50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Seven

[southeastdweller]

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

What are you reading?

39. The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo

My Dd aged 12 recommended this YA coming of age novel written entirely in free verse. During the lockdown we’ve been spending a lot of time together and as we’re both big readers many of our conversations have revolved around books. We decided to both read the same book so we could share our thoughts on it. This was a great choice as we both enjoyed it.

The use of free verse propels the story along rapidly and makes it hard to put down; this was a very easy read and I finished it in two days.

15 year old Dominican American Xiamora lives in present day Harlem with her parents and twin brother Xavier. Increasingly frustrated by the limitations on her life and the way she is treated by others, she uses slam poetry to express her thoughts and make sense of her feelings.

The writer captures the thrills and frustrations of growing up vividly and bravely. She describes the physical and emotiional challenges presented by puberty, the conflict between Xiamora and her very religious Mother, the ups and downs of friendship and Xiaomora’s experience of first love with a kind of brutal, unflinching honesty which was almost painfully true to life. This book made me remember the highs and lows of being 15 all too well!

Dd gave this 5 stars but I deducted a star because the ending was a bit too neat and tidy for my liking. However, I am aware that I am not the target reader for this kind of book and the fact that I enjoyed this very much regardless is evidence of the writer’s success. Overall, very good.

I have done it! After 6 months , I have finished The Mirror and the Light!

I know she has her detractors, but I think Mantel's writing is spectacularly good. It is mazing how much dry wit she exhibits. I also admire how she brings such a panoply of characters so richly to life that I am rarely confused (by the males at least) unlike when I read a long Dickens, for example and frequently have to be helped by others to recall characters who are really fairly important!

What she ahs to say about power seems always so relevant . Although the book is about male power it is also , by default about how women attempt to secure power - and what happens to them if they transgress, or are said to have done. Her afterword is very interesting on the fates of some of the main players.

The ending few pages are remarkable.

I haven't read the other Booker contenders so couldn't comment on its worthiness.

I do hope the BBC does BUTB and TMATL because I just see and hear Mark Rylance in every line.

Talking of telly, is anyone watching A Suitable Boy? I am disappointed...

piggy I’m nearing the end of Mirror too. I read the first part at the end of March but finally picked it up again last week and I’m steaming through it. I think the original tv adaptation did go up to the end of Bring Up the Bodies and I did read something about them doing a series on Mirror. I love Mark Rylance too.

Looking forward to starting Our Mutual Friend now you’re ready- I am on the side of a shorter time frame, but open to whatever you suggest for breaking it up. I treated myself to the Penguin Classics edition so ready when everyone else is.

Talking of telly, is anyone watching A Suitable Boy? I am disappointed...

That's a shame to hear Piggy ; I've been saving it up to watch all at once. It's an Andrew Davies adaptation isn't it? He used to bring something fresh to classic novels but I think we could probably do with a new writer coming along now.

I'm looking forward to TMATL. I can't decide whether to reread the other two first though.

Ready for OMF too! I bought it in the OUP bookshop a couple of years ago as it's my favourite Dickens novel but hadn't got round to reading it so this is great timing

Just to join in the Mark Rylance love .. I first saw him in Jerusalem and he was outstanding. I managed to see him on stage four further times, and every time he was exceptional. I am a huge fan.

I saw Mark R as Hamlet. He was wonderful.

I forgot the BBC did go on to BUTB, but of course it did.

Sorting out OMF later!

I really wanted to see that production highland, incredibly jealous. I did hear he was going to make a comeback to the role which would be exciting if theatre was a possibility.

I decided against rereading the first two and it has not affected my reading of the third. She recaps enough subtly at the beginning to make you sure of your footing and you soon remember the regulars and their personalities (that are still alive, of course). So I would say it might be enjoyable to go through all three at once if you feel inclined to it, it’s not necessary.

Shame about a Suitable Boy I’ve not read it but had been going to watch it. I like Andrew Davies generally speaking - his P&P and War and Peace were good but I don’t always enjoy them.

I liked War And Peace : he got the tone of the book I thought and Paul Dano was brilliant.

I think he has Austened ASB and it needs more depth. Next week moves on to the more political bits, I think. So we'll see.

I met him once (in passing) I said Hello (Mark Rylance that is)

Did he say hello back?

He did Piggy I lost the plot a bit, and Hi, was all I could muster

It's very exciting though!

OMF readalong thread !

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/3986648-Our-Mutual-Friend-Readalong?watched=1

Anti-Social : The Secret Diary of and Anti-Social Behaviour Officer – Nick Pettigrew. This was quick read. It has been compared to Adam kay and there are similarities . A disgruntled now (or ex, not sure) stand up works in ASB and writes his diaries. He also ahs a messed up personal life. However, he is more serious and perhaps more compassionate and political than Kay.

The main flaw is he gives his cast of characters all names and then expects us to remember them pages later. in some cases, this really matters. He builds long caseloads with some people so he knows them well, forgetting we don't. I think a good editor would have helped him with this.

An interesting, and also definitely not uplifting , read. There is no joy in the work of an ASB officer. At least Adam Kay got some good stuff!

When I was an English Lit undergraduate student and Mark Rylance was less well known than he is now, I met him at The Globe and waffled to him about Shakespeare 😊 probably very pretentiously if I remember what I was like as a student.

Yes agree Paul Dano was perfect and loved the adaptation.

Can’t believe you’re all mates with Mark Rylance!

I also saw him in Hamlet around the time I was doing my A-levels. Can't really claim I was his mate though

The only Mark Rylance story I have is that I visited one of the properties where Wolf Hall was filmed and they had his costume there that you could put on and pose in the window seat like he did in the programme. Does that count enough for me to stay on the thread?

Oh that definitely counts!

My Mark Rylance story is that I would sit down and watch Bing with the kids instead of staring into space catching up on housework so, yes it counts. Hope you all and Mark will be very happy together

My Mark Rylance story is a short one, in fact it's somewhat of a mystery: Who is Mark Rylance?

Betts - you beat me to it. Never heard of him. Just googled and I think the only thing I've seen with him in is Ready Player One.