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50 Book Challenge 2019 Part Four

997 replies

southeastdweller · 27/03/2019 18:36

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

How're you getting on so far?

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/05/2019 18:00

The Brilliant Corners were the first band I ever saw live, in 1988!

AliasGrape · 03/05/2019 18:01

Remus and Sadik - Black Sheep is on my kindle, I’m trying to work out if I’ve read it or not - I do try to stick to a system of moving read stuff to a separate folder but I don’t always. Anyway your mention has inspired me to either read or reread it!

Temporary I’m glad I’m not alone, it’s strange I should in theory have loved both but I just think the writing and what she was trying to do suited the short story form better (and I’m not always a huge fan of short stories).

I’ve bought The Water Cure and The Old Ways in the sale. I’ll probably grab Lolita as well. So much for not buying any more.

Talk to me about A Dance to the Music of Time - can’t decide if I’d like it or not. Also spotted Any Human Heart by William Boyd in the sale - would anyone recommend that?

I’ve also remembered I downloaded all the ‘Read Around the World’ books amazon were giving out free and were kindly linked on this thread by Decimus - my tbr pile is out of control at the moment.

DecumusScotti · 03/05/2019 18:12

46.) Folk, by Zoe Gilbert -- An enchanting series of linked tales set on the island of Neverness, mingling folklore and fairy tales. The tales run over the course of a generation, and were all captivating. It's a short little book, beautifully written, and I'm seriously thinking about buying it as an audiobook, because I think it would be gorgeous to listen to. Something really special.

47.) The Psychology of Time Travel, Kate Mascarenhas -- Oh god. In the sixties, four women invent time travel. In the modern day, a woman is found dead in a locked room. It's sort of a locked room mystery, but a really, really crap one, with too many characters, many of whom are basically pointless, written in stilted unengaging prose. I absolutely hated it. There are a couple of ideas which could have been interesting, but they aren't explored enough, and it treats mental illness in an incredibly shallow and superficial way. Described as transcending genres, which in this case I suspect means doing no genre well. Worst book I've read this year. Easily.

48.) Captive Prince, by C. S. Pacat - The first in a fantasy series, which somehow managed to be incredibly trashy whilst not containing anywhere near as much sex as I was expecting. Which was a bit disappointing, really. Blush After the death of his father, Prince Damon, heir to the throne of Akielos, is taken prisoner in a coup orchestrated by his bastard half-brother and handed over to an enemy nation as cough a pleasure slave. And it is basically exactly as trashy as that sounds. Sort of terrible, sort of a guilty pleasure, and absolutely slashy and completely a massive sausage-fest. I... can't actually remember the names of any women in this. If you haven't already guessed, it's also very slashy. And extremely a bit exploitative. Eh, I'll keep reading, but I like my fantasy with, y'know, some actual women.

49.) Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor -- And oh, hey, some fantasy with actual women. Hooray. This was set in a post-apocalyptic Africa, where the Nurus enslave and abuse the Okeke people, and children of the two races are called Ewu and hated and despised. Onyesonwu is Ewu, and also a magic-user, able to shapeshift at will, along with a host of other abilities. This touches on genocide, FGM, and is almost a kind of African Lord of the Rings, with Onyesonwu leaving her town with a group of friends and allies to kill her father, a sorceror responsible for the ongoing genocide of the Okeke people. A fascinating read, although I do with Onyesonwu wasn't quite so powerful.

~~

And more fantasy to come, since I've just started Foundryside, by Robert Jackson Bennett, and so far really loving it.

PepeLePew · 03/05/2019 18:47

AliasGrape, DTTMOT is a bit of a conundrum. It’s obviously a commitment, length wise and a bit of a slow burn.

The first one is actually - in my view - terrific. Funny, pacy, set at boarding school and generally quite light hearted. Then it does slow down a bit - they are quite episodic, and the narrator (about whom we never learn much) goes to lots of parties and social events with a vast cast of characters who drop in and out of the novels over the years. Basically, the monied upper middle classes rattle around London and the Home Counties occasionally doing a spot of work but mostly drinking and talking.

I believe the later ones are generally thought to be better than the earlier ones. And after a while they become quite addictive. It’s fun seeing people pop up who you haven’t seen for a while.

I’m definitely all in now and quite looking forward to #5. I saw it compared to Proust more than once and as someone who has battled for years with Remembrance of Things Past in French and English I can say it is nothing like that. Powell would never take 30 pages to tell you how he fell asleep - he’s incredibly uninterested in that sort of thing!

Sadik · 03/05/2019 18:57

Decumus, I was also rather disappointed by the relative lack of sex in Captive Prince given its extreme trashiness. Can I recommend Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles as a seriously slashy, totally trashy, utterly fabulous alternative with real proper women (though you have to wait a bit to get their full fabulousness) and lots of sex.

