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50 Book Challenge 2021 Part Three

999 replies

southeastdweller · 31/01/2021 13:45

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.

OP posts:
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5
Sadik · 02/02/2021 14:42
  1. The Prince's Pen by Horatio Clare This is one of a series of novellas based on modern retellings of stories from the Mabinogion, & is inspired by the story of brothers Lludd and Llefelys. Clare sets his story in a dystopian future deeply affected by climate change. A totalitarian government rules across Europe & much of Asia, with guerilla resistance active in fringe countries including Wales. Ludo is an illiterate gang-leader, the 'Prince of Pembroke Dock' who becomes a warlord & resistance fighter. Clip meets him in his youth, & becomes his aide & 'pen', reading & writing for him.
    I'm often unconvinced by modern reworkings of myths, but this one is absolutely fantastic. The setting has echoes of Welsh battles for independence in the middle ages, but also of course modern day guerilla warfare & power struggles in Afghanistan & elsewhere. Although it's only a short book (200 pages or so) the characters are totally convincing, and the parallels to the source tale (invaders who can hear everything, invisible entities mysteriously stealing away a nation's wealth) really cleverly done.
SharnaPax · 02/02/2021 15:34

That book sounds great Sadik, I will add it to my TBR - I've had Bird, Blood, Snow from the Mabinogion series on my bookshelf for a very long time so you've reminded me that I need to get round to reading it.

Sadik · 02/02/2021 15:51

That's my next review Sharna :)

bettbattenburg · 02/02/2021 16:11

Harlan I saw the Corner Shop book earlier and was sorely tempted by it, I've now gone back and bought it as I've had the most stressful day and felt entitled to a treat so thanks for the recommendation.

Tanaqui · 02/02/2021 17:41

Sorry to lower the tone, but isn't a daisy chain a happy occurance in an orgy?!

And would you mind awfully just reading really terrible books that noone would ever want to recommend for a while, just so I can get my tbr pile down a bit?

Love the sound of The Prince's Pen Sadik, but I haven't read any of the Mabigonion for years, any recs for a good (straight) version?

Juniperandrage · 02/02/2021 18:05

but I haven't read any of the Mabigonion for years, any recs for a good (straight) version?

The Sioned Davies version is brilliant

bettbattenburg · 02/02/2021 18:32

@Tanaqui

Sorry to lower the tone, but isn't a daisy chain a happy occurance in an orgy?!

And would you mind awfully just reading really terrible books that noone would ever want to recommend for a while, just so I can get my tbr pile down a bit?

Love the sound of The Prince's Pen Sadik, but I haven't read any of the Mabigonion for years, any recs for a good (straight) version?

Just look at my lists, they are usually full of books that nobody else here has any interest in whatsover Grin
Cherrypi · 02/02/2021 18:47
  1. Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The story of a seventies rock band told in an interview format by all the members.

This was cleverly done and I enjoyed it. I wasn't entirely convinced the characters were from the seventies and some of the minor bandmates were interchangeable. Overall a fun light read.

TimeforaGandT · 02/02/2021 19:45

12. The Danger - Dick Francis

The action moves between Italy, the UK and Washington DC as our hero, Andrew, is called in to deal with kidnappers and ransom requests. Andrew works for a private enterprise that tries to secure safe release of the victims and advises families and the police on how to deal with the kidnappers. It becomes apparent that our kidnapper is focused on the racing world and the race is on to stop him. I hadn’t read this in years so couldn’t remember the plot and it had me turning the pages. I could have done with some more time at the races or in the stables but highly enjoyable.

ChessieFL · 02/02/2021 20:06
  1. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

I really enjoyed this. Written in the 1940s it’s set in Monterey, California, and is about the people (mainly men) who live around the sardine canning factories. There’s not really a plot as such, it’s just a series of events in their lives, but it’s very well written.

  1. Josephine: Singer Dancer Soldier Spy by Eilidh McGinness

Josephine Baker was a remarkable woman - born into segregated America (she was black) she became a famous dancer, moved to France, spied for them in the war, then adopted 12 (yes 12) children and campaigned against segregation. This book tells the fictionalised version of her war experiences. It’s a fascinating story, but the writing was just okay and the formatting of the book was poor - often a sentence would stop halfway along the line then resume on the line below, and lots of speech marks were missing. This made it a bit of an irritating read, but I still enjoyed it.

  1. Confessions Of A Curious Bookseller by Elizabeth Green

Should have been called Pointless Meanderings of a Deranged Bookseller. At least it was an Amazon. First Reads book so I didn’t actually waste any money on it. Avoid.

Terpsichore · 02/02/2021 20:25

Sorry to lower the tone, but isn't a daisy chain a happy occurance in an orgy?!

Naughty Tanaqui Grin

Naturally I was thinking of the refined kind of daisy-chain, as found in the novel by Charlotte M. Yonge.

RazorstormUnicorn · 02/02/2021 21:24

Ok let's try the list

  1. Chasing The Dram by Rachel McCormack
  2. The Confession by Jessie Burton
  3. Misery by Stephen King
  4. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaimen
  5. Lift like a girl by Nia Shanks
6. The Passage by Justin Cronin

I found The Passage a gripping read. The book ebbed and flowed with plenty of parts where I couldn't put it down, not just a climatic ending. It's about research into a virus (vampire like) that rages across North America, and the story covers a hundred years without rushing or getting boring. My favourite book of 2021 so far.

I'm going to read Elizabeth Is Missing next before joining @MamaNewtNewt on Tommyknockers.

2021booklover · 02/02/2021 21:29

Oh I loved The Passage when I read it years ago - might revisit it.

