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50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Five

999 replies

southeastdweller · 07/05/2020 12:21

Welcome to the fifth 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, 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 and the fourth one here.

How're you getting on so far?

OP posts:
SatsukiKusakabe · 13/05/2020 17:57

biblio remus

Reminiscent of “the food was terrible - and such small portions!”

Sadik · 13/05/2020 18:13

Mansfield Park ...

JollyYellaHumberElla · 13/05/2020 18:13

Book 29
Autumn by Ali Smith

Set in the UK in 2016 the story centres two characters; Daniel who is around 100 years old and Elizabeth in her 30’s. The themes as part of this seasonal quartet are those of ageing, the maturation and endings of life, time passing and the intimate sometimes awkward details of long term relationships. Water under the bridge.

The writing style takes a little getting used to, as this is the first of this series I’ve read this style was new to me. It’s a bit like reading poetry in places and there are dreamlike meanderings and word play throughout.

I liked the relationship between the characters, the curious childlike minds exploring the world despite the age differences. Also Elizabeth’s view of her mother as she looks back at her childhood. I thought it was quite a melancholy book though, perhaps the themes were a little too poignant for me, in the current times.

Sadik · 13/05/2020 18:15

I do love Persuasion too though.... and P&P ... and Sense and Sensibility. (Can't bear Emma, and Northanger Abbey is too painful.)

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/05/2020 18:26

Sadik - Mansfield Park leaves me conflicted. There's so much great stuff to analyse in there in terms of subtle symbolism and characterisation, but I refuse to accept Fanny Price as a heroine comparable to any of the others. So, I far prefer it as a novel to study than one just to read for fun.

Sadik · 13/05/2020 18:32

Fanny is definitely one of those characters who divides people - I find her utterly convincing, & absolutely root for her against Mary (spot on picture of the 'popular' girl at school). I know lots of people don't agree!

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 13/05/2020 18:37

Mansfield was my final Austen to be read and frankly it served as a box ticking chore rather than a cosy read.

Northanger has highs and lows, far too much shitting on via her characters about being peeved about how her novels are viewed

And if my future FIL had been that big of an arsehole, I wouldn't have gone ahead with it

BadSpellaSpellaSpella · 13/05/2020 18:42

FortunaMajor - I read the lesser bohemians for my book club, I loved it and thought that the group would be divided but it was pretty unanimous and everyone really liked it. Surprising as it really isn't for everyone. I went and brought a girl is a half formed thing in the back of it but have gotten around to reading it yet.

The sealwomans gift and the unthinkable arrived two days ago which I know I brought because of the recommendations here. Already halfway through the sealwomans gift Smile

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/05/2020 18:47

I was definitely more Fanny than Mary.

But I wanted to be Mary.

Better to be a wee bit wicked than to keep a poker up one's bottom forever.

Blackcountryexile · 13/05/2020 19:16

Thank you@SatsukiKusakabe

JollyYellaHumberElla · 13/05/2020 20:33

I’m adding A girl Is a half formed thing to my wish list Fortuna. It sounds wild!

Nocti · 13/05/2020 20:38

This Austen talk is very helpful. I've only read Pride and Prejudice and Emma: I liked the former and hated the latter. Perhaps "hated" is too strong a word. But I really did not enjoy it and almost every character made me cross. I came away from it utterly grumpy. I didn't know whether to try any of the others, and if I were to, I didn't know which one. It seems that Persuasion might be worth a look however Grin

BestIsWest · 13/05/2020 20:41

Nocti Emma is the one I couldn’t get on with either. I read it at school and have tried many times since but she’s so annoying.

Sadik · 13/05/2020 21:33

The only good thing about Emma IMO is Clueless (film adaptation transposed to 1990s Beverley hills)

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/05/2020 21:47

Clueless is superb.

