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.

33. The Mystery of Three Quarters - Sophie Hannah (Poirot #3)

Four individuals receive letters accusing them of the murder of Barnabas Pandy, purportedly signed by Poirot himself. Inevitably, the great detective is intrigued enough to investigate... As so often with Hannah, this was a page-turner but the ending was a let-down. Marginally better than the first two in the series as the plotting was more streamlined.

34. Bloody British History: Winchester - Clare Dixon et al

Short simple guide to the history of Winchester, from its Roman foundations to WW2, written by Blue Badge Guides. Read because I'm visiting Winchester this weekend with a two year old, so opportunity to read informational panels is likely to be limited

Shake it The Backlisted Podcast have done an episode on Return of the Soldier

Whippet, I have been intending to read Coal Black Mornings since it came out- I'm glad to hear it's good!

For anyone else who likes books associated with music, Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs is 99p (for about 100 mins longer). I read it last year and learnt a lot I didn't know about The Beatles.

Hi All and slightly belated thanks South for the new thread!

I'm reading three books at the same time so a bit slow to finish any this month:

Wind, Sand And Stars by St-Exupery - current top 50 reread

Watership Down at bedtimes with DS2

Underland by R Macfarlane which I got on Kindle for a weekend away - anyone else reading this? It's fantastic so far.

I often feel I have to keep a bit quiet in any discussions about David Sedaris because I'm afraid I just don't feel the love. I've read a few of his books and while I'm happy to say I find them mildly amusing, I'm baffled by the 'weeping with laughter' reactions that a lot of other people have.

So I've tried again with:

31: Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 - David Sedaris

Again, funny in parts - and much of this is source material for his published books, for example, the French class in 'Me Talk Pretty One Day'. Actually I found this better than the actual book. And there were plenty of moments when I snorted out loud, but on the whole, I was more struck by the epic quantities of drugs and alcohol that the younger Sedaris ingested, and the scuzzy neighbourhoods he lived in (which seemed quite dangerous places to me). In fact he spends most of the period of the diaries fairly seriously on his uppers, scratching around for a living doing odd jobs, and then only near the end meeting his boyfriend Hugh and finding fame and success. Apparently there's another volume to come. I read the whole book (he recommends dipping in and out) because I really like diaries as a genre, but it hasn't really changed my opinion of David Sedaris, I'm afraid.

41. A Clash of Kings by George R R Martin

Second in the Song of Ice and Fire series that began with A Game of Thrones.

I’m sure most people will be more or less familiar with what this series is about, either from the books or the TV series, so I’ll just say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

I'm waiting for Underland to come down in price. It looks right up my street.

I have just finished Agatha Christie's Five Little Pigs. It was OK . I didn't actually recall much of this , although I know I will have seen it on TV. This one had an interesting structure, but this is also its downfall as it is constructed through five different perspectives and voices , plus lawyers and police, and then Poirot pieces it all together. It just becomes a bit piecemeal in the end. Also, there is only one death and it's 16 years prior to events, so that's a bit disappointing, body count wise!

I've lost my main big book list but noted down that I'm on

37. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Got this on a 99p Kindle Daily Deal I'd kind of always meant to read it but never got round to it. I don't really know what to say about it. So repugnant and strange. Humbert definitely misjudges the thoughts and reactions of his "audience". Can't say I enjoyed it. I almost dreaded picking it up to continue. Wow, I'm a bit stumped with this one. What do others make of it?

I'm fine & neither are you Camille Pagan - (around no. 57 I think) - have been away with only a kindle & 1 print book so decided to get a Kindle Unlimited free trial. Luckily managed to cancel in time as nothing I really wanted to read. I'm fine was one such - American chic lit touching on opioid addiction. Dr House, Nurse Jackie and Justified were ahead of the game here. Bit of a ho-hum effort, completely forgettable but a reminder of how expensive it is to live in America for health care, education and nearly everything else by the sound of it.
The overdue life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harris more of the same except by a librarian.
I am watching you by Teresa Driscoll - psycho thriller set in Devon or Cornwall packed full of on trend topics: child abuse, teenage and matrimonial angst, farming & as a novelty - florestry. I was going to post a scathing review on Amazon but the end of the Kindle edition had a humble note asking for reviews by the author so I couldn't bring myself to do so.

new sub-category - samples I downloaded from Kindle and did not pursue:
The power - Naomi Alderman - dystopian tale with good initial concept but drearily written.

the female persuasion Meg Wolitzer - college drama. I was hoping for shades of The secret history but the one star reviews on Amazon convinced me not to buy.

