50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Eight

[southeastdweller]

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

What are you reading?

Thanks again for everyone's well wishes.

Keith I found your review of Ask Again, Yes really interesting. I think I could easily have abandoned it quite early on and punished myself reading the whole thing. I don't think the plot was engaging enough.

202. True Story - Kate Reed Petty After an epic high school party rumours get round about what happened. One girl who passed out, doesn't know what went on, but the boys are bragging about what they did. Fifteen years later the events of that night are still having an effect on the lives of those who were there.

What a wasted opportunity. The blurb promised something more akin to the true events of Chanel Miller's case. It followed several separate strands that seem completely unrelated until the tie in at the end. There are also some screenplays for horror stories mixed in and drafts of college application personal essays. The result was a very disjointed book that seemed to lack any relevance to the overall plot point. It also seemed to really trivialise sexual assault. I think the aim of this was to be very clever and edgy and alternative in form but fell very short of the mark.

I've been to Droitwich once. Never seen any reason to return.

Just read Katherine Rundell's odd little book, *Why You Should Read Children's Books'. It's more of an essay ,and that makes it sound longer than it is!

Be a decent stocking filler I guess.

When I say it took me 20 minutes to read, I am not downplaying.

I'm not an Adrian Mole fan so missed the reference.
@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie . I hope you get there.

Might have almost fallen of the thread but my workload is relentless and now on top of that I’m starting a work placement next week which I’m really looking forward to but there goes the four day weekend of reading

I’ve just started reading the mists of avalon last Tuesday and ive already almost finished it. I will say I might have abandoned every other book I’m currently reading and I might have a slight addiction to this book right now

I love The Mists of Avalon
Read it as a teenager years ago and listened again on Audible a few years ago. Big read though

198. The Girl With The Lost Smile by Miranda Hart

Children’s book. Chloe’s parents are having problems so she’s lost her smile and has to visit a magic land to get it back again. It was ok but I was expecting something a bit funnier from Miranda. DD really liked it though so I guess it’s just one of those children’s books that doesn’t work so well for adults.

199. A Famished Heart by Nicola White

Crime thriller set in Dublin in the early 1980s. A pair of middle aged sisters are found dead at home. It looks like they starved themselves to death but something arouses the detective’s suspicions - was there someone else involved? This was a slow burner rather than action packed but I really enjoyed it.

200. Lady In Waiting: My Extraordinary Life In The Shadow Of The Crown by Anne Glenconner

Anne has lived a very privileged life. She is the daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester, was a maid of honour at the Queen’s coronation and was a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret for 30 years. She and her husband Colin also turned Mustique into the destination it is today. I was fascinated by this. There’s lots of titbits about Princess Margaret (not much about the Queen and almost nothing about any other members of the Royal Family) but her life outside the Royal Family also made interesting reading. Her husband was absolutely awful to her, her eldest son became a drug addict and died young, her second son also died young of AIDS and her third son had an almost fatal motorbike accident and was in a coma for several months. If reading about rich people annoys you this probably isn’t for you, but if you like having an insight into the lives of the upper classes this is a good read and goes to show that money doesn’t buy you happiness (although it can help with medical treatments when necessary).

201. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

A classic I had never read. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would - I didn’t think it was my sort of thing but it was great (and short which helped). I think most people know the plot - pirates go hunting for treasure but half the crew ends up mutinying. I’m glad I read it.

68. Dictator - Robert Harris

Last in the Cicero trilogy, covering the Roman politician's story from his exile by Clodius to the end of his life. I would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the ancient world. It manages to be a page turner even if you know the history, which I think Harris achieves by bringing the characters to life so vividly that you are still moved by their inevitable unfortunate ends (this was a particularly grim time in Roman history).

