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.

Re Cusk, personally I preferred her autobiographical books, Aftermath and A Life's Work. Outline didn't quite work for me.

4. And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie

Ten strangers are invited by a mystery host to stay on a remote island off the coast of Devon. On arrival, their host is absent, but during their first evening a gramophone recording accuses each of them of a crime. The guests are rapidly bumped off one at a time, seemingly following the pattern in the children’s rhyme ‘Ten Little Soldiers’. The party deduce that the murderer can only be one of them, and set out to discover who.

Wiki tells me that this is the world’s best-selling mystery novel and described by Christie herself as one of the most difficult of her books to write. It is very much of its time in terms of social attitudes – there is plenty of racism and sexism. In fact there was much controversy over the first and second titles given to this work before it finally became known as And Then There Were None, the final line in the poem.

I enjoyed it (putting aside its outdated social norms); I’m not one for wanting to solve the mystery myself, I prefer to just go along with the story as it unfolds. This was fortunate, as I would never have worked out ‘whodunit’!

Thanks Sadik I'll look at those

Thanks for the new thread, southeast. Here's my list- I haven't written about the last five books yet, but will do so in the next few days when (if) I get a bit of time:

1. Why Mummy’s Sloshed- Gill Sims
2. Hungry- Grace Dent
3. Ballet Shoes- Noel Streatfeild
4. Notes on a Scandal- Zoë Heller
5. Stephen Fry in America- Stephen Fry
6. Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger- Nigel Slater
7. Kind Words for Unkind Days- Jayne Hardy
8. Poverty Safari- Darren McGarvey
9. Into Thin Air- Jon Krakauer

10. Jew-ish: A Primer, a Memoir, a Manual, a Plea- Matt Greene 11. The Well of Loneliness- Radclyffe Hall 12. It’s Not About You- Tom Rath 13. Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness- Bill Bailey

Thanks, southeast. I don’t know how I’ve managed ten books this year so far. I’ve barely picked up a book this weekend and my concentration is non existent. But apparently I have. Perhaps it is because this January seemed to have at least nine weeks in it.

Not a Rachel Cusk fan. Too much showing off and it all seems totally unnecessary. I hated A Life’s Work so much, I couldn’t even bring myself to give it to a charity shop so it’s still on my shelf and occasionally I try to throw it away but I just can’t.

1 There Are Places In The World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness by Carlo Rovelli
2 The Gifts of Reading by various authors
3 Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon
4 Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
5 The Promised Land by Barack Obama
6 The World According to Garp by John Irving
7 Black Hole Survival Guide by Janna Levin
8 The Power and The Glory by Graham Greene
9 Acts and Omissions by Catherine Fox
10 Changing Places by David Lodge

Fran what did you think of the Bill Bailey book? I reviewed it on the last thread and had mixed feelngs about it.

@Jecstar that's exactly what I did - 99p all the way

Yes, I listened to the Ratline podcast after I'd read the book, and really enjoyed it. It seemed to add an extra dimension somehow, even though there isn't really any information in it that's much different to the book. I used to plug myself in and listen to a new episode on my daily walk, it was quite good for marching around to!

Love that article, Story! It reminds me of ,How to be a Heroine, by Samantha Ellis, a wonderful book about books.

Stokey, not Story. Bloody autocorrect.

Closed the old thread

So I saw Eine . You’re living dangerously.

my list so far
1 Sue Black All That Remains. Brilliant. My first book of the year and an absolute stand out. so insightful and thought provoking. For those who don't know of her Professor Dame Sue Black is a renowned forensic anthropologist and this is a book about what she does, with some personal stuff in there too. fascinating and thoroughly recommend *
2* Ian Rankin A Song for the Dark Times. I haven't read masses of Rebus, but I've read a bit an always enjoyed it. And I like the fact you don't need to have read the full series to get enough from the book. cleverly tied in two apparently unconnected crimes, and a comforting read, a bit like catching up with old friends, which we can't do obvs
3 Jennifer Palmierri Dear Madam President. I was looking through my pile on inauguration day, so this seemed an apt choice. Palmierri did comma for Hillary Clinton's failed presidential bid, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and others and this is her take on women in political leadership. it was really accessible and inspiring
4 David Jackson The Resident. A creepy tale of a serial killer living in the interconnected attics above a row of houses, with a decent ending I didn't see coming. enjoyable nonsense which would make a good film

@Terpsichore it really was a bargain as I was considering shelling out for it in hardback otherwise!

His next book is on the arrest of Pinochet, which he worked on as a young lawyer. I am hoping it will be as equally as compelling, even if it is not out until 2024.

LOL Eine

Thanks for the new thread southeast. Here is my list so far:

1. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13&3/4 - Sue Townsend
2. Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain - Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
3. The Dinosaurs Rediscovered - Michael J. Benton
4. Written in Bone - Sue Black
5. Life on Earth - David Attenborough
6. How to Talk to Anyone - Leil Lowndes
7. The Terror - Dan Simmons
8. Earthlings - Sayaka Murata
9. Night School - Richard Wiseman

And I have just finished 10. A Life on Our Planet, an accompaniment to David Attenborough's documentary film currently on Netflix. Sir David outlines the changes to Earth's ecology during his 94 years on this planet, points briefly to the disastrous collapse that will happen if we don't soon change our ways, and then provides an inspiring plan for how we could avert this catastrophe. Much of the last third is clearly not written by Sir David himself (the contribution of co-writer Jonnie Hughes is openly acknowledged), as it doesn't have the intonation of own particular idiom - but that does not matter when the message it outlines is so clearly expressed. This has vastly improved my understanding of the global issues we are facing, and I only wish it had more immediate suggestions for how ordinary people on the ground can help.

