26-ish books in 2020

[drspouse]

A thread for those too busy or otherwise not able to aim for 50 books in a year!
I'm aiming for 12 from my shelves and 12 from a reading challenge

thebrokenspinedotnet.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/reading-classic-books-challenge/

There are loads of reading challenges here too

www.girlxoxo.com/the-master-list-of-2020-reading-challenges/

We are very laid back here, join any time, I imagine this thread will be open till Dec as it doesn't move too fast!

@Chickoletta I'm a choral director too. Did you find it frustrating in The Chilbury Ladies' Choir that there was so little about the actual singing? For example, I would have liked to know whether the women were singing in two parts or four parts, especially when they suddenly had to perform unaccompanied without warning. Conversely, I did enjoy the diaries/letters style though.

I read three in June:

17. I'm fine and neither are you - Camille Pagan. Read like an extended Mumsnet post** (Relationships board) at times!

18. Playing the bass with three left hands - Will Carruthers. Absolutely fantastic book, if you have even a passing interest in Spacemen 3 or Spiritualized you should read this.

19. No further questions - Gillian McAllister. I guessed the ending a chapter or two before the twist at the end but it was very gripping, whizzed through it in a few days (quick for me).

I don't think that white people reading more literature by black authors or about black experience can be anything other than a good thing, tbh. Isn't that why we read? To broaden our horizons. If I only ever read books by/about white, middle aged, divorced mothers i think I'd have a breakdown. Unfortunately it's the Joes in charge who need to be doing this more if anything is going to change.

That is true Margot Moon, it is a good thing that more people are reading black authors and hopefully they will no longer be seen as a niche interest or have their colour hidden to widen their appeal to us middle-aged middle-class white women as seems to have happened to some in the past.

18 Arbella: England's Lost Queen by Sarah Gristwood

Biography of Arbella Stuart, English cousin to Jame VI and I, and granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick. Elizabeth I refused to name her heir and Arbella was considered one of the top contenders (since she, unlike James, was born in England) for much of her childhood. She was kept away from court in Derbyshire and was used by Elizabeth as a pawn when making strategic alliances, Arbella's hand was offered to several different foreign princes but nothing came of any of it. James invited her to court and similarly discussed several possible husbands but never allowed her to marry. Eventually she secretly married William Seymour, grandson of Katherine Grey (sister of Jane the nine day queen). James was furious about this marriage because both were so close to the crown (Arbella was 4th and William 6th in line) and imprisoned first William the Arbella in the Tower, Arbella eventually dying there aged just 40. A lot of the records related to Arbella were destroyed and although her remaining letters are full of life and intelligence she still feels slightly out of reach to us. She was so important and yet as a Stuart woman who married late also so weak and removed from power. So, ultimately a sad and frustrating tale (although a well written biography).

Yes, you’re right @FranKatzenjammer - I wanted far more about the singing. There were a few references to Mrs Tilling being an alto, so I assumed that they were singing in parts, but they certainly put a lot of rep together very quickly!

My issue with the letters and diary entries, with this and lots of other novels, is that it’s just so unrealistic. People don’t record whole conversations of direct speech in letters or write descriptions of themselves like ‘as I’m of medium height’ in a diary for which they themselves are presumably the only audience! I gave up on the Jersey Potato novel for this reason too.

@CountFosco I like the sound of the book about Arbella. I've never heard of her!

Book 14 for me was Darkness on the Fens by Joy Ellis. This was a 99p kindle deal. I actually thought it was the first in a series but it was actually the 10th. Never mind! It was an undemanding read - just what I needed for a very busy week.

Book 15 was Warlight by Michael Ondaatje. Beautifully written story about love, spies and broken family relationships. I read it in two evenings. It's rich and complex.

Book 24 I Found You by Lisa Jewell. I do enjoy her books and get hooked in very quickly.

25 The Truths and Triumps of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris an enjoyable read about unlikely friendships.

26 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society not much to say on this book as it is on every must read book list. I really liked it.

Next up I think I will opt for a classic and finally get round to reading Rebecca.

22: The Catch by T.M Logan. It's about a father who thinks he's future son-in-law is to good to be true. It was an ok read, didn't enjoy it as much as The Holiday.

@Sportycustard I only knew about Arbella after reading Mary Lovell's excellent biography of Bess of Hardwick Hall. Bess was a more dynamic character but I suspect if Arbella hadn't been constrained by her Royal position (or had made a suitable royal marriage to a foreign prince) she would have been unstoppable, the women in her family were intelligent, educated and formidable.

12. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

I'm sure pretty much everyone has read this already. It's just sublime and I loved it.

13. Normal People by Sally Rooney

Not much to be said about this book that hasn't already been said. I wasn't going to read it as thought I probably wasn't its demographic, but I loved the TV adaptation so followed up by belatedly reading the book.

