50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Four

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the fourth 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.

The first thread of the year is here, the second one here and the third one here.

What are you reading?

1. My Dark Vanessa - Kate Elizabeth Russel

Saw this book favourably reviewed in a copy of Literary Review and had to read it immediately. I have to preface this review with the information that I have personal experience of the premise of this novel. I didn’t have a relationship with a teacher but I did have a similar experience with a different figure in my life. I think, sadly, I will be one of many that can identify with this book and feel stunned and contemplative by the end.

In essence this is a story about a girl/woman who is groomed under the guise of ‘love’ by a teacher. She never feels abused and struggles with the labels of victimhood and the responses of those around her when hearing about it. The book goes forward and back in time and tells the story of how it began, how it continued, and how it affected her forever.

I couldn’t leave this book alone. It was so well written and so compelling. I know I will forever buy whatever this author puts out. It’s early in the year but I feel this will remain the standout by the end.

Thanks for your review Roz. I had also seen it in Literary Review and added it to my wishlist, so will definitely go for it now.

I am sorry to hear about your experience; as you say, sadly I suspect it is one that will resonate with many more.

Thanks @Boiledegg. I got Literary Review after it was recommended on this forum. It's really good but I feel like choosing what to read next is like choosing something to watch after Breaking Bad. Think I'm going to read a short novel from my stack of paperbacks.

23. My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay. Devastating autobiography of the poet's childhood in foster care and care homes. He is only 4 years older than I am and this has made me really focus to try and recall how the 70s really were and how much (I hope) some things have changed. I would absolutely recommend reading this.

@bettybattenburg - The Missing Ink: The Lost Art of Handwriting - Philip Hensher was a recommendation from this thread quite a while back. It had several lively reviews iirc. I love writing and receiving letters so this really appealed.

I think your goodreads request went through - are you currently reading The Book Lovers Companion ?

This is my list
1- Days of Wonder by Keith Stuart
2- Once in a Lifetime- Chrissie Manby

I rarely get the chance to sit down and read these days. Apologies if my list is rather short.

I love writing and receiving letters so this really appealed.

Have you read The Lost art of letter writing by Menna Van Praag (or is it Von Praag - I can never remember!) ?

And yes, I was reading the book lovers companion.

It is now Betty !

1. Pet Semetary by Stephen King (2/5)
2. The Outsider by Albert Camus (5/5)
3. Somebody's Mother, Somebody's Daughter by Carol Ann Lee (3/5)
4. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. (4/5)
5. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. (5/5)
6. 4321 by Paul Auster. (4/5)
7. Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. (3/5)
8. The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffrey Deaver. (1/5)
9. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor. (3/5)

10. What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge. (4/5) 11. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor. (4/5) 12. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor. (4/5) 13. Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay. (1/5) 14. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. (3/5) 15. The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub. (2/5) 16. Ayoade on Top by Richard Ayoade. (3/5) 17. Black Ice by Michael Connelly. (2/5) 18. In the Woods by Tana French. (3/5) 19. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. (3/5) 20. Red Ribbons by Louise Phillips. (1/5) 21. The Girl He Used to Know by Tracy Garvis Graves. (3/5) 22. The Other Us by Fiona Harper. (2/5) 23. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. (3/5) 24. The Crow Trap by Anne Cleeves. (3/5) 25. The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. (3/5) 26. Guilt by Jussi Adler-Olsen. (3/5) 27. This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay. (4/5) 28. Just One Damn Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. (4/5). 29. The Very First Damn Thing by Jodi Taylor. (3/5)

30. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor. A reread of the second book in the series and it's definitely the weakest of those I have read so far. Some of the parts in Mary's court made for uncomfortable reading. (3/5).

10. the Memory of Love - Aminatta Forna Not read in about 6 weeks due to work going mad with the whole situation, so got some catching up to do. This was good, Sierra Leone love with a touch of war. Readable but not groundbreaking. Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood next which I’m enjoying so far but not finding it as gripping as others I’ve read

Oh @lastqueenofscotland

That has been on my TBR as long as I've had a Kindle, so 10 years

I have been determined to box it off this year

Worth it you say?

@bettybattenburg. Pleased that you enjoyed Sealwoman's Gift so much. I was lucky enough to find it in the ships's library whilst on a cruise around Iceland. Gave me a better understanding of how remote and harsh life must have been. .

