50 Book Challenge 2020 Part One

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the first thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2020, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Who's in for this year?

Hi all, I'd like to join in please. I've had the months trial of Kindle unlimited so most of the books I've read have been freebies (and I can see why they were free to in some cases!!) The trial is over now though.

1. Blood on the tracks railway mysteries
I downloaded this not realising it was a collection of short stories. Didn't really do it for me
2. Smile of the wolf by Tim Leach
Set in 10th century Iceland, a tale of feuds and revenge, I really enjoyed this
3. The case if the constant suicides by John Dickson Carr
My DH loves a 'locked room mystery' and pesters me to read them. I actually quite liked this, funny in parts and a good puzzle. It's not my favourite genre though.
4. Beneath a scarlet sky by Mark Sullivan
A Kindle freebie, but an enjoyable one. The tale of young man who helps Jews escape the Nazis in Italy and later works as a spy
5. The things you find in rockpools by Gregg Dunnett
Kindle freebie. Quick read, was ok
6. The Lorne's island detective club, Gregg Dunnett
Another freebie and the sequel to book 5 on my list. Bit of a silly book.
7. The rabbit girls, Anna Ellory
Freebie. I really didn't like this book. The chapters alternated between characters, but they were so short it made for a jarring read. It had sorry threads in the past and present, both were incredibly depressing.
8. Limelight, Emily Organ
My last freebie, a Victorian murder mystery. Not Very well written to be honest, slow paced and clichéd characters.

I've just downloaded Anna Karenina, so that should be keep me busy for a while...

Book 5:
We are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

Descriptions on here say this one is marmite. I absolutely loved it! Impossible to describe beyond the book jacket as that would give away the plot. Loosely though, this is one sibling’s story about her missing sister and brother. Brilliant and thought provoking.

Hi, can I join? I have been on these threads previously (have name changed) but have dropped off and now have a huge TBR list thanks to you all! Goodreads target set to 50 and off to a good start:

1. Persuasion - Jane Austen. Pure class
2. A life in death - Richard Venables. A police officer who became an expert in disaster victim identification. Interesting although I didn’t enjoy his writing style
3. Clothes, clothes, clothes, music, music,music, boys, boys, boys - Viv Albertine. I’m a massive fan of punk music so enjoyed this for an insight into the early British punk scene
4. Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel. Love this period of history and enjoyed this perspective of Cromwell
5. Somebody’s mother, somebody’s daughter - Carol Ann Lee. The story of the victims of Peter Sutcliffe. I was a child at the time so only have vague memories. The mistakes made by the police and the attitudes to the women (from police, media and public) who were sex workers is horrifying
6. Becoming - Michelle Obama. Interesting insight into this fascinating woman. What the spouses have to endure while their partners are running for office is eye-watering. Told my DH I’ll divorce him if he decides to become PM!
7. Among the ruins - Ausma Zehanat Khan. Third in a series about a Canadian Muslim detective and his female partner. Usually set in Canada, most of the action takes place in Iran and focuses upon the brutality of the regime and the murder of a Canadian-Iranian film maker. She writes beautifully and intelligently although the male detective is too easily distracted by a pretty face

Now reading a book about Broadmoor and David Copperfield and Invisible Women.

4 The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

Really enjoyed this. Good story well told. I'm loving how the characters are developing on from the first in the series. The bond between the two women is strong, but the emotions fluctuate from a deep love, to indifference, to almost hate/disgust/pity/frustration.

Now reading Cider House Rules by John Irving.

2. The Northern Lights - Philip Pullman
3. The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman

Awesome; the TV series has done the books real justice, I realise now I’ve re-read them - taking just enough content from The Subtle Knife to bring Will and Lyra to the openings simultaneously. Now I guess the next series will be similar, but mainly based on the content of the Subtle Knife.

It is always slightly challenging reading these as a Christian, but so far his beef with ‘the church’ doesn’t conflict with my notion of a creator God, so it’s OK. Some parts of the second book felt a bit ‘convenient’ and cringeworthy, like Mary and Lyra’s conversations with Dust.

Circe by Madeline Miller. Loved this.

Finally got through book 2. The Warm South, by Robert Holland
Non-fiction about British views of the Mediterranean (European side, not north Africa) from the early eighteenth century till now(ish). Very much about elites swooning over classical statuary rather than tourist hordes in high-rises on the Costa del Sol. Not the book I hoped it would be (I realize that this is an unfair criticism). I wanted him to tell fewer stories in more detail rather than trying to cover so much territory.

3. A Bed of Scorpions, by Judith Flanders.
Another murder mystery set in the world of publishing - more convincing as a description of a publisher's day-to-day life than as a police procedural; enjoyably geeky about things like colophons (the publishers' logos that appear on the spines of books).

Have started The Second Sleep, by Robert Harris, which I'm enjoying.

I'm late to the party, but would love to join. So far this year, I have read Richard Shepherd's Unnatural Causes and the weighty and fascinating The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett. I'm just starting The Silent Patient as my first fiction of the year, and the opening scenes have me hooked. I'll opt for 50 this year.

1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Not half as mawkish as I dreaded, although I can't get behind all of the paternalistic, self-effacing morality. The writing is exceptionally smooth and clear, especially given that it is 150+ years old, and the character of Jo stands out in vivid 3D. The passage where the girls' mother explains how she has overcome her temper to provide a role model to her girls was very touching and inspirational (DD and I both have ferocious tempers). Although I wouldn't be responsible for the consequences if DP copied Mr March's example and put his finger to his lips every time he thought I was going to snap...

Now 1/3 through Ben Elton's Identity Crisis, which is much-needed light relief in my current jet-lagged-with-a-toddler-who-thinks-midnight-is-morning hell.