A man called Ove - what must pass for Scandi humour with stereotypical grumpy old man. Somehow reminded me of Alf Proyson's children's books about Mrs Pepperpot.

My print book was The secret barrister a sobering assessment of the failing British justice system seemingly caused by lack of funding and government mis--management.

Luckily I also had Muriel Spark's Loitering with intent on the Kindle and like a previous poster (Welsh wabbit?) I enjoyed the sparkling prose and lively style which allowed the story to progress without wading through 400 odd pages of turgid prose describing people's dull everyday actions.

back to the library next week ...

Sapat I read Lolita last year. I thought the quality of the writing in Part 1 was phenomenal, but agree that the subject matter is hard to bear. I put it down for about 4 days or so in the middle as I had a real crisis of conscience about whether I could continue reading. I was disgusted with myself. Ultimately I'm glad I've read it and found it very thought provoking. Not one to be forgotten in a hurry and I'm very careful about who I recommend it to. I do rank it very highly though from a literary perspective and intend to read more of his work.

I've read Lolita five or six times. The first half is sublime. I was bored in the second half last time I read it.

Remus I think it's my favourite Macfarlane so far, and well worth the tenner on Kindle.

Pencil I read and really enjoyed The Female Persuasion! I know a few others on here were going to read it around the same time but can't remember what the general thread reaction was - but I'm amazed that there are one star reviews on Amazon. Am going to have to check what they didn't like now!

35. A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams

Fragile Southern Belle Blanche DuBois seeks refuge in her sister's New Orleans flat in this 1947 play. What I love so much about this is the 360-degree portrait of Blanche - as a damaged woman who has sought fleeting solace by (in modern terms) sleeping around, she makes absolute psychological sense. The play also shows how brutally men steeped in the culture of toxic masculinity treat such women. Outstanding read of the year so far.

Carrying my list across:

Educated-Tara Westover
The Tattooist of Auschwitz- Heather Morris. Hated this- thought it was very poorly written.
Pieces of Me- Natalie Hart- very good debut novel.
Normal People- Sally Rooney- think she is a very good writer.
No Further Questions- Gillian McAllister
A Ladder to the Sky- John Boyne- loved almost as much as THIV.
Travelling in a Strange Land- David Parks- beautifully written.
The Hunting Party- Lucy Foley- good fun.
The Only Story- Julian Barnes
I Am, I Am, I Am- Maggie O'Farrell (usually love her writing, thought this was a bit self-indulgent)
The Burning- Jane Casey
Transcription- Kate Atkinson
State of Wonder- Ann Patchett
The Lost Man- Jane Harper (her best book yet)
Crooked Heart- Lissa Evans

Currently reading:
An American Marriage- Tayari Jones
Warlight- Michael Ondaatje

83. Closer by K L Slater

Bog standard psychological thriller. Emma’s ex starts going out with her boss, and Emma immediately has suspicions that her boss isn’t what she claims. Ok but the ending was rushed and left questions unresolved.

84. The Friend by Teresa Driscoll

Another disappointing psychological thriller. Sophie makes a new friend who isn’t all she seems. Unfortunately the ending is obvious from the start so there’s no real twist. Well written though.

85. Wigs On The Green by Nancy Mitford

Continuing working through her complete works. This one is a satire on her sisters’ affiliations with Hitler and Mosley, featuring a character trying to recruit everyone to the ‘Union Jackshirts’. As a background to all this are some rich young people trying to make decent marriages and putting on a pageant. This was out of print for years and I can see why.

86. The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

I found this slow to start and a bit too long but the final third was good. It starts on the 1800s and tells the stories of the people drawn to Birchwood Manor and how they are all linked to each other. Not the best of hers.

87. One False Move by Robert Goddard

Goddard is one of my favourite authors but I was a bit disappointed by this. It started well but then got very confusing. A computer game company tracks down an expert player who keeps beating the computer. Unfortunately lots of other people also want his skills and are willing to do anything to get him. I ended up very confused with all the different people involved and the ending felt very rushed.