It took me a while to settle into the rhythm of the writing after the effortless prose of Olive Kitteridge, but I have to say it won me over despite my initial misgivings early on. I think it depicts the passions and preoccupations of youth very well. A time I can just about remember!

Dropped off again!
Read Yes Please! by Amy Poehler - no 19 overall. I really like her - though I found some of it quite geeky. I do want to watch Parks and Recreation now though.

I have started two other books in the meantime and one I may count finished (Why Women are Blamed for Everything" by Jessica Taylor) because I'm not too sure I can read all the women's person accounts. I'm continuing with Grownups by Marian Keyes instead.

19 Conversations with Friends

Well after getting annoyed at the characters in Normal People then loving the TV show I decided to read CwF and got even more annoyed at the characters in that, how bloody awful were they and how fucked up were all those relationships? Think that particular reaction is well described on here though! I did wonder about some of the overlap, is Marianne the same person in each book, why do both lead female characters ask their lovers to hit them in frankly identical scenes and why do they repeatedly mistake good sex for a good relationship? Also, the relationship between Melissa and Valerie, Frances didn't seem to realise that while she thought Melissa was terribly old she was still a young writer in comparison to Valerie. I know she's an unreliable narrator but still (this may be a sign of getting old!). And why did Melissa do the pick me dance, she seriously needs to spend some time on the relationships board and LTB. Again though, irritating as they all are I did speed through it and only occasionally got annoyed at the lack of punctuation.

*17. The Blind Man of Seville - Robert Wilson
*
Very good detective thriller set in Spain. Sat across two timelines. The detective is very troubled, but aren't they always? First in a series, will definitely look out for more by this author.

21 Coming Undone by Terri White

I have a couple of very very vague connections to Terri so was intrigued to read her memoir. God how she's managed to become such a successful magazine editor blows my mind considering what she's been through. It's beautifully written. It's a pretty harrowing glimpse into the long lasting trauma of abuse and I really hope she continues to stay well.

*18. The Many Worlds of Albie Bright - Christopher Edge
*
My DS lent me this. It's a children's book about bereavement and quantum theory. Albie explores the theory of parallel universes to try and find his mum after she dies. I thought it was well written and cleverly handled. Suitable for age 10+

19. Prophecy - S.J.Parris

2nd in a series featuring an Italian former monk investigating murders and spying for Francis Walsingham in Elizabethan England. These are brilliant. Rich in detail and full of great characters. Anyone who likes Shardlake would like these.

Finished Grownups by Marian Keyes. Great as ever. No 20 overall.

I'm going to try and finish Why women are blamed for everything. Head in a slightly better space this week!

Dropped off the list, taken me ages to read this one, just couldn’t get into it.

20. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry A Fine Balance is one of my favourite books of all time, this is his first. When it got into the political intrigue it bored me and kept dragging me away from the characters and central story which was a shame because I love his writing

Finished book 6 in Classics, book 21 overall, The Complete Father Brown, it has been on my Kindle for ages!

Bother book 7 in Classics.

And finally Why women are blamed for everything by Jessica Eaton. Book 22 overall.

14. The Truants by Kate Weinberg

This story of a young girl, Jess and the clique she finds herself in during her first terms at university zipped along in a satisfying way. The university is my local one so I particularly enjoyed the scenes set there and the surrounding area. It's a story with Agatha Christie-esque twists and mysteries and it kept my attention all the way through.

I like the sound of The Truants @CharliesMouse. I will put it on my list.

20. The Body: A Guide for Occupants - Bill Bryson
I rattled through this over the weekend. I've been a Bryson fan for many years and this didn't disappoint. Plenty of fascinating facts and droll wit as you would expect.

20 Swingtime by Zadie Smith

Starts with the narrator sitting in a flat with the paparazzi camped outside. The book goes on to tell her story in two sets of flashbacks, the first describing her childhood growing up in Kilburn and her friendship with a talented dancer called Tracey, the second describing her career as a personal assistant to a Madonna-like popstar called Aimee. The story works its way overvthe two timelines towards us finding out why she is in the flat and about her broken relationships with Tracey and Aimee. There's lots to be said about race, sex, and class in this book.

I read White Teeth years ago and it was too rambling for my taste (I've seen it described as Dickensian which seems about right) but Zadie Smith has matured as a writer and this was fantastic, it covered a lot of topics but with a light hand, and the desire to find out what had caused the rift with Aimee and Tracey kept you reading. One of my best books of the year so far.

Booker long list is out. Hilary Mantel and Anne Tyler are on it and a lot of first time American authors. I really need to read some Anne Tyler!

I loved Swing Time as well @CountFosco
Googled the dances mentioned - someone has put together a YouTube playlist of them

Oh I'll have to look for that. Already spent some time googling Jeni Le Gon!

Swithering between Postcards from the Edge (Kindle deal a few weeks ago) and Olive Kitteridge. I've started reading both which is interesting!