50 Book Challenge 2020 Part Ten

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the tenth (and final?) 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
9

I've just checked and these threads this year have moved more quickly than any other year since they started back in 2012! We'd never reached ten threads in any other year.

Well, I just finished the Richard Osman and I was happy with it. Whimsical, silly, a lot like a lot of the books about elderly people that seem to be de rigeur, minus huge need for tissues. Lots of twists, which I think overdid the denouement somewhat. Plentiful stereotypes.

If anyone can tell me why a Turk would be called Gianni, I'd love to know!

66. In Harm's Way by Viveca Sten

The sixth Sandhamn murders book, and I definitely picked the right one for this time of year as it's set over Christmas. Not much Christmas cheer to be had for the protagonists, though, as campaigning foreign correspondent Jeanette Thiels is poisoned on Christmas Eve. A thoroughly enjoyable but in places really quite ridiculous murder plot, laced with a lot of dithering from Nora (but lots of lovely family scenes - I really do think Sten writes Nora's relationship with her boys well) and Thomas is happy with Pernilla and little Elin. FOR NOW.

I do really enjoy this series even though I find the translation stilted in places and over-Americanised. Sten does a great job of evoking the atmosphere of Sandhamn, which is particularly appealing right now in the grey, cold London winter, with no snow and no prospect of going anywhere else.

I quite enjoy the Sandhamn books too, Welsh - just splurged (modestly) on a pre-order of the next one which comes out in January. Throwing caution to the winds and spending more than my usual 99p limit!

Think I've finished six books in November...
36. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Much reviewed on here. As previous readers have said, lovely writing but not a driving, urgent plot. I found it quite a change of style after Troubled Blood and Little Fires Everywhere. My first Ann Patchett, would read more of hers.
37. Quite by Claudia Winkleman
Eine gave a good review of this upthread. It's not an autobiography, more a series of short chapters with Claudia's opinions, advice and an occasional anecdote. I listened on Audible and the subject matter, short chapters and quite quick fire style of the author's narration meant it wasn't one for long walks and hours of listening, but made me smile when I popped it on for half an hour while doing the dishes. Won't appeal to everyone but I liked it.
38. Sightlines by Kathleen Jamie
I dipped into this book of essays sporadically over several months, often when I was between other books or needing to calm a racing mind. It served that very specific purpose brilliantly and I've now started Surfacing by the same author to dip into in the same way.
39. The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf
Children's book about Ahmet, a Syrian refugee, and his classmates who try to become his friends and help him find his family. I was lent this by a pupil who had enjoyed it, and when I brought it home DS excitedly told me that it was their class novel at school, so it has been nice to chat about this novel together. It's very well done, tackling big issues in a way that has opened DS's eyes but with warmth and gentle humour too.
40. Lockdown by Peter May
The USP of this is clearly the setting of a London in lockdown due to a flu pandemic and it therefore has some novelty value. The writing is not great, however, and the plot is pretty daft - overall it's a bit of a stinker. I quite liked the previous Peter May books I've read but wouldn't recommend this.
41. The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris
Following on from The Lost Words, this is poetry about nature for children and adults alike. I listened to the audiobook and it was a fantastic accompaniment to my frosty Saturday morning walk under beautifully clear blue skies. The description of the long lifespan of an oak tree particularly stayed with me afterwards. This is short but I have no guilt about counting it after completing Troubled Blood last month - they average out! I also suspect this will be like The Lost Words which I counted once but have revisited many times since.
As well as starting Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie, I'm currently reading a children's book called The Fastest Boy in the World and a work related read, Teacher Resilience.

Well done on the 100 Sadik although I can't say I'll be rushing to read that one. What sort of trees are you growing?
I did think it might be a bit niche, but I figured I read it, I was going to count it! The woodland is mixed native deciduous, quite a bit of hazel.

78. Miss Marple's Final Cases. Listened to this on audio while burning old paperwork, surprisingly good combination!
79. Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton. This really affected me, and I am not certain why, as it is overall a bit uneven and a bit unlikely, and not all the characters spring to life. But the point of view of one character, a mother who can't contact her child (spoiler alert, the book is about an attack on a school), just devastated me. I must search back to find earlier reviews, and see what anyone else thought, as I was really quite upset!

