50 Book Challenge 2019 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 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, the third one here and the fourth one here.

24. True Grit by Bear Grylls

I don't know who the author is but I didn't like his writing style of exaggerated half-phrases full of adoration. Some of the stories were amazing and inspirational, but I really couldn't see what was so admirable about being a slave and having to drink camel piss because nobody gives you water, for example.

I love a bit of Attwood. I think she bangs her drum beautifully.

I hated the single Atwood book I read. She is that inexplicable kind of author who writes in a genre she despises and does not understand, falsely claiming that her books are not in that genre because they are "realistic"

Fortuna I read Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales a while back and enjoyed them.

It’s a fairly faithful retelling of the Grimm Tales so if you’re familiar with those there’s no surprises. He’s left in the more gruesome bits, but they’re not really dwelt on.
The (mostly) short stories means its also a book that’s very well suited to a reader dipping into it here and there.

OT, but I remember watching a bit of a survival themed reality TV show hosted by Bear Grylls a few years ago.
He made some minor celebrities drink their own piss as part of the show. So that they’d know what to do if they couldn’t find a safe water source....
Not sure if that’s better or worse than camel piss!

28. When All Is Said by Anne Griffin on Audible. This book came to my attention when I heard the author speak at The Scottish Borders Book Fair the synopsis is: Over the course of a single evening in 2014, 84 year old Maurice lines up five drinks and proposes a toast for each, instigating extended internal monologues dedicated to the five individuals who have most closely shaped his life and experience. The first toast is raised to Maurice’s elder brother Tony, whom he idolised but who died of consumption at an early age. The second monologue is dedicated to Maurice’s stillborn daughter Molly, and the third to his disturbed sister-in-law Noreen, considered in the language of the time to be suffering from “melancholy” and committed to an asylum. The fourth toast goes to Maurice’s only surviving child, Kevin, who left rural Meath to pursue a journalistic career in America; before he finally raises a glass to his beloved wife Sadie, whose death two years ago is still raw in his memory.

I felt this was an excellent premise for a novel, and on the whole it was an enjoyable listen, initially I had high hopes, but I felt the sub plot of a valuable coin sort of petered out and the ending felt a bit telegraphed. Perhaps though, having seen the author speak about the novel, too much of the plot was given away before I read the book for it to hold any surprises.

29. The Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Well covered on here and much criticised for the poor writing. I listened to this free via Borrowbox and many of the issues of the writing were well masked by Richard Armitage's excellent narration. It was a horrifying and gripping story that reduced me to tears at the end, no mean feat with an audio book when I'm usually multi-tasking and therefore not giving the story the 100% concentration demanded by reading a book. The atrocities witnessed by the protagonist are so numerous and so frequent that as a reader you almost find yourself, like the characters, becoming desensitised to the horror they are encountering on a daily basis. As always when reading WWII set novels I wonder where the good Germans were, many must have been dragged into this situation appalled by what was going on around them, yet here even the minor characters seem to have psychopathic tendencies. I also wondered how much the main character was an unreliable narrator, I don't think many would have blamed him for keeping himself alive in this hellish reality by what ever means he could, but here he is painted as an angelic figure who helps those around him and selflessly shares what extra rations he can obtain despite being on the point of starvation himself. (But maybe that's a reflection on my own mean spiritedness and a hope I'm never put to the test as Lali was!)

Yes, that was me remus

Found a book you like yet??

I couldn't really see the point of the Grimm Tales. Didn't think they added anything at all to the many versions I've read before. It seemed spectacularly lazy and cynical to me.

Piggy - At least I've managed to finish a couple recently. Will probably start My Sister, the Serial Killer tomorrow. DP has just finished it and loved it, although we often disagree on books, so we'll see.

Number 50 milestone reached! I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O'Farrell. Much reviewed on here, it is indeed excellent and moving in places. I figure I have had two brushes with death and my children have had none so I am doing a bit better (or worse?) than Maggie.
By way of coincidence, DS2 has just finished The Gifted The Talented and Me by William Sutcliffe who turns out to be O'Farrell's husband!

26. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Jane Eyre prequel set in Jamaica.

Very dull. Assuaged some of my guilt about not reading any classics recently.

27. Lost connections: why you're depressed and how to find hope by Johann Hari
A look at more societal reasons for depression and the effectiveness of anti depressants.

Some interesting ideas in here about work, people and nature. Though this is the disgraced journalist who plagiarised work so I'm not sure if I believe him.

28. How to build a girl by Caitlin Moran
A fictional account of Caitlin's teenagehood in Wolverhampton and in the music industry. Lots of sex references.

I wasn't keen at first as I'd heard much of this before from Caitlin's non fiction but Dolly grew on me. I'll read the next one when I see it in the library and looking forward to volume three when it will be fiction when politics comes into it. Hoping for Jess Phillips fan fiction.

I remember reading Wide Sargasso Sea for uni and it driving me to rum. I'm glad I'm not the only one who wasn't a fan.

