50 Book Challenge 2019 Part Six

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the sixth 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, the fourth one here and the fifth one here.

I agree. Of all the books I read, I await another showstopper. Very few books have seared themselves into my conscious even half as much as Beloved.

Just popping in to lament the passing of Toni Morrison. Beloved - what a book.

Yes this is such sad news. We studied The Bluest Eye at uni and I remember it so vividly. Beloved is another tremendous book.

Very sad news.

Extremely sad. I read Beloved in my twenties and it remains one of my favourite books of all time. She was an exceptional writer.

If anyone hasn't read Song of Solomon, I highly recommend that Morrison.

Finished Firefly , a mediocre thriller which I had seen recommended in the ST. It's written in really a rather child like fashion (to be fair, one of the central characters is a 12 year old Syrian so this may partly account for it) and the book is very demure. The best moments to be honest are the amusing swearing episodes of a character called Vuk. So much of the book stretches all plausibility and credibility. Would so many simple country folk were so kind to random migrants they happen upon.

It is a book with a kind heart but way too simplistic for me. A 16 - 18 year old boy might like it, I think. I'll give it to DS2, although I doubt he will open it!

Currently really enjoying two books, The Hoarder, by Jess Kidd and The Passage, by Justin Cronin

Will review properly when finished, but for now just revelling in them.

49. The Great Passage by Shion Miura

Well, this is definitely the first novel I've read about creating a dictionary (and likely to be the last!). Over more than 12 years, a team led - and sometimes entirely consisting of - the central character, Majime painstakingly puts together what is intended to be the greatest Japanese dictionary ever. On the way we learn about their lives and relationships, the way they love and use words, and how words change them. I agree with the comment further upthread that I often feel something is lost in the translation of Japanese books. This one felt a bit stilted in places although that could be to do with the more formal nature of Japanese language. That said, I enjoyed the unfamiliarity of Japanese working culture, all the details about food, and the story itself was surprisingly heartwarming.

I now have to admit, shamefaced, that I've never finished a Toni Morrison book. I've tried and failed to read Beloved twice. I really should give it another go.

43. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Queenie tells the story of Queenie Jenkins a modern black London woman navigating break ups, dating, complicated family dynamics, a fair amount of troubling baggage and a job in journalism that she’s not trying very hard at.

This was pitched as the latest Version of Bridget Jones but their are few similarities and this is a much more challenging read (not a bad thing). I had to put this down a few times as I found the violent scenes pretty upsetting but ultimately I enjoyed it.

One small note I found the description of NHS provided talking therapy bore little resemblance to real life and it was really jarring for me.

44. My Sister The Serial Killer Oyinkan Braithwaite.

Plenty been said already about this Nigerian tale of two sisters. I liked the setting and found the two main characters interesting but it was just so sparse (finished in a few hours). That’s not always bad but you could probably describe the whole plot in six sentences and I don’t think the writing was strong enough to support this. I’ve seen lots of reviews say how ‘darkly comic’ this was and I can’t say I agree.

34. To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris. The lead character, Paul, has felt rootless since childhood when his father killed himself. How can he find a sense of belonging - through his girlfriends and their families? His thriving New York dental practice? Religion? Baseball? Things come to a head when he is the victim of identity theft.

This was given to me as a Christmas present - unfortunately I can't remember who by . It's modern and original and I enjoyed it. It reminded me a little of David Sedaris.

I enjoyed Jazz by Toni Morrison some years ago and keep meaning to re-read it. Read Beloved again last year and remembered what a fantastic writer she was.

I've been reading but haven't had time to come and update.
43 Books do Make a Room by Anthony Powell
This one is set in the postwar world of magazine and book publishing. Enjoyed the character of 'Books' Bagshaw who rumour has it got his nickname because he said the phrase either when a bookcase fell on him or while having sex with someone else's wife. Plenty happens in the book but won't spoil it for others who are also reading the books this year.

44 Auntie Poldie and the Fruits of the Lord by Mario Giordano
This was a light read which I enjoyed. It's a murder mystery set in Sicily. My main criticism is the structure of the story - narrated by Auntie Poldie's nephew makes it a bit clunky in places.

45 Temporary Kings by Anthony Powell
Starting at a literary conference in Venice further adventures of the many characters in these books. There are rumours about Pamela and her involvement in the death of a famous French writer, the pursuit of a young American, a visit to a painter and various get togethers. As usual some very funny parts.

Palegreenstars I've also just finished 87. Queenie and you've taken the words out of my mouth.