The tale is told by Cicero's faithful secretary Tiro, and the narrative standpoint does not work quite so well in this final volume because Cicero is no longer at the height of his career and so is not always present at the crucial turning points. Also, it focuses solidly on the machinations of the political elite, and there is little insight into the social changes that made the end of the Republic such a volatile period, although there is a clever scene near the end which shows how Cicero's devotion to Republican values has become an utter irrelevance to the common soldiers who now form the ultimate power base.

I love spending time in this world with an author who gets it right, and will be re-reading these - a rarity for me. (Conversely I get irate with authors who muck it up - I'm looking at you Conn Iggulden )

131. Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey

This book is a polemic about the experience of the working poor/the underclass/low income/working classes of the UK and how too often external approaches into the plight of these communities amount to "poverty safaris" from those better off which, though they can be well intentioned are fundamentally ill conceived.

Felt to me like a British response to Hillbilly Elegy but with a more political stance. McGarvey does tackle Brexit and what he says about why the working class voted Brexit is succinct and yet somehow really eye opening.

Well worth a read - particularly if you come from or currently live in "a working class area"

I'm going to be a contrarian and say I absolutely loved Ask Again, Yes. I thought she wrote about mental health in an interesting way that I hadn't really seen before.

Also I love a long ramble of a family saga, and don't mind at all if the characters aren't likeable. I think both of those things are probably required to enjoy that book

Slow reading over the last few weeks - not been on for a while. Congratulations on the new job @FortunaMajor. Late to the Dune party - I read the first book in my early 20s as my husband is a fantasy/sci fi nut and insisted I had to read it not long after we first got together. I got through it but now can't remember anything about it apart from the sandworms. I was not inspired to read the rest of the series.

My poison is and continues to be crime novels, so...

56. Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves

Number 6 in the Vera series, this was one of my favourites so far. The whodunnit continued to be a bit "look - it was that one over there in the corner who you've been encouraged to forget about since page 63", but the sense of place in this one was fabulous and I really liked the "incidental" characters. I felt there was less development of the main characters (bit of peril for one of their loved ones), but that didn't really matter because the backstory of the protagonists in the murder story was so richly detailed.

I agree, BadSpella. Whilst half-way through I really did not think I was going to like A God of Small Things and would probably have written a more negative review if I’d written one straight after I’d finished.

My DH recommended Dune when we were in our twenties. I remember liking it but not so much that I read any of the sequels.

202. The Shelf by Helly Acton

Amy thinks her boyfriend is about to propose, but then she finds herself dumped live on TV as part of new reality TV show The Shelf, where dumped women compete to win a million pounds in a similar set up to Big Brother. The difference here is that while in the house they have to learn how to be an keeper’. Intriguing premise but everyone in it was either incredibly sexist or incredibly feminist which I found very irritating after a while.

Belated congrats, Fortuna!

Thanks for the review of Miss Austen, Keith - I've been toying with the idea of reading it since I saw it in one of my library apps (and thought it might be an interesting counterpart to The Other Bennet Sister, which I read recently).

Terpsichore I'd already put Sheila Radley's books on my potential TBR list since you last reviewed them, and now I'm going to actively seek them out. (Detective fiction, local (for me) interest, Wexford-like hero - sounds like perfect comfort reading.)

My current comfort reading is Elton John's autobiography, which is joyous, and is hugely cheering up an otherwise difficult spell at work.

46. We the animals by justin torres

Really short book at around 125 pages, each chapter provides a small snapshot of a childhood detailing events like when the family brought a new car or when their father left the family for a while. Even though the chapters are only a few pages long, you end up with a overview of this family and you realise the children are in a very disfunctional home and witness violence and things they shouldn't on a fairly regular basis.

This was written at a writer's workshop in America and some of the criticism of it seems to be about this fact but overall aside from the last couple of chapters feeling very rushed I thought it packed alot into a small book and I think it'll stay with me.

47. The famished road by Ben Okri

Winner of the booker prize, not sure what to make of it really. On the one hand I could open any page and read some wonderful writing and I cared about the main characters, on the other hand, not sure why it was 500 pages long and I could tell you the point of it but not what actually happened. Mixed bag.