That sounds lovely Sadik.

Tanaqui, Rosamund Lupton is one of a very few authors who make me cry. I last read her in a residential workplace in France and I made at least 6 other people read it to check there was nothing wrong with me. I notoriously have the emotional range of a teaspoon.

There's a thread somewhere about three hours.

Despite not grasping why people read children's books as adults I'm reading winter holiday by Arthur ransome as it seemed like a good idea at the time. Despite loving swallows and Amazons as a child the dick and Dorothea books did nothing for me, I'm enjoying it despite that.

tanaqui, I found Three Hours equally unsettling despite being alternately slightly bored and frustrated by it. It’s a very uneven book but that element really got under my skin too.

72.Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors - Piers Paul Read
Picked this up on my yearly 3 month trial of kindle unlimited as one of the books available from my wish list. It tells the story of survivors of a plane crash in the Andes. I did struggle to get through it as there was 10 weeks stuck on a mountain and I had to be careful about what I read while eating but I'm glad I read it and it was something a bit different. Doubt I'd have survived!

178. I Will Not Grow Downward by Yikealo Neab

The ongoing conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea wasn't something I knew about, and even after reading this the sociopolitical context eludes me somewhat.

Basically, Eritrea is a failed state and thousands of men like the author Yikealo Neab have been conscripted into National Service, a brutal, gruelling and powerless existence

When his sick daughter is lucky enough to get to the US for temporary medical treatment, they don't return and it is up to Yikealo to escape Eritrea, become a refugee and try and reunite his family.

Upon finishing, I discovered this is a follow up to Relentless, his wife's side of the same events and I'm absolutely going to read it.

Very worthwhile, in terms of expanding global awareness, but not always an easy read.

Thank you Pepe and Fortuna, glad it wasn't just me! I will read the other thread. Happy December everyone!

I can't find anything decent in the new Kindle monthly deal - anyone else?

@southeastdweller

I can't find anything decent in the new Kindle monthly deal - anyone else?

I haven't dared look but I hope there are slim pickings this month 🙄

I couldn’t see anything in the monthly deals either.

I read children’s books as an adult for two reasons - either my DD really wanted me to read it (she likes me to read her favourite books so we can talk about them) or because they’re my own childhood favourites or classics and I read them for nostalgia/comfort.

257. Dark Tides by Chris Ewan

This is set in the Isle of Man and features events in different years on Hop-tu-naa, which is the Manx Hallowe’en. When Claire was 8 her mum disappeared on Hop-tu-naa. Ten years later on the same date, a date went wrong. Now, around 5 years after that, things keep going wrong on that date - could it all be linked? Ewan writes really well and I loved the setting, but this was predictable and I found the jumping back and forth in time quite confusing.

I only purchased The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley as I'd put all the books on my wishlist after reading the first one and it didn't look like they'd ever be 99p. Now just to wait on the rest but I have plenty to read in the meantime.

Didn't buy anything in the Kindle sale and feel very virtuous. Slim pickings this time round. The few good ones have featured previously. Although I did hesitate over The Lost Pianos of Siberia, a travel book which got good reviews.

I thought they might be stopping the monthly deals so pleased they are still going.

Apeirogon by Colm McCann is there, it’s about two men who lose children on either side of the Palestinian conflict. I have the hard copy and think it’s had good reviews so far.

I bought the Stanley Tucci cook book because I like him a lot.

I've snapped up The Silver Collar which is the 4th in the Thomas Hawkins series.

I can't find anything anywhere that even says 'Monthly Deal', which it usually does in the left-hand column...is it just me being dense highly likely ?

It’s in the general kindle deals under countdown to Christmas for me. Different to usual.

Ah OK, thanks Palegreen

I've also bought Apeirogon for £1.89.

There are quite a few other books if you click on the Bestsellers in Kindle Book Deals section. I bought Mudlarking, Fair Play by Tove Jansson and The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. But also saw Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson , which is great if you haven't read it.

Although I did hesitate over The Lost Pianos of Siberia, a travel book which got good reviews.

Thank you Biblio, I've bought the paperback as an xmas gift for my mother who is an avid pianist of many years and who has also travelled to Siberia. Perfect!