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?

This thread sometimes has the feeling of a long term relationship, where someone just has to mention a particular thing for the familiar argument to start back up, only instead of “Christmas, 2005” it’s “Station Eleven”

I’ve not read either because I just don’t fancy the sound of them, but every so often I’m tempted just so I can take a side.

Good review tara

Loathed Station Eleven up for giving it a kicking any time.

Never Let Me Go barely recall it no strong feelings, not sure what about it inspires either kind of passion.

133. The Binding by Bridget Collins

In an alternate universe, set in ye olde times, people who want to forget traumatic memories can contact a Binder who can remove the memory from a persons head and bind it into a book.

But is it a really helpful tool for the bereaved and desperate or is it a weapon to be wielded by the corrupt?

Bit of both, obviously

Difficult one, the writing itself is nothing taxing it's very accessible, and page turnery in that respect, 100 pages go in a flash.

But I did feel like there was so much mileage and interesting juice in the concept of itself that just went to waste really, as it reduces itself to a two person derivative caper over the existence of one binding, when the story could have, and arguably should have contained multitudes.

All the same an easy, cosy, one evening job.

@SatsukiKusakabe

This thread sometimes has the feeling of a long term relationship, where someone just has to mention a particular thing for the familiar argument to start back up, only instead of “Christmas, 2005” it’s “Station Eleven”

I’ve not read either because I just don’t fancy the sound of them, but every so often I’m tempted just so I can take a side.

Good review tara

That’s the main reason I picked up Station Eleven when I saw it on the shelf in the library

Have to say that I didn’t finish it before the library loan expired though. I wasn’t enjoying it enough to borrow it again and finish it 🤷‍♀️

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit a couple of us discussed The Binding earlier in this thread. We broadly reached the same conclusion as you - great concept, could have been explored better. Plus we found the finding first live on the farm section well written & v moving.

Yeah @TheNavigator I skipped over the discussion as I knew I had it coming up. Will have a read back through when I get the chance x

"This thread sometimes has the feeling of a long term relationship, where someone just has to mention a particular thing for the familiar argument to start back up, only instead of “Christmas, 2005” it’s “Station Eleven” "

Satsuki

@SatsukiKusakabe I saw NLMG was on the daily deals, and got a notification that there were new posts on this thread, and thought "Well, I know what that'll be about"

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Fear not. I can settle the Station Eleven crisis too.

It's shit. The end.

FGS Remus, get to the point will you?

I read The Binding and felt let down by it - great potential which was not fulfilled when I had high hopes initially. Apparently she usually writes YA books - and that fits...

@TimeforaGandT

Yes. When I turned the last page and saw she is noted for YA I was like

"Gosh! I am SHOCKED - not"

Adult start, YA middle and end

I enjoyed The Binding for what it was - a good idea, a love story and a page turner. It absolutely could have been executed better - far more mileage in the concept than was explored, but maybe that would have diluted Emmet's story, which I enjoyed.

Sorry, Betts. Here it is as a formula for brevity:
St11 = -!#*

Looks like we’re unanimous on The Binding!

Although I agree about all The Binding's flaws, I would still say it is worth a read.

Agreed. I enjoyed it.

I hated it. Sorry!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Sorry, Betts. Here it is as a formula for brevity: St11 = -!#*

MchBtr =

I enjoyed the first two thirds of The Binding but felt it lost its way in the final third which was disappointing but glad I read it.

Just finished To Be a Gay Man by Will Young, a second memoir from him in which he writes about growing up as a gay man. This was very illuminating to read but, unusually for someone who's clearly had a lot of therapy, he doesn't seem very self-aware - I'd have liked him to talk about the immense privileges he's had in his life, for example.

21. The Count Of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

First of all a Hello to everyone who has been merrily cracking on with reading books while I've been bogged down in this monster!

Secondly it's clear that I'm not going to get anywhere near 50 books this year but hopefully you all won't hold that against me.

This really was a case of quality over quantity - a huge, and I mean huge book which has taken me three months to read as Covid weariness and a full time job have taken their toll. I have really loved it though - it's such an epic tale with many twists and turns and fantastic, complex characters. I don't think I can start to do justice to it and I'm sure much has been written about its themes of revenge and fate, with echoes from The Odyssey to the Thousand And One Arabian Nights and stories within stories. But I would definitely rate it as a must-read classic - as long as you have time to spare...

I've not checked yet but I have a feeling these threads this year have been going faster than in previous years.

New thread up very soon.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/4046967-50-Book-Challenge-2020-Part-Nine?watched=1