50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Six

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the sixth 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, the fourth one here and the fifth one here.

So, we're now almost half way through the year - how's the first half of the year gone for you, reading-wise?

Congratulations Eine - makes me wonder what I have been doing with my time!

44. Jamaica Inn - Daphne du Maurier

I thought I had read this as a teenager (a long time ago) but clearly not as none of it seemed familiar.

Set in nineteenth century Cornwall. After the death of her mother, 23 year old Mary Yellan leaves southern Cornwall to go and live with her Aunt Patience, who she has not seen for 10 years. Her aunt lives in the middle of Bodmin Moor at Jamaica Inn where her husband, Joss, is the landlord. Travellers do not stop at Jamaica Inn because of it’s reputation. Joss is a drunk and a bully and Patience is a cowed broken woman. Mary soon discovers that Joss and Jamaica Inn are involved in criminal activities and the details of this become clearer as the story unfolds. Mary’s aim is to rescue her aunt but how can she do this and who can she trust? There is enough uncertainty to keep you guessing how it will end.
There are also some wonderfully evocative descriptions of the moorland landscape and the weather. A winner for me.

39. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

Obviously much reviewed on here and elsewhere. I loved this. I felt it was that relatively unusual creature, an easy to read, engrossing novel that occasionally creeps up behind you with a gut punch. I think my favourite thing about it was that the important moments between the interlocking characters were so beautifully underplayed. They were just things that happened; they weren't built up to or feted, in fact you could almost miss them if you were reading too quickly. My husband didn't like the epilogue and I felt the book would have been fine without it, but I'd kind of anticipated that one of the loose ends would end up there so felt quite smug, which probably enhanced my enjoyment of it.

I thought this was quite similar in structure (although without the central linking event, and with added temporal shifts) to Reservoir 13, which I also really liked.

Out of my rut! Onwards (although perhaps not upwards, because this really was good).

[Quietly] Eine, you are allowed back even if you don't conclude that TTOD is the best book ever written by anyone in the history of literature. I liked it, but it's basically Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander series featuring Eeyore rather than Tigger.

[Hides]

bibliomania that description doesn’t sound like a criticism to me

I haven't read any Po'B - do I want to?

Not entirely a criticism, Satsuki.

Remus, PO'B is good if you're in the right frame of mind. I spent a happy summer reading through the entire series, but when I tried to reread, I couldn't get back into it. . I'm not sure I understood what was happening half the time, when they were splicing the mainbeam or whatever, but at the time, it did feel like an absorbing little world of is own.

Thanks, Biblio. Do they have to be read in order?

Best read in order, I'd say. I didn't, and got even more confused. The stories build on each other, and the tension will be weakened if you know what happens later.

34. My Face for the World to See – Alfred Hayes

I really enjoyed this novella set in 1950’s Hollywood, describing the brief, ill-fated relationship between a jaded screenwriter and a much younger aspiring actress.

After casually observing a woman wander down to the deserted beach, cocktail in hand, at the end of a party the (un-named) narrator is alarmed to see her walk into the water and disappear beneath the waves. He intervenes to rescue her, and when she rings to thank him, they arrange to meet for lunch. So begins a rather half-hearted and depressing relationship, he is married; both are damaged individuals seeking distraction from their own shortcomings. It is clear this is not going to end well from the outset, but the journey to the conclusion is perfectly described in cool, detached and precise prose.

I noted that one reviewer compared Alfred Hayes’s writing to that of Jean Rhys. I would concur, for me this was certainly up there with Jean Rhys, but with a bit of Ernest Hemingway and the TV show Madmen thrown into the mix. Stylish, beautiful and devastating.

35. Girl, Woman, Other – Bernadine Evaristo

I think reviews have been quite mixed amongst 50 Bookers for this one, and having just finished this it was interesting to read the different reviews on the thread so far.

I’m sad to say that I didn’t like this much as I thought I would. For me, it suffered from the same shortcomings as it’s fellow Booker Prize Winner The Testaments in that it was very plot driven and as a result lacked the complexity and subtlety I enjoy in a novel. I agree that it was very readable; despite coming in at around 450 pages, I raced through the book in a couple of days.