Sadik · 02/02/2021 22:01
  1. Bird, Blood, Snow by Cynan Jones Another of the New Stories from the Mabinogion series, this re-works the tale of Peredur (/ Percival).
    Peredur here is a troubled child from a difficult background. His violent responses to situations - unlike in medieval times - make him a problem for society, rather than a hero.
    This wasn't as developed as The Prince's Pen (which is fair enough for a novella, Clare's book was outstanding for the genre), but I really liked the writing style, a mix of official reports, news clippings & Peredur's thoughts that came together as a kind of blank verse. I'd definitely look out for more by the same author.
CluelessMama · 02/02/2021 22:17

Thanks for the new thread southeast, although it's moving at such a pace that I feel a bit late saying that on page 7!

  1. Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore
Suffolkelfie gave a good summary of the plot of this novel earlier in the thread so I won't repeat it. It has an ominous feel from the very start. As a reader you're not entirely sure what has happened previously which is yet to be revealed and what will happen later in the main character's life...but in both cases you get the clear sense that it's not going to be good. I enjoyed it - the first book I've read by this author and I would look out for more. (As an aside, I picked this up in the same library haul as my 2021 book 1. The Wolf and the Watchman and they are set a year apart, in different countries but both with the events of the French Revolution in the background. It was an interesting connection and both definitely gave an impression of the ripple effect that was felt across Europe as a result of what was happening in France.)
  1. I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
I'm on a run of historical novels and was in need of a break so read this book about reading that I had picked up as a Kindle deal last year. It is a quick read with short chapters - it reads like a series of blog posts compiled into a book and that may well be how it originated. I sort of thought of it as a light snack between more substantial reading, but there were parts that caught my attention more deeply including some very good quotes. Lots that 50 bookers would identify with, and a very quick read for those who get to December and are looking for something short to get them to the nice round number they are aiming for! 5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett This the novel about black maids and their white mistresses in early 1960s Jackson, Mississippi that the film of the same name was based on. This felt dauntingly long at first but it never really flags, it builds momentum and I grew to love it. It has humour and heart. I was so absorbed in it over the weekend that the voice inside my head took on a Southern drawl that I'm struggling to shake off. Looking out for other novels to return me to the United States of this era later in the year. I am very proud that I have only bought one book (99p Kindle deal) so far in 2021 and have scored 3 books off my Audible TBR and one off my Kindle. Aiming for 21 books off my TBR in 2021 Smile
Sonnet · 02/02/2021 22:18

I refuse to fall off this like previous years!
My world is a mad whirl... so far behind with my book reviews.
Marking my place with a loved or loathed "List":

1.Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz:

2.	Snow by John Bannville
3.	The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
4.	The Bee Keeper of Apello by Christy Lefteri
5.	Paris Echo by Sebastian Faulks
6.	Dead Cert by Dick Francis 
7.	Holy Disorders by Edmund Crispin
8.	The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George ( just started this one but put to one side for my book group read below)
9.	Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 02/02/2021 22:22

The Tommyknockers is pretty bad. Definitely not one of King's finest moments.

2021booklover · 02/02/2021 23:12
  1. Exit - Belinda Bauer
I genuinely love her style of writing and some of her earlier books I’ve read several times but although I enjoyed it - the story itself didn’t grip me all that much. I get a feeling those who like the Richard Osman book (which I’ve still only managed two chapter of) will really enjoy it though. I find she has a really great knack for characters that feel quite real.
LadybirdDaphne · 03/02/2021 08:00

11. Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
You can’t say much about this without giving spoilers, but this is an intelligent page-turning puzzle with a philosophical conundrum at its heart. Highly recommended for the beauty and vividness of its imagery and the humanity at its core.

MegBusset · 03/02/2021 08:18

A question for all you Stephen King fans - which is the best gateway novel for a 14yo who loves dystopian fiction and has a fairly strong stomach for gore but is not a fan of swearing and is appalled by any suggestion of sex?

I was thinking of trying him with The Long Walk and The Talisman but not read many of his pure horror books. Any recommendations? I think The Stand and Dark Tower would be too long / sprawling.

PepeLePew · 03/02/2021 08:43

The Long Walk is so good. It broke my heart. I wonder what a 14 year old boy would make of it, in view of the fact it is all about teenage boys. I really liked Salem’s Lot as a teenager; that isn’t exactly dystopian but it’s quite scary. No sex as far as I remember though it’s been a while. The Stand is terrific but it does go on a bit. Saying that, my brother loved it at that age and didn’t seem to mind the length and it’s a good fit to your brief.

PepeLePew · 03/02/2021 08:44

He may also like The Institute, which I thought was one of his best recent ones. Also featuring teenagers.

nowanearlyNicemum · 03/02/2021 10:42
  1. The Christmas Chronicles - Nigel Slater
A member of this thread (so sorry I can't remember who!) recently posted a review of this along the lines of "he's a bit precious at times but I really enjoyed the book". I fully concur! Some of the minutiae could have really grated in any other context but I totally forgave Nigel for this as he conjured up a beautiful Christmassy world from start to finish. I've been delighted to dip into this on an almost daily basis from November to February, as it's written in diary format. Recipes, history, tradition, decoration and gardening tips all have their place. I've never been one to read a certain book at a certain time every year but I will look forward to bringing this out again in November and starting the build up to Christmas once again in Nigel's company.
dementedma · 03/02/2021 12:47

I think I am the only person who struggled with Piranesi. I loved some of the imagery and it was a clever story, but I just didn’t warm to it at all. the least favourite of my reads so far this year. Favourite had been Circe by Madeline Miller

Tarahumara · 03/02/2021 12:48

CluelessMama love the idea of you talking to yourself in a southern drawl!