I do like Emma though. And I think Emma has the patience of a saint, and does really well to only be very slightly rude occasionally. She must be so bloody bored.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 13/05/2020 21:57

For me :

  1. P & P
  2. S & S
  3. Persuasion
  4. Emma
  5. Northanger
  6. Mansfield
MuseumOfHam · 13/05/2020 22:00
  1. Sense and Sensibility. 2. Mansfield Park (agree that it's a great one to study and pore over the meanings of things, rather than to enjoy as a narrative or cheer along as a Fanny fan). 3. Emma.

Am so close to finishing Darkmans by Nicola Barker. Just got to 87% and a plot seems to have turned up, so maybe a final push tonight will get me through it.

Piggywaspushed · 13/05/2020 22:04

I keep obediently reading Austens to try my hardest to like one. It hasn't worked.

I did like Mansfield Park when I was 19.

SatsukiKusakabe · 13/05/2020 22:31

I could probably do with a reread of Mansfield Park - the characters are hard to care for but it is an interesting book. I like Emma - it comes before S&S for me. Lots of great lines in it. I love scolding people with a Knightley-esque “Badly Done!”. They have never adapted it faithfully that well; Clueless remains the best one. Alicia Silverstone brings a necessary charm to Emma. And Paul Rudd makes everything better that he’s in. Northanger is ok, just a bit of fun and the first proper one she wrote. I saw a play of it once and it was very entertaining on the stage.

BestIsWest · 14/05/2020 07:42

I have never seen Clueless but now I know Paul Rudd is in it, I will have to watch.

I have a very soft spot for Northanger Abbey, it was my first Austen as a young teenager and I think it’s the most accessible in some ways.

ChessieFL · 14/05/2020 10:13

Persuasion is the only Austen I haven’t read all the way through. I did start it a couple of years ago but only got around halfway through, although I can’t now remember why I gave up. I do intend to go back to it at some point. It’s years since I read Emma, S&S and Northanger Abbey so they’re due a reread.

I originally read Mansfield Park at A level and hated it, but that was partly because one of the other options was Wuthering Heights and I really wanted to do that instead, and also because the blurb was misleading as the key event mentioned didn’t happen until right at the end. However, I reread it recently and got much more out of it this time round.

FortunaMajor · 14/05/2020 10:42

I am another Emma hater. I have never got on with it. It's donkeys years since I've read the others and whenever I fancy a P&P hit I tend to go for the BBC adaptation on DVD. While no one could accuse Colin Firth of being a good actor and Crispin Bonham Carter is a simpering idiot, the rest of the cast by and large do a very good job and the script is quite faithful to the text.

For BadSpella and HumberElla be aware with A Girl is a Half Formed Thing that the author very vividly takes you inside the head of the protagonist while some pretty horrible things happen to her. It's brilliant but there are some hard parts to read. I was walking the dog when I listened and some bits literally stopped me in my tracks. Glad to hear Lesser Bohemians went down well with a book group. Mine is a bit too chick lit/pop thriller orientated to suggest anything like that.

Terpsichore · 14/05/2020 11:29

Someone chose A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing for our book club. Several people refused to read it, having skimmed through and looked at reviews. It’s not an easy book although imho very much worth reading.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/05/2020 12:29

Paul Rudd is perfect in Clueless, and very, very beautiful.

I've never seen him in anything else that wasn't him just being ridiculous in an entirely non-funny way. Beautiful, but what a waste.

CluelessMama · 14/05/2020 12:56

I've read/listened to one Austen each summer for the last 3 years - Emma, Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility. Think this year it will be Persuasion.
Just finished...
15. Holes by Louis Sachar
A brilliant read! After a few enjoyable chick-lit reads, this was shorter but said more in fewer words and felt original to me. Sentences I reread with an actual shocked face or smile as I confirmed that yes, just a few words had pulled threads together and transformed what we knew about a character or plotline. The kind of book that I immediately want to reread but also know I'll never be able to read for the first time again. Wish I could have had a work and family free afternoon to get really absorbed in it - I kept having to stop and start but it would lend itself to reading cover to cover in just a day or two. Maybe another time.
Nine Perfect Strangers is next for me.