity, having just finished the Existenialist Cafe (thank you for that recommendation Chilli!), the fictional play this is centred was existentialist!

I do like Susan Calman on the News Quiz Piggy, please say she is lovely in real life!

Thanks, Tanaqui. Looks like the Troy ones might be the expensive ones!

tanaqui , Susan has just mentioned the Bridge Club we were in together at school. Sad, I know.

Susan was very very funny even as a child. I don't recognise the self (or the school)she describes to be honest. She seemed very cheerful, her parents were delightful (and hilarious) and Susan used to have me in stitches.

They lived near me and I suffered form unrequited love for her brother for years : I used to stand outside their house and gaze at his window...but it was not to be. Her sister Lyn was more my friend than Susan was but I remember her as very vibrant. She clearly did become very unhappy though and it makes me sad that I can't travel back in time to Bridge Club and help her feel better. Happily, she seems so much better now, though.

Thanks Satsuki. I will read up a bit more on the "platonic ideal" angle, and the allegory. The moment where the children rush up out of the cave was beautiful.

I am on board with books which are read for beautiful writing, and wonderful evocation of time/place, rather than plot, but this one did seem to have a lot of plot, just told in a strange and disordered fashion. I couldn't settle to it.

Talk about synchronicity: I just finished that Susan Calman book book myself (and have been hinting about wanting Rise up, Women to DH for a while too). The bridge bit made me grin, although I think the bit about the Tesco delivery driver and the cats was my favourite.

Damn, I'm behind on this thread, although I've been lurking... Currently reading The North Water and finding it bloody grim but very compelling.

I have now finished Cheer Up Love (The Susan Calman book) . I was most diverted by the one mention of her beloved (to me) brother!

It's well written and interesting but I wouldn't probably have read it if it weren't for my connection to her. The Tesco driver bit is indeed v funny!

I oddly have two copies as someone gave me a book about depression for a Secret Santa present

I am , as decreed by the randomiser reading book Of Dust next. Another book I started before Christmas and didn't carry on with. Might need to start again with that one.

Will also be commencing the Bleak House readalong tomorrow (maybe).

21. Jordan B. Peterson - 12 Rules for Life

Quite interesting, but not as good as I had hoped it would be. Peterson is a clinical psychologist and become quite well known recently for objecting to law changes in Canada which require specific forms of language - he argues that it is damaging to freedom of speech. That's not the subject of this book which is really a series of essays on principles he sees as being important to live a meaningful life. He draws on his clinical practise, his personal life, religious ideas, mythology, history, philosophy and much else in elaborating, but I think he jumps around too much. Sometimes sections don't seem to follow on from each other so it's hard to see the supporting arguments. Interesting though.

24 A Woman’s Work by Harriet Harman
This was a fairly underwhelming political memoir - no explosive revelations, very little gossip, she even manages to make high drama quite mundane. But it’s a passionate feminist work and a really good account of our hard won political rights and of her experience as a mother and an MP. I’m going to give it to my teenage daughter to read so she can see how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go in terms of women's rights - it's a great introduction to the world of politics and feminism. Harman is chronically critical of herself to the point I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop beating herself up. No man would ever write like this.

Looking forward to A woman’s work ...have quite a good haul from kindle sales. Reading & enjoying Frankenstein at the moment