48. The gathering by anne enright

My front cover of this looked like a misery memoir and it child have been that. Ok finished this last night. Well this is a literary as literary can be I think. I think the author is trying to get grief, guilt and memory filled through one character, not sure she 100% succeeds really. There was alot of truth in it, and Enright really nails how women can think sometimes, its really a solid 3/5 book, good but not blowing my mind.

I need something lighter after those but still working my way through A place of greater safety

Slow reading here too due to too much RL.

Eine I listened to Poverty Safari as an audiobook read by the author, it was one of my highlights last year.

61. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

A lot of sitting in waiting rooms today so needed something easy to pick up between interruptions and this was mentioned in an article I read at the weekend so though it worth a re-read. Probably 35 years since I last read it. It’s a clever plot and one of her best. Sadly I could remember whodunnit.

Definitely going back to my TBR list rather than another re-read now.

132. Instrumental by James Rhodes

Classical pianist James Rhodes became a household name after he fronted a beautiful documentary about mental health and music.

During the documentary James revealed he had been sectioned due to child sex abuse.

I'm not going to critique at all. Words like enjoyed are offensive due to subject, and critiquing his style in terms of how he chose to write about such a devastating thing feels crass

It must have been very hard to write and the road to publishing was also fraught.

Comes with a suggested playlist and a built in trigger warning due to content involved.

49 - 'The Dutch House" by Ann Patchett

I listened to this on audible (read by Tom Hanks, no less) and really enjoyed it. I've seen it described as a contemporary fairytale and it does have elements of that - the beautiful, almost other-worldy house, the 'wicked' stepmother and the siblings who cling to each other for dear life. Without giving much away, it is told from the perspective of the male sibling - covering several decades - and tells the story of the Conroy family who go from poverty, to riches and back to poverty again. It's the story of the house - its pull and its push - and the devastating consequences of that, and it's the story of children - later adults, who grow up in the shadowed knowledge that their mother chose to leave them when they were small. It's beautifully written - spare and nuanced and there is excellent characterisation, a smattering of humour and I think that it might be one of those books that causes me to think about 'things' for a while. Would recommend.

Great review Slightly. I just finished rereading The Dutch House yesterday in preparation for discussing it at my book group on zoom tonight I might pinch one or two of your ideas I really liked it when I first read it and got even more out of it this time round.

I'm a real Ann Patchett fan; I think she writes beautiful prose and explores complicated emotions with understanding and sensitivity..

89 Ghosts of the Shadow Market by Cassandra Clare & others
Collection of short stories featuring characters from various of CC's Shadowhunters books. I wanted something easy reading, this came up on Kindle deal, & I had pretty low expectations as the last set of short stories I read of hers (The Bane Chronicles) were very slight. I was pleasantly surprised in that a number of these were rather more substantial, and it actually really hit the spot for what I needed right now.

203. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I know this has had mixed reviews on here but I enjoyed it. I liked the setting and was gripped to see what happened. My two complaints are that there’s too many POVs (I kept having to flip back to see who was talking) and there’s too many coincidences leading to the big reveal. A good read though.

31. Mists of Avalon - Marion Bradley Zimmer

I’ve always been interested in Arthurian legend books so this one was a no-brained for me to read! It certainly delivered well too. I can’t remember the last time I was so emotionally invested in a book. Even though it was 1000+ pages I somehow managed to finish it in a week which was a great achievement for me personally!

Starts off with Morgaine introducing herself and her story, the many versions that the Arthurian legends have and whatnot. The book starts when Igraine is still married to Gorlois, with Morgaine being a baby/toddler and Morgause as a teenager teenage Morgause was rather amusing followed by the conception of King Arthur after the Merlin (Talisean) disguised Uther as Gorlois. Anyway Gorlois died thus Igraine marrying Uther and Morgaine being “shunned” and given Arthur to look after given that he was born 3 mos into the marriage.