Unfortunately, the polyphonic structure didn’t work for me; an ambitious cast of characters that should have been quite different all seemed to speak with the same voice. As characters I felt they skirted very close to becoming caricatures, constructed only to illustrate a particular point the writer wanted to make.

By the end of the book I felt like I wasn’t sufficiently invested in the multiple protagonists to feel anything for their fate. Not my cup of tea sadly.

44. Head over High Heels by Kate Forster. This was truly truly terrible- a YA book I picked hoping it was going to be a funny, quirky girl, teen model, amusing read, but it was like a very bad mills and boon and I can't believe I finished it. I wanted an modern version of The Painted Garden or Nicola Mimosa, and this was utter dross!

Thanks for contrasting but equally interesting reviews of Girl, Woman, Other, Welsh and Indigo (and to Keith and others for their earlier ones). It's clear that, although it's not everyone's cup of tea, there's a lot to say about it - so I can't wait to read it now!

My Name Is Why by Lemn Sissay is a slim volume that packs a punch. the inclusion of actual social service artefacts is fascinating, maddening and saddening. It's a real indictment of the care system and also reminds us that, not so terribly long ago, young unmarried women still had their babies pretty much taken from them.

This read was good timing as Sissay is on 'Imagine' this week on the BBC.

It's also really sparely and beautifully written with the added bonus of some of his poems.

Apparently, it is inadvisable to get the Kindle version of this as you can't read the SS documents. : even in the book it's quite hard at times!

I'm so pleased to find someone else who has read Celestial Bodies, Pepe! Did you review it on these threads last year? I'd love to read your review if so. Did you feel the book was a good representation of modern Oman, from what you saw on your visit? I found the blend of old and new, of technology and classical poetry, so intriguing. There was a lot of imagery in the novel about the moon and other celestial features (the title comes from a description of Khalid as a chilly, perfect celestial body that is entire into itself and has no need of another "half" to complete it) - and I'm sure lots of the references went over my head. I'd love to talk to someone who is more familiar with the social and cultural context and who can explain all this stuff to me

Remus I’m sure P’OB would be right up your street. I’ve read a couple. at Eeyore and Tigger Biblio.

Things are pretty crap here at the moment, DD has been in hospital (home now but I haven’t been able to see her due to covid) and I lost my dear dad suddenly this week. He was getting on in years but still extremely sharp. We’re all a bit shocked.

Best, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. to you, and wishing your DD a speedy recovery too.

Oh, Best - I'm so, so sorry. x

Sorry about your dad, Best, and all the best for your DD.

25. Possession AS Byatt

This was recommended as a book I'd "definitely enjoy". I liked it, didn't love it. I found the long passages of poetry and letters to be irritating. Excellent writing, good story.

*26 The Golden Rule Amanda Craig"

Loved this one! Starts off on an odd premise of Strangers on a Train where two women agree to murder each other's husband. At this point I thought about not going any further. However, a rippingly good story. Explores all sorts of themes - expectations, how perspectives of the same situation can differ, family relationships. There were bits I was a bit uncomfortable about but in reality I think that discomfort helped me think more about my attitudes. It's the kind of book I looked forward to reading every night. (unlike no 25 where I was thinking "Is it nearly finished yet?!)

best I’m so very sorry about your dad. And hope your dd is on the mend, I’m glad she’s home.

Best What a terrible time for you. I'm so sorry to hear about your father. Sending all best wishes to you and for your daughter's speedy recovery; it must be especially difficult that you can't see her at the moment.

ollybjolly I did not enjoy Possession at all either, despite it being “my kind of book”. I remember reading it when heavily pregnant and it just went on and on, pregnancy and book!

Best What a shock for you all

Having never read Patrick O'Brian I won't be able to make any comparisons with TTOD

I had to DNF Possession but love love LOVED The Children's Book which was a great read but which sort of gave up on itself with lots of narratives feeling incomplete towards the end.

I’m sorry to hear your news Best. Hope your DD is OK.

It’s obviously the day for bad news. DH was taken into hospital this morning and turns out he’s had a (small) heart attack. I think he will be fine but will be in for a few days while they work out what they need to do. All very sudden so I’ve been wandering round the house not quite sure what to do with myself!