Have been ill & re read the Anne of Avonlea books. I can't bring myself to count them as have re-read them so often when feeling rough.

4. Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner.

I just don't understand all the hype about this novel. It was far too long & the characters were so thinly drawn, I felt no emotion about any of them.

1. The Lying Room by Nicci French

Mediocre but I did not get the 'twist' in the plot.

Apart from the 'Anne' books I haven't read anything that I give more than 5/10 to so far this year.

magimedi have you watched Anne With An E on Netflix? I'm a fan (was also a wee girl with freckles and red hair who liked long words) and thought it was well done.

I’ve just finished book number 2 the turn of the key which I really enjoyed but I still don’t know how I feel about the ending. On the edge of your seat for the last third then a bit meh at the end :(

I’m currently reading chavs - the demonisation of the the working class I can’t believe I’ve not read this book before as it’s been recommended to me many times due to my line of work.

As you might expect, the charity shop next to my work now has a lot of books after Christmas!
Today I picked up
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
and Erebus by Michael Palin.
I'm sure I've seen the last one reviewed a lot on here but searching didn't bring anything up. Is it a marmite book?

Eventually finished number 2 : ironically entitles Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li.

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, this is not a book that comes recommended. Too many characters and too much character building at first. Once she has removed many of the bit players, it does at least streamline itself on three main plots but there were still extraneous characters and a duplicitous 'uncle' ( I really couldn't tell what he was up to half the time). The one interesting feature is that one of the love plots is about a rather old couple (well,the man is quite old : frustratingly not sure how old) which is unusual in narratives, I'll give her credit for that. I found the female characters mostly thinly drawn and unconvincing. And the male ones.

I love Amy Tan and this has been compared to her writing. Ermm. No. Not a bit.

weebarra - I read Erebus last year and it was my book of the year. I thought it was well researched, well written and so exciting in places that my heart started racing. My DH (not a big reader) also enjoyed it. It’s awe-inspiring when you consider the journeys that they undertook without the benefits of modern resources and technologies.

piggy, I'm going to ditch Number one Chinese restaurant after reading that. I've been stuck about 10% of the way in for ages. Too many books too little time to waste on things that other people whose views I value don't like.

Ok I’m going to join you if that’s ok? I have finished these this month (but started them in 2019!)

1 Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
2 Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

(One was for book club and one was audiobook)

Good idea pepe. It does get a bit better but probably only because I skimmed it!

1. Little Women - beloved book of my childhood. I hadn’t read it for years. I still empathised with Jo (I was a typical tomboy), loved Beth, was bored by Meg, disliked Amy. Was lovely to read something that had meant so much to me again.
2. Good Wives Yes, I am counting this as two as that’s how I read them originally. Totally got Mr Bhaer this time round though the relationships bewildered me as a youngster.
3. Little Men. Wasn’t so keen on this - bit moralistic in places.
4. Jo’s Boys. I didn’t remember any of this although I know I must have read it because I remember being baffled by the word Piazza on the first page. DM didn’t know what it meant either. This was more interesting in a lot of ways - quite a lot about feminism and a bit I enjoyed about the pains of being a famous writer.

1. Just For One Day - Louise Wener

Not much of a Sleeper fan (although I was a teenage Britpopper back in the 90s) but DH got this from the library so decided to give it a read after he'd finished. It's a pretty lightweight but actually rather enjoyable jaunt through a suburban upbringing, discovering the bright lights of London, and rise to pop fame - which it turns out isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

Read this in four days but have a feeling my next book - Roger Lewis' 1,000-page biog of Peter Sellers - might take a bit longer...

1. Lion by Saroo Brierley

The incredible true story of the authors experience of becoming adopted as an Australian after becoming separated from his family, aged 5.

If you've seem the film, which was a film I absolutely sobbed at, the book doesn't really offer anything new but is still an interesting read.

What I did find curious was the portrayal of his adoptive brother Mantosh which differs from book to film.

Mantosh is described in the book as having had trouble adjusting, and little more is said about him.

But I remember saying to my friend who I saw the film with :

"I wonder how the brother feels about this?"

Because he's portrayed as an angry aggressive waste of space who has broken their mothers heart in the film. And that's not present at all in the book 🤔

The film is really recommended, the book for me lacked the same heartbreaking impact. Which, I admit is odd.

1. 11.22.63 by Stephen King. My first Stephen King, and I wouldn't have read it if it wasn't for this thread, because I associate him with horror (a genre I'm not fond of). Thank you to everyone who recommended this - it is amazing! It's the story of high school teacher Jake Epping, who finds a way to travel back in time and tries to prevent the assassination of JFK. How will Jake adapt to living in the past, and more importantly, will he succeed in changing the course of history? King is a master storyteller and this is a terrific book.

Two books so far.
1. Idiot by Laura Clery
Very enjoyable and interesting. Quite a quick read, too.

2. Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
This isn't as sophisticated as some of her more famous books but a good, involving read nonetheless.

I've finished two Patricia Dixon books, very light reading, but what I need at present. I enjoyed the first one, Grace, it was Christmassy and cosy. The second one, Anna, was ok, but a bit samey, although I still enjoyed it.

I then started A tale of two cities, but I'm not in the right frame of mind, so will finish later and am now half way through Sophie Kinsella, My not so perfect life, which I'm really enjoying. I haven't read any of hers for a while, since I read a few Shopoholic ones.

Finished book number 2 last night - Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux. A good read, very hard not to read it in his documentary narration voice! A lot of funny bits in it, and surprisingly he's very self deprecating and comes across as someone who thinks himself as an imposter. Lots of reflection on Jimmy Saville too and how he hoodwinked Louis.

Starting book 3 now; Dutch House by Ann Patchett.