I thought the comparison to Bridget Jones was way off. Bridget was a comedic dating disaster you could laugh along with, but there was nothing funny about this and I think sadly it is quite indicative of the modern dating scene for many young women. I also found the violent sex scenes off-putting and agree that the therapy was unrealistic. However I'm glad I've read it and even gladder that I am not 20 something in this day and age. I think this will probably resonate with that age group though. I was heartened to chat with a friend who works in a boarding school, they are covering porn depictions and how unrealistic/unhealthy it is with their older students.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing.

88. The Power - Naomi Alderman Women wake up with the power to electrocute men with their touch and this changes the power dynamic of the sexes over night.

Interesting idea, but I thought this wasn't that brilliantly executed. It raises a lot of talking points, but doesn't really do much to explore them. I've tried this author before and gave up as it read like a 6th former had written it. While this was better I don't think I'd rush to read her again.

Agree about Queenie. I think Fleabag is a better comparison than Bridget Jones. Sex as self-harm.

@FortunaMajor Yes! I missed the Online Dating Scene but Queenie’s experiences seem a reflection of what some of what friends are going through. I can’t stop thinking about how her story would have panned out in real life...

I agree with your review of The Power to, I find Alderman’s writing style poor and almost like she’s just having a stab at different genres.

*too

I and another similarly aged colleague didn't know whether to laugh or cry when one of the younger women at work excited told her friend, "I've only slept with him twice and he's going to take me for dinner already!" The friend thought this was quite the compliment. We had to explain that in our day dinner came first.

My list

1. Normal People by Sally Rooney
2. The Core by Peter V Brett
3. Murder never misses by Faith Martin (a Hillary Greene detective novel)
4. The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
5. Cactus by Sarah Haywood.
6. A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martin
7. Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver.
8. Murder on the Oxford Canal by Faith Martin (a Hillary Greene detective novel)
9. The Clock maker's daughter by Kate Morton
10. Gray Mountain by John Grisham
11. Believe Me by JP Delaney
12. Copy Me and Other Science Fiction Stories by Laston Kirkland
13. Snap by Belinda Bauer
14. Murder at the University by Faith Martin
15. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
16. The Psychobiotic Revolution by Scott C. Anderson
17. The Mystery of Three Quarters (Poirot) by Sophie Hannah
18. Broken Ground by Val McDermid
19. Murder of the Bride by Faith Martin
20. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
21. Making it up as I go along by Marian Keyes
22. Legion and The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
23. Wych Elm by Tana French
24. Steel heart by Brandon Sanderson
25. Murder at Midnight (Hillary Greene Book #16) by Faith Martin
26. Far from True by Linwood Barclay
27. The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele Book 1) by C. J. Archer
28. 24 Hours in Ancient Rome by Philip Matyszak
29. Still Waters (Sandham Murders 1) by Viveca Sten
30. The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
31. Vox by Christina Dalcher
32. City of Thieves by David Benioff
33. Murder in Mind (Hillary Greene #16) by Faith Martin Dnf : The House by the River by Lena Manta
34. An American Princess by Annet van der Zijl
35. Hillary's Final Case (Hillary Greene #17) by Faith Martin
36. Twelve Red Herrings by Jeffery Archer
37. Gentle Sleep Book by Sarah Ockwell Smith
38. Closed Circles (Sandham Murders 2) by Vivica Sten
39. A Fatal Mistake by Faith Martin
40. Educated by Tara Westover
41. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
42. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reed Dnf : The Wandering Earth by Cixin Liu
43. Sleep by CL Taylor
44. The Palace of Lost Memories (After The Rift Book 1) by C. J. Archer
45. The Last by Hanna Jameson Dnf : The Corset by Laura Purcell
46. Transcription by Kate Atkinson
47. The Lost Man by Jane Harper
48. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
49. The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes
50. The Riverboat Murder by Faith Martin (Jenny Starling #3) Dnf : The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and Robert Patterson
51. The River by Peter Heller
52. The Perfect Wife by Blake Pierce (Jessie Hunt#1)
53. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
54. Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald
55. Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
56. Hushabye (Kate Redmond#1) by Celina Grace
57. To Throw Away Unopened by Viv Albertine Dnf: Beloved by Yvonne Battle Fenton
58. Severance by Ling Ma

Good books in bold. Dire ones in italics

Sigh. Bold and italics didn't work.
But many thanks to the posters for recommendations. Most/All the good books I've read this year have been recommended by MN posters!

Retrieved these from my mum’s house. Just saying.

Fab covers, Yes

The paperbacks seem to be from the late seventies or early eighties - my dad and I both read them. They cost between 95p and £1.50.

Oh wow, look at those covers!

I’ve also failed with Beloved.

Just completed Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects which was a lot better written than other thrillers I have read recently. It stretched credibility a lot, and I always find Flynn disappointingly misogynistic ( I hope her evocation of smalltown Missouri isn't entirely accurate...) but it was gripping enough and kept me reading. As ever, I saw (both) endings coming!