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!

@MargotMoon I loved Americanah too. I found it a really interesting insight into the issues of race. Her other books are very different but every bit as brilliant. Definitely worth a read.

24. The Enemy - Lee Child
A nice easy bit of Jack Reacher. This one is a bit different, in that it is set while Reacher is still in the army. Still very enjoyable though.

25 Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson

This bounces back and forth between a past where Mary Shelley is writing Frankenstein and the present where transgender doctor Ry Shelley is in love with AI specialist Frank Stein and discussing sex bots with Ron Lord. The historic scenes are evocative and touching and the modern scenes are a comic romp. An easy but thought provoking read.

@drspouse We are indeed! I'm doing short reads at the moment but book 26 will probably be The Mirror and the Light.

Also finished My Ántonia by Willa Cather which was great - she writes about the prairies where she grew up, late 19th century.
No 10 in Classics and no 25 overall.

26 Alpha, Abidjan to Gare du Nord by Bessora (author), Barroux (artist), translated by Sarah Ardizzone

I'm currently reading another book but this arrived this morning and I've read it in a single sitting. Powerful graphic novel about illegal migrant Alpha's journey from Côte d'Ivoire to France.

Ooh that looks good Count

It was indeed. Recommended by Ann Morgan on her blog. It's Women in Translation month in August so I've now added loads of translated books to my TBR pile! I realised the only women I've read in translation were Cornelia Funke and Anne Frank.

27 The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara. Translated by Fiona Mackintosh & Iona Macintyre

Another translation for Women in Translation month. Martín Fierro is an Argentinian classic, an epic poem about the gaucho and the creation of the national identity. China Iron is Martín Fierro's wife, mentioned in passing in the poem, but brought to life in this novel in a bawdy journey across the pampas with a Scot called Liz, a dog called Estreya and a gaucho called Rosa. They meet Hernández (the author of the poem this is based on, but here the person who steals Martín Fierro's songs and passes them off as his own) and travel into Indian country. As China's journey progresses she becomes educated in both British culture, the joys of sex, and the flora and fauna of Argentina. The back of the book describes this as 'joyful and hallucinatory', it was clever and wicked but I think I admired it more than I actually enjoyed it.

28 Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Very readable and thankfully more twists and less predictable than I expected. Not sure it's really a Booker Prize contender though. The secondary characters are very much from the 'chicklit rent a girlfriend list'. Special mention reserved for Alix saying she was was too fat at 5'10" and 10st1lb (BMI of 20) .

I know its September but I'd love to join. I set my Goodreads target at 12 this year as I'm doing a lot of uni reading. I did start reading the thread and will try to do so, think I am up to page 7.

So far I have: -

1. A Year in Provence, Peter Mayle - loved this, but I'm a bit of a Francophile. Particularly enjoyed the discussions around food.
2. The Europeans, Orlando Figes - non-fiction about the history of opera, literature, cosmopolitanism (and copyright).
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Golden Age of Hollywood story. Really liked this, easy to read, a few twists and turns and I loved the evocation of the era, even if fictionalised.
4. The Moon's A Balloon, David Niven - I'd been meaning to read his memoir for a few years and off the back of Evelyn Hugo it seemed like a good time. Plus I was Covid sick sleeping by myself so had time to indulge.
5. The Idiot, Elif Batuman - so far, I think my favourite that I have read this year. Its very stream of consciousness but witty and just brilliant. I've been recommending it to everyone.
6. Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte - a few friends started a rather niche classics book club during lockdown to check in a chapter a day. I've read it before and loved it and if possible loved it more this time as we got to really dissect it. I think I will regularly reread.
7. Persuasion, Jane Austen - book club. Love this book and read it roughly every two years as I just find it comforting.
8. Dead Famous, Greg Jenner - history of celebrity. Jenner has a really nice, accessible style and I like him on Twitter and his podcast.
9. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte - I liked this far less than I did the first time I read it. There is a lot of filler and not much happening. The writing though is fantastic and I wish I'd noted down all the lovely new words I came across.

10. My Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell - this one was a difficult subject matter, but I could not put it down. I found the narrator so compelling and her thought processes were really interesting. Finished last night.

Currently, finishing up War & Peace, Leo Tolstoy. About 8% left. I've really enjoyed this, even the war bits, sometimes more than the peace storylines. I've opted to read a chapter or two a day now though since I discovered there are TWO epilogues so I can read other things.

Also reading Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded, Samuel Richardson. So much to say about this absolutely bonkers book. For our age there are so many consent issues etc, but also I want to stab Pamela in the eye (as well as almost everyone else). I'm on a bit where there are insults being slung about which I do enjoy.

Welcome Mercedes! I look forward to seeing what you read next.

I read War and Peace 5 years ago and loved it. Have you watched the recent(ish) BBC adaption, it's worth watching after enjoying the book. And if you think Pamela is bonkers you should try the wonderfully mad Tristram Shandy.

I have seen War and Peace, tbh I was prob far too sympathetic to Andrei because all I could see was James Norton.

Tristan Shandy is on a long list, but I think I need a break from the bonkers 18thc.

24 The Snakes by Sadie Jones Beautiful writing, likeable main characters. I wanted to love this but the wrestling over money and principles was dry despite the beauty of her writing. I think I'd need to read something else by her but this one is a bit off.

25. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I followed Matt on Twitter after my friend recommended him with regards to his mental health advice. I'm glad I did and I'm glad I read this book. It's a lovely idea, helpful if you're struggling with the choices you've made in life. Nora is a sweet character and I'd love to think that in another life I could be the successful Film Director I wanted to be - but knowing that everything comes at a cost. A lovely book.

Finished Cuckoo Calling by Robert Galbraith ahead of watching the series on Iplayer; really liked it, a page turner, though did JK get commission from the brewers of Doom Bar??
No 26 overall (so that's my year's goal!)

Hmm, Goodreads is saying I've read 27 books. Must recount!

Anyone wanting a fantastic read, Natives by Akala is today's Kindle deal for 99p. One of the best non-fiction books I've read in years

Thanks @MargotMoon I’ve been meaning to read it.

Oh I’ve missed it. Back to £4.99.

Book 30 was Rebecca which I enjoyed. I didn't know the story at all. I'm looking forward to seeing the Netflix adaptation that is due in October.

Book 31 was Hamnet, I loved this book. It's the first Maggie O'Farrell book I have read, so will definitely check out her others. The writing was beautiful.

@MercedesDeMonteChristo

Oh I’ve missed it. Back to £4.99.

Totally worth full price!

25. The Ways of the World - Robert Goddard And
26. The Corners of the Globe - Robert Goddard

The first two books in a trilogy, the third of which I've started today. These are brilliant. Goddard is, I think, a very underrated author. His stories are full of fascinating characters and richly drawn backdrops. These are set at the end of the First World War. They feature dashing English gentleman heroes, double crossing spies, alluring and mysterious Russian and French women and a huge supporting cast to accompany them. Despite the vast number of people featured the plot is always easy to follow, real page turning, stay up late to finish kind of reading.
I would never normally read three books in the same series one straight after another but these have completely captivated me. Hopefully the final third is as good as the first two.

And welcome to the thread @MercedesDeMonteChristo

11. Pamela, Samuel Richardson: my thoughts remain unchanged. Bonkers and wtah?!?
12. A History of the World in 21 Women, Jenni Murray. I read her previous book which was about 21 British women. This one was more international. It’s very light touch history but there are a couple of people I think will read further on, Cathy Freeman stands out. Very quick and easy read.

Thanking you for the welcome.

Welcome Mercedes
Natives looks excellent and right up my street.