50 Book Challenge 2019 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 2019, 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?

14. The Cyber Effect by Mary Aiken. A couple of years ago I read and recommended The Dark Net, about the unsavoury corners of the internet. This book has a far broader reach, as it considers all aspects of the internet, in particular the topic of cyber psychology, or how and why our behaviour changes online. It explains that we may take risks online that we would never take IRL (due to effects such as anonymity, disinhibition and herd behaviour). It covers a wide and relevant range of topics such as screen time for children, sexting among teenagers, internet and gaming addiction, online dating, health anxiety which is heightened by the use of Dr Google, as well as criminal behaviour and the dark net.

This is an incredibly important subject, and one about which many of us are insufficiently informed. I think this book is essential (if slightly depressing at times) reading for all of us, especially those with children.

The tone can be a little self-righteous, especially in the last couple of chapters, but I have to admire Aiken for her vast amount of knowledge and for her passion on the subject of greater regulation and protection in cyber space, especially for young people.

Jenniferyellowcat my DD is 11 so I think that ship has sailed!

Decumus I agree that the WSS Rochester is incongruous but I thought he was an arse in Jane Eyre too. I initially found it odd going directly from one to the other with the very different styles and even way of him speaking. It is hard to see the two characters as the same person even accounting for maturing in JE or being a fish out of water in WSS.

I don't get the Rochester love at all. Remus what is it with him?

Just

31. The Collector- John Fowles I found this disturbing, but I loved it. I particularly enjoyed the sections written from Clegg's point of view. Miranda's diary wasn't always as gripping, but turned out to be really important. The ending took me by surprise.

32. Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Book Store- Robin Sloan This wasn't quite what I expected: to be honest, I loved the early part of the book which was set in the bookshop, before things got a bit weirder. I enjoyed the story overall, but I probably won't bother with the prequel Ajax Penumbra 1969, unless one of you tells me that I should...

I'm now reading A Prayer for Owen Meany (and flirting with a couple of other books): I'm about a third of the way through and I think it's lovely, despite the long-windedness!

As you may have noticed, I do love a bargain on the Kindle, especially when the texts are of such high quality as the three listed above.

23. Sherlock. A Study in Pink by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Jay.

Sherlock, reimagined by Moffat and Gatiss, recreated as Japanese manga, translated back into English.

I have no idea if Conan Doyle is spinning in his grave or dipping his his head a fraction with reserved British respect at what has become of his character, he’s probably past caring but manga Sherlock and Holmes works for me.

Particularly enjoyed the snappy dialogue alongside the non- translated Japanese sound and action effects.

Sorry Remus but another one here who is left cold by Mr R.

Yes Mr R never did it for me. Unfortunately I read Pride and Prejudice before Jane Eyre and no one could live up to Mr Darcy.

Just finished silence of the girls which I loved.

Has anyone read milkman? Just been given it.

Tried to read bad omens but just couldn't get into it. I love gaiman but not pratchett so that maybe why. Is it worth preserving?

thanks for that review Tarahumara, I have added The Cyber Effect to my Wishlist.

Am still only about half way through When Christ and his Angels Slept" (Sharon Penman) and listening to Bookworm on Audible as I mark essays but popped in to smile at the synchronicity of learning what "marchpane" is/was via Bookworm and finding it here wrt Rumer Godden.
I also loved the Diddakoi (Kizzy) as a child and will dig some more of hers out. I'm sure In This House of Brede was a TV series too?

I've always loved a convent story too, and still roll with laughter (though probably shouldn't) at a feminist bonkers conkers book I ended up with when studying in Belgium in the 80s when paperbacks in English were like gold dust. It was about a nun who became pregnant, despite of course never having had sex, and all the other nuns were weirdly jealous.

Am enjoying Bookworm though the author irritates me every so often. Another not quite as funny as she thinks she is writer, sometimes a "funny" sentence is shoehorned into her narrative and I get the feeling she's read them somewhere else, made a note of them and been waiting to stick them in her work.

Adore Stuart Maconie- though Jarrow wasn't my favourite- Pies and Prejudice is. Reread it almost as often as I do Bill Bryson. Comfort food reading.

I didn't say that I loved Rochester, just that he's the only thing I'm interested in in Jane Eyre. Since the rest is pretty much made up of nasty people and really boring sanctimonious missionaries, plus po-facd Jane, this isn't that difficult.

I thought Sargasso utterly manipulated the character for the writer's own ends and that none of it rang true. Sorry, but I really, really hated it!

Hi ringsender I have ordered Invisble Women from the library too, read an article on the premise and think it looks really interesting research.

I agree with remus largely about Wide Sargasso - an interesting creative experiment, and important as a piece of post colonial writing but I didn’t love the book and think that it didn’t fit that well with the Rochester of Jane Eyre. I read Jane Eyre when I was around 9 and just fell in love with Jane, who I still think is a wonderful character; an awkward, plain and observant outsider with passion under the stoic surface, just waiting for the right wild-haired crazed arrogant narcissist with an attic full of bad decisions to draw it out of her.