Arthur was sent away to be fostered and Morgaine went with her aunt Vivian to the island of Avalon as she came under her care and soon become a priestess. A part of her pledge involved remaining chaste, which was rather difficult especially after climbing the Tor with Lancelet. Then Gwenhyfar comes along and Morgaine understandably gets rather jealous. Gwenhwyfar is rather jealous and doesn’t seem to like Avalon type things yet they manage to get her back. Also Lancelet goes by the name of Galahad too and calls Morgaine “Morgaine of the fairies” hence Morgana LeFay.

As a part of a ritual under the full moon, sometimes those who had to undertake it came back pregnant. Morgaine had to undertake it with the King Stag. Oh and then Arthur has his coronation but they don’t remember having sex, Morgause realises Morgaine is pregnant and therefore Morgaine goes to Lot’s kingdom with Morgause. Morgaine almost died in birth and Morgause why is it always fucking Morgause decided that Morgaine’s child should have a wet nurse so they wouldn’t bond and she thus fostered the child. Morgaine named him Gwydion.

Gwenhwyfar comes along and married Arthur after a king journey from her convent, during which she bonds which she bonds with Igraine. She then marries Arthur and Morgaine therefore becomes her lady-in-waiting and while at first they do get along this soon changes after a few years. Both Gwen and Morgaine’s love for Lancelet contribute to this. And Gwen is barren therefore Arthur allows her to share a bed w Lancelet yet Morgaine tells Gwen Arthur already has a son.

Morgaine tends to play the harp alongside Kevin, who soon becomes “the Merlin”, and they do temporarily become lovers. Morgaine has not yet forgiven Vivian.

Vivian is killed with an axe to the head. Arthur soon married Morgaine off to Urien and she takes a liking to his son Accolon, especially since Uriens is old enough to be her grandfather. She begins an affair with Accolon. Oh and the truth about Gwydion is revealed and he is knighted as Mordred. To stop scandal, Morgaine “sets up” Gwen’s cousin and Lancelet and they are caught thus married. In return Morgaine wants Elaine’s first daughter as Elaine liked Lance OUAT theme going on here?.

Well anyway years pass, Avalonian ways are less used as Christian ways become more prominent, Morgaine is pregnant and aborts it yet Gwen seems helpful throughout this. Uriens died, Uwaine (Urien’s son who she thought off as her own) turns on her and she flees and Accolon died too and she wouldn’t be queen, the Avalon ways wouldn’t return. She then returns to Avalon.

In a conclusion, the Holy Grail is at Camelot. It’s supposed to belong at Avalon yet is in Camelot and thus soon afterwards a quest is required to find it. Many die. Gwen goes into a convent, Lancelet accompanied her and then decides to go back to Arthur, Morgaine “goes evil” on Arthur and Morgause plots to have the throne yet fails. Mordred kills Arthur, Morgana turns up in the end and gives him an inspirational speech and Arthur died.

As of the ending, Morgaine becomes a nun (Cursed theme going on). Christian ways return and she meets some people from the past, her job is done and they realise all the Gods/Godess are as one.

To be honest, I could go on and on about this but then I’d probably be here in the morning and miss my bus . With most Arthurian legends the character or Gwen annoyed me to death, although I did find myself feeling sorry for her a couple of times. Urien seemed sweet at the start yet just before his death he was rather annoying. Morgause was selfish and horrible as usual and Gwen meddles again

Nonetheless I absolutely loved this retelling of the Arthurian legend. Even though it is rather long, I definitely plan to read this again at some point. Absolutely blew my expectations, as it had been sat on my desk for a few weeks before I picked it up then I could barely put it down

In this morning's Daily Deals, not just Rodham but the whole James Herriott All Creatures series for 99p each.

Very tempted by the Herriot even if I have all the paperbacks.