I've also bought This Thing of Darkness, I hope to like it but I did notice it says 'longlisted for the Booker Prize' on the front, which is usually the kiss of death for me (see how much I trust you all - I bought it anyway!)

Sadik · 03/05/2019 19:02

After all the love on here I'm adding DanceTTMOT to my TBR list, probably for the winter when I have more reading time.

I read my way through most (maybe all) of the CP Snow Strangers & Brothers books years back & rather enjoyed the experience, I'm wondering if Dance is likely to be similar?

PepeLePew · 03/05/2019 19:41

Perhaps we need a support group for those in wave two of the 50 Books thread contributors who are about to embark on TTOD?! Where we can confess our thoughts and doubts before sharing them with those who have read and loved it already. Strength in numbers, and all that Grin.

AliasGrape · 03/05/2019 19:49

Thanks Pepe I think I’ll add it to the pile!

ritzbiscuits · 03/05/2019 19:51

Been keeping up to date with thread, but not posted for a while. I'd just wading through the end of 10. My Brilliant Friend. It was due back at the library today and still not finished! Ooops! Have enjoyed it and will continue to read the series, but I'm ready for something new.

Only book I've bought in new Amazon offers is 'How to Own The Room - Women and The Art of Brilliant Speaking.' Gets excellent reviews, and will come in handy for work. I have to informally present all the time and I hate it.

Sadik · 03/05/2019 20:07

The speaking book looks like a great recommendation ritz - I've bought it

floraloctopus · 03/05/2019 20:08

I have bought TTOD thanks to the heads up on here, I had overlooked it this morning. I seem to have a habit of not liking books that the rest of you love so I will approach it with trepidation.

DecumusScotti · 03/05/2019 20:10

Decumus, I was also rather disappointed by the relative lack of sex in Captive Prince given its extreme trashiness. Can I recommend Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles as a seriously slashy, totally trashy, utterly fabulous alternative with real proper women (though you have to wait a bit to get their full fabulousness) and lots of sex.

Thank goodness it wasn’t just me. Grin and thanks for the tip. I think I’ve got a KJ Charles waiting on the kindle - the first Spectred Isle I think.

Baloonphobia · 03/05/2019 20:15

Hi all, can I join? I'm a bit late but I'm just starting maternity leave so I reckon I'll have time to kill.

CluelessMama · 03/05/2019 20:19

I've also just bought This Thing of Darkness thanks to all the mentions on her, and also have an out of control TBR pile. Currently reading A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/05/2019 20:48

Sadik - it's not irritating, show-offy, or self-important. There are no walking vicars, huge members, irritatingly smug middle class people, fragmented sentences, dangerously ambiguous pronouns or indeed anything else that literary judges tend to like, so I think you'll be okay.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/05/2019 20:49

Pepe - all very cloak and dagger! Grin

floraloctopus · 03/05/2019 20:55

I've just noticed that the author of TTOD is the same person who wrote Penguins stopped play - quite a contrast!

PepeLePew · 03/05/2019 20:56

sadik, if you’re taking me at my word on DTTMOT, I’m going to do the same for Henchmen of Zenda. Am knackered, miserable and in need of something slushy/trashy/fabulous with lots of sex. Am off to download it now, steak one of the kids’ Easter eggs and read it in bed until I fall asleep. I am now feeling marginally less bleak about everything.

floraloctopus · 03/05/2019 20:56

Welcome Baloonphobia

What do you like reading?

Baloonphobia · 03/05/2019 21:06

Hi, I tend to mostly end up reading crime and historical novels and non-fiction. Due to pregnancy hormones and general sleepiness I can't handle anything sad. I'm reading In the Forest by Edna O Brien at the moment and it's making me cry so much Blush.

Baloonphobia · 03/05/2019 21:07

Weepiness not sleepiness!

Piggywaspushed · 03/05/2019 21:13

As I commented last year floral, I love Penguins Stopped Play! It's great. Poor Harry Thompson :(

floraloctopus · 03/05/2019 21:20

I loved Penguins when I read it too, I was just surprised that the same author has written two very different style of books.

SatsukiKusakabe · 03/05/2019 21:42

Thanks for the lamp/Kindle solidarity. It is pathetic, as is me reaching for my book every night and then remembering it’s broken over and over, likewise “ooh I’ll just read some more of that” and remembering it’s on my Kindle so I can’t. My Dh has very kindly given me his lamp as he has a light in his Kindle so I am some way into The Snakes and the Viv Albertine memoir.

remus love that I know exactly what book you were talking about in your last post and that “walking vicars” is, somewhat incredibly, a typo Grin

floraloctopus I think Harry Thompson also wrote scripts for or directed Have I Got News For You.

SatsukiKusakabe · 03/05/2019 21:42

Hi balloon Smile

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