50 Book Challenge 2021 Part Three

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the third thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2021, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read. Could everyone embolden their titles and/or authors as well, please, as it makes the books talked about easier to track?

The first thread of the year is here and the second one here.

I came on to point that out about The Remains of the Day being on Kindle Daily Deal. I absolutely loved that book, as well as the film. He has a new book out next month.

Did you see the film, Remus? If so do you prefer it to the book?

1. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

This was recommended to me by a friend with similar taste but I found it a bit of a chore to read, though I recognise how clever and funny the writing is. Too much nihilism for me when I need a bit of comfort.

I'm going to buy Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans next to read. I've been waiting it to come out as a deal for a while but no luck, but I've read the other two so looking forward to indulging in this.

BTW I am firmly in the heartrendingly brilliant camp of The Remains of The Day.

Not Crooked Heart - I've read that! V for Victory.

So as we are in lockdown until at least the start of March and libraries remain closed, I counted up the unread books I have at home - 56 in total. I've listed them and been getting DH and the kids to each pick a random number between 1 and 56, then reading the one I fancy most from the three choices. Cranford is among the pile so I might give it a go after the recent posts here

I think I've said this on here before, but IMO Remains of the Day is one of the few examples of the film being better than the book. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson are amazing!

I’m a fan of both the film and the book. Interestingly, I remember my exSIL, who works in publishing, saying she had several colleagues who didn’t like the book.

Anyway, don’t think I can live up to the quality of some of the most recent reviews, but 10. Winter’s Orbit - Everina Maxwell
Entertaining space opera romance. Imperial prince Kiem is forced to marry his cousin Taam’s widower Jainan, representative of a subject planet, in order to secure the status quo at a critical juncture for the future of the empire. Strangers in awkward proximity, Kiem and Jainan find themselves investigating Taam’s death and the military mining operation he headed. Well-drawn characters, gripping plot, unobtrusive world-building, this was a fun read.

I bought Cranford for a relative when the series was on, and now I can't remember who it was. I might have to track it down!

Just popping on to share my love of Remains of the Day. The book is definitely in my top 5 favourites and I thought the film more than did it justice. They are both near perfect in my opinion.

The TV series of Cranford was great. Everyone was in it. We watched it quite recently.
Definitely on my list for a re-read.

I thought Remains Of The Day was really boring when I first read it. I bought it when it was on daily deal a few months ago as I plan to reread it to see if I get more out of it now I’m a bit older, as I read in an article on the best age to read various books that 40 is a good age for ROTD. I’m trying to go through my kindle books in order so should get round to ROTD in a couple of months.

Another vote for both Remains of the Day and Cranford. Both lovely, in different ways!

If I had to live in the setting of any book, I think it might be Cranford. Or maybe Maycomb in To Kill a Mockingbird. Both lovely, cosy places where nothing bad really happens!

10. Written in Bone, by Sue Black
Further adventures of a forensic anthropologist. Reviewed positively a few times on here and I agree - it's very interesting to find out about this area of work. I wish I was all expert in something useful - thinking balefully of my own career choices.

Romantic Moderns by Alexandra Harris Recommended on a previous thread by Terpsichore (I think) for which many thanks. I enjoyed this discussion of English art in the 1930s and 40s, ranging across writers, artists, architects, composers and gardeners, some of whom I had heard of and some who were new to me. It links to the modern art movements taking place on the continent, and then back to the more provincial English cultural traditions. It also has some great illustrations and photographs. I especially loved Bill Brandt's photo of the Sitwells in their very grand house, but with Edith wearing an overcoat and Osbert looking very crumpled the photo suggested another, less luxurious life being led.

It also mentioned and led me on to read:

Novel on Yellow Paper by Stevie Smith This was languishing on my bookshelf as a Penguin Modern Classic priced 35p so Lord knows how long I've had it. I enjoyed it but it was quite bonkers in parts. It's another stream of consciousness/free association narrative but helpfully with punctuation. The book was written in 1936 and relates vignettes from SS's life, some of which are more interesting than others and some of which are quite bonkers. I enjoyed her musings on her family, friends and lovers, less so her descriptions of classical literature. There are many German phrases included, which I'm afraid rather passed me by, and when she has been talking about her time in Germany and with German friends, the written English then seems like a translation from the German. It is very much a novel of its time, although no doubt very "modern" in its day.

Sorry, that's two bonkers, but it really was.

I think Steve Smith was pretty bonkers all round boiledegg, but quite interesting. I seem to recall I've got a biography of her kicking around somewhere, by Frances Spalding. There was a film in the 70s with Glenda Jackson as Stevie and the splendid Mona Washbourne as the Lion Aunt - I fancy seeing that again now.

Having read the book, I'd love to see the film Terpsichore, can you remember what it was called? I can very well imagine Glenda Jackson as Stevie.

I haven't seen the film of Remains of the Day but since I hated the book and don't like Emma Thompson, I don't think it's for me.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

I haven't seen the film of Remains of the Day but since I hated the book and don't like Emma Thompson, I don't think it's for me.

Regeneration by Pat Barker is also available for 99p on kindle today

It's just called Stevie, Boiledegg. It's based on the play by Hugh Whitemore which Glenda Jackson also starred in - I really must see if I can ferret out a copy.

@ElizabethBennetismybestfriend

Regeneration by Pat Barker is also available for 99p on kindle today

Regeneration is good, but the second one is truly terrible!

Thanks Terpsichore, I'll look out for it.

A quick update @Boiledeggandtoast - the whole film's on YouTube Stevie

I'm giving up on book 6. It is Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield. It isn't terrible, but it isn't my cup of tea. I've given it 80 pages and I'm bored. So far, numerous characters have been introduced and not a lot has happened, which I don't like. I don't mind listening to one or two protagonists while nothing much happens, but for some reason when they keep introducing loads of characters, and nothing happens I quickly lose interest. I felt the same about 100 years of solitude or whatever it's called. Yes, I know people love it and I'm probably a philistine, but you know. I likes what I likes .

Selecting another one as we speak .

I had a good run. I finished book 1 despite not liking it all that much. Books 2 - 5 I have enjoyed very much, so I was due a not so good one.

23. A History Of Britain Vol. 2 : 1603-1776 The British Wars by Simon Schama (Audible)

This volume again "a potted overview" of British History has revealed to me my gaps in knowledge where British History is concerned.

I did The Civil War at school, but very much "aimed at 12 year olds" and hadn't heard of any of the "great and good" mentioned

It moves on to the slave trade, empire building and the American war of independence all of which I have some knowledge of.

But if anyone can recommend any good fiction set in the period from the time of The Gunpowder Plot through to the reign of William and Mary, I am all ears.