I've fallen off this thread so far I don't think I'll get back!! I've been mainly re-readind as concentration is shot. Really enjoying a re-read of Amitav Ghosh Sea of Poppies trilogy atm.

But I popped on to say that on BBC4 tonight at 10pm they are showing the first 2 episodes of Wolf Hall, the 3rd & 4th tomorrow & the final 2 next Sunday. Just thought it might be a nice escape for Hilary Mantel fans.

45 The Dark Side of the Mind by Kerry Daines

I picked this up as I've seen it recommended somewhere (maybe on here?) & it's on 99p deal atm.

The author is a psychologist, mainly working within the criminal justice system, but also in secure hospitals and elsewhere. The book talks about her experiences through her career (including her own experience of being the victim of a stalker). I found it really interesting & definitely worthwhile. The Heartland by Nathan Filer was one of my top reads last year, and this was a good additional perspective. I particularly appreciated the author's suggestion that rather than getting tied up in labels, it's more helpful to think about what someone is experiencing and the effect this is having on them (eg not 'they're schizophrenic', but 'they are hearing voices regularly that they are finding frightening').

Finished a couple of books that are generally much loved and already well reviewed on these threads.

26. Heartburn by Nora Ephron Entered this with some trepidation, as the Venn diagram of people who loved this and people who loved Standard Deviation seemed to be pretty much a circle. I can still seethe about how much I disliked Standard Deviation (even more so with hindsight) so I was pleasantly surprised to find I loved this. In this pretty-close-to-autobiographical short novel, a sassy urbanite cookery writer discovers her second husband is cheating on her when she is seven months pregnant. Without diminishing the betrayal, shock and heartache she felt, she proceeds to turn this into a hilarious, gossipy, sparky story, with recipes. Raced through this in a day.

27. The Dry by Jane Harper Can totally see why this thriller is so popular. The oppressive small town in a drought is the real main character of this, with so many intrigues and simmering resentments woven through. The shocking murder of a family gives a returning cop the opportunity to pick over the whole tapestry of events from the past and present, as seen through the eyes of people whose families have been there for years, as well as people who have rocked up more recently and stayed. Not hearing such great things about the follow up to this, so I might leave on a high, as this was a really good thriller.

Started Lonesome Dove this morning. My kindle says I have 25h 19m remaining in book. Might have to intersperse it with some shorter reads, otherwise, see you all in a while.

I hope you enjoy Lonesome Dove - I loved it. Loved Heartburn too.

I've got about twenty samples to work through today, and must decide on at least three of them to buy.

Have given up on Zone One - really irritating.

I hear you MuseumOfHam - my kindle tells me I have 18h 56m reading time remaining in The Stand. Loving it so far!

MuseumOf Ham I enjoyed The Dry, found Force of Nature much weaker, but JH really returned to form with The Lost Man. Imo it's her best book.

Book 25
Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

Set in 1600’s England this is the story of Alinor and her children, living in poverty and under fear of judgement. As a single woman scratching a living as a healer and midwife, she is both dangerously independent and a social outcast. In a similar vein to books such as The Familiars this story highlights the injustice to women throughout history. The story is blowsy, historical high drama full of fair maidens, jealous wives and plotting gentry. There’s a hot, wealthy traveller, sworn to celibacy but in need of assistance (!). The mystery of the missing husband; trepidation as her beautiful daughter comes of age in a world ruled by men of low morals and few consequences and the tantalising future prospect of a better life through her son’s companion placement to the wealthy landowners. Entertaining historical fiction, not my usual bag but much needed escapist fluff.

Agree with your summary of the Jane Harper books highland. The Lost Man is the best.

@KateF I’ve just skipped back and seen your review of Tidelands after I posted mine!

Agree with you about the ending.

@MuseumOfHam

Lonesome Dove will not take as long as you think

I must get The Dry so many mentions on here

@Blackcountryexile I was lucky enough to find it in the ships's library whilst on a cruise around Iceland.

The perfect place to read it. I really want to do a round Iceland cruise. I've been to Reykjavik and up to Isafjordur but when we were supposed to go to Heimaey (not on a cruise) the whole of the south coast was closed due to a massive storm.

19. The Light Years - Elizabeth Jane Howard

The first of the Cazalet Chronicles following this upper middle class family in the late 1930s as WW2 approaches. I always love a family saga and this was enjoyable but undemanding with a good range of characters. I will happily read more of these.

My reading is very lightweight at the moment. Will try and pick something a little more challenging soon!