Any Audible users, the sci-fi & fantasy sale looks pretty good - everything £3, and there's some solid stuff in there. I've bought Consider Phlebas, & thinking about the first Thursday Next book (have read it before, but I think it might be a good one to listen to while working). There's also some Robin Hobb, Naomi Novik, the Jodi Taylor books etc.

Have been reading but not updating. Crazy busy and trying to maintain GCSE equilibrium!!

58. The house at the end of hope street - Meena van Preeg Book club read , not my usual thing. Story of a house which is magical and offer sanctuary to women in need. It as , in the novel, been the temporary home of many famous women including Christie, Pankhurst and Beatrix Potter . It felt like a grown up version of Nanny McPhee. Didn't hate it but felt there was so much more that could have been done with it. *
59. Templar Silks - Elizabeth Chadwick This is a Advance Reader coot. Released early June. Set in the reign in Henry II it is the story of Knight William Marshall's pilgrimage to Jerusalem. I read Chadwick's Eleanor of Aquitaine Trilogy a couple of years ago. She has an excellent sense of time and place and adds great detail. I enjoyed this.
60. In the shadows of wolves Another ARC this is a translation and story of the Wolf Children . German children who were sent by their parents into Lithuania to hunt for food at the end of WW2. Interesting story but hard to follow at times.
61. The Doll Factory - Elizabeth Macneal* this one I absolutely loved. Iris, twin of Rose becomes a model, muse and lover of a Pre-Raphealite painter, Louis Frost. Louis encourages her in her own artistic endeavours, but both are unaware that Iris has become the object of Silas' unwanted attentions. Silas is a taxidermist with a past and an attitude. Set in Victorian London this was delicious. There is a longer review up on he blog if you are interested, but I think Elizabeth Macneal is going to be one to watch.

30. The Cost of Living – Deborah Levy

I didn’t realise this was the second instalment of Levy’s memoirs until about half way through, as this was an impulse borrow from the library. The first volume is Things I Don’t Want to Know – and I will be seeking this out next.

I enjoyed the spare, uncompromising style Levy uses in this book, as she reflects on the period when her marriage ends and she chooses chaos over order, the unknown over safety. This resonated with me, as I too got divorced after a relatively long marriage, spending many years prioritising the comfort and happiness of others! She reflects candidly on the often overwhelming challenges presented by setting up a new home, making a living and managing the day to day stuff of being a parent while trying to find her own way as a newly single person. A beautiful and inspiriting read.

Toomuch thanks for reviewing The Doll Factory. This book caught my eye at my local bookshop and I thought it looked interesting. Have added to my list. Could you link to the blog? Thanks

There you go Indigo
bookbound.blog/2019/05/19/review-the-doll-factory-by-elizabeth-macneal/

Place marking and bringing my list over:

1. Fire and Blood: A History of the Targaryen Kings from Aegon the Conqueror to Aegon III as scribed by Archmaester Gyldayn – George RR Martin
2. The Book of Death – Anonymous
3. Jurassic Park – Michael Crichton
4. Marilyn Monroe: A Life from Beginning to End – Hourly History
5. Whispers Underground – Ben Aaronovitch
6. All Creatures Great and Small – James Herriot
7. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne
8. The Twits – Roald Dahl
9. Wait for Me! – Deborah Devonshire
10. Y: The Last Man, Book One - by Brian K. Vaughan
11. Octavia – Jilly Cooper
12. From Hell - Alan Moore
13. The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
14. Before They are Hanged – Joe Abercrombie

38. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

I picked this one up on a Kindle monthly deal after reading The Sympathizer to get a bit of a different perspective. I didn't know much about it so was pleasantly surprised to find it isn't a straight war memoir, but a blurring between fact and fiction. A collection of linked short stories and vignettes, it is partly based on the author's experience, but at various points, the rug is pulled out from under your feet as he explains that the events you've just assumed really happened are actually fiction. I thought this was an extremely effective way of making the point that everyone's experience of war - and indeed any significant event - will be different, and each individual only has a fragmented understanding.

39. The Reservoir Tapes by Jon McGregor

I enjoyed this "prequel" to the excellent Reservoir 13 but would have enjoyed it much more if I had read it straight afterwards. As it was I'd forgotten some of the characters and couldn't quite place some of the connections. I think I will have to read them both again close together. However, I thought the first and last chapters were really very good.

Thanks for the link Toomuch. The blog is fantastic by the way. I will be a regular visitor from now on