7 The Fall Claire McGowan
8 Bitter Orange Claire Fuller

Bitter Orange I really enjoyed. 3 main characters commissioned to provide reports on a dilapidated ancestral home in the country in a hot summer in the 60's. Atmospheric and claustrophobic. Reminded me of Notes on a Scandal for some reason.

Wow, the threads are still moving fast! Thanks for the new one, southeast (and for closing the old one with such verve, Eine).

I haven't updated for ages, so here's my list so far - latest 4 reviews to come when I'm not on my phone as it drives me mad writing posts of any length on there. I'm holding off the bolds for the moment until I've had a bit more chance to see which books stay with me:

1. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
2. Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan
3. The History of Mr Polly by HG Wells
4. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
5. The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
6. Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner
7. Charlotte by Helen Moffett
8. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
9. Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

10. Mrs P's Journey by Sarah Hartley

PermanentTemporary I wasn't quick enough to say so on the previous thread, but I very much enjoyed your review of the Jane Austen book. I'm currently reading (very slowly, one chapter at a time at bedtime) John Mullan's What Matters in Jane Austen, which you might enjoy: it answers some really intriguing questions about the background to the novels, everyday life in Regency England, and so on.

I also missed the talk about David Lodge and Julian Barnes, both of whom I was terribly keen on in my late teens/early 20s! Very disappointing to hear that David Lodge hasn't worn well, which I suspected might be the case, and also that he himself is a bit of a twat. My copy of Nice Work has a picture of Haydn Gwynne and Warren Clarke on the front, so I assume it was made into a TV series (which I'd be interested in watching, actually!)

Got off to a good start so far this year.

1. Small Pleasures Clare Chambers

Odd premise- a journalist explores an alleged virgin birth. Interesting enough but not a must read.

1. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Might be the best book I'll read this year. Breath-takingly good. I was held in rapt attention from start to finish.

1. Limitless by Tim Peake

Quite interesting bio from the spaceman. Always seems surprised he took the path he did.

1. Ghost by Iona Holloway

This was very thought-provoking. A talented, privileged woman who feels lost. Spirals into self-harm. I'm not sure it achieves what she wants. Felt a bit wrung out when I finished it.

1. The Missing Sister by Dinah Jefferies

Good enough read and the descriptions of Burma were so evocative. Story was a bit Mills and Boon.

1. The Truths we Hold by Kamala Harris

An amazing woman - found this an absorbing autobiography.

1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Meh. Lost interest in the middle and obviously strayed as I had to go back to pick up the plot! Still not 100% sure of who did what to whom. Nice comfy characters. I think it will work well as a film with the Exotic Marigold Hotel cast.

1. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Cracking story. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. This is the kind of book which I find is just right for lockdown - escapist, fast paced, interesting characters, with cry out loud shocks.

Just starting Pat Barker's The Ghost Road.

PS - can anyone tell me why my Good reads profile has this book on it as currently reading, but it says I'm currently reading (0)?

Thanks for the new thread. I won't bring my list over because I can't remember it but I will say I've just started The Name Of The Rose. Which, much to my amazement, was only published in 1980 - for some reason I'd assumed it was much earlier. Okay so far, although I must admit to skim reading some parts - not sure it's really got going yet. So probably a good idea to go to bed and read a bit more - night all!

The Lissa Evans trilogy was a favourite of mine, (and the thread) last year.

21. The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins

Ordinary drawing master Walter Hartright is drawn into an intrigue when he encounters a distressed woman alone at night, when later he coincidentally encounters maiden sisters Laura and Marian, the intrigue merely follows.

Brilliant of course, there's a reason its a classic. I couldn't help noticing the narrative layout of each account being presented by an interested party as identical to The Moonstone

It also occurred to me that Fingersmith which I read many years before this, owes it more than a passing debt, enough to slightly diminish Fingersmith

My other thought throughout was that Laura Fairlie was a wet fucking lettuce worthy of none of the regard held for her and was barely drawn as a character. Poor Marian. It was like : intelligent woman = ugly pretty woman = an angel, a dear. She was an absolute sap worse than Dora Copperfield and did not deserve any attentions.

Poor writings of women are to be expected in the 'Angel Of The Home' age of course.

Odd last line.

5/5

Marian Halcombe is fantastic, she's one of my favourite ever characters, not least because we share a certain facial feature .

Bringing my list over

1. Miss Benson’s Beetle - Rachel Joyce
2. Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver
3. Saving Missy - Beth Morrey
4. A History of Wolves - Emily Fridlund
5. A Spell of Winter - Helen Dunmore
6. The Innocents - Michael Crummey
7. The Wolf Border - Sarah Hall

8. The Siege - Helen Dunmore 9. Wolves of Winter - Tyrell Johnson I seem to have been reading and enjoying a number of books about winter and being trapped. Hmm.

Bett it was very lightweight but I enjoyed it.

I remember watching the TV adaptation of Nice Work and thought it was very good at the time - 1989 is a long time ago though.