Moominfan I loved Milkman as did a few others, some couldn’t get on with the style and lack of chapters though so hard to tell whether it’s for you until you dive in. I thought it was funny and moving and great, one of my faves last year. But I like Pratchett and not Gaiman

And I’ve returned to my old name as the new one just didn’t fit right

10. Other Minds: The Octopus and The Evolution of Intelligent Life by Peter Godfrey-Smith

This was an interesting subject. Cephalopods are strangely intelligent and physically as different from humans as it's possible for an animal to be. The author makes the interesting point that studying them will be as close as we will get to seeing intelligent aliens on this planet.

I didn't know just how smart they are until reading his book, and neither was I aware that our common ancestor is so far back that they are in fact a completely different evolutionary path on planet Earth.

I liked this book and I would recommend it, but I did think that it suffers from being the brainchild of a philosopher rather than a scientist. There is just too much navel-gazing "What is consciousness?" including many MANY pages on influential philosophers' thoughts on this subject. Also, the author tying himself up in knots re "But why did nature make them so intelligent if they only live 1-2 years? What's the point?" made me laugh a little. I thought it would be evident from an evolutionary point of view that it's BECAUSE they have such short lives that evolution has been able to create such high intelligence via survival of the fittest over so many generations.

Is Sarah Moss any good? I have realised I have been getting her kind of conflated with Kate Mosse and Sarah Perry! But I don't want to get sucked in by more lovely cover artwork before I purchase and add to my huge tbr pile

cote I read an octopus book last year and found it the same in terms of giving over too much to the spiritual side of things - granted I should have known, it was called Soul of an Octopus - and I nearly got this one as well but glad I resisted as it sounds as if it covers the same seabed ground. They are fascinating.

Piggy I really rate Sarah Moss, enjoyed Night Waking , thought Bodies of light was really accomplished- review upthread I think. Her novella Ghost Wall has just been longlisted for the Women's Prize. She is responsible for 2 of my standouts this year.

Soul of an octopus I wouldn't have read that one.

Octopuses are really fascinating. I didn't realise that they not only change colour for camouflage but to communicate. Their bodies are basically screens on which they project complex designs

Thanks splother.

I thought Milkman was amazing - it was my top fiction book last year - and I rate Sarah Moss highly too.

I'm feeling that I need to read more about octopuses.... now that's a sentence I didn't expect to write...!

Lots of good recommendations here, I wish I could keep up with three thread, the books and the financial outlay

I've just finished i know nothing by Andrew Sachs. It was interesting and informative and well worth a read. It also revealed, justifiably, just how immature and pathetic two vile tv presenters really are.
I'm now reading the next big thing by Rhodhri Marsden which is informative and amusing so I'll look for more books by him.

Chessie I thought the same about perfect girl, I had to know what happened but it made me feel uncomfortable in a way which books usually don't.

I've also read, but not enjoyed, Paul Cuddihy's read all about it, bluntly put he should stick to reading not writing.

33. After the party- Cressida Connolly - I have picked this up and put it down numerous times in bookshops over the past few months, and think I finally bought it on a Kindle daily deal. I was inspired to move it up the too read pile by the fact it was on the Walter Scott Historical fiction prize list, recommended I think by Scribbly.
It begins in 1938 and tells the story of Phyllis and her 2 sisters. All three and are upper middle class and have fallen under the spell of Oswald Mosley and his British Union Party. At first it is a expressed desire for peace that on the surface motivates the women but there is a much darker side hidden not far beneath.
The descriptions of live immediately before the war; heady summer days, prep schools, parties, nannies and cooks reminded me immediately of The Cazalet Chronicles . Phyllis is portrayed as rather bored and vapid, almost waking to the party with no real understanding. It is the chapters written in the first person by the older Phyllis which are most illuminating and really made me begin to question everything that went before. Was Phyllis really so naive?
It is a clever book that seems superficial on the surface, but lingers after you have finished it. The relationship between the three sisters is particularly well drawn. Lots to discuss, would make a good book club read.

Added that to my list splother!

I love having such a big tbr list, it fills me with happiness that the books I'm going to read are more likely to be enjoyable than just picking random books off shelves like I used to!

Just finished 15) Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman.
As with all his so far I really liked this.

It's about a lonely, socially awkward lady who's trying to set up a life independently for the first time in her 63 years and finds herself in a tiny, closed down village that has been forgotten by the world.

It's sort of a deeper, more meaningful Eleanor Oliphant without all the drama and backstory and twist. It's about belonging and loyalty and whether it's ever too late to start over.

Has anyone bought anything from the Spring Kindle book sale? I haven't seen a single book that I wanted in it. I've seen some poor sales but there's never been a time when there wasn't a single book that I wanted to buy. To be fair I haven't read the synopsis of every book. Is there anything worth buying?

HaventGotAllDay

Yes, as soon as you said that In This House of Brede had been on TV I started to get vague memories of it and you're absolutely right - Diana Rigg was Philippa. Even better, it's still on YouTube