As far as breast watch/bingo is concerned i gave up on The Terror by Dan Simmons for the repeated mentions. The detailed descriptions of nipples left me colder than Franklins expedition.

I don't remember any nipples in The Terror. I do remember that it was at least 300 pages too long and that the final section was ridiculous.

Loathed Wide Sargasso Sea.

37. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. A father's account of his teenage son's addiction to crystal meth. Sobering read. The son has also written a memoir, the first couple of chapters are previewed at the end of this book. Yikes. Gave me the heebie jeebies. Haven't seen the film but not sure I really want to after reading the book.

I also like Margaret Atwood although not so much her sci fi/dystopian stuff. Cat's Eye is my favourite. Should I leave the thread?

Um. And Wide Sargasso Sea. 'S ok, I'm packing my bags...

I enjoyed Wide Sargasso Sea too, and I like some Atwood so put that bag back Wabbit.

77. Bitter Orange - Claire Fuller Picked up in the library after Splother reviewed it recently. Set in '69, a socially awkward woman is asked to assess the grounds of a dilapidated country house for the absent new owner. She arrives to find a younger couple in residence assessing the house and contents. They strike up a friendship that turns to obsession, but she soon finds all is not as perfect as it seems.

Simmering, full of suspense and some interesting twists with lovely writing. I couldn't put it down.

78. H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald (audio) Despite having zero interest in falconry other than having seen a few shows during castle visits, I was captivated by this blend of memoir and nature writing dealing with bereavement and the challenge of training a goshawk. I was enchanted by her stunning writing.

Welsh I would put both Cat's Eye and
Wide Sargasso Sea up there with my favourite books. It takes all sorts!

I like Wide Sargasso Sea, and also enjoyed Margaret Atwood's early books - The Edible Woman, Dancing Girls etc - up to about the mid 80s. (But then I gave up on This Thing of Darkness, so am obviously beyond the pale.)

Not getting much time or mental space to read lately, which is a shame as I've just got The Secret Lives of Colour and Bloody Brilliant Women turn up from the library after long waits.

45. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs - Steve Brusatte

So glad I picked this up as a 99p deal. I read quite a bit on natural history, but hadn't read a dinosaur book for about 30 years, since my parents became Baptists when I was 7 and the dinosaur literature was suddenly put away on the high shelf...

This was an excellent lay person's (re-)introduction to the topic, focusing on the natural history of the dinosaurs and the environmental forces that shaped their world, as well as the scientists and adventurers who have uncovered their remains. There was too much of the Nat Geo tendency to describe the habitual dress of every bit-part player, but I still found this a page-turning account and will be seeking out more in-depth dinosaur books now.

46. My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite

Much reviewed on here, I raced through this short novel about nurse Korede and her efforts to cover for her sister Ayoola's nasty habit of sticking a knife into the men she dates. I loved the psychology of the sisters' interdependency, and the brief flashbacks to their brutal past showed just enough to understand how they reached this point.

The Lagos setting and elements of Nigerian culture were displayed vividly, but with a deft lightness of touch. The danger inherent in the central love triangle made this a genuinely tense read, although the denouement seemed a little rushed. Not perfect, but as this is Braithwaite's first novel, I would definitely seek out anything else she goes on to write.

Just swinging by to say that Philippa Perry's The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad that You Did) is a 99p Kindle deal today

23. The Old Man and The Sea - Ernest Hemingway
An old Cuban fisherman spends several days trying to land an enormous Marlin. Only one of them will survive....

I'd never read any Hemingway before this and found it to be an incredible page-turner. It's a very short novel but the action moves fast and I found several of the passages quite moving: the Old Man's respect for the fish, for nature in general, and his love for the young fisherman he trained. The simplicity of language and style reminded me of John Steinbeck's The Pearl which I read last year.

Has encouraged me to seek out more Hemingway...

If I don't read fifty books this year, it will be because it took me well over a month to read

29 Fall, or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson

It all started out well, but ran well into the sand about three quarters of the way through. The book takes place in two worlds - a real world of the pretty near future, and a computer simulation of a Land that people are having their brains uploaded to after they die. Without any notice or handholding from the author, it suddenly changes pace and focuses entirely on a Quest in the Land which I really struggled to follow the significance of. I think it would be as well to read a sympathetic review before embarking on reading this, to give some structure to grasp onto. When I had finished I checked it out on GoodReads and someone who had loved it was reminding me about all the good stuff at the beginning, which had been really enjoyable to read, about coping with future of social media. I had entirely forgotten about all this by the end. If you do read it, please get in touch if you understand and can explain who Brindle is - thanks!

Just finished Shakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates. This is not she of Everyday Sexism fame but Dr Laura Bates from Indiana who spent many years working with many violent prisoners talking about and writing about (occasionally performing bits of ) The Bard. The book's main focus is on Larry Newton, an intriguing prisoner locked up for life without parole at the age of 17. He has written a whole book now and was studying for a PhD before the State withdrew funding. An interesting read. Not sure where I first heard of this book but it's a good one for anyone interested in criminology , Shakespeare, or both!