50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Nine

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the ninth 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 still not too late to join, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

The previous threads of 2020:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Oh, Terps. I'm so terribly sorry. Sending you very warmest wishes in your loss.

I've just finished the loveliest comfort read, if anybody needs such a thing in their life right now.

Aunt Clara by Noel Streatfeild
When a cantankerous old man dies, almost all of his dirty rotten no good relations want a piece of what he leaves behind. To spite them all, and to give himself a good laugh in his final weeks, he leaves it all to his devout niece, Clara, the family spinster and general dogsbody. The devout good woman is shocked to hear of some of the dodgy dealings left to her, but determined to carry out what she believes to be her sacred trust to the best of her abilities.

This is funny and warm and bittersweet. I adored it.

So sorry for your loss, Terp.

Such sad news Terpsichore . Hope you are OK.

@Terpsichore I am so sorry to hear about your Mum
Please feel free to PM me if it would help.

What a wonderful thread this is. You lot are ⭐️s

Thank you for the kind offer, betts , I have it very much in mind.

Terpsichore, so sorry about your mum

So sorry about your mum Terpischore

So sorry for your loss Terpischore

47. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett This multi generational story set predominantly in the American South covering 1950s - 90/ tells the story of twins Desiree and Stella who escape their frustrating home town only to go very separate ways one passing as white and one black. I loved this. Great writing. Interesting characters. Gripping plot. Gives rise to lots of thoughts about identity, place and home. A quote that somehow accidentally had me in tears ‘They say you can drown in two inches of water. Maybe grief is the same’. Best fiction read this year.

Terpsichore so sorry about your mum.

So sorry to hear of your loss Terpsichore

It's the anniversary of my mum's death last year tomorrow, that together with other RL things & I'm totally failing to concentrate on reading. It's a shame, as I've just got Amnesty recommended on a previous thread come through on the library app. I can't decide whether to persevere & not get the best from it, or return & reserve it again later & risk not coming back to it.

Terpsichore, I am so very sorry. Thinking of you and the family

Have a virtual hug Terpsichore, and thinking of you too Sadik for your sad anniversary tomorrow

Terpsichore so sorry to hear about your mum. My mum died last October and this thread and comfort reading really helped me.

Sadik - I hope tomorrow is not too difficult for you.

Terpsichore I'm so sorry you've lost your mum. I think a few of us on here have had the same experience this year, bloody 2020. I've found my reading very up and down, but always take solace in reading this thread even if that's all I can manage.

for you and Sadik.

Terpsichore I'm so sorry about your mum, I lost my mum over the Summer and it's so hard.

Unmumsnetty hugs to you

So sorry for your sad news Terpsichore

Yes, 2020 is turning out to be awful for everyone.

for Sadik, TimeforaGandT, noodle and BookWitch, and betts I haven't forgotten you. Thanks again for the kind thoughts.

So sorry for your loss Terpischore and hope today isn't too hard on you Sadik

So very sorry to hear your news Terpsichore

Thinking of you today @Sadik. So sorry for everyone 💐

sorry to hear your news Terpsichore

Sadik Sending you much love today.

210. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig As she slips out of consciousness towards death, Nora finds herself in the Midnight Library, a place containing books detailing what her life could have been like if she had made different decisions. She revisits each major turning point in her life and sees what could have been, making her regret the suicide she has just attempted.

This looks at depression sensitively and explores whether the grass is greener, making the most of what you have etc. It deals with serious subjects with a light touch. It's well paced and entertaining despite the subject matter, but does get a little repetitive after a while in the structure - visit alternative life and then assess the learning from it. I enjoyed this although it does err on the side of fluffy and is quite superficial. The writing is competent, but nothing note worthy. It's a really interesting concept, but would have benefited from a little more depth.

for you Sadik